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Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides
Dk Eyewitness Top 10 Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp, & Ghent
Offers information on accommodations, restaurants, shopping, and activities to do while in each of the Belgian cities.
144 pages, Paperback
First published February 16, 2004
About the author
Antony Mason
143 books2 followersEighty books – seems a bit excessive, really, even to me. But this is the product of more than twenty years of writing. And I have to say that some authors in my field – illustrated non-fiction – have written twice, even three times, as many.
How did I get here? Well, I worked as an editor with a couple of small publishing companies in London for about ten years (1977–87), and then I turned freelance. Whenever any writing tasks were offered to me, I took them, and so gradually I made the conversion from editor to writer – although I still do both.
I think I always wanted to be a writer, penning short stories as a child. I also have an insatiable curiosity. This is how I’ve ended up in non-fiction, where my magpie instincts to investigate virtually any area of knowledge have served me well.
My primary skill – so I’m told – is to research a subject and then convert it into clear, accessible and engaging text for a general readership, or for children.
I also translate books from French, and write website content.
For a couple of years (2008–10) I was a tutor in writing at Goldsmiths, University of London, working as a Fellow of the Royal Literary Fund. Latterly I have been closely involved in the Intergenerational Foundation, which aims to remind government and policy-makers of the need to think for the long-term to ensure an honourable and sustainable legacy to future generations.
Since 2011 I have also been writing as the ‘Brussels expert’ for the Daily Telegraph and the Telegraph online travel website.
How did I get here? Well, I worked as an editor with a couple of small publishing companies in London for about ten years (1977–87), and then I turned freelance. Whenever any writing tasks were offered to me, I took them, and so gradually I made the conversion from editor to writer – although I still do both.
I think I always wanted to be a writer, penning short stories as a child. I also have an insatiable curiosity. This is how I’ve ended up in non-fiction, where my magpie instincts to investigate virtually any area of knowledge have served me well.
My primary skill – so I’m told – is to research a subject and then convert it into clear, accessible and engaging text for a general readership, or for children.
I also translate books from French, and write website content.
For a couple of years (2008–10) I was a tutor in writing at Goldsmiths, University of London, working as a Fellow of the Royal Literary Fund. Latterly I have been closely involved in the Intergenerational Foundation, which aims to remind government and policy-makers of the need to think for the long-term to ensure an honourable and sustainable legacy to future generations.
Since 2011 I have also been writing as the ‘Brussels expert’ for the Daily Telegraph and the Telegraph online travel website.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 21, 2020
Great little book!
Excellent choices for the traveler with minimal time to spend. Definitely the best highlights, book does the research for you.
Excellent choices for the traveler with minimal time to spend. Definitely the best highlights, book does the research for you.
February 15, 2022
Love these little books. The info is concise and the maps included have saved us a time or 2!
June 23, 2024
Bruxelles ma belle
March 17, 2025
I borrowed this as an ebook from my local library and used it as a quick “second opinion” that our itinerary included the highlights.
August 6, 2009
I've used the Eyewitness Top 10 guides to a number of cities, this one most recently. The series is well designed; it can genuinely be fitted into a pocket, has good maps and is not heavy.
Being Top 10 Guides, they are not intended to be the most detailed guides on the market. If you are travelling only for a long weekend they will provide all the practical information you are likely to need and more in the way of activities than you could possibly do at about half the price of the bulkier comprehensive guides. If you are staying longer, then a comprehensive guide may be what you want.
With regard to this volume specifically, I had two days of playing tourist in Brussels and it served me well - I still got lost three times in two days in the maze that is Brussels old town, but not so severely as to feel stressed...whether another book has more detailed maps of the very centre of Brussels I can't say. A seperate Metro/Premetro map would have been useful, too.
I was able to plan my "hit list" of activities easily and even found a much needed English language bookstore...it's a branch of Waterstone's.
Being Top 10 Guides, they are not intended to be the most detailed guides on the market. If you are travelling only for a long weekend they will provide all the practical information you are likely to need and more in the way of activities than you could possibly do at about half the price of the bulkier comprehensive guides. If you are staying longer, then a comprehensive guide may be what you want.
With regard to this volume specifically, I had two days of playing tourist in Brussels and it served me well - I still got lost three times in two days in the maze that is Brussels old town, but not so severely as to feel stressed...whether another book has more detailed maps of the very centre of Brussels I can't say. A seperate Metro/Premetro map would have been useful, too.
I was able to plan my "hit list" of activities easily and even found a much needed English language bookstore...it's a branch of Waterstone's.
March 17, 2015
I'm quite a fan of Dorling Kindersley, and I've used their 'Eyewitness Travel' books in the past. As my travel plans only include two of the four places in this Top 10 guide I haven't read everything in this edition. Also, this is a library copy, and unfortunately the free pull-out map is missing.
I'm now reading the DK 'Belgium & Luxembourg' guide.
I'm now reading the DK 'Belgium & Luxembourg' guide.
April 19, 2009
A great series of guides if looking for a place to begin your exploration of the great cities of the world. If your time is limited, these guides help you to select the important places/events you may not want to miss. Certainly helped in our online searches for information.
March 28, 2014
As travel books go, this one is pretty surfacey, but it does give a nice overview of what the highlights are in Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges, and Ghent. Also includes some nice maps (which I love) and some nice but very tiny pictures.
July 21, 2009
Plenty of pictures, which is helpful, and lots of maps and info. but arranged in an inefficient manner, in my opinion.
October 21, 2018
Love these series of books. This edition needs to be updated as I think it leaves out some key information you need to make your trip easier and safer. But the walking tours are fantastic.
May 28, 2022
Mainly read Brussels sections
June 9, 2014
The information is very sketchy and the lists are absolutely useless.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews