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Baumholder

AN OFFICIAL ARMY FAMILY AND MWR SITE

Bruges Express

Visit Bruges, Belgium’s “Venice of the North” and sample the suds at the Belgian Beer Festival!

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Sep 13 2025

Sep 13 2025

Register Now!

Plan your adventure to Bruges early and save $20 per person with our new Early Bird Discount on Day Trips!

Kaiserslautern Outdoor Recreation and Baumholder Outdoor Recreation have teamed up to make it even easier for you to cross items off your European Travel Bucket List. The same adventures begin at your choice of either Smith or Pulaski Barracks, and an early bird discount makes your adventures cheaper too.

There are many European cities which consider themselves "The Venice of the North" and Bruges joins Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Stockholm in staking a claim on this title.  A UNESCO World Heritage city, Bruges is a pristine example of old world architecture and culture with canals and windmills surrounding the open squares and beautiful architecture in the city center.  Bruges is a city which proudly celebrates its culture. 

In Bruges, you can climb the 366 steps to the top of the 83 meter high bell tower where 47 bells chime out the time every 15 minutes. See the Basilica of the Holy Blood, and the world famous relic it houses, or Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child in the Church of Our Lady. Tempt your taste buds at the French Fry Museum, the Chocolate Museum or the Bruges Beer Museum, and dine an your choice of Bruges’ award winning pubs and restaurants where you will find regional specialties like Belgian Waffles smothered with your choice of sweet fruits, sauces and creams, Flemish Beef or Rabbit Stews and of course the Belgian national dish, Mussels and Fries. 

But that's not all that Bruges has to offer on this special weekend.  For one weekend only, at the Bruges Meeting and Conference Center, just steps from the pedestrian zone, you have the opportunity to sample Belgian beers from over 50 breweries at the Bruges Beer Festival.  Whether you love Lambics or have a taste for Trappists, the 17th annual Bruges Beer Festival will have something for you.  In 2024, close to 60 breweries offered taste tests of approximately 400 different beers and 2025 is sure to be bigger and better than ever before.  This is your chance to find a new favorite from the many different flavors and brewing styles that Belgium's craft brewers have to offer.

Adventures begin here! Whether you board the bus in Kaiserslautern or Baumholder, you will enjoy your adventure in Bruges when your adventure begins at Army Outdoor Recreation!

Price: 

  • Early Bird Registration 14 or more days prior to departure: $99 per person
  • Full Price registration 13 or fewer days prior to departure: $119 per person

Trip Includes:

  • Round trip bus transportation to Bruges

What to Bring:

  • Comfortable, weather appropriate shoes and clothing
  • Credit/Debit card or Euro
  • Military ID and Passport

Departure:

  • 3 a.m. from Kaiserslautern Outdoor Recreation, Pulaski Barracks, bldg. 2905
  • 4 a.m. from Wagon Wheel Theater, Smith Barracks

Return: Early Sunday morning

Registration Information

All reservations must be made through Army Outdoor Recreation or Webtrac. Sign up today by contacting either :

Army Outdoor Recreation, Kaiserslautern Community
Pulaski Barracks, Bldg. 2905

Army Outdoor Recreation, Baumholder Community
Smith Barracks, Bldg. 8167

Cancellation Policy:

  • Cancellations requested 48 hours prior to trip departure will receive a 90% refund.
  • Cancellations made less than 48 hours prior to departure will receive a 50% refund.
  • There is no refund for no-shows or cancellations made less than 12 hours prior to departure.
     
  • In the event that a customer cancellation results in a fee charged to Outdoor Recreation, regardless of the date of or reason for that cancellation, the total sum of those fees will be passed along to the customer.