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Grand Calendrier GEO 2024 - Souffle d'ailleurs !

Du lac Tekapo en Nouvelle Zélande à Kyoto au Japon, du Worimi national park en Australie au site Landmannalaugar en Islande , en passant par les Asturies en Espagne, découvrez ces 12 clichés d’exceptions choisis spécialement pour le Grand Calendrier GEO 2024.

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Carte d'identité

• Superficie : 30 528km2
• Point culminant : Signal de Botrange (694m)
• Population : 11 millions d’habitants
• Statut : Monarchie constitutionnelle fédérale
• Divisions administratives : Trois régions, trois communautés, dix provinces
• Langues officielles : Français (Wallonie), néerlandais (Flandre), allemand (cantons germaniques de Wallonie)
• Religion : Majoritairement catholiqueExtrait du guide GEOGuide Belgique
• Capitale Bruxelles est la capitale de la Belgique
• Continent Europe
• Monnaie La monnaie de la Belgique est l'euro.
• ISO 3166 BEL
• Fuseau horaire Europe/Brussels

“Je descendis jusqu’à l’embouchure du Rhin par les plaines belges et bataves. Des dunes désolées composaient un paysage septentrional coupé d’herbes sifflantes […]. J’aimais ces lieux tristes, […] ce ciel brouillé, ces fleuves boueux creusant une terre informe et sans flamme dont aucun dieu n’a modelé le limon.” Marguerite Yourcenar, Mémoires d’Hadrien (1951). Jacques Brel chantait, lui, Le Plat Pays . Il aurait pu dire le “petit pays”. Longue de 282km du nord-ouest au sud-est, et large d’environ 145km, la Belgique couvre 30 528km 2 . Limitée au nord-est par les Pays-Bas, à l’est par l’Allemagne et le Luxembourg, au sud par la France et à l’ouest par la mer du Nord, la Belgique occupe le cœur de la plus importante concentration industrielle et urbaine d’Europe occidentale (le quadrilatère Ruhr, Randstad Holland, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Lorraine-Sarre). Et, malgré l’exiguïté de ses côtes, à peine 67km de long, le pays est l’une des places fortes d’une des plus actives façades maritimes au monde, celle qui court du Havre à Hambourg.

Extrait du guide GEOGuide Belgique

Les entreprises, les administrations et les commerces ferment lors des jours fériés, mais certains musées, monuments et restaurants restent ouverts pour l’occasion. Les communautés linguistiques de Belgique ont chacune leur propre fête : ce jour-là, magasins et administrations ferment leurs portes dans les territoires concernés.

1 er janvier Nouvel An Mars ou avril Lundi de Pâques 1er mai Fête du Travail Mai Ascension Mai ou juin Lundi de Pentecôte 11 juillet Fête de la Communauté flamande 21 juillet Fête nationale 15 août Assomption 27 septembre Fête de la Communauté francophone 1 er novembre Toussaint 11 novembre Armistice de 1918 15 novembre Fête de la Communauté germanophone 25 décembre Noël

Gastronomie

Salé – Chaque région possède ses plats traditionnels : les cailles, la potée et les boulets liégeois, l’anguille anversoise, le coucou malinois, le hochepot à la campinoise, la carbonade à la bière ou le gratin d’asperges à la flamande – une contrée où l’on mêle souvent le sucré et le salé… Mais il en est un qui réunit tout le monde, Wallons et Flamands : la frite . Ce n’est certes pas le mets le plus raffiné qui soit, mais une véritable institution dans la culture gastronomique du pays. Pour obtenir des frites légères et croustillantes, les Belges ont leur secret : ils les plongent non pas une, mais deux fois dans l’huile. Les meilleures se dégustent dans les “fritures” (“frituur” en néerlandais), que possèdent toutes les villes dignes de ce nom. Autre classique, les moules (frites), que les restaurateurs accommodent à toutes les sauces : marinières, au vin blanc, à l’ail, mais aussi miroton, voire en ragoût. Quant aux fromages , la Belgique n’en compte pas moins de 80 sortes différentes : les frais (bètchéye de Nivelles), les tendres (bouquet des moines, remoudou de Herve), les midurs (orval, westamalle, val-dieu), ceux à pâte dure (vieux bruges), les bleus (Franchimont) et les fromages de chèvre.

Sucré – Les Belges préparent aussi, pour le plus grand bonheur des gourmands, une variété infinie de pâtisseries , dont nombre n’existent qu’en région : le baiser de Malmedy, le mokken à Gand… Mais il y a quatre plaisirs sucrés que tout visiteur du plat pays se doit de goûter : les gaufres, le chocolat, les pralines et les spéculoos . Ces derniers sont des biscuits aux épices sucrés et croquants qui se marient divinement avec les boissons chaudes. Nombre de cafés en offrent d’ailleurs avec le café ou le thé. La recette est simple : farine, beurre, œufs, sucre candi et épices (cannelle, gingembre, clou de girofle, noix de muscade, cardamome, poivre blanc et vanille). Quant aux gaufres , les Belges n’ont pas leur pareil pour les faire, nature ou nappées de sucre, chantilly, chocolat… Les plus célèbres sont sans aucun doute les gaufres de Bruxelles. Le chocolat de Belgique est connu dans le monde entier. On serait même tenté de dire qu’il s’agit d’un des meilleurs ambassadeurs du pays. Car les Belges ne badinent pas avec sa fabrication. Si une directive européenne autorise, depuis 2003, l’utilisation de 5% de matières grasses végétales autres que le beurre de cacao, la plupart des chocolatiers demeurent fidèles au 100% beurre de cacao. Pour le reste, les Belges gardent leur secret. Enfin, il y a les pralines : d’onctueuses bouchées au chocolat fourré.

Bière – La fabrication : première étape, le maltage, qui consiste à transformer l’orge en malt : les grains sont trempés dans de l’eau et amenés à germination ; puis on les sèche pour arrêter la germination. Vient ensuite le brassage, qui active la transformation de l’amidon en sucres élémentaires ou fermentescibles. Le malt est séparé du moût primitif par filtrage, qui est cuit dans des chaudières à 100°C. C’est à ce stade que sont ajoutés le houblon et les arômes. Troisième étape, la fermentation. La fermentation haute , réalisée avec des ferments de type Saccharomyces cerevisiae . Ces levures travaillent à la surface du moût et forment une couche épaisse et mousseuse, d’où l’appellation haute. Ce procédé sert à la fabrication de la blanche et des bières d’abbaye. La fermentation basse , qui recourt aux ferments de type Saccharomyces uvarum . À la fin de l’opération, les levures tombent au fond de la cuve, d’où sa qualification de basse. Cette fermentation permet d’obtenir des bières peu aromatiques qui laissent ressortir l’arôme et le goût du houblon. C’est la levure des “pils” classiques. Enfin, la fermentation spontanée (lambic, gueuze), qui utilise les levures naturelles de la bière, comme chez Cantillon à Bruxelles, la dernière brasserie traditionnelle au monde. Après la fermentation du moût, la boisson doit encore mûrir. Cette maturation va d’une semaine à plusieurs mois (jusqu’à 3 ans pour la gueuze Cantillon). Elle est ensuite filtrée, sauf dans le cas des trappistes, qui pratiquent la refermentation en bouteille. Les différentes bières : la Belgique compte près de 130 brasseries, plus de 450 bières différentes et 18 000 noms de bière : des blondes, brunes, blanches, rousses, ambrées, trappistes ou d’abbaye, que l’on peut classer en cinq grandes catégories. Les pils , la bière “de base” : elles représentent près de 70% des bières consommées en Belgique ; leur teneur en alcool tourne autour de 5%. Les blanches : en plus des quatre ingrédients classiques (eau, malt, houblon et levure), les brasseurs ajoutent du froment (la Hoegaarden). Les trappistes et les bières d’abbaye : les premières sont brassées dans une abbaye par des moines, tandis que les secondes ne conservent que la recette et le nom hérités d’une institution religieuse mais sont produites dans des brasseries normales. Il n’existe que sept trappistes au monde, dont six en Belgique : l’Orval, la Rochefort, la Chimay, la Westmalle, la Westvleteren et l’Achel. Les lambics , gueuze et kriek : la gueuze-lambic est une bière de la région bruxelloise, obtenue par fermentation spontanée, sans ajout de levure. Pour obtenir la kriek, les brasseurs font macérer des cerises dans les fûts de chêne où fermente le lambic. Les ambrées , ou “ales”, sont, elles, des bières légèrement houblonnées.

Restauration

De la baraque à frites au restaurant gastronomique en passant par la taverne et la table d’hôtes, le choix est large ! On trouve d’excellents restaurants de poisson et fruits de mer sur la côte, tandis que dans les terres le gibier est à l’honneur. Sachez qu’en Belgique, on déjeune le matin, on dîne à midi et on soupe le soir. Les restaurants servent généralement de 12h à 15h et de 19h à 22h. En été, il est conseillé de réserver sa table dans les établissements gastronomiques, surtout le soir, les week-ends et les jours fériés. Attention, les restaurants belges ne servent pas de carafe d’eau gratuite comme en France, mais des bouteilles payantes d’eau minérale, plate ou gazeuse. Enfin quelques spécialités locales : pour les petites faims, les “caricoles” (petits escargots) et les “pistolets” (sandwichs souvent fourrés aux frites) feront parfaitement l’affaire ; au restaurant, un “filet américain” désigne un steak tartare ; et, pour boire une bière blonde légère, demandez une “pils”.

Quand partir ?

Sa latitude et sa façade maritime sur la mer du Nord valent à la Belgique un climat tempéré océanique, doux et pluvieux, caractérisé par des températures modérées, des vents dominants soufflant du secteur ouest, une forte nébulosité et des pluies fréquentes et régulières, voire de la neige, particulièrement en Ardenne. Les différences de températures entre le nord et le sud, peu perceptibles en été (15°C en moyenne en juillet en Ardenne contre 17°C à Bruxelles et 16°C sur la côte), sont, en revanche, plus prononcées en hiver (0°C environ en janvier en Ardenne, contre 3°C à Bruxelles et 3,5°C au bord de la mer). Côté précipitations, il est des zones nettement plus pluvieuses que d’autres. Ainsi, la vallée de la Semois et les Hautes Fagnes reçoivent quelque 1 400mm de précipitations par an, contre moins de 800mm dans le centre et le nord du pays. De manière générale, l’Ardenne est bien arrosée : il y pleut 200 jours par an, contre 160 à 180 jours dans le reste du pays.

La Belgique jouit d’un climat assez homogène, influencé par l’air marin, même si les hauts plateaux de l’Ardenne sont en général plus frais. La meilleure période est sans doute comprise entre les mois de mai et de septembre. Les températures sont alors douces et tempérées, même si des passages pluvieux plus ou moins nombreux ne sont pas à exclure, y compris en plein été. En juillet-août, l’affluence peut être importante, voire pesante à Bruges, et il est conseillé de réserver son hébergement, particulièrement en Ardenne lorsque la saison des randonnées (à la fin de l’été) bat son plein. Les carnavals, innombrables, sont hautement recommandés : en février, ceux du Mardi gras (Binche, Alost, Malmedy, Eupen…), en juin, le Doudou de Mons et l’Ommegang à Bruxelles, en juillet les fêtes gantoises et enfin, en août, la Ducasse d’Ath. Au printemps, vous n’échapperez sans doute pas à la pluie qui tombe un jour sur quatre, mais vous profiterez d’une hausse de 10°C de température entre mars et mai. Évitez le mois de décembre, le plus pluvieux de l’année, et l’hiver en général, à moins d’aimer le brouillard, fréquent en cette période.

Comparer les transports et hôtels

Les incontournables, que faire à bruges en bateau , que faire à bruxelles quand il fait chaud , quelles sont les plus belles villes de belgique , les 10 lieux à ne pas manquer à bruxelles, quels sont les plus beaux villages de wallonie , que voir que faire , bruxelles et le brabant.

Bruxelles – Sa population (1 181 200 hab., dont 385 000 étrangers, pour la région de Bruxelles-Capitale ; 178 000 hab. pour la commune) fait passer la petite capitale de la Belgique pour un village européen. Comment a-t-elle donc pu être portée à jouer un si grand rôle dans le concert des nations ? Selon la version officielle, elle le doit à sa taille même, gage de désintéressement. Sans doute son goût du brassage y est-il aussi pour quelque chose. De mélanges, la ville n’en a en effet jamais manqué. Elle forma d’abord un carrefour privilégié sur les routes du négoce médiéval, comme l’illustre sa Grand-Place ( Grote Markt en flamand, “grand marché”) qui reste, avec son fastueux décor, la vitrine la plus exemplaire de l’âge d’or du commerce nord-européen des XVI e et XVII e siècles. C’est dans cet antre central et dans les ruelles environnantes, parfois encore bordées de maisons au beau pignon de brique et d’estaminets sans âge où l’on sert la bière au fût, que Bruxelles a forgé son image : celle d’une cité active, bruissante et pragmatique, un brin artiste et toujours bonhomme, à l’instar de celui dont elle a fait son symbole, le Manneken-Pis, goguenard devant les passants alors qu’il est en train, l’air de rien, de souiller une fontaine publique ! Ici, en effet, pas de rêve de grandeur indue, pas d’idéalisme forcené ni de fierté outrée : les Bruxellois cultivent un art non moins subtil, celui du décalage, mêlant toujours une dose de fantasque à leur pinte de quotidien. Ainsi Bruxelles est-elle le berceau d’un véritable type belge, le zwanseur , cet habitant du quartier des Marolles réputé pour son côté bon vivant et son humour mâtiné de nostalgie. Elle a également vu s’épanouir le surréalisme belge et sa drôle de folie douce rendue célèbre par Magritte ; l’Art nouveau, dont les courbes flexueuses et élégantes visaient à enchanter la fonctionnalité du quotidien ; et enfin, véritable passion nationale, la bande dessinée, qui fit ses armes dans la presse quotidienne avant de s’imposer comme le neuvième art et de mettre des bulles partout dans la ville : nombre de fresques de BD ornent en effet ses façades… Pourtant, Bruxelles n’a pas échappé aux outrages de l’utilitarisme contemporain. Depuis 1950, les urbanistes ont rivalisé (d’absence) d’imagination pour l’éventrer de voies rapides, rasant ses vieux quartiers au profit d’immeubles de bureaux sans âme… Au final apparaît une agglomération souvent déroutante, comme désarticulée et réduite à ses fonctions, en particulier dans le véritable ghetto administratif des institutions européennes.

Louvain – Bruxelles a depuis longtemps évincé son ancienne rivale à la tête du Brabant. Mais, même si elle ne compte que 97 000 habitants, Louvain n’a pas ravalé sa fierté ! De fait, l’époque où sa prospérité égalait celle de sa voisine lui a légué un splendide hôtel de ville, réputé le plus beau de Belgique. Ce monument au décor profus témoigne comme nul autre de l’activité fiévreuse qui régnait alors aux Pays-Bas… Si la crise économique qui frappa le drap flamand au XV e siècle n’épargna pas Louvain, la cité se forgea très vite une nouvelle gloire : en 1425, en lieu et place de la halle aux draps, s’ouvrit l’une des plus importantes universités des Flandres ! Dès le milieu du XV e siècle, plus de cinquante collèges prospéraient à Louvain, attirant quelque 6 000 étudiants et des professeurs aussi célèbres qu’Érasme ou Jansénius. Depuis, la cité a vécu tout entière de ce rayonnement intellectuel et, n’ayant pas connu le développement commerçant puis industriel des autres grandes villes universitaires européennes, elle est l’une des rares à en perpétuer le visage ancien : ses ruelles sont bordées d’un grand nombre de collèges des XVI e -XVIII e siècles et plus de 30 000 étudiants, soit près du tiers de sa population, en investissent toujours le moindre recoin !

