Damme is 7km northeast of Bruges, connected by a canal that Napoleon ordered dug in 1811. The cycling path runs alongside it, flat as a table, lined with poplar trees. It's one of the most pleasant short rides you can do in Flanders.

The village itself has about 400 residents and an outsized reputation as a "book town." There are several second-hand bookshops, mostly in Dutch and French, crammed into old buildings around the church square. The church — Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk — is half-ruined. Only the tower and one section remain. You can climb the tower for a small fee and see the polders stretching to the horizon.

For food, Tante Marie on the main square does excellent pancakes and simple Flemish dishes. Sit outside if the weather's decent.

The ride back to Bruges on the same canal path is just as good. If the wind is at your back (it comes from the coast, so heading south is usually easier), you'll be home in 20 minutes.

You can also take a small steamboat from Bruges to Damme in summer. It's slow and touristy but kind of charming. It departs from the Noorweegse Kaai.