Damme: A Day Trip That Takes 30 Minutes
A tiny book village connected to Bruges by a dead-straight canal. Bike there, eat pancakes, bike back.
Damme is 7km northeast of Bruges, connected by a canal that Napoleon ordered dug in 1811. The cycling path runs alongside it, flat as a table, lined with poplar trees. It's one of the most pleasant short rides you can do in Flanders.
The village itself has about 400 residents and an outsized reputation as a "book town." There are several second-hand bookshops, mostly in Dutch and French. The church is half-ruined — only the tower and one section remain.
For food, Tante Marie on the main square does excellent pancakes and simple Flemish dishes. Sit outside if the weather's decent.
The ride back to Bruges on the same canal path is just as good. You can also take a small steamboat from Bruges to Damme in summer.