Flandre-Orientale, Flandre-Occidentale

Bruges – Un va-et-vient de calèches battant le pavé, une haie de maisons en brique au subtil dégradé de couleurs, un palais à l’ornementation foisonnante, un beffroi carillonnant… La Grand-Place offre un raccourci saisissant des attraits de la ville, auxquels il faut ajouter les canaux, dont les eaux sombres et immobiles tendent un miroir aux maisons à pignons et aux arbres des quais. Le soir, un calme absolu descend sur les toits en ardoise et les tours des églises. Le monde moderne a déposé les armes aux portes de cette ville lovée dans une boucle de la Reie. Aucune enseigne publicitaire, aucun immeuble voyant ne vient troubler son extraordinaire unité architecturale. Jusqu’aux voitures, priées d’être discrètes. C’est cette image de musée en plein air que rien ne vient altérer qui captive tant les visiteurs. Comment en effet ne pas être envoûté par l’atmosphère recueillie du béguinage, la poésie du Minnewater ou les trésors de l’église Notre-Dame ? Comment rester de marbre devant les fleurons de la peinture flamande, témoignages uniques d’un âge d’or révolu ?

Gand – Flanqués de maisons à pignon qui portent encore sur leurs façades les armoiries des corporations, les quais du port médiéval marquent l’entrée de la “Cuve”, cœur historique de Gand dominé par trois majestueuses tours gothiques. Mais, à la différence de Bruges, la cité qui a vu naître Charles Quint n’a rien d’un musée. Elle vit pleinement au XXI e siècle, accueillant notamment une importante population étudiante. Son musée d’Art contemporain, son musée du Design et ses nombreuses salles de spectacles témoignent d’une effervescence culturelle qui culmine en juillet : dix jours durant, envahie par deux millions de personnes, la ville ne dort plus. Une fois les tréteaux de ces Fêtes gantoises repliés, vous pourrez apprécier la diversité des paysages urbains, marqués par la Lys et l’Escaut, la silhouette massive de la forteresse des comtes de Flandre, les usines textiles reconverties en musées, les placettes médiévales et les édifices Art nouveau. Et, dans la quiétude de la cathédrale Saint-Bavon, vous pourrez vous abîmer dans la contemplation du polyptyque de L’Agneau mystique , chef-d’œuvre de la peinture occidentale. Vous l’aurez compris, Gand mérite bien plus qu’une simple halte entre Bruxelles et Bruges…

Provinces d’Anvers et de Limbourg

Anvers – Ville la plus peuplée de Belgique (515 000 hab. pour la commune, 1 250 000 pour l’agglomération) et chef-lieu de la province de Flandre, Anvers est également la métropole commerciale du pays, ainsi que le deuxième port européen après Rotterdam. Elle surgit à 88km de la mer, au fond de l’estuaire de l’Escaut, fleuve qui a assuré son essor et sa prospérité… et qui est indirectement à l’origine de son nom : on raconte qu’au début de notre ère, un géant nommé Druon Antigoon semait la terreur en rançonnant les marins qui remontaient le cours d’eau. Ceux-ci devaient s’acquitter d’un droit de passage exorbitant, sous peine d’avoir le bras tranché. Un officier romain, Silvius Brabo, mit fin à cette tyrannie : il terrassa le tyran en combat singulier, lui coupa une main (en néerlandais hand ) et la jeta ( werpen ) dans l’Escaut. Depuis, le théâtre de ce haut fait d’armes est nommé Antwerpen, le brave ayant laissé son patronyme à la région, le Brabant. Plus prosaïquement, le nom de la métropole flamande proviendrait du vieux néerlandais aanwerp , qui signifie “avancée de terre” (sur l’Escaut). Les Anversois ont depuis longtemps tranché entre le mythe et la linguistique : c’est une statue de Brabo qui trône sur la Grand-Place…

Malines – Malines peut s’enorgueillir d’un passé prestigieux. Dès le XIII e siècle, l’industrie et le commerce du textile lui apportent la prospérité. En 1384, elle intègre le duché de Bourgogne et, moins d’un siècle plus tard, Charles le Téméraire y installe la cour suprême de justice des Pays-Bas : la ville entre dans son âge d’or. Sous la régence de Marguerite d’Autriche (1480-1530), tante de Charles Quint, Malines devient la capitale des Pays-Bas. Pour peu de temps : lorsque Marie de Hongrie, sœur de l’empereur, succède à Marguerite, la Cour retourne à Bruxelles. De cette période faste, Malines conserve de somptueux édifices administratifs, patriciens et ecclésiastiques. Elle possède d’ailleurs le plus grand nombre de bâtiments classés de Belgique, dont la tour Saint-Rombaut, le beffroi de l’hôtel de ville, le grand béguinage…

Province de Liège

Liège – Née il y a treize siècles sur les rives de la Meuse, Liège forme aujourd’hui le centre de la troisième région urbaine de Belgique et première de Wallonie. Si la ville compte près de 200 000 habitants intramuros (dont environ 95 000 étudiants), l’agglomération en rassemble quelque 600 000. Limitrophe des Pays-Bas et de l’Allemagne (à 30km de Maastricht et 50km d’Aix-la-Chapelle), Liège est aussi la plus nordique des cités francophones d’Europe. En dépit d’une architecture urbaine franchement composite, pour ne pas dire incohérente tant le béton y a généreusement coulé, la ville n’est pas dépourvue de charme. Celui-ci se dévoile timidement dans les rues du cœur historique, riche de plusieurs hôtels patriciens, dans celles du quartier d’Outremeuse, vivant et populaire, dans les alentours de la place Saint-Lambert, dominée par le palais des Princes-Évêques, ou lors d’une promenade sur ses hauteurs, du côté de Publémont ou des coteaux de la Citadelle. Sur le plan culturel, Liège ne compte pas moins de vingt musées, dont celui, remarquable, d’Art moderne et d’Art contemporain, et jouit d’une vie artistique intense, grâce notamment à son Opéra royal. Très fortement industrialisés au XIX e siècle, ses faubourgs présentent peu d’attraits, mais peuvent exercer une certaine fascination avec leurs terrils et leurs usines sidérurgiques désaffectées. En poussant quelques kilomètres plus loin, vous découvrirez une région plus avenante, celle du château du Val-Saint-Lambert, du site préhistorique de Ramioul, des mines de Blegny, ou du pays de Herve.

Provinces de Namur et de Luxembourg

Namur – Située au confluent de la Sambre et de la Meuse, la capitale de la Wallonie a des airs de vieille dame bourgeoise avec ses maisons austères, ses ruelles tracées au cordeau et son élégante citadelle perchée sur un promontoire. Aux beaux jours, Namur s’égaie : les cafés de la vieille ville installent leurs tables en terrasse et les festivités estivales animent la cité. En septembre, les fêtes de Wallonie sont même le prétexte à une gigantesque beuverie… Et la vieille dame perd alors sa retenue ! La ville mérite surtout qu’on s’y arrête pour ses superbes musées et ses édifices religieux, comme la remarquable église baroque Saint-Loup. Profitez aussi de votre séjour pour visiter les châteaux du Namurois (Corroy-le-Château, Spontin)… ou les occuper : certains abritent en effet des chambres d’hôtes dont le décor vous plongera quelques siècles en arrière. La région regorge d’excellentes maisons d’hôtes et de gîtes, bien moins chers que les hôtels de Namur.

Dinant – Petit bourg touristique bâti le long de la Meuse, Dinant s’impose comme l’une des étapes incontournables du sud du pays. La citadelle perchée au sommet d’une falaise vertigineuse, l’élégant clocher à bulbe de la collégiale et les façades joyeuses qui se reflètent dans l’eau composent un décor de carte postale. L’été, les yachts s’amarrent aux quais et les cafés installent leurs terrasses dans une ambiance tropézienne. Une journée suffit à visiter les différentes curiosités de la ville, mais il faut en consacrer au moins deux autres à ses environs, riches de nombreuses forteresses médiévales, de ruines dominant la Meuse et de manoirs aux splendides jardins. D’autres activités vous retiendront également : descente de la Lesse en kayak, escalade des rochers de Freÿr, draisine dans la vallée de la Molignée… Ne repartez pas sans avoir goûté à la couque, une pâtisserie qu’on lèche comme un bonbon, ou à la flamiche, une tarte au fromage qui se déguste l’hiver.

Province de Hainaut

Tournai – Tournai s’enorgueillit d’être l’une des plus anciennes villes de Belgique, et la première capitale de l’Occident chrétien : c’est de là, en effet, que le roi franc Clovis partit à la conquête d’une grande partie de la Gaule, et que la dynastie mérovingienne prit son essor… Aujourd’hui, la belle cité picarde exhibe avec fierté ses trésors : la Grand-Place, le beffroi et la cathédrale – ces deux derniers inscrits au patrimoine mondial de l’Unesco –, mais aussi ses nombreux musées (de la Porcelaine, de la Tapisserie, etc.). De la Grand-Place aux quais de l’Escaut, les rues pavées et les façades à pignons des maisons en brique et pierre bleue (typique de la région) donnent au centre-ville un joli cachet, tandis que les bars qui bordent le fleuve accueillent en nombre les touristes, notamment des Français des environs de Lille venus guincher le week-end.

Mons – La capitale du Hainaut est une jolie ville d’art (élue capitale européenne de la culture en 2015), dont le centre se parcourt facilement à pied. Il faut arpenter ses ruelles pavées et pentues pour apprécier la belle architecture locale, tout en pierre et brique. Dans ce décor harmonieux, impossible de manquer la collégiale Sainte-Waudru, le beffroi à bulbes et l’hôtel de ville, chefs-d’œuvre de l’architecture montoise. Si la ville n’offre pas autant d’animations que Liège, on ne s’y ennuie pas. La présence des quelque 6 000 étudiants de l’université de Mons-Hainaut n’y est pas étrangère : chaque soir, les bars de la place du Marché-aux-Herbes font le plein ! Mais c’est sans conteste pendant la ducasse que l’animation atteint son apogée.

L’addition : Rekening

Médecin : Dokteur

Je ne comprends pas : Ik en versta niet

Merci : Dank u

S’il vous plaît : Alstublieft

Au revoir : Tot ziens

Bonjour : Goedendag ou Hallo

Oui / non : Ja/Neen

Combien coûte ? : Hooveel kost…?

Toilettes : Vertrek

Formalités administratives

Pour un séjour n’excédant pas trois mois, les citoyens de l’Union européenne et les Suisses peuvent entrer avec une simple carte d’identité, ou bien un passeport en cours de validité ou périmé depuis moins de 5 ans. Aucun visa n’est demandé aux citoyens canadiens : un passeport en cours de validité suffit.

Le coût de la vie en Belgique équivaut peu ou prou à celui de la France. Les hôtels sont assez chers, ce qui incite à privilégier la formule des chambres d’hôtes et des gîtes d’étape. Au restaurant, la note a tendance à être plus salée qu’en France, surtout en Flandre et dans les grandes villes où les prix peuvent s’envoler. Quant à l’alcool, il est meilleur marché, ce qui engendre un petit trafic de bière de part et d’autre de la frontière franco-belge… Le budget minimum par jour et par personne est d’environ 50€ pour une nuit au camping, un en-cas à midi, une visite et un repas complet le soir. Le budget moyen avoisine les 90 à 100€ avec des repas plus copieux et un hébergement de bon standing comprenant le petit déjeuner. On comptera plus du double pour les gros budgets : à ce prix-là, on peut prétendre à un hôtel très confortable, et à un établissement gastronomique le soir. À Bruxelles, le budget du visiteur doit encore être revu à la hausse : comptez 25-50€ le repas complet avec vin et café, et de 80 à 150€ la chambre double. Heureusement, d’importantes réductions sont concédées les week-ends et en été dans la capitale ainsi que dans les autres grandes villes : n’hésitez pas à négocier. Dans la gamme de prix , les fourchettes de prix des hébergements s’entendent pour une chambre double avec petit déjeuner en haute saison (juillet-août). Les tarifs varient en fonction de la catégorie des établissements. Les gammes de prix des restaurants sont établies sur la base d’un repas (entrée-plat ou plat-dessert) sans boisson. Tenez bien compte, en outre, du prix de l’eau (environ 4€ la bouteille) qui n’est jamais servie en carafe dans les restaurants.

Hôtels, campings, chambres d’hôtes, gîtes d’étape, auberges de jeunesse : la Belgique dispose d’une gamme complète d’hébergements. La grande majorité des hôtels sont ouverts toute l’année, mais certains ferment juste avant la haute saison (fin juin-début juillet) ou au cœur de l’été, comme à Bruxelles. Il est donc prudent de se renseigner avant d’y séjourner.

Ils sont nombreux sur la côte et dans les régions “vertes”, qui offrent un beau cadre naturel comme l’Ardenne. L’immense majorité des campings sont très bien tenus : emplacements bien délimités, sanitaires propres, équipement complet (lave-linge, épicerie…). On plante généralement sa tente parmi ou à côté de rangées de mobil-homes et de camping-cars, très prisés par les Flamands et les Néerlandais. Pensez à réserver en haute saison. Le camping sauvage est interdit. Union des campings de Belgique Campings en Flandre. www.camping.be Campings de Wallonie www.campingbelgique.be

Auberges de jeunesse

C’est, après le camping, la solution d’hébergement la moins chère, et pas la moins désagréable : les auberges de jeunesse offrent généralement un excellent rapport qualité-prix. Les structures sont modernes, confortables, bien situées et tenues par des équipes dynamiques. Qui dit mieux ? Pour y loger partout dans le monde, il faut se procurer la carte internationale dans son pays de résidence.

Carte internationale des auberges de jeunesse – En France, elle couvre une année civile (du 1 er janvier au 31 décembre) et coûte 7€ pour les moins de 26 ans et 11€ pour les plus de 26 ans. La carte permet d’obtenir de nombreuses réductions : location de voiture, restaurants, musées, etc. La liste des avantages adhérents est disponible sur le site de la LAJ (Fédération des auberges de jeunesse de Belgique francophone). FUAJ (France) Fédération unie des auberges de jeunesse. www.fuaj.org Hostelling International (Canada) www.hihostels.ca SJH (Suisse) www.youthhostel.ch LAJ (Belgique francophone) Fédération des auberges de jeunesse. www.lesaubergesdejeunesse.be Vlaamse Jeugdherbergcentrale (Belgique néerlandophone) www.vjh.be

Certainement le secteur qui reste à améliorer. L’offre est tantôt pléthorique (Bruxelles, Anvers, Bruges), tantôt réduite (Mons, Charleroi, le vieux Gand), mais les tarifs sont souvent assez élevés ! Bon à savoir : certains hôtels revoient leurs prix à la baisse le week-end, et il faut profiter de la basse saison pour séjourner à moindres frais, notamment dans les grands hôtels des villes d’art. À Bruxelles, des réductions importantes sont accordées durant les vacances scolaires. Sur place, vérifiez bien que le prix de votre chambre comprend le petit déjeuner. Les Logis de Belgique Réservations d’hôtels ayant en commun un cadre familial et le respect du terroir. www.logis.be

Chambres d’hôtes et gîtes

Ce type d’hébergement est une excellente alternative au séjour en hôtel. La formule de la chambre d’hôtes , qui fonctionne comme un bed & breakfast, permet de séjourner chez l’habitant pour, à tarif égal, des prestations (notamment l’accueil) et un confort souvent supérieurs à ceux d’un hôtel. Ici, les chambres sont personnalisées et les petits déjeuners plantureux (confitures maison, fromages et charcuteries régionales). La formule table d’hôtes quelquefois proposée est idéale pour goûter aux produits du terroir. De plus, certaines chambres d’hôtes sont aménagées dans de vieux bâtiments de charme : couvent, maison de maître, château seigneurial… À essayer au moins une fois ! Généralement situés à la campagne, les gîtes conviendront aux visiteurs qui veulent séjourner plusieurs jours en bénéficiant d’une autonomie complète : cuisine équipée, sanitaires, chambres et salles de bains, lave-vaisselle, machine à laver, etc. Au menu : repos, calme, verdure et balades dans les environs… Gîtes d’étape du Centre belge du tourisme des jeunes Gîtes d’étape en Wallonie et à Bruxelles.  www.gitesdetape.be Gîtes de Wallonie Réservation de gîtes, meublés de tourisme et chambres d’hôtes en Wallonie et à Bruxelles. www.gitesdewallonie.net Bed and Brussels Chambres d’hôtes à Bruxelles. www.bnb-brussels.be

Santé / sécurité

Numéros d’urgence.

