9. Hapje-Tapje

The Buzz -- A food and drink fiesta in the old university city of Leuven, 25 minutes by train from central Brussels. Around 40 restaurants set up stalls on the street offering tasters ('Hapjes') from their menus – dishes, ranging from oysters to tiramisu, are small and cost just a few euros, allowing for plentiful grazing opportunities. The stalls are clustered mainly along Munstraat and Hogeshoolplein in the city center. On nearby Oude Markt, a beer festival (Tapje) runs in parallel with the food extravaganza. Various events are held on the Grote Markt, in the shadow of the cathedral and 15th-century City Hall (itself worth a second glance for its extraordinary flamboyant Gothic architecture, most usually likened to a wedding cake). The highlight of the day is the barman's race, in which the city's bar attendants have to negotiate a course carrying a full tray of beer.