Facts

Belgium is a country that is rich in so many ways. You just have to consider the wealth of its history, the greatness of its art and architecture, the robust and delicious taste of its food (Do you like beer and chocolate?) as well as its energetic and engaging peoples. The sheer amount of these amazing attributes sets Belgium apart from its larger European neighbors.

Best Time To Visit Belgium

Belgium is a country of moderate temperatures so there is no need to worry about encountering climate extremes, no matter what time of the year you may consider traveling there. The warmest period is in the summer between April and September. Of course, warm doesn't always mean sunny. Cloudy, overcast days and frequent rain showers characterize the country throughout the year. Thus, it should not be a surprise to see Belgians commonly sporting raincoats and umbrellas.

Facts About Belgium

• Full Name: Kingdom of Belgium
• Capital City: Brussels
• Area: 30,510 sq km/11,780 sq miles
• Population: 10,400,000
• Time Zone: GMT/UTC +1 ()
• Languages: Dutch (official) French (official) German (official)
• Religion: Roman Catholic 75%
• Currency: Euro (€)
• Electricity: 230V 50HzHz
• Electric Plug Details: European plug with two circular metal pins
• Country Dialing Code: 32
• Money and Costs:
  • Meals
    Budget: US$7-10
    Mid-range: US$10-25
    High: US$25+
  • Lodging
    Budget: US$20-50
    Mid-range: US$50-110
    High: US$110+

Events

Events in Belgium

The city of Brussels hosts several festivals during the months of July and August. There is the Ommegang pageant held on the first Thursday of July, a celebration that includes a large parade made up of nobles garbed in historical clothes. The Brussels Fair, a month-long festival begins on July 21, which is National Day, a Belgian patriotic holiday. Belgium has other festivals and celebrations spaced out across the year. Among them are an assortment of religious processions, jazz festivals, classical music performances, local fairs, and film festivals. Of course, the year would not be complete without the annual extravaganza that is the Carnival, a series of elegant affairs like balls and masked processions that take place during the winter. In the city of Ypres, visitors may be taken aback by the unusual antics of the Kattenfestival (or Festival of the Cats) that include the throwing of fake cat figures from the top of the town's belfry.

Attractions

Attractions in Belgium

Brussels – While it is known as the center for EU operations and is home to many Eurocrats, Brussels has much to offer those who wander its streets. The city is filled with history and a place of cozy comfort and sumptuous food and fun. Brussels has fine architecture, impressive museums, delectable cuisine, and rich, frothy beer. There is so much available for the thoughtful traveler and the connoisseur alike. It is easy to get lost in the elaborate network of cobblestone alleys and then suddenly find yourself walking into the grandeur of the Brussels' Grand Place. Here, in the great market square, visitors to the city can take in the splendor of baroque guildhalls, a memorable Gothic town hall, and ample varieties of sidewalk cafés mingled with intimate and trendy restaurants. The backstreets of the city hide some true treasures for those who want a real taste of Belgian culture. Don't neglect the opportunity to take in the sights and aromas of Brussels.

Antwerp – Unfortunately, the city of Antwerp is often overlooked and underrated as a tourist destination in Belgium. In the city, visitors may be enchanted by the delightful mix of the old and the new—particularly in the area of architecture. Fantastic Art Nouveau mansions share the city with medieval castles and Neo-Renaissance villas and provide picturesque scenery for the modern cafes, bars, clubs, and restaurants. The old city was constructed around one of Belgium's most outstanding cathedrals, and it retains a beauty and intimacy that was present so many centuries ago. You can wander down cobbled streets and slip into narrow back alleys that lead off in all directions, but somehow emerge into various town squares. Antwerp has the distinction of being the home of famed artist Ruben. Visitors who enjoy the artist's works will be able to view a generous sampling in many of the city's churches and museums.

Bruges – The grand city of Bruges is known as Europe's most well-preserved 13th century medieval city and it also has a reputation for being the most often visited town in Belgium. The city is actually made up of two districts dating to the medieval times: the Markt and the Burg. Bruges is also renowned for being a storehouse for several of Belgium’s most impressive and distinguished art collections.

The Ardennes – The Ardennes region of Belgium is a land of dense forests and deep river valleys located in southeast corner of the country. It is a place that is often overlooked by tourists, but really has many intriguing attractions for travelers. There are several old art towns to move between and the capital city as well. Situated in the Meuse, Ourthe, and Lesse valleys are a number of quiet villages.

Other Destinations in Belgium

Ghent – The city of Ghent is located approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) southwest of Antwerp, a medieval city that was made famous throughout the region during the 14th-century for its position as the largest cloth production center in Europe, and also for its tendency to rebel against increases in taxes. Today, Ghent is the capital of the Flanders province of Oost-Vlaanderen and the location of a sizable university. Ghent’s most famous medieval masterpiece is located within St Baaf’s Cathedral (Baafskathedraal), the ornate 20-panel altarpiece called the Adoration the Mystic Lamb (De Aanbidding van het Lams God), that was created in the 15th century by the artist Jan Van Eyck. Some experts suggest that the piece is one of the earliest known oil paintings still in existence.

The city also includes sights like Belfort, a 14th-century belfry, which runs from the Botermarkt district and affords some of the finest views of the city; Gravensteen, a 12th century castle complete with towering turrets and a moat; and the Stedelijk Museum von Actuele Kunsten, Ghent’s Museum of Contemporary Art, features impressive works by Belgians artists and international names like Christo and Warhol. There is also the Museum voor Schone Kunsten (Museum of Fine Arts), a repository of so-called Flemish Primitives like Delvaux, Van Dyck, and Rubens.