Pompiers, service médical d’urgence Tél. 100 Police Tél. 101 Croix-Rouge Tél. 105 Accident, agression Tél. 112 (numéro d’urgence européen) Centre anti-poison Tél. 070 245 245

CHU Saint-Pierre de Bruxelles Tél. 02 535 31 11  www.chusaintpierre.be CHU de Liège Domaine universitaire du Sart Tilman Tél. 04 366 77 11 www.chuliege.be AZ Sint-Lucas de Gand Tél. 09 224 61 11 ou 09 224 55 50 www.azstlucas.be AZ Middelheim d’Anvers Tél. 03 280 31 11 www.zna.be

© Gallimard Loisirs Aurélia Bollé, Karim Bourtel, Vincent Noyoux, Laurent Vaultier, Françoise Aubry, Séverine Bascot, Michel Draguet, Hélène Le Tac Aurélia Bollé, Karim Bourtel, Vincent Noyoux, Laurent Vaultier, Françoise Aubry, Séverine Bascot, Michel Draguet, Hélène Le Tac

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Belgium is perhaps the world’s most misunderstood nation, but also one of its most fascinating, punching far above its weight in all sorts of ways. With three official languages, and an intense regional rivalry between the Flemish-speaking north and the French-speaking south that perpetually threatens to split the country in two, it’s actually a miracle that Belgium exists at all.

Country facts Belgium

Where to go in belgium, famous belgian chocolate, festival van vlaanderen (june–dec), french and flemish place names, travel ideas for belgium, created by local experts.

8 days  / from 2808 USD

The best of the Netherlands and Belgium

This trip will bring you the best of two countries: the Netherlands and Belgium. From the quaint streets, canals and windmills of Holland to beer and Belgium chocolate tasting in three beautiful Belgium cities. This trip has it all.

9 days  / from 3024 USD

Experience the Liberation Route in BeNeLux

Explore the path of the World War II Liberation Route through Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Visit important landmarks and museums on the way with this self drive itinerary, with enough time to explore cities such as Brussels and Rotterdam on the way.

10 days  / from 5616 USD

Taste of Three - Belgium, France and Switzerland

Start your journey in Belgium and explore Brussels, Ghent and Bruges. A high-speed train will then take you to Strasbourg, from where you'll discover the Alsace. Proceed to Basel as your base, from where you'll see plenty of Switzerland: Zermatt, Matterhorn, Mount Pilatus and much more.

But its historic cities – most famously Brussels , Bruges , Antwerp and Ghent – are the equal of any in Europe. And its cuisine is reason alone to justify a visit, with a host of wonderful regional specialities. Belgium also boasts some pockets of truly beautiful countryside in its hilly, wooded south and the flatter north – and, perhaps most famously, it produces the most diverse range of beers of any country on the planet.

Many outsiders view travelling to Belgium as good weekend-break material, but not much else. Which is a pity, as this is historically one of the most complex and intriguing parts of Europe. Squeezed in between France, Germany and the Netherlands, Belgium occupies a spot that has often decided the European balance of power.

It was here in Belgium that the Romans shared an important border with the Germanic tribes to the north. Here that the Spanish Habsburgs finally met their match in the Protestant rebels of the Netherlands. Here that Napoleon was finally defeated at the Battle of Waterloo. And – most famously – here, too, that the British and Belgians slugged it out with the Germans in World War I. Indeed so many powers have had an interest in this region that it was only in 1830 that Belgium became a separate, independent state.

• Belgium is one of the smallest nations in Europe, with a population of around 10 million.
• Around 5.5 million live in Flemish-speaking Flanders, while 3.5 million dwell in French-speaking Wallonia; there’s also a small German-speaking community in the east.
• The tenacity of regional (and linguistic) feeling is such that Belgium is a federal state. Both Flanders and Wallonia have their own regional administrations, as does the capital, Brussels, which is officially bilingual and has a population of around one million.
• A constitutional monarchy, Belgium has a bicameral parliament, comprising the Senate and Chamber of Deputies.

River view of old town with bridge in Bruges, Belgium

Belgium divides between the Flemish (Dutch-speaking) north of the country, known as Flanders , and French-speaking Wallonia in the south. There’s more to this divide than just language, though: the north and south of the country are visually very different. The north, made up of the provinces of West and East Flanders, Antwerp, Limburg and the top half of Brabant, is mainly flat, with a landscape and architecture not unlike the Netherlands.

Antwerp is the largest city here, a sprawling, bustling old port with doses of high fashion and high art in roughly equal measure. Further west, in the two provinces of Flanders, are the great Belgian medieval cloth towns of Bruges and Ghent, with a stunning concentration of Flemish art and architecture. Bruges in particular is the country’s biggest tourist pull, and although this inevitably means it gets very crowded, you shouldn’t miss it on any account.

Beyond lies the Belgian coast, which makes valiant attempts to compete with the seaside resorts of the rest of Europe but is ultimately let down by the coldness of the North Sea. Nonetheless, there are a couple of appealing seaside resorts, most notably De Haan, and the beaches and duney interludes along the coast are delightful. Nonetheless, you might be better off spending time in some of the other inland Flanders towns, not least Ieper, formerly and better known as Ypres, where every year visitors come to reflect on the stark sights of the nearby World War I battlefields and vast, sad acreages of cemeteries.

Marking the meeting of the Flemish and Walloon parts of Belgium, Brussels, the capital, is more exciting and varied than its reputation as a bland Euro-capital would suggest. Central enough to be pretty much unavoidable, it’s moreover useful as a base for day-trips, especially given that Belgium isn’t a large country and has an excellent public transport system. Bruges and Ghent are easily accessible from here, as is the old university city of Leuven to the east, and the cathedral city of Mechelen, halfway to Antwerp.

Flemish Brabant encircles Brussels, but to the south of the capital it narrows into a slender corridor beyond which lies Wallonian Brabant , distinguished by the splendid church at Nivelles and the elegaic abbey ruins at nearby Villers-la-Ville. To the west of Brussels, the Walloon province of Hainaut is dotted with industrial centres like Charleroi and more appealing Mons, but also home to the handsome old town of Tournai.

To the east lies Belgium’s most scenically rewarding region, the Ardennes , spread across the three provinces of Namur, Liège and Luxembourg. This is an area of deep, wooded valleys and heathy plateaux, often very wild and excellent for hiking, cycling and canoeing. Use either Namur or Luxembourg City as a jumping-off point for the heart of the region, at Bouillon or La Roche-en-Ardenne.

Discover more places in Belgium

• Flanders Travel Guide
• Hainaut and Wallonian Brabant Travel Guide

Belgians get through a lot of chocolate – several kilograms per person every year – but considering how good it is here, it’s a wonder it isn’t more. The Belgians picked up their love of chocolate via the most circuitous of historical routes. The Aztecs of Mexico were drinking chocolate, which they believed gave them wisdom and power, when Hernando Cortéz’s Spanish conquistadors turned up in 1519.

Cortéz took a liking to the stuff and, after butchering the locals, brought cocoa beans back to Spain as a novelty gift for the Emperor Charles V in 1528. Within a few years its consumption had spread across Charles’s empire, including today’s Belgium and Luxembourg. At first the making of chocolate was confined to a few Spanish monasteries, but eventually Belgians got into the act and they now produce what are generally regarded as the best chocolates in the world.

There are around two thousand chocolate shops around the country and even the smallest town or village will have at least one. Some brands are everywhere – Leonidas is perhaps the most ubiquitous; others include Godiva, Neuhaus and Moeder Babelutte. You won’t go far wrong buying from one of these places (it’s worth remembering that Belgian chocolates are cheaper in Belgium!). But try also to seek out the independent producers, for example Wittamer or Pierre Marcolini in Brussels, or Chocolate Line in Bruges, which may be a little more expensive but will often be higher quality and more interesting.

The extraordinarily ambitious Festival van Vlaanderen (Flanders Festival; w www.festival.be ) offers over 500 concerts of classical music in churches, castles and other historic venues in over eighty Flemish towns, cities and villages. Each of the big Flemish-speaking cities – Antwerp, Mechelen, Ghent and Bruges – gets a fair crack of the cultural whip, as does Brussels, with the festival celebrated for about two weeks in each city before it moves on to the next.

The list below provides the French and Flemish names of some of the more important towns in Belgium where the difference may cause confusion. The official name comes first, the alternative afterwards, except in the case of Brussels where both languages are of equal standing.

French–Flemish

• Bruxelles – Brussel
• Liège – Luik
• Mons – Bergen
• Namur – Namen
• Nivelles – Nijvel
• Soignies – Zinnik
• Tournai – Doornik

Flemish–French

• Antwerpen – Anvers
• Brugge – Bruges
• De Haan – Le Coq
• Gent – Gand
• Ieper – Ypres
• Kortrijk – Courtrai
• Leuven – Louvain
• Mechelen – Malines
• Oostende – Ostende
• Oudenaarde – Audenarde
• Ronse – Renaix
• Sint Truiden – St-Trond
• Tienen – Tirlemont
• Tongeren – Tongres
• Veurne – Furnes
• Zoutleeuw – Léau

Top image: The Rozenhoedkaai canal, Bruges © Boris Stroujko/Shutterstock

Travel advice for Belgium

From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Belgium

• Eating and drinking in Belgium
• How to get to Belgium
• Getting around Belgium: Transportation Tips
• Travel Tips Belgium for planning and on the go
• Best time to visit Belgium

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updated 30.04.2021

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Best of Belgium in One Week: The Ultimate 7 Day Itinerary

As a neighboring country to Germany, where I now live , Belgium is super accessible to me. I take full advantage of this proximity, because I absolutely adore Belgium. I think it is one of my favorite countries in all of Europe. Why you might ask? Because it is charming, delicious, and full of the best things – all in humble, underrated, and relatively unvisited packaging. From its bustling cities to its quaint towns, Belgium has a rich and proud cultural heritage just waiting for you to explore!

I really believe that Belgium has something to offer everyone. I was so confident in this belief that I took my in-laws to Belgium on their first ever trip to Europe in 2022.

I’ve visited Belgium several times since moving to Germany in 2019, discovering new and wonderful things each time. Whether you're a history buff, a foodie, a beer snob, or simply someone looking for a laid-back getaway, Belgium is the perfect destination.

In this blog post, I'll be showcasing my favorite Belgian cities and places to help you visit the best of Belgium in just one week. From sampling the country's famous chocolate to visiting its world-class museums, this itinerary is packed full of exciting experiences.

What You'll Find In This Post

How to Spend 7 Perfect Days in Belgium

Overview of this Itinerary

I have designed the itinerary for first-time travelers to visit the highlights of Belgium in just one week. Belgium is a relatively small country, so one week is a comfortable amount of time to see most of the highlights. You won’t be too rushed, but you can still maximize your stay.

This seven-day itinerary will take you on a journey through some of the country's most iconic cities, including Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges. I’ll also share a few hidden gems and off-the-beaten path places to help you fall in love with Belgium. You can see a map of the various locations below. You can prettily easily traverse all of Belgium in a few hours, so moving around is quick and easy.

I have set up this itinerary to be train-friendly. There is an extensive and reliable rail network connecting the whole country, which is run by the National Railway Company of Belgium (NMBS or SNCB for short). On my first trip to Belgium, we only used the trains and it was really simple. I definitely recommend this means of transportation, especially because of my goals to reduce carbon-emissions while traveling . You can buy individual tickets for the different legs, or a multi-route pass which includes a fixed number of rides. 

Alternatively, you can rent a car and explore Belgium on a road trip. This itinerary will also work with a car, and I have used this approach before. It gives you lots more freedom to be spontaneous and see smaller towns. But, it is much more expensive (gas is really pricey) and parking can be a challenge, especially in the old cities and city centers. The road conditions are excellent though and weather isn’t a super big concern, so you can feel confident doing a roadtrip in Belgium.

Day 1: Brussels

Because Brussels is both the capital of Belgium and the European Union, most 1 week trips to Belgium will begin in Brussels. Thankfully, Brussels is a vibrant and multicultural city, and just the perfect introduction to Belgium. You’ll get a sample of beautiful architecture, delicious food, fascinating attractions and of course wonderful beer.

Pop into one of the amazing chocolatiers around Brussels to try some of the best truffles and pralines you’ve ever had in your life. There are lots of nice places to grab a Belgian waffle or frites around this area too.

One of the must-see attractions in Brussels is the Grand Place, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is considered one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. On my first trip to Brussels, it happened to be on a national holiday, so the Grand Place was completely illuminated in a lights and visual show – such a cool first experience! Regardless of when you go, the square is surrounded by impressive guildhalls and the Gothic town hall.

Around the corner from the Grand Palace you can see one of the iconic attractions of Brussels – Manneken Pis . This small bronze statue of a boy urinating into a fountain has become a symbol of the city. Brussels is also home to several museums, including the Magritte Museum , which houses the largest collection of works by the famous Belgian surrealist artist, René Magritte. In addition, Brussels is a great city for art lovers, with many galleries and street art throughout the city. 

Brussels is also famous for its beer, so doing a DIY bar crawl in the evening is a great idea. Start with À la Bécasse , a hole-in-the-wall spot covered in wood paneling and specializing in Lambics and other varieties of Belgian beer. Head next to Au Bon Vieux Temps , which is one of the oldest bars in Brussels. Dating back to 1695, this bar is tucked away in an alley so you might miss it on your first pass by. End at my personal favorite, Moeder Lambic Fontainas . With a large patio out front and an exceptional Lambic selection, this bar is usually full of cool locals.

Day 2: Antwerp

For an excellent contrast to Brussels, head next to Antwerp, Belgium’s historic port city. Antwerp remains relatively unvisited by the tourist masses and I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed my time in Antwerp .

For more detailed suggestions about what to see and do in Antwerp, check out my separate post highlighting the best that the city has to offer. 

Easily accessible on a one hour train ride, you’ll be dropped off in what might be Europe’s most beautiful train station. Antwerp Central Station is a masterpiece of Art Nouveau architecture, with a towering glass roofed atrium, gilded details, multi-colored marble and massive clock. It feels like walking onto a set from a 1920s romantic movie.

From the train station, meander your way through the old city and to the redeveloped harbor area. The best part of the Old City is definitely the charming streets. Narrow alleys and picturesque squares are lined with quaint shops and cafes. My favorite narrow street is Vlaeykensgang Alley which has secret restaurants, perfect for lunch! Looking out over the waters of Willemdok, the hallmark of the harbor area is the Museum aan de Stroom (also shortened to MAS). With 7 floors of different exhibitions and galleries, MAS is another architectural marvel with red brick and glass sides. Plus it has a free panoramic view all the way at the top! 

Day 3 & 4: Bruges

Bruges is known throughout the world for its medieval buildings, romantic vibes, and winding canals. In fact, the entire historic city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site! While many tourists simply breeze through Bruges on a day trip from Brussels or Ghent, I believe it is worth at least an overnight if not two.

Because Bruges has so many cool things to see, I can’t include it all in this blog post. If you are looking for the perfect two day itinerary in Bruges, check out my separate post which includes all of my recommendations for an epic 48 hour visit in this gorgeous city.

One of the most charming and picturesque parts of Bruges is its canals. It is easy to enjoy the canals from land, especially on foot or by bike. They wrap around the whole city, and each one seems more picturesque than the last. You can also get out on the ware with a canal boat tour on one of the various companies offering chartered canal rides. Personally, my favorite way to get around in Bruges is by bike. It is safe and easy, and the compact city center means you’ll never be biking far before hitting your next cool attraction. 

As the sun starts to go down, you’ll notice that the vibe in Bruges changes. It is a cool feeling to experience, although I find myself struggling to describe it. Just trust me, it’s worth experiencing. I would recommend making your way towards Rosary Quay around sunset time. Sitting at a bend in the canals, Rosary has a beautiful view over central Bruges. It is really nicely lit at night for epic night photography shots. 

Day 5: Ghent

I was convinced to go to Ghent by a friend (who is dating a Belgian) because she said it was even more beautiful than Bruges. After visiting Ghent a couple of times, I totally agree and 100% recommend it. This Flemish-speaking city is often neglected in favor of more touristy places. As such, I am convinced Ghent is the most underrated city in Belgium! I would recommend at least 24 hours in Ghent to really soak in all the history, culture, and relaxed vibes of this gothic city. 

Ghent is a perfect combination of storybook streets, romantic canals, bohemian flair and cosmopolitan amenities. A few of the important highlights to appreciate in the old town are the three medieval towers of Ghent. Clustered together in the center of town, you’ll want to have a look at Saint Bavo’s Cathedral , Saint Nicholas’ Church and the Belfry Tower . The best viewpoint to see all three towers at once is from the Sint-Michielsbrug arched stone bridge. It is especially nice around sunset when the lively student population clusters around the river.

