Antoon van Lalaing and Elisabeth van Culemborg, Count and Countess of Hoogstraten, commissioned the construction of the Sint-Katarinachurch. This is their tomb. The design was by Rombout Keldermans, one of the architects of Antwerp Cathedral. It is one of the tallest brick buildings in the world.

The choir stalls at St Catherine’s Church in Hoogstraten feature impressive wood carvings depicting the apostles, saints and scenes from the Old and New Testaments. #bearinBelgium

A priest accidentally knocked over the chalice containing consecrated white wine. The wine immediately turned blood-red, the blood of Christ. No matter what he tried, the red stains remained. There was great commotion: people wanted to see the cloths, touch them, venerate them. #bearinBelgium

Another procession. This is the Holy Blood Procession in Hoogstraten. The very first procession took place in May 1652. The history of the Holy Blood of Hoogstraten begins around 1380 in the town of Boxtel (Netherlands) in North Brabant. #bearinBelgium

The Lakenhal stands in the heart of Herentals. Wool weavers and cloth makers built it in the 15th c. In front, the Boerenkrijgmonument. It commemorates the Battle of Herentals in 1798, one of the bloodiest episodes of the Kempen peasants’ uprising against the French. #bearinBelgium

The Mausoleum of Halikarnassos is an elaborate, magnificent tomb built for a king. The Mausoleum, which was regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, is so impressive that the word 'mausoleum' is now used for many monumental tombs. #britishmuseum #bearinLondon

We´ve ducked into the British Museum, hoping it would be cooler there, but no. Cake for lunch. Lemon and poppyseed cake with raspberry and lavender creamtopping. #smallbearsneedcake

Yes, we have found you, but you are not open (yet) 🙄... Ye Old Mitre. Maybe another time. #smallbearsneedbeer

The Hunterian Museum is a museum of anatomical specimens in London, located in the building of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. It was closed on this bank holiday, but that’s fine. I don’t think it’s really our thing. #bearinLondon

It´s hot today! As we are leaving this afternoon, a short walk near the hotel. We´re exploring Holborn. The name "Holborn" may derive from the Middle English hol for "hollow", and bourne, a "brook", referring to the River Fleet as it ran through a steep valley (hollow) in places. #bearinLondon

A privy, or private, garden has existed on the south side of Hampton Court Palace since the reign of Henry VIII. The Privy Garden today is a carefully-researched recreation of William III's private Baroque garden of 1702. #bearinLondon

Chicken and leek pie in the Privy Kitchen Café. I have to report a soggy bottom and lumpy mash. Tasty nonetheless. #bearinLondon #hamptoncourt #smallbearsneedbeer

This is King George I’s dining room; he’s a friend I met on my last trip to Hannover. It really is a small world. #bearinLondon #HamptonCourt

Good morning, loyal subjects. Welcome to the Great Hall at Hampton Court. Do you like the ceiling? Henry VIII chose the nostalgic hammerbeam style to evoke the great halls of his medieval predecessors. #bearinLondon

Piece of cheese house. 😅 #bearinEngland #Hastings

At the beach ! #bearinEngland #Hastings

East Hill Railway. Installed in 1902. The UK´s steepest funicular railway. #bearinEngland #Hastings

This house dates from the 15th c and is thought to have been home to the mother of the wonderfully named Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell (1650-1707). As a naval officer he is unfortunately most well known for the circumstances in which he died. #bearinEngland #Hastings

In the Bayeux Tapestry the Normans are shown raising a mound of earth (or motte) and placing on it a timber building. Hastings can therefore claim to be the first motte and bailey castle in England. #bearinEngland #Hastings

The Collegiate Church of St. Mary in the Castle was built around 1075, incorporating a Saxon chapel, which already stood on the site. Evidence for this appears in the Bayeux Tapestry where William is shown standing outside a chapel before the Battle of Hastings. #bearinEngland #Hastings

In Belgium, the train company had a slogan: "Travelling by train is always a bit of an adventure." That certainly applies to public transport in London and the UK. 1/2

Yesterday we saw the engravings; today we wanted to see the paintings. Marriage à la Mode. And The Shrimp Girl. #Hogarth #bearinLondon

The Holly Bush. Outside and inside. #bearinLondon #smallbearsneedbeer #Hampstead

John Constable died in 1837 from heart failure and was buried with Maria his wife in the graveyard of St John-at-Hampstead. Maria had died of tuberculosis in 1828 at the age of 41 "leaving seven infant children to mourn her loss in common with their surviving parent". #bearinLondon #Hampstead

A stroll in the heath soaking up some greenery. #bearinLondon

Colourful doors in Flash Walk. One of Hampstead´s most famous streets. And a cat who owned the place. #bearinLondon #Hampstead

