Since first visiting Bruges in 2008, I have been very interested in the heritage and other aspects of life in Flanders. We have since returned to Flanders several times on holidays, sometimes staying in Bruges and sometimes in Ostend. I started to learn Dutch to get beyond the tourist clichés (such as how many steps it is to the top of Bruges’ Belfry).

The first book I bought in Dutch was an architectural guide to Bruges – not the way most people start to learn, but the relentless tedium of the “Teach Yourself Dutch” genre can be off-putting on its own. I progressed much faster when I was reading about subjects that interested me. It isn’t easy to find reading material in Dutch in the UK, as you might expect; I have occasionally struck lucky in obscure corners of charity shops.

The news content of Flanders Today is very helpful when reading De Standaard or Het Nieuwsblad online, as it explains a lot of the background detail, about which we Brits tend to be woefully ignorant.

Obviously I don’t get many opportunities to speak Dutch, but I listen to Radio Vlaanderen online. I am also watching the first series of FC De Kampioenen on DVD. There are no subtitles, which makes me listen to the dialogue really carefully.

Linden Milner is a volunteer at an animal shelter in Manchester