Located in the heart of the Flanders, Ghent is also a surprisingly foodie city in Belgium . Ranging from casual pubs to high-end fine dining, you can really feel the pride Ghent residents take in their restaurant scene. You will find comforting Flemish specialties like rich fish stews and cured meats. Additionally, foodies can discover exciting global cuisine, veggie forward menus, and the freshest seafood you could want in Ghent.

Day 6: Dinant & Durbuy

So far, this 1 week Belgium itinerary has been mostly large cities. Why not get off-the-beaten-path and explore some of the charming small towns in Belgium? I recommend Dinant and Durbuy, two charming towns located in the Ardennes region in southern Belgium. One day in Dinant and Durbuy is the perfect amount of time to experience the charming atmosphere and rich history of these towns, and to enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the Belgian Ardennes. 

Starting with Dinant, this small town is located on the banks of the Meuse River. Dinant has a strong musical culture with a famous musical instrument museum, and it hosts musical events throughout the year. One of the must-see sights in Dinant is the citadel, a fortified castle that sits high on a cliff overlooking the town. Visitors can take a cable car to the top to enjoy the panoramic views. Another popular attraction in Dinant is the Notre-Dame de Dinant cathedral, which is a beautiful gothic church that dates back to the 13th century.

After exploring Dinant, take a short drive or train ride to Durbuy. Dubuy is known as "the smallest city in the world" and it is well-worth a visit. It's a medieval village that will transport you back in time. More popular than Dinant, you are likely to run into at least a few tourists here. Thankfully, travelers don’t take away from Durbuy’s charm. From the cobblestone streets and old houses, to small shops and the castle in the middle of town, it is a very picturesque place. You can take a walk around and enjoy the atmosphere, or have a good meal in one of the local restaurants.

Of the destinations in this itinerary, these are the hardest to reach via train. The ride takes about 1 hour, but there are only regional (ie, slow) trains available. Although it is still possible to arrive by rail, driving is a more simple and efficient solution to visiting these small towns. The drive will take about 1 hour as well. With a little extra consideration, I promise these small towns will be worth it. The combination of cultural sights and natural beauty makes Dinant and Durbuy an ideal destination for visitors of all ages, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Day 7: Return to Brussels

As your wonderful week in Belgium comes to an end, it is time to return to Brussels to catch your flight back home. If you have a little extra time to spare, a notable attraction to visit in Brussels is the Atomium. It is located on the north side of the city, and it is a little bit out of the way. But, this unique structure was built for the 1958 World's Fair and has gained popularity recently thanks to Instagram. There is a park surrounding the structure, and you can also go inside for incredible panoramic views of the city.

What to Eat & Drink in Belgium

Sitting at the crossroads of many different European influences, such as France and Germany, Belgium’s cuisine pulls some of the best techniques and ingredients from its neighbors, synthesizing it into something entirely unique. Ranging from hearty stews to delicate pastries, Belgium is renowned for its delicious cuisine. Some of the must-try dishes include moules-frites (mussels and fries), carbonade flamande (beef stew), and waffles. I found Ghent was an especially foodie city , but I think you’ll find great things all over.

Make sure that you leave room for chocolate, because wow – Belgium has some of the best chocolate in the world . 

Belgium is also famous for its diverse range of beer. The country is home to over 200 types of beer, with brands like Leffe, Chimay, and Duvel among the most popular. For the ultimate beer experience, my former bar-tender (and proud beer snob) husband Sam helped write the ultimate guide to Belgian beer . It breaks down everything you need to know about the different styles and where to find the best beer bars and breweries in Belgium.

Where to Stay in Belgium

I would recommend changing hotels once or twice in this itinerary. You could use a central city like Brussels as a home base for a few days, exploring nearby spots as day trips. Then, you could switch to another city, such as Ghent or Bruges, for the remaining few nights.

Lots of the cities in Belgium have a love for design, so you can expect some stylish boutique hotels. This is my favorite form of accommodation, and that is reflected in my hotel recommendations. My favorite place to stay in Bruges is the thoughtfully restored Hotel de’Orangerie . The hotel is built inside a 15th-century convent and has a very opulent and antique aesthetic. They have an afternoon tea on the canal which is simply delightful. 

With an unparalleled location on Ghent’s main square and newly renovated interior, 1898 The Post is an obvious choice for accommodation in Ghent. This 19th-century, neo-Gothic post office building has been converted to a 38-room hotel with plush accommodations and unique design. We loved our comfortable stay in a lofted room with a private balcony overlooking Saint Nicholas' Church! 

Finally, I can recommend the August in the southern part of Antwerp. It absolutely nails the chic modernist vibe inside of refurbished Augustinian convent. With 44 individually styled rooms, the details at August are impeccable. The bar and restaurant inside are absolute showstoppers from a design perspective, and the food is pretty darn good too!

What did you think about this post? Do you have any questions? Comment below and I can help!

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What is the best way to travel around belgium

Trains! The major cities in Belgium are all connected by a robust train system. Because Belgium is small, the distances and travel times aren’t super long either.

Thank you for the info. Do you have a hotel rec for Bussels? Greqt info. Heading there in may and f 2024.

I like the itinerary, but am confused about where to spend the nights? Can you clarify please?

Sure! I think there are a couple of ways you could do it. If you were really ambitious, you could change hotels in each city, following the order in the post. Or if you prefer to have more of a “home base” I think you could reorganize this a bit, and have a few nights in Brussels & a few nights in Bruges (visiting the other cities as day trips from there). I hope that helps!

Hi! Great post, thanks! I am going 1 week with a 6 and an 8 YO. Was thinking on staying in the same hotel as it is hard to pack and change everything with kids. Would it be easy to visit Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp one day each? Is any of the cities cheaper than brussels to stay? would a car be useful or is it too hard to park in the cities? Thanks!

Sounds like an awesome trip! Yes, you could definitely do each of those cities as a day trip, especially if you chose a central jumping off point. Ghent actually might be perfect, since it is in between Bruges and Antwerp, and you can easily get there from Brussels via train. While a car would be useful with kids, parking is definitely a challenge. Plus a big expense. I think you could do the majority of this itinerary via trains.

it’s an amazing blog. You have explained very well about these places. Very helpful for travellers and tourists. keep sharing. We Driveller offer limousine services Belgium to anywhere in Europe.

Thanks so helpful- I ‘ve got a week in Brussels while my wife works so I’m gonna be out and about during the day on my own for 7 days with a Brussels hotel as our campsite. I will sleep in brussels every night and travel around by train etc. no car- open to suggestions , thanks for this!

That sounds lovely! This itinerary is definitely do-able without a car, using only the train. Belgium is very connected and Brussels is a great central location to use as a jumping off point.

This is all very enticing!

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Belgium Travel Guide – everything you need to know to plan your trip

Planning a trip to Belgium? Wonderful! Belgium, the land of chocolate, fries, and beer. Of Art Nouveau and the Flemish Primitives. That tiny country where the administrative center of the EU is located. My home country.

When people tell me they've been to Belgium, they've usually just been to Brussels and/or Bruges. Those are great places for sure but limiting yourself to these two cities would do the country injustice. There are castles in Belgium to be explored, trails to be walked, memorials to go silent for.

Let me show you some of the best places to visit in Belgium, some insider tips and give you all the information you need to plan your own Belgium vacation in this Belgium Travel Guide.

Belgium travel guide: quick facts

1. brussels capital-region, 3. east flanders, 6. flemish brabant, 7. brabant wallon, 10. liège province, 11.belgian luxembourg, entry requirements, fly to belgium, independent travel around belgium, what to pack for belgium in summer, what to pack for belgium in winter, what to pack for belgium in fall, what to pack for belgium in spring, the best time to visit belgium, what to eat in belgium, belgium holidays, cultural things to be aware of in belgium, where to stay in belgium, don't forget travel insurance, safety in belgium, the use of cash and cards in belgium, staying connected while you travel belgium, tipping in belgium, a brief history of belgium.

Size: it's a small country at 30.528 km² or 11,787 sq mi

People living there: more than 11 million

Capital: Brussels

Governmental structure: federal constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system

National day: July 21

Time zone: Central European Time / UTC+1 / GMT+1

Currency: euro (EUR)

Power voltage and socket type(s): 230V, plug types E and C. If these plug types don't match your devices, make sure to bring a universal adapter to be able to charge them

Official religion(s)/Freedom of religion: Freedom of religion. 60% of the population is Roman Catholic, followed by atheist and agnostic citizens, other Christians, and Muslims.

Official language(s) and general knowledge of English: Dutch, French and German are the three official languages. English is widely spoken.

Drives on this side: right

International driver's licence accepted? yes

Phone code: +32

Vaccinations needed? none mandatory.

Can you drink the tap water? yes, so make sure to bring your refillable water bottle

Want to know more interesting facts about Belgium? I have a whole post full of them .

Belgian provinces and the capital of Brussels

Belgium consists of 10 provinces and the district capital of Brussels. Before I tell you a bit more about each of them, watch the video below to try and understand the country's complicated political and language structure.

It's a bit crazy, I know. Luckily, if you're just visiting Belgium, you don't need to worry about any of this too much. What is good to know, is what you can find in each of the provinces and Brussels.

Brussels is its high art, medieval architecture, chocolate, and history, but it's just as much its many local markets, bars with live music and people meeting up in parks for a picnic when the sun comes out. Of course, at the end of the year there are the Christmas markets.

Discover more of Brussels:

• Why you should visit the Brussels Christmas market
• 15 typical Belgian dishes to try in Brussels
• Visiting the European Parliament and House of European History
• Where to stay in Brussels
• Interesting facts about Brussels that will make you want to go

If you prefer a smaller city for a day trip, Mechelen is a good option and if you want to get moving, all you need to do is follow one of the province's many walking or cycling routes.

Discover more of Antwerp:

• Visiting former concentration camp Breendonk Fort
• Where to have coffee, breakfast, and brunch in Mechelen
• Things to do in Antwerp
• Marvelous museums in Antwerp
• Where to have coffee in Antwerp
• Visiting the Antwerp Christmas market

Outside of Ghent, East Flanders is great for those who like to walk and bike. There are plenty of well-signed routes of varying lengths, oftentimes put together according to a theme. If you're feeling a bit lazy, going on a riverboat tour is another option.

Discover more of East Flanders:

• Visiting the Light Festival in Ghent
• Capturing Ghent's graffiti scene
• Inside the belfry of Ghent
• Visiting the Gravensteen Castle in Ghent
• An afternoon boat trip on the river Scheldt

4. West Flanders

The coast isn't just popular for its beaches. There are quite a few war memorial sites, from both World Wars, and the city of Ostend is home to several art galleries and museums. Whether you want to walk, bike, eat, shop, or brush up on your history, West Flanders has something for you.

Discover more of West Flanders:

• 7 hip hotspots in historical Bruges
• “In Bruges” movie locations you can visit
• Bruge Travel Guide
• Best things to do in Ostend

Limburg is home to the only national park of Belgium, the Hoge Kempen National Park, and counts several other natural areas that are great for hiking and walking.

It's also a great place for those interested in industrial heritage. They can visit C-mine , a former mining complex turned into a cultural, entertainment, and small business center.

Discover more of Limburg:

• A weekend in Limburg
• Outlet shopping at Maasmechelen Village
• A weekend in Beringen

Museums for every possible interest keep you busy on a rainy day in between stops at local breweries, vineyards, and other producers.

Discover more of Flemish Brabant:

• A walk in Tervuren park
• The breathtaking bluebells of the Hallerbos

Aside from that, Brabant Wallon is also home to many parks and other outdoor recreational areas, the Hergé Museum – dedicated to the inventor of the comic character Tintin – and a collection of small museums mostly focusing on local life and history.

Discover more of Brabant Wallon:

• Visiting the Abbey of Villers-la-Ville

While the province is named after its capital city, Dinant is much better known. Small in size, its dominated by its citadel perched high upon a cliff overlooking the river Meuse.  

The provincial capital of Mons was European Capital of Culture in 2015 and perfect for a day trip or a weekend away while Pairi Daiza is one of the most popular animal parks in Belgium.  

The capital city of Liège puts up the biggest Christmas market of the country and will easily keep you busy for a weekend while the town of Spa gave its name to spa centers around the world and is the perfect place to unwind.

Discover more of Liège province:

• How to spend 3 unique days in Liège province

Make sure to check out the abbey of Orval, the castle of Bouillon, the smallest city in the world Durbuy, and the historically important Bastogne.  

Want even more inspiration? Check out these fun things to do in Belgium .  

How to travel to Belgium

Travelers from the United States and the rest of the world can generally visit Belgium for three months without a visa on the condition that their passports are valid up until six months after their stay.  

How to get to Belgium

The most budget-friendly way to travel to Belgium is by bus from one of the other European countries. Flixbus is known for its great long-distance bus service and equally pleasant prices.

For more options, have a look at Omio . This platform automatically gives you the best route between two places and allows you to immediately book a ticket as well.  

If you're coming from the UK, you can also travel on the Eurostar from London to Brussels. It's usually a bit faster than flying as you don't need to be at the train station as early as you need to be at the airport and the Eurostar drops you off right in the center of Brussels. Check Omio for timetables and prices

If you're coming from France, Germany, or the Netherlands, the highspeed train Thalys is another fast way of getting to Belgium. It's a bit pricier than a regular train but does offer more comfort and is faster too. Look here for Thalys tickets  

Brussels Charleroi is the airport they optimistically call Brussels South but it's at least an hour's drive from the capital. This is where mostly cheaper airlines arrive.

Antwerp and Ostend airport are two smaller airports which also welcome international flights but you'll be most likely to fly to one of the other two.

For flights to Belgium, check Skyscanner . It gives a good overview of your options and their prices and also allows you to set flight alerts so you can track when those prices go up or down.  

How to travel around Belgium

The NMBS/SNCB trains provide the best option to move between cities and buses from De Lijn (in Flanders), the MIVB (in Brussels) and TEC (in Wallonia) will easily take you to smaller destinations.

Belgium is a small country and the highways are often congested. Renting a car isn’t recommended unless you plan on staying in a small village with hard access to public transport or unless you're planning to road trip and then especially in the south of the country where there's still more nature. If you're interested in getting a rental car for your trip to Belgium, check out AutoEurope .

Taxis are an option, but not really if you don’t want to spend a lot of money. A 15-minute drive can easily cost you €30.  

What to pack for Belgium

Winters can get a bit chilly, but it doesn’t often freeze during the day and it usually doesn’t snow for more than a week or two a year in total.

Just make sure to always pack an umbrella, whatever time of the year you decide to come.  

• a reusable water bottle
• good walking sandals
• light clothing
• a rain jacket
• a warm wind and waterproof coat
• comfortable and warm shoes
• a merino woolen baselayer
• merino woolen socks
• a warm scarf

I created an extensive packing list for Belgium in fall which you can find here .  

Both for fall and spring in Belgium, it's important to pack layers. Some days can still/already be sunny and warm while others will be grey, wet, and cold. You probably won't need a super warm winter coat but it is best to bring something warm and waterproof that you can easily stow away, like this jacket .  

Summer is also festival time in Belgium with multiple festivals big and small taking place just about every weekend. Read more about summer trips to Belgium and some of the best Belgian music festivals .

Winter is the time of the Christmas markets and while not as known for them as Germany, for example, Belgium does have quite a few good ones. I've written more about Christmas markets in Belgium here.

Autumn is a bit of a more quiet time around the country but in spring, everyone is getting excited about the upcoming summer and there are several spring-related things to do, like visiting the purple flower forest , the flower show Floralia , or the rose garden Coloma.  

If you'd like to learn how to make some of these dishes yourself, check out this post with Belgian recipes .  

When traveling somewhere, it's always good to know whether there will be a special holiday during your stay. That's why I've compiled a detailed list of holidays in Belgium which I update annually. It includes not only public holidays but also school holidays and other dates to take into account when planning your trip.  

If you speak French but not English and you're visiting the Flemish side of Belgium, you can always ask whomever you're talking to if it's okay to speak French because you're visiting and don't speak Dutch or English, if you want to be absolutely sure not to offend anyone.

When it comes to socializing, there’s quite the difference between the northern and the southern part of the country. When I worked at the Belga Press Agency, my French speaking colleagues would give each other a kiss when arriving at the office, while my Flemish colleagues would shake hands. That about says it all.

