Belgium is a small country situated in the northwestern part
of Europe, bordering the North Sea, bordered by France, Germany, The
Netherlands, and Luxembourg and
has three main regions, known as Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels.
Travel Insurance for belgium:
Area: Europe *
Know Before You Go:
FCO Country Advice for Belgium
The population is comprised mostly of Flemish, with some Walloon,
and others. There are three official languages spoken in Belgium
: Flemish (Dutch), French, and German. In general, Flemish is
spoken in the northern part of the country, French in the south,
and German in the areas bordering close to Germany . The dominant
religion is Roman Catholic with some Protestant or others.
The capital city, Brussels ,
is the headquarters of both NATO and the European Union and therefore
is a very cosmopolitan and sophisticated city. Brussels is well
known for its Grand’Place, a historic market place with
a city hall, guildhouses and other beautiful Gothic buildings.
Other attractions include St. Michael’s cathedral, the
Atomium, Chinese Pavillion and Royal Residence. Brussels is famous
for its lace-making and tours of the workshops are available.
Other significant cities in Belgium especially famed for their
art history are Antwerp and Ghent.
The southern part of the country is the location for the Ardennes
which provides a haven for skiing and all types of winter sports
as well as an outdoor playground in summer for activities such
as biking, kayaking and hiking.
The medieval city of Bruges (or Brugge)
is fondly known as the ‘ Venice of the North’ for
its system of canals, and is a very popular destination for visitors.
Bruges was believed to have been important as a harbour due to
its closeness to the North Seas . Its name is thought to have
originated from an ancient Scandinavian word ‘Brygga’ meaning
harbour and it has been the site of many types of commercial
trading, including cloth, over the centuries. Bruges is also
known for its Flemish painting schools and beautiful gothic buildings.
The new port of Zeebrugge is just a few miles away on the coast.
The city of Antwerp has a large harbour, being a primary
port for Belgium , and many historical buildings from the 1600s
and 1700s. The famous painter Rubens lived in Antwerp in the17th
century. Attractions include the Grote Markt with surrounding
guildhouses, and many museums, churches and monuments. Antwerp
is also known as a centre for diamond processing. The Fine Arts
Museum is a delight for art lovers with its many famous classical
paintings as well as modern art pieces and, of course, a large
collection by Rubens.
Ostend (or Oostende ) is a busy port
for ferries and shipping. The fast ferry services from Dover
to Ostend make day trips a reality for many people and provide
easy access to popular destinations such as Bruges and Ghent
. Ostend itself is a city with a lot of history and beach resorts
offering all kinds of water activities. The casino (Kursaal)
is another popular attraction as well as Ostend ’s harbour,
Aquarium, and the old town section.
The old city of Liege provides a relaxing
detour with its pedestrian-only shopping areas alleyways, and
lovely old houses. Liege was home to the author George Simenon,
who created the popular Maigret television detective series.
Attractions in the city include St. Lambert ’s Square with
its Gothic-style palace building.
Weather
Belgium enjoys a temperate climate with moderate temperatures,
winds predominantly from the west, and frequent rain showers.
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