The ancient Belgian city of Sint-Niklaas, located in East Flanders, is of great interest to tourists. For our compatriots, who are primarily attracted by sightseeing tours, Belgium seems to be one of the best vacation options. This country has many picturesque cities famous for outstanding architectural structures, and Sint-Niklas is not the last place on this list. See last-minute tours from Moscow to Belgium at a bargain price on the Tez Tour website.

The date of its foundation is considered to be 1217, when the church of St. Nicholas was laid here, from which the city took its name. During the Late Middle Ages, Sint-Niklaas flourished thanks to weaving factories, until the middle of the last century, the textile industry remained the main source of income for its treasury. Today, the Flemish city, with a population of almost 70 thousand inhabitants, has reoriented itself to the services and tourism sectors.

For foreign travelers, especially in Sint-Niklaas, the Grote Markt square is of interest, which is unmatched in size in East Flanders. Of the architectural structures located on it, first of all, the mentioned Church of St. Nicholas deserves attention, it has survived to this day. Tourists are also attracted by the beautiful Church of Our Lady, erected in the neo-Romanesque style in the middle of the 19th century.

Among the buildings of civil architecture located on the Grote Markt, the town hall is of the greatest interest to the guests of the city. It is famous for the Belfry Belfry, which is 40 meters high, which is typical for the cities of the Flemish region. Also of interest to tourists are the Old Parish House and the former Prison Guard House. In the old days, on Christmas Day, the tallest Christmas tree in Western Europe was placed on the main square of Sint-Niklaas.

In recent years, Lisbon's Christmas tree has been considered the highest; for many Russians, who are attracted by New Year's tours, Belgium is of increased interest for this reason. Many of our compatriots go to Belgium for the New Year, its cities, including Sint-Niklaas, become especially charming during the winter holidays. Tours to Sint-Niklaas in September are also very popular among foreign travelers.

On the first weekend in September, the Hot Air Balloon Festival takes place on the Grote Markt. The moment when 50 colorful aircraft take off from the ground and take to the air is a vivid and truly unforgettable sight. This traditional festival is of great interest to foreign travelers from all over Europe every year.

Tours to Sint-Niklaas usually include a visit to the Mercator Museum, named after the renowned Belgian cartographer. Its exposition is dedicated to the history and development of cartography, it includes many old maps, globes, in addition, visitors are shown modern ways of creating maps. The Salon of Fine Arts is also of interest to tourists, the collection of which consists of paintings by famous painters of the 16th - 20th centuries.

Many of our compatriots choose the coastal cities of Europe for trips in the summer season, where it is possible to combine excursions with beach tourism. This category of Russian travelers may be interested in tours that involve holidays in Malaga. As for the Belgian city of Sint-Niklaas, trips to it in any season are suitable for tourists who prefer cultural and educational holidays in Western Europe.