Of course, this is a generalization, but I think you could say that the people from the south are a bit warmer and more open than the people from the northern part of Belgium. We all have cliques and groups we belong to and for an outsider, it’s not always easy to become part of such a group.

If you want to meet Belgians, I’d say the best approach is to just walk up to them because the chances of us walking up to a stranger are rather slim (again, generalizing here).  

Whenever I need to book a hotel somewhere, I always check Booking. com. I love that the site has so many filters you can use to easily get a list of just the places that fit your criteria. So if you're looking for the best places to stay in Belgium, I highly recommend you do it there .  

No matter how well you plan your trip to Belgium, there's always something that can happen that's beyond your control. Your luggage can get lost, you can get sick or you can drop and break that new camera. In all of these cases, good travel insurance has you covered.

I've had ongoing travel insurance ever since I started traveling by myself to make sure I'm covered for every trip I go on but if you travel just a few times a year, you can get insurance for each trip separately.

Don't have travel insurance yet? Check out SafetyWing. They offer super flexible plans that you can even sign up for while you're already on your trip. On top of that, they were the first travel insurance to cover COVID, and when I got COVID, they reimbursed all of my expenses without making a fuss. Their customer support team is great and I can personally recommend them.  

As for the rest of Belgium, you just need to mind your belongings in busy areas but the risks of getting pickpocketed are rather low outside of the big cities. The only other thing that could be dangerous over here is getting into a car. We're not the calmest drivers in the world and traffic can get a bit tense.

There are ATMs, usually from multiple banks, in every town and city. Just make sure to check the fees your bank charges for withdrawing money abroad beforehand so you know whether it's better to take out a big amount at once or not.  

Traveling to Belgium from outside the EU and want to stay connected so you can share photos, call loved ones over WiFi and easily use apps like Google Maps? Then check out Solis Wifi mobile WiFi .

Skyroam offers both day passes and monthly subscriptions providing you with 4G throughout your trips. I've been using their daily passes not just when I travel outside the EU (no roaming charges for me in the EU) but also as a backup for when I think I'll go over my phone's data plan.

Tipping isn't mandatory in Belgium but as in many places, it is appreciated. All taxes and service are included in the bill and people working in the service industry make a living wage so it's common to just round up the bill at places like cafes or small eateries and to add whatever you think is suitable at restaurants.

For more specific guidelines, check out this section on tipping on your Belgium trip .  

In the Middle Ages, Belgium was divided into smaller semi-independent regions such as counties and principalities which were under foreign rule, first by the French, then the Austrians, and then the Spanish. It knew a very brief period of independence in the 14th century after it defeated the French army following a rebellion.

After big European turmoils in the 17th century, Belgium became Austrian again at the beginning of the 18th century until the French annexed the country in 1795. Belgium stayed French until Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo in 1815 and it was merged together with the Netherlands.

The differences between the two were too big, though, and in 1830 a Belgian rebellion broke out that would lead to the official independence of the country in January 1831.

During the reign of the first king, Leopold I, Belgium continued the industrialization process that had started in the 19th century. The country knew a dark period with the rule of Leopold II, who made part of Africa, later known as Belgian Congo, his personal property and committed atrocities against the natives who he exploited mostly for harvesting rubber.

The Belgian Congo became state property in 1908, a year before Leopold II died and would remain a colony until 1960.

Later in the 20th century, Belgium suffered a great deal both during World War I and World War II when it was occupied by the Germans twice. It managed to recover quite well and became one of the founding members of the European Union and of NATO.  

And that's it! I hope this guide to Belgium has given you an idea of what to do in Belgium and will help you plan your own trip here.  

Find below the important posts about Belgium.

Dates of Holidays in Belgium 2024 [Annually updated]

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Dinant Travel Guide: 17 Attractions to visit in Dinant, History, Hotels & Restaurants

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Guide de voyage Belgique, les incontournables

La Belgique, un pays d’Europe occidentale, réputée pour sa richesse culturelle, son histoire fascinante et sa gastronomie délicieuse; frites, chocolat et bière belge au programme !

Avec ses charmantes villes médiévales, ses centres urbains animés et ses campagnes verdoyantes, la Belgique offre un mélange attrayant de tradition et de modernité. Amateur d’art ? Un fin gourmet passionné d’histoire ? Nos voisins belges vont vous surprendre à n’en pas douter !

Histoire de la Belgique, récap rapide

La Belgique a une histoire longue et complexe, marquée par des périodes de prospérité et de conflits. Parmi les périodes clés de l’histoire belge figurent l’époque romaine, le Moyen Âge, la Renaissance, les guerres mondiales et l’établissement de l’Union européenne. Les Romains ont laissé un héritage durable, notamment à travers les routes, les aqueducs et les fortifications.

Au cours du Moyen Âge et de la Renaissance, la Belgique était divisée en plusieurs principautés et comtés, et les villes belges, telles que Bruges et Gand, sont devenues d’importants centres économiques et artistiques.

La Belgique a été profondément touchée par les deux guerres mondiales, en particulier en raison de sa position géographique. Aujourd’hui, Bruxelles est considérée comme le cœur de l’Union européenne, avec de nombreuses institutions européennes et internationales qui y ont élu domicile.

Régions et villes incontournables

Bruxelles, la capitale de la Belgique et siège de l’Union européenne , offre une atmosphère cosmopolite et multiculturelle. Ne manquez pas la Grand-Place, le Manneken Pis et le célèbre Atomium. Anvers, la deuxième plus grande ville de Belgique, est un important centre de commerce et de mode. La cathédrale Notre-Dame et le quartier du diamant valent le détour.

Gand est une ville universitaire pittoresque réputée pour son riche patrimoine architectural et ses canaux sinueux. Visitez le château des comtes de Flandre et la cathédrale Saint-Bavon.

Bruges, surnommée la « Venise du Nord », est célèbre pour ses canaux romantiques et ses bâtiments médiévaux bien préservés. Promenez-vous dans les rues pavées et montez au sommet du beffroi pour une vue imprenable sur la ville. Liège, située dans la région wallonne, est une ville dynamique et animée.

La gastronomie belge

La Belgique est réputée pour sa gastronomie savoureuse et variée. Les spécialités culinaires belges incluent les frites, les gaufres, le chocolat et la bière.

Les frites belges , souvent servies avec une variété de sauces, sont un incontournable lors de votre visite. Les gaufres belges, déclinées en deux principales variétés, la gaufre de Bruxelles et la gaufre de Liège, sont délicieusement croustillantes à l’extérieur et moelleuses à l’intérieur.

Le chocolat belge, considéré comme l’un des meilleurs au monde, est un véritable délice pour les papilles. Enfin, la Belgique est célèbre pour sa production de bières, avec plus de 1 500 variétés différentes à déguster.

Où manger et boire en belgique

Les bons restaurants.

La Belgique offre une multitude de restaurants proposant des plats locaux et internationaux. À Bruxelles, essayez le restaurant « Comme chez Soi » pour une cuisine française et belge raffinée, ou « Fin de Siècle » pour des plats belges traditionnels à un prix abordable. À Gand, « De Superette » est un restaurant branché proposant une cuisine locale et saisonnière, tandis qu’à Anvers, « The Jane » offre une expérience gastronomique haut de gamme.

Bars et cafés belges

Les bars et cafés belges sont des lieux conviviaux où déguster des bières locales et internationales, ainsi que des boissons sans alcool et des collations. À Bruxelles, le « Delirium Café » est réputé pour sa sélection impressionnante de bières, tandis que « Moeder Lambic » propose des bières artisanales dans un cadre décontracté. À Bruges, le « De Garre » est un charmant bar caché dans une ruelle étroite, proposant une bière exclusive que vous ne trouverez nulle part ailleurs.

Où dormir en vacances en Belgique

La Belgique dispose d’une gamme variée d’hôtels pour tous les budgets, du luxe à l’économique. À Bruxelles, le « Hotel Amigo » est un hôtel cinq étoiles situé près de la Grand-Place, tandis que « Motel One Brussels » offre un hébergement abordable et moderne.

À Anvers , « Hotel Julien » est un hôtel design chic, et à Gand, « Pillows Grand Hotel Reylof » est un établissement de luxe situé dans un bâtiment historique.

Les auberges de jeunesse et les chambres d’hôtes sont également populaires en Belgique. À Bruxelles, « Sleep Well Youth Hostel » est une auberge de jeunesse moderne et écologique, tandis qu’à Gand, « Ecohostel Andromeda » est une péniche reconvertie en auberge de jeunesse.

Conseils pratiques pour votre séjour en Belgique

La Belgique est un pays multilingue, avec trois langues officielles : le néerlandais, le français et l’allemand. La plupart des Belges parlent également couramment l’anglais, surtout dans les grandes villes et les zones touristiques. Les panneaux de signalisation sont généralement en néerlandais et en français , et parfois en allemand.

La Belgique est un pays sûr pour les voyageurs, mais comme partout, il est important de prendre des précautions de base pour protéger vos biens personnels. Les soins de santé sont de haute qualité et accessibles pour les visiteurs disposant d’une assurance voyage ou d’une carte européenne d’assurance maladie.

Monnaie et paiements

La monnaie officielle de la Belgique est l’euro (€). Les cartes de crédit et de débit sont largement acceptées, mais il est recommandé d’avoir également de l’argent liquide pour les petits commerces et les marchés.

Transports et déplacements

Le réseau de transports publics en Belgique est bien développé et comprend des trains, des trams, des bus et des métros. La Belgique est également un pays plat et idéal pour les balades à vélo. La location de vélos est disponible dans de nombreuses villes et régions.

Climat et vêtements

Le climat belge est tempéré et humide, avec des étés doux et des hivers frais. Les précipitations sont fréquentes tout au long de l’année. Il est recommandé d’emporter des vêtements adaptés à la pluie, comme un imperméable et des chaussures imperméables, ainsi que des vêtements en couches pour s’adapter aux changements de température.

Pourquoi visiter la Belgique ?

La Belgique est une destination européenne attrayante qui offre un mélange unique de cultures, de langues et de traditions. Les villes historiques, comme Bruxelles, Bruges, Gand et Anvers, sont riches en architecture et en patrimoine, tandis que les régions rurales offrent des paysages verdoyants et des villages pittoresques. Les amateurs de gastronomie apprécieront les spécialités belges, telles que les frites, les gaufres, le chocolat et la bière.

La Belgique est également un pays bien desservi par les transports publics, facilitant les déplacements entre les différentes régions et les pays voisins. Enfin, la convivialité et l’hospitalité des Belges rendront votre séjour encore plus agréable et mémorable. (PS : désolé pour la coupe du monde 2018 😁 )

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Les derniers Articles

• 1.1 History
• 1.2 Terrain
• 1.3 Climate
• 1.4 Electricity
• 4 Other destinations
• 5.1 Entry requirements
• 5.2 By plane
• 5.3 By train
• 5.5 Carpooling
• 5.7 By ship
• 5.8 From France
• 5.9 From Germany
• 5.10 From the Netherlands
• 6.1 By train
• 6.2 By bus and tram
• 6.3.1 Car hire
• 6.4 By thumb
• 10.2 Tipping
• 11.1 General rules
• 11.2 Specialities
• 11.3 International
• 12.3 Jenever
• 13.1 Budget
• 13.2 Hotels
• 16.1 Pickpocketing and other crimes
• 16.2 Racism
• 16.4 Alcohol and drugs
• 17 Stay healthy
• 18.1 Mobile

A low-lying country in the Benelux , Belgium ( Dutch : België , French : Belgique , German : Belgien ) sits at the crossroads of Western Europe. It marries the historical landmarks for which the continent is famous with spectacular modern architecture and rural idylls. Its capital, Brussels , is home to the headquarters of the European Union .

Although Belgium is a relatively wealthy country, it is also one of the most politically complex countries in the world. Differences in language and culture between Flanders (the Flemish-speaking portion) and Wallonia (the French-speaking portion) have led to several far-reaching reforms, and this continuing antagonism makes Belgian politics so complex that even ordinary Belgians aren't able to make sense of what's truly going on. Despite all this, the two halves form a country that contains some of Europe's most attractive and historical cities, and is a true 'must-see' for any visitor to the continent.

Lying on the North Sea coast, Belgium's immediate neighbours are France to the south-west, Luxembourg to the south-east, Germany to the east and the Netherlands to the north.

Belgium is a densely populated country trying to balance the conflicting demands of urbanization, transportation, industry, and commercial and intensive agriculture. It imports large quantities of raw materials and exports a large volume of manufactured goods, mostly to the EU.

Visit Belgium provides tourist information for the country.

Belgium is the heir of several former Medieval powers, and you will see traces of these everywhere during your trip in this country.

After the collapse of the Carolingian Empire in the 9th century, the territory that is nowadays Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg, was part of Lotharingia, an ephemeral kingdom soon to be absorbed into the (German) Holy Roman Empire; however, the area of Lower Lotharingia remained intact in the feudal empire: this is the origin of the Low Countries, a general term that encompasses present-day Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

The widely autonomous fiefdoms of the Low Countries were among the richest places in Medieval Europe and you will see traces of this past wealth in the rich buildings of Bruges, Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Leuven, Tournai, Mons, etc. These cities progressively fell under the control of a powerful and ambitious family: the Dukes of Burgundy. The whole realm of the dukes extended from the Low Countries to the borders of Switzerland. Using wealth, strategy, and alliances, the Dukes of Burgundy aimed at reconstituting Lotharingia. The death of the last duke, Charles the Bold, put an end to this dream. However, the treasures of the Dukes of Burgundy remain as a testimony of their rules in Belgian museums and landmarks.

The powerful Habsburg family then inherited from the Low Countries. Reformation is the reason that Belgium and the Netherlands were first taken apart: the northern half of the Low Countries embraced Protestantism and rebelled against the Habsburg rule, while the southern half remained faithful to both its ruler and the Catholic faith. These two halves roughly correspond to present-day Belgium and the Netherlands.

Belgium was called the Austrian Netherlands, then the Spanish Netherlands, depending on which branch of the Habsburg ruled it. The powerful German emperor and Spanish king, Charles V, was born in the Belgian city of Ghent and ruled from Brussels. Many places in Belgium are named after him, including the city of Charleroi and even a brand of beer. Every year, the Brusselers emulate his first parade in their city in what is called the Ommegang.

Belgium was briefly a part of the Napoleonic Empire. After Napoleon's defeat, a large Kingdom of the Netherlands was created, comprising the whole of the Low Countries. However, the religious opposition still remained and the split was aggravated by political differences between Belgian liberals and Dutch aristocrats. Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 after a short revolution and a war against the Netherlands.

It was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II and has many war graves near the battle zones; most of them are around Ieper (in English, archaically rendered as Ypres , with Yperite another name for mustard gas due to intensive use there in WWI). It has prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy.

Flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, wooded hills and valleys of Ardennes Forest in southeast.

Temperate; mild winters with cool summers. Generally rather rainy, humid and cloudy. Belgium's average annual temperature in the decade between 1976 and 2006 was 10 °C — a somewhat meaningless measure for non-meteorologists.

Electricity

Electricity is supplied at 220 to 230 V and 50 Hz. Outlets are CEE7/5 (protruding male earth pin) and accept either CEE 7/5 (Grounded), CEE 7/7 (Grounded) or CEE 7/16 (non-grounded) plugs. Older German-type CEE 7/4 plugs are not compatible as they do not accommodate the earth pin found on this type of outlet. However, most modern European appliances are fitted with the hybrid CEE 7/7 plug which fits both CEE 7/5 (Belgium & France) and CEE 7/4 (Germany, Netherlands, Spain and most of Europe) outlets.

Travellers from the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland and all the other countries using 230 V and 50 Hz, which use different plugs, simply require a plug adaptor to use their appliances in Belgium.

Travellers from the US, Canada, Japan and other countries using 110 V 60 Hz may need a voltage converter. However, some laptops, mobile phone chargers and other devices can accept either 110 V or 230 V so only require a simple plug adaptor. Check the voltage rating plates on your appliances before connecting them.

