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Flemish Painting - From van Eyck to Rubens: Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Brussels
6
days
from
A$6,030
Book today with a deposit of
A$905
30th June 2026 - 5th July 2026, 22nd - 27th June 2027
Tour highlights
- Immersion in the highlights of Flemish painting in the beautiful, unspoilt cities in which they were created.
- The main centres of Flemish art: Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and Brussels.
- First-class train travel from London.
One might argue that Western art began in the southern Netherlands. In the context of 40,000 years of human artistic endeavour, painting which gives primacy to the naturalistic depiction of the visible world was an eccentric digression. Yet the illusionistic triad of solidity, space and texture first came together early in the fifteenth century in what is now Belgium, and dominated European art for the next five hundred years.
The Flemish cities of Bruges and Ghent were among the most prosperous and progressive in medieval Europe. Brussels and Antwerp peaked later, the latter becoming Europe’s largest port in the sixteenth century. All retain tracts of unspoilt streetscape which place them among the most attractive destinations in northern Europe.
Jan van Eyck and his brother Hubert stand at the head of the artistic revolution in the fifteenth century. Their consummate skill with the hitherto unexploited technique of oil painting resulted in pictures which have rarely been equalled for their jewel-like brilliance and breathtaking naturalism. The tradition of exquisite workmanship was continued with the same tranquillity of spirit by such masters as Hans Memling in Bruges and with greater emotionalism by Rogier van der Weyden in Brussels and Hugo van der Goes in Ghent. Meanwhile Hieronymus Bosch was an individualist who specialised in the depiction of human sin and hellish retribution.
The sixteenth century saw a greater focus on landscape and a shift towards mannerist displays of virtuoso skill and spiritual tension, although the outstanding painter of the century was another individualist, Pieter Bruegel.
A magnificent culmination was reached in the seventeenth century with Peter Paul Rubens, the greatest painter of the Baroque age. His works are of an unsurpassed vigour and vitality, and are painted with a breadth and bravura which took the potential of oil painting to new heights. This tour presents one of the most glorious episodes in the history of art.
Itinerary
Depart late morning from London St Pancras by Eurostar for Lille, and from there drive to Bruges. With its canals, melancholic hues and highly picturesque streetscape, Bruges is one of the loveliest cities in northern Europe. A major manufacturing and trading city in the Middle Ages, decline had already set in before the end of the 15th century. Three nights here.
Introductory walk; see the market place with its soaring belfry, Gothic town hall and Basilica of the Holy Blood. The medieval Hospital of St John is now a museum devoted to Hans Memling and contains many of his best paintings.
The Groeningemuseum has an excellent collection by Flemish masters including Jan van Eyck. Our visit to the Church of Our Lady – home to Michelangelo’s marvellous marble Madonna and Child – is followed by a free afternoon for independent exploration.
Drive to Ghent to visit the Museum of Fine Arts, principally to see a work by a follower of Hieronymus Bosch. Visit the cathedral and the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb polyptych by Hubert and Jan van Eyck, one of the greatest masterpieces of Netherlandish painting. Continue to Antwerp. Two nights here.
The great port on the Scheldt has an abundance of historic buildings and museums and churches of the highest interest. Four of Rubens’s most powerful paintings are in the vast Gothic cathedral, joined for the first time since dispersal by the French in 1799. The Royal Museum of Fine Arts, or KMSKA, houses an impressive collection with works by Jan van Eyck, Rogier van der Weyden and Hans Memling, and the Maagdenhuis is temporarily housing the Museum Mayer van den Bergh’s small but outstanding collection including works by Bruegel.
The attractive university city of Leuven has a splendid Gothic town hall and the Triptych of the Holy by Dieric Bouts, still in the chapel for which it was painted. Thriving in the 19th and 20th centuries, Brussels nevertheless retains splendid historic townhouses and guildhouses around the Grand Place. The Fine Arts Museum is one of the best in Europe, and presents a comprehensive collection of Netherlandish painting as well as international works. Take the Eurostar from Brussels to London St Pancras, arriving in the early evening.
Depart late morning from London St Pancras by Eurostar for Lille, and from there drive to Bruges. With its canals, melancholic hues and highly picturesque streetscape, Bruges is one of the loveliest cities in northern Europe. A major manufacturing and trading city in the Middle Ages, decline had already set in before the end of the 15th century. Three nights here.
Introductory walk; see the market place with its soaring belfry, Gothic town hall and Basilica of the Holy Blood.
The former Hospital of St John, one of the oldest surviving hospital buildings in Europe, is now a museum devoted to Hans Memling and contains many of his best paintings.
