UK to Bruges

[Welshbeef]

Planning to drive over in the next week.

Legally what do I need as in if a French/Belgium bobby pull me over?

Also its only a few hours max driving Calais to Bruges but en route anything worth going to see? I quite fancy the d day beaches but anything else?

[Bill]

D-Day beaches are in the other direction, but well worth a trip.

AFAIK the one to watch out for is the need for a hi-viz in the passenger compartment for the driver, and enough in the car for all passengers.

[louismchuge]

I think you need:

High-vis
Warning triangle
First aid kit
Spare bulbs
GB Sticker
Lamp deflectors

[andya7]

Carry on driving and head to Zolder... the 'Caterham Festival' is there, Roadsports A/B & Supersports, Caterham Graduates (Classic/Super/Mega classes) and the Caterham R300's, should be an entertaining weekend of racing, each with their own grids, and its free to get in!

[dcb]

louismchuge said:

I think you need:

High-vis
Warning triangle
First aid kit
Spare bulbs
GB Sticker
Lamp deflectors

and

- owner's document.
- driving licence
- MOT certificate
- current insurance certificate.

All originals not photocopy.
Try not to lose these important forms anywhere.

[Grey Ghost]

Bill said:

D-Day beaches are in the other direction, but well worth a trip.

AFAIK the one to watch out for is the need for a hi-viz in the passenger compartment for the driver, and enough in the car for all passengers.

This will cost you a few Euros if it is not in the car, in the boot doesn't count.

[Beefmeister]

dcb said:

louismchuge said:

I think you need:

High-vis
Warning triangle
First aid kit
Spare bulbs
GB Sticker
Lamp deflectors

All these must be in passenger compartment

and

- owner's document.
- driving licence
- MOT certificate
- current insurance certificate.

All originals not photocopy.
Try not to lose these important forms anywhere.

What has been said above.

I drive to Brugge from Essex almost every week. Make sure you have a sat nav, Brugge centre is a nightmare.

As an example, on my first trip at one point the sat nav said i had 450m to go - i counted 18 turns before i got there!

I know my way around pretty well by now though.

If you need any eatery recommendations - try Cambrinus. Its just round the corner from the Crowne Plaza hotel. (you can find it in Google Maps). 401 beers, good steak, and a Beef Carpaccio starter which is amazing.

There's an amazing curry house called Bhavani too. Highly recommended.

Edited by Beefmeister on Friday 28th May 20:32

[RobboC]

Beefmeister said:

dcb said:

louismchuge said:

I think you need:

High-vis
Warning triangle
First aid kit
Spare bulbs
GB Sticker
Lamp deflectors

All these must be in passenger compartment

and

- owner's document.
- driving licence
- MOT certificate
- current insurance certificate.

All originals not photocopy.
Try not to lose these important forms anywhere.

What has been said above.

I drive to Brugge from Essex almost every week. Make sure you have a sat nav, Brugge centre is a nightmare.

As an example, on my first trip at one point the sat nav said i had 450m to go - i counted 18 turns before i got there!

I know my way around pretty well by now though.

If you need any eatery recommendations - try Cambrinus. Its just round the corner from the Crowne Plaza hotel. (you can find it in Google Maps). 401 beers, good steak, and a Beef Carpaccio starter which is amazing.

There's an amazing curry house called Bhavani too. Highly recommended.

Edited by Beefmeister on Friday 28th May 20:32

Cambrinus is quite good, usually start there.

Make sure you go to De Garre (pronounced De Harrey) and try their own Triple beer, it's fantastic! Also Katedrak (or something) is good in the day for some rock music and strong beer lol Loads of bars to try!!

I adore Bruges and try and go there 2-3 times a year. There are some pretty secure underground car parks close to the centre.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

All the above is true, but fk me, don't let any of them put you off. What you need - Reg docs and driving licence for sure. Hi Vis vest defo. As for the rest, don't bother. No-one has been done for not having a spare bulb set since 1954 (allegedly), and I defy any of us to be able to change bulbs on the roadside anyway.

Come over, enjoy, and drive appropriately for the conditions. Same as at home.

Bruges is lovely - do the tourist boat trip and get to the bell tower early and do that too.

[slipstream 1985]

dcb said:

louismchuge said:

I think you need:

High-vis
Warning triangle
First aid kit
Spare bulbs
GB Sticker
Lamp deflectors

and

- owner's document.
- driving licence
- MOT certificate
- current insurance certificate.

All originals not photocopy.
Try not to lose these important forms anywhere.

out of interest..


or what if oyu go without the docs?

[dcb]

slipstream 1985 said:

or what if oyu go without the docs?

Don't - just don't.

If they catch you, a large fine will be the least of your worries.

Some time in a cell while they verify you with
the authorities back in the UK is possible, depending
on whether they think it's appropriate or not.

Germany it's even worse. Papers not in order is
a capital (or worse) offence.

[Beefmeister]

dcb said:

Germany it's even worse. Papers not in order is
a capital (or worse) offence.

Vere are your PAPERS?!?!

[Welshbeef]

Thanks for the advice will be stopping at halfrauds on the way tomorrow or Sunday. Might stop in brusells too as have a full week to play with. Speed runs pah the wife will be with me so speed limits really- unless there is an autobahn en route where I will stretch the legs fir a couple of miles to see what she can do.

[chrisr29]

There's no Autobahn enroute from Calais to Brussels.....unless you take some sort of long way round via Berlin!

Calais to Bruges is about an hour, chances of getting stopped are pretty unlikely.....unless your driving like a tt.

It's a lovely city though, so enjoy.

[dcb]

Beefmeister said:

dcb said:

Germany it's even worse. Papers not in order is
a capital (or worse) offence.

Vere are your PAPERS?!?!

You'd be exceedingly lucky to have a German copper
talk English. Any serious dialogue will be in German.

German coppers are very very professional, carry
guns as standard and know how to use them.

Obviously, it's a serious business being a German
(at least in public anyway) and their coppers reflect
this basic fact.

Be nice to the coppers and they can be like an unofficial
branch of the tourist office, but don't muck them about
or you will lose out big time.