Belgium consists of three regions, listed from north to south:

Belgium has a very high rate of urbanization and has an astonishing number of cities for such a small territory

• 50.85 4.35 1 Brussels — Belgium's capital and the unofficial capital of the EU. Nice historic centre and several museums of interest. One of the most multicultural cities in Europe.
• 51.216667 4.4 2 Antwerp — Belgium's second largest city, with a giant cathedral, medieval streets and artistic heritage, and a great place for fashion.
• 51.216667 3.233333 3 Bruges — one of Europe's wealthiest cities in the 14th century, it is touristy yet still very authentic, medieval and quiet at night, with small guest houses and family businesses greatly outnumbering chain hotels.
• 51.05 3.733333 4 Ghent — once one of Europe's largest cities, now a perfect mixture of Antwerp and Bruges: a cosy city with canals, yet with rich history and lively student population.
• 50.883333 4.7 5 Leuven — a small city dominated by one of Europe's oldest universities. Beautiful historic centre and a lively nightlife.
• 50.633333 5.566667 6 Liège — second largest city of Wallonia, along a wide river, industrial cityscape with hiking and resorts in the nearby hills, it has a very strong, independent character and an exciting night-life.
• 51.016667 4.466667 7 Mechelen — a small medieval city with a nice historic district around the cathedral.
• 50.466667 4.866667 9 Namur — capital of Wallonia , at the confluence of Sambre and Meuse with the Citadel.

Other destinations

• 50.866667 4.466667 1 Kraainem — a municipality with a rich industrial history on the outskirts of Brussels with many historical landmarks.
• 50.816667 4.5 2 Tervuren — known for its proximity to the lush Sonian Forest, its parks, and royal summer residence.
• 50.933333 4.383333 3 Grimbergen — known for the beer with the same name, risen to worldwide fame, but still produced in its abbey.
• 50.266667 4.916667 5 Dinant — small city in a stunning natural setting, a popular spot for adventure sports such as canoeing and rock-climbing, best visited in winter
• 50.783333 4.116667 6 Pajottenland — also called the "Tuscany of the north", is a green region west of Brussels, consisting of rolling hills, meadows, small villages and castles. Home of the Geuze beer and great for hiking, biking, and horse riding tours.
• 50.4925 5.864167 7 Spa — the hot water treatments of the spa town that gave its name to all spas in the world has drawn visitors for centuries.
• 50.85 2.883333 8 Ypres , 50.85 2.733333 9 Poperinge and surrounding villages — destroyed during World War I, this former military stronghold is marked by memorials and cemeteries.
• 51.1644 4.1391 10 Sint-Niklaas — known for its market square (the largest in Belgium), its annual balloon festival and nearby scenery along the river Scheldt.

Entry requirements

Belgium is a member of the Schengen Agreement . See Travelling around the Schengen Area for more information on how the scheme works, which countries are members and what the requirements are for your nationality. In summary:

• There are normally no immigration controls between countries that have signed and implemented the treaty.
• There are usually identity checks before boarding international flights or boats entering the Schengen Area. Sometimes there are temporary border controls at land borders.
• A visa granted for any Schengen member is valid in all other countries that have signed and implemented the treaty.

In Belgium, non-EU/EFTA visa-free visitors are permitted to work without the need to obtain any further authorisation for the period of their 90-day visa-free stay. This is an exception to the general Schengen rules that does not extend to most other Schengen countries.

Brussels Airport ( BRU  IATA ), also known as Zaventem due to the town in which it is mainly located, is Belgium's main airport. It is not located in Brussels proper, but in surrounding Flanders . The airport is the base of the national airline Brussels Airlines . Other full-service airlines use BRU, as well as budget carriers such as Ryanair , Vueling and TUIfly Belgium .

There is a train ( €5.10 ) running every 15 minutes to Brussels centre taking 25 minutes, some of them continuing to Ghent , Mons , Nivelles , and West Flanders and bus lines number 12 and 21 ( €3 at the vending machine/ €5 on board) every 20 to 30 minutes to Place Luxembourg (European Parliament district). The bus stops at NATO and Schuman (for the EU institutions) on its way to the centre. There are also two trains per hour to Leuven , taking 13 minutes. A taxi to the centre of Brussels costs around €35 - cheaper if booked in advance. Taxis bleus: +32 2 268–0000, Taxis Autolux: +32 2 411–4142, Taxis verts: +32 2 349–4949.

Brussels South Charleroi Airport ( CRL  IATA ), about 50 km (31 mi) south of Brussels, mostly serves low-cost carriers, such as Ryanair and Wizzair . You can get to Brussels Gare du Midi on a coach in about an hour ( €13 one way, €22 return). If you're going to any other part of Belgium, buy a combination bus+train ticket via Charleroi Sud train station from the TEC vending machines outside the airport for at most €19.40 one-way.

However, if you are really stuck, it is not unusual for taxi drivers to take credit cards. The price of a taxi ride to Brussels is a set fare (approximately €85 as of Jan 2020) and you can check with the taxi driver if they will accept your credit card or not.

Antwerp Airport ( ANR  IATA ) has some business flights, including CityJet 's reasonably priced link to London City airport. Other airports include Oostende, Liège and Kortrijk, but they only handle freight and charter flights.

Flights to airports in neighbouring countries might be worth considering, especially to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport which has a direct rail link to Brussels , also making stops at Antwerp and Mechelen .

Liege Airport ( LGG  IATA ) is located near the city of Liege. A small airport served only by TUIFly , a low cost airline. It has between 5-10 daily mainly from Spain, sometimes to Greece and Morocco. It suffers from very poor transportation options to the city of Liege: there is a bus number 57 running several times a day bus, it goes to the train station of Liege-Guillemins, this bus only runs during the week. Another option is to take bus number 53 or 85 which sometimes go via the airport to the city centre, approx. 30 minutes. TEC buses have no special prices for Liege Airport and will cost €3.50 per person.

Taxis will cost around €25 .

There are direct trains between Brussels and:

• Luxembourg (normal trains, running every hour). All public transport in Luxembourg is free, though you will still need a ticket for the Belgian portion. It takes around 2 hr 30 min from Luxembourg to Brussels, 3 hr from Luxembourg to Liege.
• Lyon , Bordeaux , Paris-CDG airport and many other French cities (TGV operated by SNCF ).
• Aachen , Amsterdam , Cologne , Lille , London , Paris , Rotterdam ( Eurostar ). If you're going to another Belgian city, the "any Belgium Station" ticket includes local transport in your Eurostar ticket. Depending on the distance this may work out cheaper than getting a separate ticket. Passengers travelling from the UK to Belgium go through French passport/identity card checks (done on behalf of the Belgians) in London before boarding, rather than on arrival in Belgium; allow 90 minutes before your timetabled departure to clear these controls. Passengers travelling from all other stations to Brussels are within the Schengen Area.
• Frankfurt , Cologne (ICE operated by Deutsche Bahn )

There are hourly intercity trains from Brussels via Antwerp to Rotterdam and Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The intercity services run from Brussels to Amsterdam via Mechelen, Antwerp, Rotterdam, The Hague and Schiphol. The other direct connection to Amsterdam is the expensive Eurostar (book well in advance for reasonable fares). Alternative is to catch a train from Brussels or Antwerp to Roosendaal (NL), where connecting intercity trains to Rotterdam and Amsterdam are available. Passengers travelling to Belgium from the Netherlands will need to buy their tickets at the NS Internationaal desk or website which are different from the ones that sell tickets for domestic trains. NS Internationaal also sells Eurostar tickets at the same prices as seen on the Eurostar website.

International trains connect with domestic trains at Brussels' Gare du Midi/Zuidstation, and with all ICE and some Eurostar tickets, you can finish your journey for free on domestic trains. For all high-speed trains, you need to book in advance for cheap fares, either online or using a travel agency. There are no regularly scheduled sleeper trains anymore.

You might want to check the TGV connections to Lille too. The trains from the rest of France to Lille are more frequent and usually cheaper. There is a direct train connection from Lille Flandres to Tournai and Kortrijk. If your TGV arrives in Lille Europe, it will take a 15-min walk to the Lille Flandres railway station.

Plan your trip with the Deutsche Bahn timetable . It has all domestic and international connections across Europe.

Smoking is not allowed on Belgian trains.

The train fare for passengers 65+ travelling within Belgium is often capped at €6 and is valid for same-day return but such a fare may require travel only after 09:00.

Major European highways like the E19, E17, E40, E411 and E313 pass through Belgium.

The cheapest way to get to Belgium ( €3 /100 km (62 mi)) from anywhere in Europe - if you are a little flexible and lucky - is usually taxistop [dead link] . Many rides are also offered on BlablaCar .

You can get to Belgium from all over Europe on Flixbus coaches. International buses have stopovers in Antwerp , Brussels North Station , Leuven & Liege .

There are bus companies serving the Bosnian diaspora, which provide a cheap and clean way of getting to the other side of the European continent. Semi tours runs three times per week from various destinations in Bosnia and Herzegovina to Belgium and the Netherlands, off-season about €132 for a return ticket.

Calais and Dunkirk (France), a short drive from western Flanders, receive dozens of ferries a day from Dover in England. The overnight ferries to Zeebrugge from Hull were axed in 2021, though ferries still run from Hull to Rotterdam (Netherlands), which has good road and rail access to northern Flanders.

From France

• There are domestic Belgian trains that terminate in Lille (station Lille-Flanders ).
• Between the De Panne terminus of the Belgian railways (and the coast tram – Kusttram ) and the French coastal city of Dunkirk, there is a bus line run by DK'BUS Marine . It is also possible to take a DK'BUS bus which goes to the closest possible distance of the border and then cross it on foot by walking on the beach and arriving at a convenient station of the Coast tram, such as Esplanade .

From Germany

• You can take a bus between the train stations of Eupen (Belgium) and Aachen (Germany) which is quite fast and less expensive than doing the same trip on an international train ticket.
• If your destination in Belgium is further away from the border, you can take the local train from Aachen to Welkenraedt and then change to the InterCity-train connecting Eupen with Oostende , passing by Leuven , Brussels , Ghent and Bruges . The trip from Aachen to Brussels takes less than two hours.

From the Netherlands

• Apart from being a peculiar result of ancient European history, the town of Baarle (formally Baarle-Hertog in Belgium and Baarle-Nassau in the Netherlands) is a possible change point, since the town's main bus stop Sint-Janstraat is operated by both Flemish (Belgian) and Dutch buses.
• The Flemish (Belgian) company De Lijn operates a border-crossing bus between Turnhout in Belgium and Tilburg in the Netherlands, both of which are termini in the respective country's railway network.
• There's a bus (line 45) operated by the Flemish (Belgian) company De Lijn going between the train stations of Genk (Belgium) and Maastricht (the Netherlands). There is another bus (line 20A) departing from Hasselt , going to Maastricht . A train connection is being built.

Being such a small country (300 km as its maximum distance), you can get anywhere in a couple of hours. Public transport, when fully functioning, is fast and comfortable, and not too expensive. Between larger cities, there are frequent train connections, with buses covering smaller distances. A useful site is Smart Mobility Planner , which has a door-to-door routeplanner for the whole country, covering all forms of public transport (including train, bus, subway and tram).

A look on the map shows that Brussels is a good starting point to explore Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, Namur and Leuven on day trips. Antwerp is popular among those who want to be in a cosmopolitan place, and Ghent is tops with those who like a good mix of open-minded provincialism. Liège is beautiful, but too close to Germany to be a good base for day trips. Mechelen is considered boring by tourists, but has a very good youth hostel next to a train station with trains to everywhere else every 30 min.

To do some local sightseeing, especially in Flanders, a lot of infrastructure is available for cycling. Bikes can be rented virtually everywhere. In the country side of Wallonia, mountainbikes are available, and rafting is popular along the border with Luxembourg.

• Belgiantrain.be journey planner . Use the official journey planner operated by the National Railway Company of Belgium to find train itineraries and prices ( updated May 2016 )

Most of Belgium is well connected by train, run by Belgian Railways [dead link] ( NMBS in Dutch and SNCB in French) with most of the main routes passing through Antwerp, Namur or Brussels. This is where you'll arrive on international trains, and both can be reached by train from Brussels airport or by coach from Antwerp or Charleroi airport. Transfers are very easy. All ICE and some Eurostar tickets allow free same-day transfers by domestic trains to any other Belgian station.

The trains are punctual and mostly modern and comfortable.

Normal fares on Belgian trains are cheap compared to Germany or the UK, and there are no seat reservations. 2nd class fares don't go higher than €21.30 for the longest domestic trips (one way). 1st class costs 50% extra. Trains can get very full during rush hour, so you might need a 1st class ticket to get a seat at those times. In the train station, you can pay with cash or credit card. Return tickets are 50% cheaper at the weekend.

Most tickets are sold for a designated route on a designated day, so you can take any train on the day of your ticket. There is no extra validation when you step on a train.

You can buy tickets and plan your journey via the website , app , vending machines, ticket counters and on the train. If you want to buy a ticket on the train, you have to warn the train conductor. Avoid buying tickets on the train, as you will have to pay an extra €7 per ticket. Many smaller stations don't have ticket counters anymore, and if there are, they are not open very often. In every station, there is at least one vending machine. If ticket counters are closed and vending machines don't work, no supplement will be charged on the train if you address the issue to the conductor.

You can pay with cash and credit card. You can also pay with PayPal via the website or app. Contactless payments are accepted in most train stations and at some vending machines. As for paying cash at vending machines, they only allow coins, no paper bills. Not buying a ticket can result in a fine up to €225 .

A cheap option if you're planning several train trips is a Go Pass [1] for travelers under the age of 26, which gives you 10 single 2nd class trips (including train changes if necessary) for €59 . It's valid for a year and can be shared with or given to other people without any restrictions. If you're 26 or older, you can use the Rail Pass . This costs €96 for 2nd class or €146 for 1st. When using these passes make sure you have filled in an empty line by hand before you get on the train. The train conductor can be very picky when the pass is not correctly filled in. However, if you address train station staff before boarding, they will be glad to help you. It is also common practice to ask other people on the platform to use their pen when you do not have one. Senior Citizens can use the Senior Ticket - return rail travel to any destination throughout Belgium for €7.80, starting from 9 a.m. on weekdays (or anytime during the weekend). At 1st class the ticket costs €16.60.

The cheapest option if you travel during Belgian school holidays, for people under 26, is a Go Unlimited pass for €19 per week or €31 a month (only during July and August). This pass allows you to hop on and off any NMBS/SNCB train in 2nd class on any (national) route. You will need a personal MoBIB card for this pass. You can buy this for €5 , only at a manned ticket office. The school holidays are the summer break (two months: July and August), autumn break (the week of November 1), Christmas break (two weeks encompassing both Christmas and New Year's Day), spring break (one week at the end of February - beginning of March), Easter break (two weeks around Easter). The exact dates of the last two holidays vary every year.

If you're visiting a certain event or concert, be sure to check if your train travel isn't already included in the ticket. Some major festivals and concerts like Rock Werchter, Pukkelpop or I Love Techno include train travel in the ticket price. For visiting special places like theme parks or museums, inform for the option ' B-Excursions '. That way you buy your entrance ticket and train ticket in one at the train station. This always is low-priced, normally resulting in normal entrance ticket price plus €4-5 for travel. The desk agent will surely point you out the details.

There are IC-trains (InterCity), L-trains (local, stops at every station), P-trains (extra trains during rush hour) and S-trains (serve suburbs of big cities). For tourists, IC-trains or ICT-trains (tourist trains) are the best option since they are faster, more frequent and more comfortable. You should only use L-trains and S-trains if your destination is not served by an IC-train. L-trains and S-trains tend to be less crowded though, except during rush hour. S-trains are mainly meant for commuters in nearby areas, but can also be used for some in-town trips. As an example, the journey Ghent-Bruges takes 25 minutes on an IC-train and 42 minutes on an L-train, but costs the same.

Train schedules usually change around December 10. Those changes are usually limited to introducing a few new train stations and adding a few regular lines. No lines have been discontinued in a very long time. Here, you can find a map of Belgian railways and stations .

By bus and tram

Buses cover the whole country, along with trams and metro in the big cities. Most routes cover short distances, but it is possible to go from city to city by bus (e.g. FlixBus). However, this is much slower and only slightly cheaper than taking a train. There is also the Kusttram , running along almost the whole Flemish seaside from France to the Netherlands—definitely worth a trip in the summer.

Within cities, a normal ticket for one zone never costs more than €2.50 , and there are various travelcards available. Local transport is provided by different companies: STIB/MIVB in Brussels. De Lijn in Flanders and TEC in Wallonia, and, outside Brussels, they don't accept each other's tickets. Tickets are cheaper when bought at ticket machines.

