Trip to Brussels and Bruges
Information for Participants

This page is intended to provide up-to-date information on the forthcoming Trip to Brussels and Bruges for participants who have booked their places on the trip taking place Friday 29th August – Tuesday 2nd September 2025.

Following a successful planning visit to Brussels and Bruges in February, we’re pleased to share the final itinerary. The cost of the itinerary is £175 per person with the remaining balance of £75 due by the end of May.

Hotels and accommodation

Please make your own arrangements for accomodation. The trip will be based at:

Committee members of the Trollope Society who are organising the trip will be staying in the NH Hotels, where registration and talks will also take place. You may choose to stay in the NH Hotels, or another hotel of your choice.

Itinerary

Please note that the itinerary may be subject to change.

For up-to-date information download the latest version of the itinerary:

Trip to Brussels and Bruges v3 (Updated 3 August 2025)

View a summary of the itinerary

Friday 29th August

Saturday 30th August

  • Venue: NH Brussels Carrefour de L’Europe, Brussels – A talk on Trollope’s Belgian Connections by Frederik Van Dam, followed by a Zoom talk on Mobility and Travel in 19th Century Fiction by Dr Charlotte Mathieson. Refreshments (tea/coffee/water/fruit) included and available during the morning.
  • Buffet lunch.
  • Train to Bruges (train ticket not included).

Sunday 31st August

  • Walk through the city centre to Assebroek Cemetery to see the graves of Trollope’s father and brother who both died in Bruges.
  • Visit to the house where Trollope lived in Bruges, with drinks and an afternoon discussion of The Noble Jilt and Can You Forgive Her?

Monday 1st September

  • Venue: NH Brugge Hotel – Seminar on Phineas Finn, refreshments (tea/coffee/water/savoury and sweet snacks and fruit) included and available during the morning.
  • River boat trip in Bruges.
  • Visit to Blankenberge, including a walk along sea front to the sand dunes (site of the dual in Phineas Finn).
  • Optional Last Night Dinner in Bruges (extra charge) in the West Quarter. If you do not wish to join the dinner, you may choose to leave Bruges on the evening of 1st September.

Tuesday 2nd September

  • There will be no Trollope activities on 2nd September, allowing the entire day for travel at your convenience or the option to extend your stay in Bruges.

Optional extras

We would be delighted if you would like to join us for two optional dinners, at the start and end of the trip. We will be in touch nearer the time with details of the dinners, and to collect payment in advance.

Free time

We will incorporate free time in both Brussels and Bruges, but if you want to spend more time exploring either or both cities, please bear this in mind when you are making your own travel arrangements.

First Night Dinner in Brussels at The Brasserie, in the Stock Exchange Building

Following the Welcome Reception and drinks in the Sky Bar on the roof of the Stock Exchange Building, join us for an optional First Night Dinner at The Brasserie in the Stock Exchange Building at 8.00pm on Friday 29th August. The Brasserie is a Michelin-starred restaurant serving fine Belgian cuisine. The meal will be a three-course set menu with wine.

Book your place

Reading List

We will be discussing Trollope’s play, The Noble Jilt, and the novel, Can You Forgive Her? which includes the same central ideas and dilemmas first explored in the play. We will also be visiting Blankenberge sands, the site of the duel between Phineas Finn and Lord Chiltern in chapter 38 of Phineas Finn.

Resources

Downloads

Can You Forgive Her? – Reading Guide

Phineas Finn Chapter 38 The Duel

WhatsApp Group

Join the Trollope Society Trips WhatsApp group,  a friendly way for everyone attending to say hello beforehand, share tips and keep in touch during the trip. It is entirely optional, and we will not be using it to share essential logistical information, so you will not miss anything important if you decide not to join.