Belgium

This was taken a little earlier during blue hour than my previous upload of this spot. In this case, I also decided to get rid of the canal boats that lie parked on the lower side of the view. Previous photo: www.flickr.com/photos/adelheids-pictures/29869931272

Antwerp I Belgium

Early morning in the bluebell forest of Hallerbos

Halle, Belgium

Thank you for your visits and comments.

Stadsfeestzaal, Antwerp, Belgium. Neoclassicist design by Alexis Van Mechelen (1908). Overhauled into a shopping mall in 2007.

nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadsfeestzaal_(Antwerpen)

Liège-Guillemins railway station

I made some research for metro stations in Brussels and I found some visually interesting places. Went last weekend with my best friend. We hopped from station to station, grabbed some shots and ended with a good meal in a Greek restaurant. This is Pannenhuis metro station, located in Laeken.

The pier in Nieuwpoort, Belgium. Been there a while ago, but never been on the pier itself. Job done, will go again, I think there are some more interesting spots to grab some shots of it.

Shot on a Pentax 645D and the 33-55mm lens

Here is the lighthouse at the entrace of Blankenberge port. At it's lowest tide we can easely see those square breakwaters in concrete.

Flandes, Costa del Mar del Norte

Graslei in Ghent, one of the most iconic spots of the city. I took some blue hour shots. Perfect timing, the lights around the buildings switched on and give shape to all the buildings and the canal. What a great atmosphere. I always think that blue hour is not long enough. Just 30 min to make the best of it. Will go back again. Got some more spots to catch.

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This stunning building housing the Antwerp Port Authority, is a remarkable work of architecture designed by British/Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid. The lower part was a disused fire station. The building is meant to "symbolise the dynamic, reliable, ambitious and innovative nature" of the Port of Antwerp (Wikipedia). Earlier I posted a photo of a work by the same architect, in Baku: www.flickr.com/photos/adelheids-pictures/34039577010

Liège-Guillemins, by Calatrava. Modified with GIMP.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li%C3%A8ge-Guillemins_railway_station

Ghent is such an awesome city, I even prefer it to Bruges. Many tourists go to Bruges, and leave Ghent to their side, such a mistake. If you want to visit Belgium, don't forget Ghent.

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So here is my second visit in Bruges, again I had a wonderful time. I made some great shots of this stunning city. The atmosphere is so pleasant, although it is very touristic, I tried to avoid this mass of people walking around. I went more to the outer sides of it. Enjoy the pics.

Antwerp Central Station

Early morning in Bruges, Belgium

The pier in Nieuwpoort, Belgium. Been there a while ago, but never been on the pier itself. Job done, will go again, I think there are some more interesting spots to grab some shots of it.

An excellent friend is living close to Charleroi, I've been visiting him recently. I knew they built a new police station, saw a few shots of it. This building is one of the highest in the region. It really gives the impression 'have you seen me'. The reason why I gave the title 'Big Brother Is Watching You'. The blue color is part of the building. I was very impressed by the combination of old and new.

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Tour & Taxis was an old postal building along the Brussels port. Later it became a merchandise transit, due to its excellent location at the canal. For many years it has been empty. They have restored the buildings and became a superb photographic location.

Not that long ago, city Ghent openend a new culutural attraction, Hotel d'Hane Steenhuyse. I saw the opening of it on TV, wowww, what an excellent location. This is something I don't have yet in my gallery. Let's try to get some shots of it. I think it has been the most difficult location I ever shot. For 2 reasons, nothing is straight in this building, and it was full of visitors. I took many HDR shots of every interesting room. Just to remove the visitors and blend the different parts of it. Framing it has been very difficult. But here is the result.

A good friend I know from facebook visited Belgium for the first time. She asked me what the best spots are in Belgium. I showed her Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp. This one has been taken in Bruges.

This image was created with: Haida 150mm filterholder Haida CPOL / Haida 15 stops ND / Haida 3 stops Soft Grad

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Ghent is such an awesome city, I even prefer it to Bruges. Many tourists go to Bruges, and leave Ghent to their side, such a mistake. If you want to visit Belgium, don't forget Ghent.

This image was created with: Haida 150mm filterholder Haida 6 stops ND / Haida 3 stops Soft Grad

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One of the classic views of the beautiful city of Bruges, taken in the morning before tourists and boats trouble the water.

The historic city centre of Bruges is a prominent World Heritage Site of UNESCO.

Importante ciudad belga situada entre Brujas y Bruselas y una de las más bonitas e interesantes del país.

Not that long ago, city Ghent openend a new culutural attraction, Hotel d'Hane Steenhuyse. I saw the opening of it on TV, wowww, what an excellent location. This is something I don't have yet in my gallery. Let's try to get some shots of it. I think it has been the most difficult location I ever shot. For 2 reasons, nothing is straight in this building, and it was full of visitors. I took many HDR shots of every interesting room. Just to remove the visitors and blend the different parts of it. Framing it has been very difficult. But here is the result.

20150725_Cemetery Tyne Cot_107

Belgium

Kasteel van Arenberg - Leuven, Belgium. The site had been the castle of the lords of Heverlee since the 12th century, but this family became impoverished and had to sell the site in 1445 to the Croÿ family from Picardy. Antoon van Croy demolished the medieval castle and started works to build the current château in 1455 on the site, of which he destroyed all but one tower. Willem van Croÿ completed the works on the château in 1515, and founded a monastery on the château grounds for the Benedictine Celestines. The architectural style is in large part traditionally Flemish, with sandstone window frames and brick walls, though it has been structurally altered since 1515 and has elements of Gothic, Renaissance and Neo Gothic architecture. Its large corner towers are typical, once surmounted by a German eagle.

Charles III of Croy was the 4th and last duke, and after his death in 1612 without issue the château passed to the Arenberg family into which his sister had married, and remained in that family until the First World War.

Belgium