Most tourists will not need the bus companies, as it is much more user-friendly to take trains between cities and go on foot inside them. Only Brussels and Antwerp have a subway, but, even there, you can make your way around on foot. The historic center of Brussels is only about 300 m (980 ft) by 400 m (1,300 ft) long. Antwerp is much bigger, but a ride on a horse-pulled coach gives a better view than the subway.

Belgium has a dense network of modern toll-free motorways, but some secondary roads in Wallonia are poorly maintained. Signs are always in the local language only, except in Brussels , where they're bilingual. As many cities in Belgium have quite different names in Dutch and French, this can cause confusion. For example, Mons in French is Bergen in Dutch; Antwerp is called Antwerpen in Dutch and Anvers in French; Liège in French is Luik in Dutch and Lüttich in German, and so on. This even applies to cities outside Belgium; driving along a Flemish motorway, you may see signs for Rijsel , which is the French city of Lille or Aken , which is the German city of Aachen . Exits are marked with the word Uit (out) in Flemish areas, Sortie in Walloon areas and Ausfahrt in German-speaking ones.

Drivers in Belgium should also be aware of the "priority from the right" rule. At road crossings, traffic coming from the right has the right of way unless otherwise indicated by signs or pavement markings. You're most likely to encounter such crossings in urban and suburban areas. Observant visitors will notice a lot of cars with dents along their right sides! Drive defensively and your car will avoid the same fate.

In Belgium the motorway signs are notoriously inconvenient, especially on secondary roads. There is no uniformity in layout and colour; many are in bad state, placed in an awkward position or simply missing. A good roadmap (Michelin, De Rouck, Falk) or a GPS system is recommended. Belgium is one of the few countries to solely use the European E numbers on major routes.

As well as fixed-speed cameras on motorway and secondary roads there are also average-speed cameras that run for a good number of miles on motorways around major cities.

Some hire cars come equipped with sat nav but it's a good idea to request this when you book your car. It's probably the most reliable way to get from A to B in Belgium. This way you will get to see some of the sites of Belgium, as flat as it may be, but architecture in the towns is something to be admired. You will be pleasantly surprised at just how clean the towns and villages of Belgium are. Drive through on any afternoon and you will see people caring for the street in front of their homes - a real, backdated village community feel.

Speed traps are positioned along roads frequently and drunk driving of only small amounts comes with serious penalties, such as €125 on the spot fine for 0.05 per cent and 0.08 per cent. Over that amount of alcohol in your system and you face anything up to 6 months imprisonment and loss of driving licence for 5 years.

The best place for hitchhikers. Just ask for a lift! Having cardboard signs with towns' names on it can really help to get a quick lift.

• Leaving Brussels: Heading south (e.g. Namur) get to the underground station named 'Delta'.

Next to it you have a huge 'park and ride' and a bus stop. Hitchhiking near the bus stop should get you a ride in less than 5 minutes during traffic hours.

• Heading to Ghent/Bruges: Good spot near the Shopping Mall called 'Basilix' in Berchem-ste-Agathe. You can reach this place with the bus N°87.

An alternative spot to go to the north is in Anderlecht, near the Hospital Erasme/Erasmus (Metro station Erasme/Erasmus.)

• Heading to Liège/Hasselt: Take the pre-metro to the station 'Diamant' in Schaarbeek. When leaving the station you should see a lot of outgoing cars just below you. Just walk and follow the roadsigns mentioning 'E40'. You should arrive in a small street giving access to a road joining the E40 (the cars are leaving a tunnel at this point). Just hitchhike on the emergency lane at this point, in the portion near the tunnel. Cars should still be riding slowly at this point and see you are visible to them, so it's not that dangerous.
• Leaving Louvain-la-Neuve (University) to Brussels (north) or to Namur (south), stand at the roundabout next to exit/entrance "8a" near to "Louvain la Neuve-centre" road signs. Quick lift guaranteed. Avoid exit 7 or 9, since they have far less traffic.

Mostly known for its key role in European Union administration, the small nation of Belgium might leave you surprised by its rich and gorgeous heritage. It boasts a number of fascinatingly historic cities packed with medieval and Art Nouveau architecture and famous for their long traditions in arts, fashion and fine dining. If you've seen the best of them, the Belgian countryside offers anything from sandy beaches to the densely forested hills and ridges of the Ardennes .

Brussels , the country's vibrant capital, is a modern world city with a highly international character. It combines massive post-modern buildings in its European Quarter with impressive historic monuments, such as the World Heritage listed Grand Place , surrounded by guildhouses and the Gothic town hall . There's Laken Castle and the large St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral , dedicated to the cities patron saints. The Royal Palace is a more recent but no less grand structure. One of the city's most famous landmarks is the Atomium , a remarkable steel structure and remnant of the 1958 World's Fair. And yet, with all those magnificent sights at hand, many travellers' favourite is a tiny bronze fountain in the shape of a peeing boy: the curious Manneken Pis . The Walloon Brabant province, a few kilometres south of Brussels, is certainly worth a visit. There you can visit the Lion's Mound in Waterloo or the beautiful Villers Abbey in Villers-la-Ville.

Perhaps the most popular of the Belgian cities is Bruges . Much of the excellent architecture that arose during the towns Golden Age, roughly the 14th century, remains intact and the old centre is a valued UNESCO World Heritage Site . Among its most prominent landmarks is the 13th century belfry , where the carillonneur still rings the bells on a daily basis. With countless other noteworthy monuments, Bruges is a highly popular destination and get a bit overcrowded during holidays. And then there's Ghent , which in ages past was one of the wealthiest cities in northern Europe. Although larger and much busier than Bruges, its excellent medieval architecture can definitely compete. Its beguinages, belfry and former cloth hall are World Heritage Sites. Or visit Antwerp , the country's current place to be as it is a hotspot of the Belgian fashion, clubbing, arts and diamonds scenes. Nevertheless, the city's timeless old centre is right up there with the others, boasting the countries most stunning cathedrals . Other pleasant cities with good sights include Leuven , with the oldest Catholic University still in use and Liège .

In Wallonia, don't miss the city of Mons which has been the Cultural Capital of Wallonia since 2002. In 2015 the city had the honour of being the Cultural Capital of Europe. Mons is the largest and most important city in the Province of Hainaut, of which it is the administrative and judicial centre. One of its primary aims, however, has been to safeguard its heritage to better share it with the growing numbers of tourists to the area. Three major masterpieces, the Belfry, the Neolithic flint mines at Spiennes and the Doudou, all of which have been added to UNESCO's World Heritage List, can be found in and around Mons.

For hiking, biking and camping, head to the rugged hills of the Ardennes with their tight forests, caves and cliffs . They are home to wild boar, deer and lynx and hide a number of friendly villages, lots of castles and a few other notable sights. The impressive caves of Han-sur-Lesse , the castle of Bouillon and the modern Labyrinth of Barvaux are some of the best picks. The city of Namur makes a great base from where to explore the Ardennes and has some fine sights itself too. The city is beautifully located along the rivers Meuse and Sambre and from the ancient citadel you'll have a great view over town.

The Belgians brought forward a good number of world famous masters of art, and their love for arts is still today reflected in the range of fine arts museums. The Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts in Brussels and the Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten in Antwerp are just a few excellent examples. However, the Belgians love museums, with over 80 of them in the capital alone. Besides arts, they display anything from history and folklore to industry and technology. As some of the worst fighting of both World Wars took place on Belgian territory, there's also a large number of memorials and museums dedicated to those dark times, along some humbling military cemeteries.

• Mons International Love Film Festival : yearly festival of cinema (February)
• Ritual Ducasse of Mons : Doudou is the popular name for a week of collective jubilation that takes place in Mons on the weekend of the Trinity each year. There are four key moments: The Descent of the Shrine, The Procession, The Ascent of the Car d’Or and The Battle called Lumeçon (Trinity Sunday).
• Ethias Tennis Trophy : one of the better matches in the world. (October / Mons)
• Ommegang : a parade in Brussels that celebrates the beginning of the reign of Charles V of Habsburg. It takes place on the stunning cityscape of the Grand Place and involves thousands of stunts in period costume.
• Zinnekeparade : the yearly celebration of the Brusseler's spirit - the theme changes each year and involves costumes & chariots made by volunteers and locals.

• Graspop Metal Meeting . Yearly heavy metal festival held in the town of Dessel, in June.  

• Carnaval de Binche . Three days in February the town of Binche is transported back to the 16th century for one of the most fantastic festivals of the year. Highlighted by music parades and fireworks, the climax of this event is when the Gilles appear on the Grand Place and throw oranges to the spectators. This infamous festivity has been classified as part of the world's cultural heritage by UNESCO along with its renowned Gilles.  
• Rock Werchter . End of June, beginning of July, Werchter .  
• Dour festival . "European Alternative Music Event" - 12–15 July 2007 - Dour .  
• Pukkelpop . Mid- August  
• Atomium built for the 1958 Brussels World Fair (Expo ’58), it is a 102 metre tall representation of an atomic unit cell. More precisely, it is symbolic of a unit cell of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. Nine steel spheres 16m in diameter connect via tubes with escalators 32 m long.
• Gentse Feesten . 2nd half of July. Huge, ten day long street festival in the historical centre of the city of Ghent. The biggest street festival in Europe, with theatre, music in all genres, techno parties, and so on - Gentse Feesten  
• Activiteiten Gent & Antwerpen , Rerum Novarumlaan 132 ( Merksem ), ☏ +32 475 696 880 . Great boat tours around Ghent and Antwerp.  
• 24 hours cycling, Louvain-La-Neuve Louvain-La-Neuve is in the Wallonia not far from Brussel, it's a small pedestrian city created in the 60s for the French-speakers students. Every year, in October, they organised a bicycle competition. Actually, the course is a pretext to enjoy the event... And to drink beers. This party is one of the most important consumption of beers of the whole Europe.
• Belgian Beer Tour Belgian Beer Tour is a tour operator specialising in tours of Belgium breweries. It offers a great way for beer lovers to visit their favourite breweries and discover new ones. The tours cover a wide range of beers and appeals to connoisseurs and amateurs alike.
• TomorrowLand , De Schorre, Boom .  
• Flowercorso Loenhout , Loenhout Centre . one of the largest flower corsos of Belgium. With the title of Royal Corso their theme cars and floats are totally covered with over flowers and go up to 80 feet length. Every year, start of September €2-8 .  

Belgium has three official languages at the federal level: Dutch , French and German . However, one will quickly notice that the Belgian versions of these languages possess a few idiosyncrasies:

• Flemish Dutch is not always easy to understand for other Dutch speakers. A lot of words used in Flanders would be considered "archaic" even in former Dutch colonies. Furthermore, Flemish Dutch is a lot less guttural than its northern counterpart.
• The French spoken in Belgium, whilst marked by distinct annunciations and intonations, is mostly intelligible to the average French person, and younger generations in urban areas like Brussels tend to speak with a relatively standard French accent. Nevertheless, some "rural" accents can come off as harsh to the casual listener, especially those in and around Charleroi and eastern Wallonia. Anglicised words are also used more often than in France or Quebec.
• The German spoken in Belgium is nearly identical to Hochdeutsch (standard German) but, not unlike Flemish, it does incorporate antiquated words and idioms. German-speaking Belgians also speak a lot more slowly than Germans.

Although Belgium has three official languages, that does not mean that all of them are official everywhere. The official language of Flanders is Dutch and the official language of Wallonia is French. Brussels' official languages are Dutch and French (though French is more commonly spoken) and German is the official language in nine municipalities in Wallonia ( Eupen and its surroundings).

Virtually all Flemish people are bilingual in both Dutch and French, whereas the Walloons are typically monolingual and don't speak any Dutch. Even though German is an official language, less than 1% of the population understands it fluently and you're unlikely to find speakers of the language outside the German-speaking community.

English is usually spoken and understood at a basic level throughout Belgium, but don't expect everyone to be comfortable expressing themselves in it, even younger generations. As an international city, Brussels is one of the most English-friendly cities in Europe; nearly everyone working in the tourism sector can speak it at an advanced level, and most locals have daily exposure to it. English is fairly prevalent in Flanders, as their education system bears some similarities with the Netherlands; however, some people may not be as fluent as expected. In contrast, English is not widely spoken in Wallonia though it is still possible to find English speakers in tourist areas.

Language is a highly sensitive issue in Belgium, and it's possible to accidentally speak the 'wrong' language for the situation. Refer to the section on ' Respect ' for more.

A very small number of inhabitants of Wallonia, particularly the older generations, still speak the Walloon language. This language, while not official, is recognised by the French Community of Belgium as an "indigenous regional language", together with a number of other Romance (Champenois, Lorrain and Picard) and Germanic (Luxembourgish) language varieties. On the flipside, Italian is rather commonplace in Wallonia due to immigration. (At least 10% of Walloons can trace their origins back to Italy.)

Due to its international status, Brussels is home to a myriad of other languages; in addition to English being widespread, it is possible to find people who speak Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, etc.

In Belgium, foreign films and TV shows are available in their original language with French and Dutch subtitles in Flanders and Brussels cinemas and in the Dutch-language TV channels. Only children's TV shows and movies are dubbed.

In Wallonia, all movies and TV shows have a dubbed version in French or German and selected foreign films/TV shows have an original language version (marked with a "VO" in the cinema listing or in the case of TV shows, can be accessed through the remote control).

Belgium uses the euro , like several other European countries . One euro is divided into 100 cents. The official symbol for the euro is €, and its ISO code is EUR. There is no official symbol for the cent.

All banknotes and coins of this common currency are legal tender within all the countries, except that low-denomination coins (one and two cent) are phased out in some of them. The banknotes look the same across countries, while coins have a standard common design on the reverse, expressing the value, and a national country-specific design on the obverse. The obverse is also used for different designs of commemorative coins. The design of the obverse does not affect the coin's acceptability.

Tipping in Belgium is not usually done as service charge is always included. However, you may tip as a sign of appreciation. Usually, this is done by paying in bank notes with a total value slightly higher than the price of the meal and telling the waiter/waitress that they can keep the change.

• Belgian chocolate : A long tradition has given Belgian chocolate a superior refinement process that is recognized worldwide.
• Laces in Bruges
• Designer fashions in Antwerp
• Jewelry in one of Antwerps many jewelry shops
• Belgian comic books and related merchandising, especially in Brussels

Belgians like to eat. Belgium is famous for its good cuisine and people like to go to restaurants frequently. The best description for Belgian food would be " French food in German quantities".

General rules

• As anywhere else in the world, avoid the tourist traps, where the touts are trying to get you in the restaurants. You will get average to bad quality food for average to high prices, and, at busy times, they will try to get rid of you as soon as possible to make space for the next customer. A good example of this is the famous "Rue des Bouchers/Beenhouwersstraat" in Brussels in this picture.
• Belgium is a country that understands what eating is all about and can be a real gastronomic paradise. You can have a decent meal in just about every tavern, from small snacks to a complete dinner. Just pop into one of those and enjoy it.
• If you want to eat really well for not too much money, ask the local people or the hotel manager (that is, supposing he does not have a brother restaurant-manager) to give some advice for a good restaurant. Not a bad idea is to find a restaurant or tavern a little bit outside of the cities (if advised by some locals) they are usually not too expensive but deliver decent to high quality food. And ordering the specialties during the season will be both beneficial for your wallet and the quality of the food.
• Quality has its price: since the introduction of the euro, the price for eating out in Belgium nearly doubled. Expensive food like lobster or turbot will always cost a lot of money at any restaurant. But you can also find some local and simple dishes, rather cheap and still very tasty (such as sausages, potatoes and spinach). Normally a dinner (3 dishes) will be around €30-50 depending on your choices of food and restaurant. And for cheap, greasy food, just find a local frituur , also called a frietkot or friterie , it will be the best Belgian Fries you'll have had in ages. However , when you are in such a frituur, it may be best to avoid snacks (other than the fries themselves, and the rich choice in sauces that comes with them), which are generally fried and made out of low-quality scrap meat. Do NOT order a cheeseburger or hamburger in such a place! The so-called burger which you would get if you do, is especially notorious for being fried and containing a mixture of low-quality meat.

Specialities

A number of dishes are considered distinctly Belgian specialities and should be on every visitor's agenda.