The Groeningemuseum is scheduled to close for renovation from 2027; during this period, highlights of its outstanding collection of Flemish masters, including Jan van Eyck, will be displayed at BRUSK, a new gallery in the heart of the city. Our visit to the Church of Our Lady – home to Michelangelo’s marvellous marble Madonna and Child – is followed by a free afternoon for independent exploration.
Drive to Ghent to visit the Museum of Fine Arts, principally to see a work by a follower of Hieronymus Bosch. Visit the cathedral and the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb polyptych by Hubert and Jan van Eyck, one of the greatest masterpieces of Netherlandish painting. Continue to Antwerp. Two nights here.
The great port on the Scheldt has an abundance of historic buildings and museums and churches of the highest interest. Four of Rubens’s most powerful paintings are in the vast Gothic cathedral, joined for the first time since dispersal by the French in 1799. The Royal Museum of Fine Arts, or KMSKA, houses an impressive collection with works by Jan van Eyck, Rogier van der Weyden and Hans Memling, and the Maagdenhuis is temporarily housing the Museum Mayer van den Bergh’s small but outstanding collection including works by Bruegel.
The attractive university city of Leuven has a splendid Gothic town hall and the Triptych of the Holy by Dieric Bouts, still in the chapel for which it was painted. Thriving in the 19th and 20th centuries, Brussels nevertheless retains splendid historic townhouses and guildhouses around the Grand Place. The Fine Arts Museum is one of the best in Europe, and presents a comprehensive collection of Netherlandish painting as well as international works. Take the Eurostar from Brussels to London St Pancras, arriving in the early evening.
Expert speakers
Mr Desmond Shawe-Taylor
Distinguished art historian and museum administrator whose posts have included Surveyor of The Queen’s Pictures and Director of Dulwich Picture Gallery. He studied English Literature at Oxford and took an MA in History of Art at the Courtauld Institute. He has written extensively on English eighteenth-century portraiture and other subjects, and curated a series of exhibitions at the Queen’s Gallery in Edinburgh and London, dealing with Dutch and Flemish 17th-century art.
More tours led by Mr Desmond Shawe-Taylor
Dr Nicholas Flory
Nicholas Flory. Art historian and curator. He is currently Simon Sainsbury Curatorial Fellow at the National Gallery. Nicholas obtained his PhD from the Courtauld Institute of Art in 2022, aspects of which will shortly be published as essays in edited volumes. He has taught widely on late medieval art at the Courtauld, with a particular focus on the artistic production of the southern Netherlands during the 15th century. He previously worked at Christie’s auction house as a Consultant to the Old Master Paintings department, writing and researching paintings for auction and private sale.
More tours led by Dr Nicholas Flory
Practicalities
In 2026: Two sharing: A$6,430 or A$6,030 without Eurostar. Single occupancy: A$7,380 or A$6,980 without Eurostar.
In 2027: Two sharing: A$6,600 or A$6,130 without Eurostar. Single occupancy: A$7,600 or A$7,130 without Eurostar.
Private coach travel for transfers and excursions; hotel accommodation as described; breakfasts and four dinners with wine, water and coffee; all admissions; all tips; the services of the lecturer and tour manager.
Hotel Dukes Palace: 5-star hotel in the historic centre of Bruges. Hotel Franq: a 4-star hotel located in a former bank near the market square. Single rooms are doubles for sole use.
There is quite a lot of standing in museums and walking on this tour, often on cobbled or roughly paved streets. It should not be attempted by anyone who has difficulty with everyday walking and stair–climbing. You will need to be able to carry (wheel) your own luggage on and off the train and within stations. Some days involve a lot of driving. Average distance by coach per day: 28 miles.
In 2026: Between 10 and 20 participants.
In 2027: Between 8 and 18 participants.
Before booking, please refer to Smartraveller to ensure you are happy with the travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting. As a British company we follow the advice of the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.
Dates & prices
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2026
Date
Speaker
Price
Date:
30th June - 5th July 2026
Speaker:
Mr Desmond Shawe-Taylor
Price:
from A$6,030
(Based on two sharing)
Book Now
Last few spaces
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2027
Date
Speaker
Price
Date:
22nd - 27th June 2027
Speaker:
Dr Nicholas Flory
Price:
from A$6,130
(Based on two sharing)Testimonials
“The lecturer opened my eyes beyond belief, I should have taken this tour years ago.
”
“Excellent information given and care taken to ensure special exhibitions were included.
”
“Fantastic, lovely surroundings and great food.
”
“Our lecturer’s input was inspirational. She is excellent company in the evening. Another excellent holiday.
”
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