Bromptomaniac

One of the reasons I decided to stay an extra day in Antwerp was to visit the De Koninck brewery, which had been closed the day before—just like nearly all the other local breweries. The other reason? A brewery further down the road would also have been closed if I’d arrived a day earlier. So really, beer dictated my schedule..
But then my plans shifted, and technically I didn’t need that extra day in Antwerp anymore. Unfortunately, I’d already booked my hostels, campsites, and—most crucially—my return ticket. Rearranging all that felt like more trouble than it was worth. So I stayed put, and honestly, it worked out beautifully: sunshine, a great city, and the promise of cold beer.
Naturally, I made my way to the De Koninck brewery. They offered tours, but I skipped the educational bit and went straight for the good stuff: De Koninck, the classic amber ale affectionately known as Bolleke. The nickname comes from the distinctive rounded glass it’s traditionally served in—a short, bowl-shaped glass with a stem, resembling a small ball (or bolleke in Dutch).
Since I wasn’t cycling that day, I treated myself to another beer—this time in a smaller glass. It lifted my mood even more than the morning sunshine had already done.

After that, I left Greengo at the campsite and headed back into the center on foot. No plan, no rush—just meandering through a gorgeous European city. I chilled for a bit on a nearby beach (yes, Antwerp has one), had lunch, a coffee, and an ice cream. A perfect day off.

Being here stirs memories. It was Christmas of 2013 when we bid farewell to Alegría, believing it to be the final curtain. The moment was tender and bittersweet. Who could have imagined that, five years later, Cirque du Soleil would bring Alegría back to life.

Today in numbers:

12 km — distance cycled
572 m — the length of Sint Annatunnel
15 million — people in 40 countries have experienced Alegría