Admiring the painting Forty, with Sweep by Jonathan Chan. #bearinLondon #art

Burgh House is home to the Hampstead museum. #bearinLondon

Little passage between Elm Row and New End in Hampstead. Locals will tell you that the cobblestones were placed at an angle so horses could walk up without slipping backwards. #bearinLondon

William Hogarth, painter, engraver and satirist, lived in this house from 1749 until his death. There is a large collection of his work in the house. He was possibly the first artist to create an individual style that was uniquely English. #travellingbear #bearinLondon

There was a 20-minute delay, but we’re on our way now. Lunch is served. #travellingbear #eurostar

It’s confusing. A few days ago, I put a jumper on because I felt cold. Now we’re packing for a long weekend in London and the forecast is for nearly 30 degrees. I don’t quite believe it and don’t dare pack just T-shirts. Human is taking sandals, but it feels a bit strange. #travellingbear

The name Hertberg derives from the 34m high mound in this area. It was once heathland that was afforested with conifers in 1775. Until 2014, it was owned by the De Merode family. A mound is a more or less isolated, erosion-resistant hill in an otherwise relatively flat landscape. #bearinBelgium

Rain is forecast again this afternoon. So we’re making the most of a bit of sunshine at the Hertberg Provincial Park in Herselt, on the border between the Kempen and the Hageland. Due to roadworks everywhere along the way, it took us an hour longer than usual to get here. #bearinBelgium

The museum is hosting an exhibition (P)OST, a retrospective of postcards by the artist Alfred Ost. It also featured drawings of the procession we saw in Mechelen last week. #bearinBelgium #Hoogstraten

Today is very rainy. We drove to Hoogstraten and visited the Stedelijk Museum in the beguinage. We’ll be back later for a walk in this town in the far north of the Kempen. #bearinBelgium

We are in Mechelen for the Hanswijk Procession. It´s one of Mechelen’s oldest traditions. This year, the theme is ‘Mary, a Crown’. This commemorates the fact that the statue of Our Lady of Hanswijk was crowned with a diamond crown by the Pope 150 years ago. #bearinBelgium #smallbearsneedbeer

Extensive inspection on the backpack at the airport. I got frisked and tested for drugs. 100% clean, obviously. Time for a last local beer to recover. #travellingbear #smallbearsneedbeer

We thought German trains were very punctual, but almost every train we took had delays or cancellations. Our train to the airport got cancelled... so we're waiting to catch the next one. #travellingbear #travellingbytrain

There are many beautifully decorated houses in the town. This is the Wesser Renaissance, a cheerful North German variation on a more austere Italian architectural style. #travellingbear #hameln

We followed the little rats on the road today, but sometimes we couldn’t find them. Had they run off with the Pied Piper? #travellingbear #hameln

Today we are in Hameln. The legend of the Pied Piper tells of a piper who rids the town of a plague of rats, but, in revenge for unpaid wages, lures 130 children out of the town with his piper’s tune. The story became world-famous thanks to the Brothers Grimm. #travellingbear

So we went on a boat trip on Lake Masch. Human was given a senior citizen’s ticket. We’re not sure whether we should be offended or just happy about the 2-euro profit we made. 🤔😉

We’re back in the centre of Hannover. Behind the Neues Rathaus is the Maschpark, which leads to Lake Masch. We wanted to visit the Sprengel Museum, but it’s closed today. 🤨 #travellingbear #Hannover

State carriages symbolised the Hanoverian kings’ claim to a prominent position in society. On display in the museum is George IV’s golden carriage, which he used during his only visit in 1821. #travellingbear #Hannover #herrenhäusergärten

George I was present at the inauguration of the Große Fontäne in 1719. The fountain stood at 5 metres. By 1721, it had reached 35 metres. At that time, it was the tallest fountain in a European castle garden. Over the years, it grew to 70 metres. #herrenhäusergärten #Hannover #travellingbear

Today we start off in the Gardens of Herrenhausen, one of the most important Baroque gardens in Europe. The spring flowers smell incredible. #travellingbear #Hannover 🌷🇩🇪

In 815, Louis the Pious left a relic amongst the blossoms of a wild rosebush. When he returned he found it entangled in the rosebush. He saw this as a divine sign and built a chapel. The fact that the rose survived the war added extra weight to the legend of the 1000 year old rosebush. #hildesheim

Werner House, dating from 1606, stands out from the surrounding half-timbered houses because of its richly decorated façade. Through 29 painted panels and inscriptions, the builder, cathedral secretary Philipp Werner, expressed his dissatisfaction with the conditions of the time. #travellingbear

The Hildesheim synagogue, built in 1849, once stood on the square Lappenberg. During Kristallnacht (Nov 1938) the SS set fire to it. A memorial has stood here since 1988. The square has well-preserved half-timbered houses from the 16th and 17th c. with colourful wooden doors. #travellingbear