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Europe’s creepiest places

In the month of October the world celebrates Halloween, the creepiest day of the year. Most of us think of carved pumpkins, trick-or-treating and costume parties, but did you know that originally 31 October was believed to be the day when the boundary between this world and the spirit world was the thinnest, making it easier to connect with your beloved departed ones?

While Halloween is much bigger in the United States, there are quite a few places in Europe, as well, that will make your skin crawl. Underground labyrinths, sinister alleys and creepy jars await you.

Dale Cruse from San Francisco, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

CATACOMBS OF PARIS

Originally limestone quarries, the catacombs of Paris started serving as an ossuary in the late 1700s due to the city’s overflowing cemeteries. Today, the remains of millions of Parisian people are stacked neatly below ground. You can take a tour of the catacombs, descending 20 m underground and wandering the winding tunnels for about 1,5 kilometres.

Good to know:

  • The temperature in the catacombs is a constant 14°.
  • You will have to take 131 steps to go down underground and 112 to come back out.
  • Be careful: the floor is uneven and slippery. The spaces are narrow and the lighting is weak.

Practical info: from Brussels, you can reach the French capital in just 1 hour 22 minutes.

Learn more: visit the official website.

A dark alley.

WHITECHAPEL IN LONDON

In 1888, the Whitechapel district of London’s East End marked the hunting grounds of the notorious serial killer Jack the Ripper, who murdered at least five prostitutes but was never caught or identified. This unsolved murder mystery today still fascinates the crowds and it’s even possible to book a guided tour taking you through Whitechapel’s eerie alleyways and past the Jack the Ripper murder sites… We’ve seen less scary places :-)

Good to know:

  • To get in the mood, bring the board game “Mr. Jack” with you on the Eurostar. Narrow down the list of suspects and try capturing the serial killer before he escapes.
  • We hope you’re not afraid of the dark as tours usually take place after dark.
  • Free visits (with booking) are possible: you don’t pay at the time of booking and are free to tip the guide based on your experience.

Practical info: get to London in 2h01 from Brussels.

Learn more: free Jack the Ripper tour | Strawberry Tours.

Everything you find in this museum is authentic.

VROLIK MUSEUM IN AMSTERDAM

This small but very well-appointed museum is located in the medical centre of the University of Amsterdam. It has one of the largest collections of human and animal malformations. Specimens preserved in jars include conjoined twins, skulls and other unusual pathologies.

Good to know:

  • The visit is not recommended for the faint-hearted or children.
  • Information is displayed in Dutch and English.
  • The location is outside of the city centre but easily accessible by public transport.

Practical info: from Brussels, you can reach Amsterdam in 1 hour 50 minutes.

Learn more: Vrolik Museum official website.

Put on your best costume for the race!

SPARDA-BANK HALLOWEEN RUN IN COLOGNE

This Halloween race is not an obstacle course, but an event for anyone who likes to run and dress up. Cologne's botanical garden will be turned into a unique venue with atmospheric lights to get you into the Halloween spirit. There will be tailored routes for the youngest runners and for experienced runners alike.

Good to know:

  • You need to register in advance to take part.
  • All participants who finish the race receive a medal!
  • Don't forget to bring a headlamp, as some parts are not lit.

Practical info: easily reach Cologne departing Brussels in just 1 hour 51 minutes.

Learn more: Halloween-Run Köln (in German only).

Across Europe by rail

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