Antwerp Summer

In the summer there was always something to do in Antwerp.  In between our travels, we have had plenty of things to keep us entertained.

Mini-golf is a common NJ summer activity, so we were happy to find a small course in the city.   The very memorable piece for us was that the average age was 75 and many came with their own clubs.  After a game at this basic course, the players gathered near the trophy closet and sipped their Belgian beer!

We also went to several festivals.  The Bollekefest is all about beer and food.  It is sponsored Antwerp's most popular beer.  Hugh went on stage to try to pour the perfect "Bolleke" which is the nickname for the beer.

They passed the test!  These two Americans represented our country well!

 This is something you will not likely to see in the US.  A baby tent at a beer festival!

The kids section came with beach chairs, kids fondue,
face painting and much more.   

The summer was unusually cold in this party of Europe.  It was in the 60's and 70's, but we did go to the Belgian Coast.  The main purpose was to let the kids rent bikes and ride them on the Promenade. They have hundreds of kinds to choose from.  I thought we were going to be there all day just picking two out!

We love all the playthings on the beach for the kids!

Brenna did not let the cold stop her!

When we did not go to the beach, the beach came to us.  Our neighborhood had a festival and made a huge sand pit on one of the blocks.  There was even a sandcastle contest.  Not surprising, a replication of the Smurf Village took the prize!  

Liam and Brenna's Masterpiece

They also had a pirate ship, complete with water guns to shoot
at your fellow shipmates

Besides the normal face painting, this was being
done to kids hair - all for free

 It was hot enough for the fountains that day.  Look at my little European girl who had to take her shirt off to join the boys :)

The beer company that hosted the festival also hosted a race called the Bollekesloop.  This is the same race that Liam had run last year when he was 3 and came in dead last.  The age group started at 5, so he was still too young this year but he ran the 1 km race anyway.  Happy to report that he greatly improved his time and came in somewhere in the back 1/3 of the group.

Little stretching before the race with fellow racer Olive.
Brenna and Edie joined in on the fun.

Comparing medals

Your typical Belgian post race scene - by now I guess you
have noticed the beer theme :)

One Sunday a year Antwerp Center becomes "Auto-Free" and the environmentally friendly means of transport are on display.  There were electric cars, electric bikes, solar powered buses, etc.  Our family went on a tour of the city center on a "bike bus".  

One of the things that we love is that almost every event has a kids area.  I love this picture of the huge bouncy castle in front of the historic Antwerp buildings.

 There were also demonstrations of all the various sports clubs in the the area.

Hold on tight Liam!

And yet another Beer fest!  This one was on our corner.   Liam is wearing a hat representing the beer Delirium.

This is "bike bar".  Common to see bachelor parties driving
around in this.

Random sighting in Antwerp.  Check out the bike. 

And lastly, Keegan wanted to say hello!  He has been in Europe more than any of us.  We miss him when we travel,  but are so happy he is here with us!