Belgium
Belgium is one of the Benelux Union next to the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Also, it is one of the six founding countries of the European Union and it's capital, Brussels is the center of it. Brussels holds the seat of the European Commission and the Council of the European Union.
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The Kingdom of Belgium is one of the smallest and most densely populated countries in Europe. It is divided into Flemish Region and Walloon Region, as well as the Brussels Capital Region. The second largest city is Antwerp, the diamond capital of the world and has the second largest port in Europe. Other big cities are Gent, Charleroi and Liége.
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Belgium is considered to be one the safest countries on Earth, and its high standards of living, quality of life, healthcare and education make it a desirable place to live in.
LANDSCAPE
Belgium is a low-lying country rising progressively toward the south. It has a shoreline on the North Sea, a coastal plain with sand dunes and polders and the central plateau with fertile valleys, waterways, caves and small gorges, while the Ardennes uplands is a rocky, forested plateau with the country's highest point - Signal de Botrange, and the protected areas are home to most of the Belgian wildlife, including falcons, ducks, foxes, wild cats, lynxes, badgers, wild boar and red deer. The most famous natural attractions are the bluebells of Hallerbos forest, the lakes and forest walking paths of the Hoge Kempen National Park and the beech cathedral of the Sonian Forest but the scenic Meuse Valley is among the popular destinations too with its fortress ruins and limestone cliffs.
GASTRONOMY
The most known Belgian foods are chocolate, waffles, fries and the Brussels sprout but there's a lot more here to try. The Belgian cuisine were influenced by the neighbouring French, German and Dutch cuisines and often include potatoes, meat, cheese, white asparagus, grey shrimp, leeks, endives and local beer. If you're here, don't miss the traditional dishes such as waterzooi, moules frites, carbonade flamande, couque biscuit and fries with mayo.
Their national beverage is beer. Fun fact, beer is such an important part of their lives, in many small Belgian villages, the brewer was also the mayor. There are hundreds of breweries and cafés to try the wide range of local brews, like the Trappist ales, brewed by Trappist monks. And you don't have to worry about the opening hours either, many pubs stay open till very late.
TOP DESTINATIONS
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CULTURE
Belgium has a long and rich cultural heritage. The country is known for its charming medieval towns, palaces, Gothic cathedrals and Renaissance architecture but there are many Art Nouveau buildings and a few interesting modern pieces as well, like the Atomium in Brussels. Among the historical museums, probably the war museums of Waterloo, Ypres and Bastogne are the most popular.
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Also, there are many artistic museums, as Belgium has several famous artists, especially from the Flanders region, such as Jan van Eyck, Pieter Bruegel, Peter Paul Rubens or René Magritte. Other famous Belgians are the cartographer Gerardus Mercator, Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone, the architect Victor Horta and the actress Audrey Hepburn and the actor Jean-Claude Van Damme. Another important parts of the Belgian culture are the comic strips and television cartoon series - Hergé's Tintin, Peyo's Smurfs or Morris's Lucky Luke.
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As for festivals, Belgium is your place if you love carnivals, Christmas markets, music and dance festivals like Tomorrowland or Rock Werchter, flower carpet festivals, film festivals or food truck and beer festivals, or even unique events like the sand sculpture competitions!
WEATHER
Similarly to the most northwestern European countries, Belgium has a maritime climate with quite a lot of rain, cool winters and mildly warm summers. The Ardennes region has a more continental climate with more rain and colder temperatures. The nicest weather is from mid-May to mid-September as it is the warmest, though July and August can bring thunderstorms and lots of tourists. The museums and events are here all year round, but if you don't mind the cold, visit Belgium in the festive season - the Christmas markets and carnivals are a great fun!
BELGIUM BUCKETLIST
GOOD TO KNOW
Language: official languages are French, Dutch and German. Many Belgians speaks English as well, though learning some basic French expressions will help you a lot!
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Money: Euro
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Plugs: Type C and Type E
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Safety: The crime rate is pretty low, though there were terrorist attacks in the recent years hence security is increased and spotting armed police squad is not uncommon, especially on trams and bus stops.
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Tap Water: Safe to drink
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Visa and Passport: As part of the Schengen Area, some nationalities are required visa even for tourism purposes. Over 90 nationalities can travel without visa and the citizens of the Schengen Area countries can travel with an ID Card, while the around 150 other countries are required to apply for a Schengen visa. From 2022, these travelers from outside the Schengen Area will need to apply for an ETIAS visa. Check the conditions here.
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Transportation: In Belgium buses are used only for short distances (urban and interurban areas), but it is well covered by the rail network. The three operators are STIB-MIVB, De Lijn and TEC. If you're from another European country, try the long-distance bus service of the Eurolines or the trains from Eurail or Rail Europe.
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Driving: On the right side. The motorway network is highly developed and dense, though it might not worth renting a car here, as the public transport is accessible and affordable, while finding a parking spot is nearly impossible.
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Tipping: not customary, 10-15% service charge is usually included in the bill and the staff are well paid
Eat Belgian waffles and chocolate
Drink craft beer
Visit the Atomium
Admire art in Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Follow the Comic Book Route
Relax at Thermes de Spa
Climb the Montagne de Bueren
See Tournai's cathedrals
Learn about history In Flanders Fields Museum
See the Château de Walzin in Dinant
DISCOVER BELGIUM
- Brussels -
