Belgium is a fascinating country boasting thousands of mediaeval castles, housing the headquarters of NATO, and operating as the de facto headquarters of the European Union. With a rich history and culture to explore, read on and find out more about this wonderful treasure of Western Europe.
First, here are some of the important details to remember when arriving in Belgium:
The country’s most recognised buildings are the Atomium and the Grand Place. The Atomium is a landmark building in Brussels, originally constructed for the 1958 Brussels World Fair. It's a structure resembling a model of an atom magnified 165 billion times. Currently, it serves as a museum, an art centre and a cultural nexus.
The Grand Place is the central square of Brussels. It is globally renowned as a symbol of aesthetic opulence and Gothic architecture. Considered one of the most beautiful squares in Europe, it was registered on the World Heritage List of UNESCO in 1998.
Belgium is famous for the annual flower carpet. Hosted at the Grand Place, the Flower Carpet measures an astounding 70 metres long by 24 metres wide and features over 1000 square metres of dahlias, grass, bark and begonias. Belgium is, in fact, the world's largest producer of begonias, producing over 35 million bulbs a year. Over 100 volunteers assemble the carpet, which is approximately the size of a football pitch and features over half a million flower buds. A spectacular sensory event!
The Cities
Brussels,
The capital city boasts a plethora of museums, brilliant architecture and street art, along with delicious places to eat and drink.
The Art Nouveau movement of architecture and design was born in Brussels in the early 1890s, and there are over 500 art deco buildings spread out around the city. The Belgian Comics Art Museum is an art deco building dedicated to the pioneers of the comic strip and offers a perspective on contemporary comic art. The city boasts many other museums including the Magritte Museum, which is a tribute to the famous surrealist artist Magritte, and the Musical Instruments Museum, which has one of the richest collections of instruments in the world.
Antwerp
The second-largest city in Belgium is Antwerp. The country’s art deco capital is also the diamond capital of the world. 85% of the world’s rough diamonds pass through Antwerp’s “Diamond Quarter,” where 380 gem cutting and polishing workshops reside.
Bruges
A mediaeval town with architecture from the 14th century, Bruge is filled with beautiful photogenic squares. The main square of the city, the gorgeous market square features the Gothic design and aesthetics Bruge is famous for. Colourful brick houses line a side of the market and the Belfry Tower, a world heritage site stands over the historic city centre.
Ghent
Ghent is one of Belgium’s oldest cities and the historic capital of Flanders. Take up the opportunity to admire the picturesque St Michael’s Bridge, from which you can admire the Mediaeval Towers of Ghent, the Belfry of Ghent and St Bavo’s Cathedral.
Fun Facts
Belgium can be counted amongst some of the first mainland countries in Europe to adopt football from England. The men’s national team is currently considered one of the most powerful squads in the world. The Red Devils, as they are known, are also lauded as the “Golden Generation” as they have some of the world’s top players on the team, including Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard. They are set to be one of the top contenders at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Belgium has some of the world's best music festivals. From Tomorrowland to Rock Werchter and I Love Techno, these festivals attract thousands of people from all around the world. The country is also famous for its parades, including the Cat Parade in Ypres and the Aalst Carnival Parade, to name a few.
Belgium is famous for its fries, waffles and chocolates. These Belgian specialties are not only delicious but also have an interesting history dating back centuries. The origins of the famous “French” fry can be traced to Belgium. It is rumoured they were named accordingly by American soldiers stationed in the French-speaking region of the country.
Brussels’ waffles are world-famous. Soft and golden brown, these waffles have a history that traces back to the 19th century when a Swiss baker, Florian Dacher, introduced the waffles for the first time in Ghent.
The Belgians have perfected chocolate over 4 centuries. There are over 2,000 chocolatiers in the country and while the raw materials are sourced from all over the world, the chocolate is produced in Belgium.
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