On Aug. 19, the Miami University John E. Dolibois European Center (MUDEC) welcomed its Fall 2026 class. New and familiar faces huddled in a group outside the arrival gates, waiting to get a shuttle either to their new apartment or the Differdange Chateau where classes are held each week. I was among this sea of students, impatiently waiting to settle into my home for the next four months.
The first week and weekend moved by in a blur. We had a few days of orientation during which we learned what was expected of us and how to get the most out of our experience. Besides zoning out in the Chateau’s great hall, almost all of my time was spent hanging out with new friends and booking hotels and trains for upcoming trips, including our first trip of the semester to Bruges, Belgium.
Over the years, Bruges has become the destination for Miami students to go to on the first weekend. Two years ago, former staff writer for The Student Raquel Hirsch wrote about her experience doing the same thing.
After classes and more orientation sessions ended, my friends and I made our way to the train station to catch the four-hour-long train ride to Bruges, which is in the northwestern part of the country.
Upon arrival, the sun had set below the horizon, and our group didn’t feel comfortable walking 20 minutes to the hotel, so we caught the bus. When we got on, the bus was already packed. Every seat was taken, and there was still a line of people waiting to get on. We made our way to the very end of the aisle and held on for dear life as the bus whisked us away.
About 10 minutes later, we arrived near our hotel. We stayed at the D28 Hotel, which was once a hostel, but had been converted in recent years. The room was small, but it got the job done. We weren’t coming to Bruges to stay in the hotel all weekend.
The next day, we made our way to the city center where we met with our tour guide for a walking tour of the town. Bruges took my breath away with its beautiful architecture. As we walked around, I couldn’t help but stare like a tourist at all the buildings around me. Architectural styles span centuries, from the medieval period, with Gothic architecture, to modern times, where architects drew inspiration from the buildings that surrounded them.
Our tour guide was native to Bruges, and you could tell he was proud to call the medieval town his home. Everywhere we went, he praised its beauty. He took us to all the notable stops: the Belfry of Bruges, an old bell tower attached to the medieval marketplace; the Basilica of the Holy Blood, where a relic containing the blood of Christ is said to be housed; the Gruuthusemuseum, a museum and former palace of the Gruuthuse family; and much more.
Along with walking the streets of the old town, the tour included a boat ride along the canals. For 30 minutes, we rode around on a boat packed full of people — half of whom were Miami students. We rode under tiny bridges, and I even reached out to touch one for “good luck.”
One of our last stops was an authentic Belgian chocolate shop, Confiserie Crevin, where we could taste a piece for free. There are not enough words to describe the delicious taste of the chocolate. After the tour, my friends and I went back and bought some for ourselves.
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Soon enough, the tour came to an end. Before we left, our tour guide gave us a recommendation: to try the Belgian waffles at Otto Waffle Atelier. I’m so glad we listened to him. The waffle, while on the smaller side, was topped with whipped cream, strawberries and pomegranate seeds. The waffle itself tasted sweet despite having zero syrup to go with it. It was divine.
After the tour, dinner and a couple of drinks, we made our way back to our hotel and started planning our next adventure.
Ayla Peden is a junior sociology and journalism major with plans on pursuing a career in law. She is the assistant editor for Culture and spends way too much time in the newsroom. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, reading and chatting with friends at a coffee shop — basically any old-lady activity.
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