Menin Gate – The Menin Gate is a war memorial located in the town of Ypres and stands as a testimony to the 55,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers to died in the trenches of Flanders during World War I. The gate is inscribed with the names of these brave fighting men and every day at 8 p.m. local time, a bugler sounds the last call for those lost.

Tongeren – Located further east, and near the city of Liege, the town of Tongeren (along with Tournai) has the distinction of being the oldest town in Belgium. Tongeren was originally settled in 15 B.C. by the Romans who wanted to have a base of operations in the region. Visitors to the town will be interested to note the town's fine collection of Gallo-Roman artifacts. There are visible remains of city walls built by Romans as well as later medieval walls.

History

History of Belgium

Originally conquered by German tribes, then Christianized in the 7th century and finally divided during the 12th century Frankish Empire, the land now called Belgium has a rich history. One notable period, claimed by some Belgians as the country's golden age, was the 14th century. During this period, economic success and profound artistic achievements were carried out under the patronage and reign the French Duke of Burgundy. The cloth trade was flourishing throughout the region and centered in several Flemish towns like Ghent, Bruges, and Ypres. Bruges' impact was eventually eclipsed by Antwerp port of call for many merchants and traders throughout Europe; this was largely due to British competitors and the unfortunate build up of silt in it river.

In just a little over a century, this golden age came to an end during the mid-15th century. It was at this time that the Low Countries, which included the lands of future Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium, were inherited by the Spanish nobility and the creating a turbulent period of Belgian dissent again the strong hand of Spanish Catholic rule, led by Philip II. The fanatical king instituted a religious Inquisition that spread across the lands of the Low Counties to enforce the dictates of the Catholic Church. The resultant imprisonments and executions exploded into all out war in 1568. In particular, the Revolt of the Netherlands endured for eight decades and by the end, Holland and those provinces, which allied with it, ousted the Spanish. Belgium and Luxembourg remained in Spanish hands.

By 1814, Belgium and Luxembourg had been incorporated into a newly established United Kingdom of the Netherlands after the sound thrashing of Napoleon Bonaparte's forces at Waterloo near Brussels. Belgium's Catholic residents did not take kindly to the political arrangement and revolted against the Netherlands. Ultimately, the Belgians won their independence in 1830. For the remainder of the 19th century, Belgium maintained a strict policy of neutrality during the regional disputes that engulfed parts of Europe during this time. Towards the close of the century, a strong form of Flemish nationalism came into fruition. At the same time, the Belgian monarch, King Leopold II was busy amassing great riches for his kingdom through the colonies of the African Cargo, which included reprehensible acts against the native population, including genocide and exploitation of other resources.

Belgium's standing neutrality policy was blatantly ignored in 1914 when the Germans invaded the country. A similar invasion during World War II occurred in 1940. In less than three weeks the country was taken by German forces. Much controversy surrounded the quick surrender of the country by ruling monarch Leopold III, and those questions eventually led to the ruler's abdication of the throne to his son, Prince Baudouin in 1950. King Baudouin ruled Belgium as one of its most popular monarch for forty-three years until his death in 1993. Since the king had no children, succession passed on Baudouin's brother, King Albert II, who rules today.

Belgium enjoyed great postwar prosperity and economic growth. When the Belgian city of Brussels was designated as the headquarters for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and later the European Union (EU), this signaled a greater degree of prestige for the nation. It has also contributed to the development of a broader, international influence in the city. Brussels' status as capital of "world government" has made it the home of countless diplomats and so-called "Eurocrats" each with their own unique styles of bureaucracy. Outside the city, you can still find the authentic Belgium experience, alive and well in the people and lesser places of the country.

The 1990s were a turbulent period in recent Belgian history. The country was experiencing social upheavals due to grievances against the police and judicial systems, both of which were rife with corruption and incompetence in fulfilling their functions. As the 20th century drew a close, a note of hope signaled the prospect of a brighter future for the country despite its woes.

Environment

Environment in Belgium

The nation of Belgium is situated between the countries of Germany, Luxembourg, France, and the Netherlands. The northern regions of the country are made up flat lands while the southern areas contain the Ardennes Mountains as well as the North Sea coastline, covering 65 kilometers, with its multiple resort locations scattered along the coastal region. Lower Belgium contains an elaborate network of canals. The warmest months of the Belgian year are July and August but they are also the ones with the most rainfall.

Travel in and to Belgium

There And Back Again

Belgium has two international airports. The first one is called Zaventem, and is the main one; it is located 14 kilometer northeast of Brussels. The second is called Deurne, and is located near Antwerp and includes less frequent flight schedules to places like Dublin, Liverpool, Amsterdam, and London. For those who are already in Europe, riding a bus or taking a train may be your best option for getting back and forth to Belgium. Using international services like Eurolines or Hoverspeed Citysprint can be the perfect mode of transportation to and from the country. If you choose the train, Belgium Railways is a great provider offering frequent international services. The city of Brussels has three operating stations on the line and is considered Belgium Railways' central hub. Those seeking passage to or from Britain, there are two car/passenger ferry services operating. The first is North Sea Ferries and the second is Oostende Lines/Sally Ferries.

Local Transportation

Travel around Belgium is easy and inexpensive. Travelers can choose from several local buses or they can rent a car. Within the country, may opt to use the popular rail system, Belgium's primary mode of transportation. Choices also include InterCity trains as well as the InterRegional services, and, of course, local rail systems. In remote or isolated part of Belgium, not serviced by train, the bus lines provide coverage. In cities like Brussels and Antwerp, people make use of public transportation services like trams and the metro system. Taxis are another option, but like most places, they are rather expensive. Renting a bicycle is a keen option especially for those traversing flatter northern regions of the country and biking sort of rounds out the major transport options in the country.