We will be staying in Bruges from May 9 thru May 12 next year. I realize this is a bit too late for formal tulip gardens visits (they seem to end on May 10 or earlier), but does anyone know of a spot (does not need to be a formal garden) with tulips to view? thanks in advance!
Also, would you order mussels in May? We love them, often get PEI ones here in the states, but would we be foolish/disappointed to order them in Bruges? Thanks again!
Posted by
Atlanta
205 posts
I would go for it. We had mussels in Brussels in May and they were wonderful.
Posted by
Belgium
185 posts
Also, would you order mussels in May?
No, certainly not that early in May. This year 2025, Zeeland hanging-culture mussels started 25 May only (which was already 2 weeks earlier then normally).
but would we be foolish/disappointed to order them in Bruges
No probably not, since there are a lot of foolish tourists in Bruges.
Restaurant Poules Moules will already serve them. Unfortunately, at that moment only the Irish mussels ... don't expect to find belgians eating them at that moment ... but yes, I have often seen how tourists can enjoy it.
The real stuff, bottom-grown Zeeland mussels, started 20 june 25 (also earlier then normally, due to favorable weather conditions). Most belgians eat their first mussels around our National Day, 21 july!
Posted by
IJzendijke, The Netherlands
2305 posts
Preparing my post you got already two responses. Windyram is the specialist here, so follow his advice.
May falls between the end of the mussel season halfway April and the start of the season, usually halfway July or even earlier depending weather conditions. Think not every restaurant will offer them, but if they do don’t expect the mussels are at their best. That is from September till somewhere the end of November.
Posted by
Arctophilia, Northamptonshire, England
35993 posts
if I knew of a garden with tulips in Flanders so late in the year I would say - but I'm afraid I don't.
Posted by
IJzendijke, The Netherlands
2305 posts
There are tulip production fields in Belgium too, however not many and for the bulbs only. Usually the tulips are in full bloom for a short periode of time before being “beheaded” in favor of the bulbs growth. You need a car and be lucky being in Belgium at that time. May will be too late for this unfortunately.
You can enjoy tulips in the lovely garden of Groot-Bijgaarden Castle, close to Brussels. Alas only till May 3 next year. Nevertheless May is an excellent period to visit Bruges, so that’s the good news.