As the canals were now about 75% covered in ice all around the city, Brugge was becoming a winter wonderland. We spent a leisurely day wandering round, with lunch at the Vlissinghe, which celebrates its 500th anniversary in just 12 years' time……This is another bar in which it is a pleasure and a privilege to spend time.

However, this was also the day we had been waiting for, so the highlight was yet to come: this was the day that 't Brugs Beertje reopened after their well earned New Year holiday. It opened at 4pm, so naturally enough we were inside at 4.01pm - Daisy's first customers of 2003! Even though we have been in the Beertje so many times, once again it was brilliant to be back. Daisy gave us a warm welcome, as usual, and we settled in for the rest of the day.

I kicked off with a Terracotta from Regenboog, then tried one of Daisy's draught Stille Nacht's. Followed by another - it was so good I couldn't contemplate not having another. After a short break for dinner back at the Vlaamsche Pot - all of 3 minutes walk from the Beertje, and again superb - check out the amazing pork chops done 'the grandmothers' way' - we were back at the Beertje for the duration. Johan had arrived while we were at dinner, and together with his two friends, both called Jan to keep things simple, we had a great evening. 't Smisje BBBourgondier (of course), was followed by Gouden Carolous Christmas, 't Smisje Halloween and then finally another draught Stille Nacht.

A great evening ended when we rolled out sometime after 12.30am. The Beertje remains my number one bar in Belgium.

Photos: Brugge, Gent, Aalst and De Haan
Photos: De Gans, 't Kroegske and Heeren van Liedekercke
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