Mussels are a firm favorite and a side-dish of Moules et frites/Mosselen met friet (Mussels with French fries). The traditional way is to cook them in a pot with white wine and/or onions and celery, then eat them up using only a mussel shell to scoop them out. The top season is September to April, and as with all other shellfish, do not eat the closed ones. Belgium's mussels always come from the nearby Netherlands. Imports from other countries are looked down on.

Balletjes/Boulettes are meatballs with fries. They will either be served with a tomato sauce or with the sauce from Liège, which is based on a local syrup. For this reason they will often be introduced as Boulets Liégeois.

Frikadellen met krieken are also meatballs, served with cherries in a sauce of cherryjuice. This is eaten with bread.

Stoemp is mashed potatoes and carrots with bacon and sausages. It is a typical meal from Brussels.

Stoofvlees (or Carbonade flamande) is a traditional beef stew and is usually served with (you have guessed it already) fries.

Witloof met kaassaus/Chicons au gratin is a traditional gratin of chicory with ham and a cheesy bechamel sauce, usually served with mashed potatoes or croquettes.

Konijn met pruimen : rabbit cooked in beer and dried plums.

Despite the name, French fries ( frieten in Dutch, frites in French) are proudly claimed as a Belgian invention. Whether or not this is true, they certainly have perfected it — although not everybody agrees with their choice of mayonnaise over ketchup as the preferred condiment (ketchup is often considered to be "for kids").

Every village has at least one frituur/friterie , an establishment selling cheap take-away fries, with a huge choice of sauces and fried meat to go with them. The traditional thing to try is friet met stoofvlees , but remember the mayonnaise on it .

Waffles ( wafels in Dutch, gaufres in French) come in two types:

• Gaufres de Bruxelles / Brusselse wafels : a light and airy variety. These are often topped with powdered sugar, and sometimes other toppings such as whipped cream or even fruits for a big dessert.
• a heavier variety with a gooey center known as Gaufres de Liège / Luikse wafels . These are often eaten without toppings as a street/ take-away snack while shopping and therefore can be found at stands on the streets of the cities. Shops aimed solely at tourists will try to put toppings like whipped cream on this type of waffle rather than the Gaufres de Bruxelles/Brusselse wafels, but this is not usually done by Belgians.

Last but not least, Belgian chocolate is famed around the world. Famous chocolatiers include Godiva, Leonidas, Guylian, Galler, Marcolini and Neuhaus, with Godiva, Leonidas and Neuhaus being official suppliers of chocolate to the Belgian royal family. In nearly all supermarkets, you can buy the brand Côte d'Or, generally considered the best 'everyday' chocolate (for breakfast or break) among Belgians.

International

As a small country in the centre of western Europe, the cuisine is influenced not only by the surrounding countries but also by many other countries. This is also emphasized by many foreigners coming to this country to make a living here, for instance by starting a restaurant. You can find all types of restaurants:

• French/Belgian: A traditional Belgian restaurant serves the kind of food you will also find in the best French restaurants. Of course there are local differences: at the coast (in France as well as in Belgium) you have a better chance of finding some good seafood, like mussels, turbot, sole or the famous North Sea shrimp. In the southern woods of the Ardennes (remember the battle of the Bulge?), you are better off choosing game or local fish like trout.
• English/Irish: There are Irish bars and pubs everywhere and Belgium is no exception, try the Schuman area of Brussels for more Irish pubs than you can shake a stick at. There is also an English pub just off of Place de la Monnaie in central Brussels.
• American: There are McDonald's or lookalikes in most towns. The Belgian variety is called "Quick". You may also find a local booth serving sausages, hot dogs or hamburgers. Try it: the meat tastes the same, but the bread is much better. Ketchup in this region is made with less sugar (even the Heinz brand). Pizza Hut, Domino's, and Subway also have establishments, but you won't find Burger King. There are no real American restaurants, although there is an American bar on the Toison d'Or in Brussels that serves food.
• Italian: Roughly 500,000 people in Belgium are Italian or have Italian heritage, and ties have been historically close between Belgium and Italy, so finding a tasty pizza or mouth-watering pastas is not difficult, especially in Brussels and Wallonia.
• Mexican: Only in the cities and rather costly for only medium quality. ChiChi's (near Bourse) serves Mexican American food but would not be considered a good value by American standards. ChiChi's uses reconstituted meats.
• Chinese: They have a long tradition of restaurants in Belgium. Rather cheap, but an acceptable quality.
• German/Austrian: Maxburg in the Schuman area (next to Spicy Grill) makes a good schnitzel.
• Greek/Spanish/Italian: Like all over the world, nice, rather cheap, with a good atmosphere and typical music (Greek: Choose meat, especially lamb) (Spanish: Choose paella and tapas) (Italian: Choose anything).
• Japanese/Thai: You usually find them only in the cities and they are rather expensive, but they give you great quality. The prices and the quality are both satisfying in a concentrated cluster of Thai restaurants near Bourse station. Avoid Phat Thai though if you don't want disruptions - as they let pan handlers and flower pushers enter and carry out their "work".
• Arabic/Moroccan: Rather cheap, with a great variety of local dishes, especially with lamb; no fish or pork or beef.
• Turkish: Rather cheap, with a great variety of local dishes, especially with chicken and lamb and also vegetarian dishes, dishes with fish are rare; no pork or beef.
• Belgium offers a wide selection of other international restaurants.

For party-minded people, Belgium can be great. Most cities are close to each other and are either large urban areas (Brussels, Antwerp) or student areas (Leuven, Liège, Ghent), etc. In this little region, you will find the most clubs, cafés, restaurants per square mile in the world. A good starting point can be places with a strong student/youth culture: Leuven around its big university, Liège in the famous "carré" district, etc. You can expect a wide variety in music appreciation, going from jazz to the better electronic music to even some solid heavy metal bars. Just ask around for the better clubs and there you will most likely meet some music fanatics who can show you the better underground parties in this tiny country.

The government has a mostly liberal attitude towards bars, clubs and parties. They acknowledge the principle of "live and let live". As long as you don't cause public disturbance, vandalize property and get too drunk, the police will not intervene; this is also one of the main principles of Belgian social life, as drunk and disorderly behaviour is generally considered offensive. Of course, in student communities this is more tolerated, but generally, you are most respected if you party as hard as you like- but with a sense of discretion and self-control.

Officially, drugs are not allowed. But as long as you respect the aforementioned principles, you are not likely to get into serious trouble. Beware though, that driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs is not tolerated and traffic laws are strictly enforced in this matter. Especially in the weekends on main roads, you have a good chance of being stopped for an alcohol check.

Tap water is drinkable everywhere in Belgium, but most restaurants do not serve it. Hot spring or some other mineral water is typically served and costs about €2 per bottle. Spa is like bru and chaudfontaine a very famous water brand.

Belgium is to beer what France is to wine; it is home to one of the greatest beer traditions in the world. Like other European countries in medieval times, beers were brewed in a huge variety of ways with many different ingredients. In addition to the standard ingredients of water, malted barley, hops and yeast, many herbs and spices were also used. This activity was often done in monasteries, each developing a particular style. For some reason, uniquely in Belgium many of these monasteries survived almost into modern times, and the process was handed over to a local commercial brewer if the monastery closed. These brewers would often augment the recipe and process slightly to soften the taste to make it more marketable, but the variety survived in this way. These beers are called Abbey beers and there are hundreds and hundreds with a range of complex tastes unimaginable until you've tried them.

The Trappist label is controlled by international law, similar to that of Champagne in France. There are only six Trappist Abbeys in Belgium that produce beer qualified to be called Trappist . In order to carry the Trappist label, there are several rules that must be adhered to during the brewing process. The beer must be fermented within the walls of the abbey, the monks of the abbey must be involved in the beer-making process, and profit from the sale of the beer must be directed towards supporting the monastery (similar to a non-profit organization).

Belgium offers an incredible diversity of beers. Wheat / white beers (with their mixture of barley and wheat) as well as Lambic beers (sour-tasting wheat beers brewed by spontaneous fermentation) originated in Belgium. For the non-beer lovers, lambic beers are still interesting to try, as they are often brewed in fruity flavors and don't have a usual beer taste. Several well known mass-produced Belgian beers are Stella Artois, Duvel, Leffe, Jupiler, Hoegaarden. The names given to some beers are pretty imaginative: e.g. Verboden Vrucht (Forbidden Fruit), Mort Subite (Sudden Death), De Kopstoot (Head Butt), Judas and Delirium Tremens.

Warmly recommended are also Kriek (sweet and sour cherry beer) and, for the Christmas season, Stille Nacht (Silent night).

Plain blond draughts (4%-5.5%): Stella Artois, Jupiler, Maes, Cristal, Primus, Martens, Bavik.

Trappist ales (5%-10%): Achel, Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westvleteren, Westmalle.

Geuze: Belle-Vue, the lambic Mort Subite (Sudden Death), Lindemans in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw , Timmermans, Boon, Cantillon, 3 Fonteinen, Oud Beersel, Giradin, Hanssens, De Troch.

White beers: Hoegaarden, Dentergemse, Brugse Witte.

The city of Hasselt is well known in Belgium for its local alcoholic beverage, called jenever . It is a rather strong liquor, but it comes in all kinds of tastes beyond your imagination, including vanilla, apple, cactus, kiwi, and chocolate. Hasselt lies in the east of Belgium, and is about one hour away by train from Brussels and 50 minutes from Antwerp. Trains go two times an hour from Antwerp.

Pubs, or cafés , are wide spread. They all have a large variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic, hot and cold beverages. Some serve food, others don't. Some might be specialised in beer, or wine, or cocktails, or something else. Smoking in pubs is forbidden by law.

• Couchsurfing . has a lot of members in Belgium  
• Vrienden op de fiets . If you are travelling in Flanders by bicycle or by foot, there is a list of 260 addresses where you can stay at private homes with bed and breakfast for no more than €18.50 per person per night, although you must also pay €9 for membership of this scheme.  
• Hostelling International (Flanders & Brussels) ( Vlaamse Jeugdherbergen ). This is the Flemish HI association with 19 hostels, one of which is in Brussels. ( updated May 2023 )
• Hostelling International (Wallonia & Brussels) ( Les Auberges de Jeunesse ). This is the Wallonia-Brussels HI association with ten hostels, two of which are in Brussels. ( updated May 2023 )

Belgium has many fine hotels. Capital Brussels has countless rather expensive business hotels catering to the European Union's bureaucrats, and while you can usually get a good room for under €100 , prices can spike if there's a big EU shindig in town.

The different stages of education are the same in all communities:

• Pre-school ( kleuteronderwijs ; enseignement maternel ): -6 years
• Primary school ( lager onderwijs ; enseignement primaire ): 6–12 years
• Secondary school ( secundair onderwijs ; enseignement secondaire ): 12–18 years
• University ( universiteit ; université )
• Polytechnic ( hogeschool ; haute école )

Education is organized by the regions (Dutch-speaking Flanders on the one hand, French and German speaking Wallonia on the other) and the small federal district of Brussels has schools run by both the Flemish and Walloon authorities. Both states recognize independent school networks, which cater to far more students than the state schools themselves. Most Flemish students go to a Flemish Catholic school. However, every independent school needs to follow the official state curriculum, and Catholicism in Flanders has long been extremely liberal anyway.

Having one of the highest labour taxes in Europe, Belgium is struggling to reposition itself as a high-tech country. In that struggle, Flanders is far ahead and much wealthier than Wallonia, in contrast to the previous decades, where Wallonia's steel industry was the main export of Belgium. Highly skilled people will have the most chance to find work, and knowing multiple languages (Dutch, French, English and perhaps German) is almost a standard requirement. Interim offices providing temporary jobs are flourishing in a search to avoid the high labour taxes.

Belgium has one of the highest tax rates in the world. An employer who pays a salary about €1500 a month actually pays another €1500 or more in taxes. Where does this money go to? It goes to social security. People only pay a small charge for healthcare, for example. And the budget for education, arts and culture is enormous. The budget for defense is however very tiny.

Although Belgium is undesirable for building wealth, it's a good place for someone who already is wealthy to reside because there is very little capital gains tax (some forms of capital gain is not taxed at all).

With the notable exceptions of certain major urban areas like Brussels (mostly the northern and western sections of the region), Antwerp (the southern neighbourhoods), and Walloon cities bordering France (Mons, Mouscron), Belgium is a very safe country. Tourists will feel perfectly fine by taking basic precautions, like not flashing expensive jewelry or avoiding poorly-lit streets. If you ever fall victim to crime, the emergency phone number in Belgium (fire, police, paramedics) is 112 .

Pickpocketing and other crimes

Violent crimes are generally uncommon in Belgium, but as with much of Europe, petty crimes like pickpocketing do occur, mostly in Brussels and more touristy cities like Bruges and Antwerp.

Aggravated assaults have occurred sporadically throughout the years, but they rarely involve tourists. Brussels and other major cities have seen a surge of assaults against women

As a country marked by continued waves of immigration, Belgium is one of the world's most multicultural nations. However, there are still rural areas with much fewer immigrants and certain types of skin tones can still attract unwanted attention.

People of North African or Middle Eastern ancestry in particular may attract violent stares and resentment from older generations in rural areas and wealthier sections of Brussels and Antwerp . With all that said, Belgians - especially younger ones - are noticeably more welcoming towards Muslims and immigrants than other Europeans, and public expressions against Islam and non-whites are swiftly condemned.

People who are recognisably Jewish, such as men who wear kippot, have also experienced harassment and worse, and should check on current conditions for Jews before they go. This especially applies to Brussels.

By many measures, Belgium is one of the most - if not the most - LGBTQ-friendly nations in the world. Some of Europe's biggest gay prides happen here, and Brussels has one of the world's most lively gay scenes. However, attacks against gays and lesbians are not uncommon in large cities and rural areas.

Alcohol and drugs

Possessing small amounts of marijuana is punishable by a fine. You may get into more serious trouble for smoking weed in public.

As the undisputed land of beers, Belgium has long had a reputation for drunk behaviours, and the country had one of the world's highest alcohol consumption per capita. This rate has, however, dropped significantly since the early 2010s, and public intoxication is nowhere nearly as common as it used to be. Nevertheless, it remains an issue in certain areas.

Stay healthy

In the winter, like most other European countries, only influenza will cause you a considerable inconvenience. No inoculations are needed to enter or leave Belgium.

Tap water is safe to drink throughout Belgium.

As one of Europe's most densely populated countries, Belgium suffers from serious air pollution. This applies for both urban and rural areas.

Belgium has a modern telephone system with nationwide cellular telephone coverage, and multiple internet access points in all cities, free in most libraries. Also in multiple gas stations, NMBS/SNCB train stations and diners on the highways there is Wi-Fi available.

• Many cafés offer free Wi-Fi nowadays, but don't write it on the door for whatever reason...
• if you can't find any you can always fall back on Quick , McDonalds , Lunch Garden , Exki , Carrefour Planet or Starbucks which all offer free Wi-Fi.

Belgium has some of the slowest internet speeds in Western Europe.

Belgium uses the GSM standard of cellular phones (900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands) used in much of the world except parts of the Americas. There are three main companies (Proximus, Orange and Base, and a large number of MVNOs) offering wireless service. The country is almost totally covered.

It is no longer possible to buy anonymous prepaid SIM cards in Belgium as a result of new Belgian anti-terror legislation. Buying a SIM card in advance from Mobile Vikings now requires name and address registration. If you stay for some time, buy a pre-paid cell phone card that you can use in any phone that supports the GSM standard on the 900/1800 MHz bands. With these cards, incoming calls and SMSes are generally free. You can get SIM cards for the three main companies in dedicated phone shops.

All networks provide UMTS and HSDPA (3G) mobile internet coverage, and are rolling out a 4G network, mainly in the big cities.

Giving tips in bars or restaurants is virtually unheard of, even in larger cities. Doing so does shows that you were satisfied with the service given, but you are absolutely not obliged to do so. Depending on the total, a tip of €0.50 to €2.50 is considered generous.

Belgians in general are very proud of their comic book artists. The "Belgian school of comic books" is hailed as a national point of pride. There are dozens of beautiful yet expensive merchandise items, and the Belgians are fond of them. A plastic figurine of a comic book character or a special artwork of a hailed comic book artist would be a perfect gift for your Belgian friends and in-laws, for example.

Try to show appreciation for some of the things made in Belgium. For instance, French fries, beers, comic books, chocolate, and the like. Inquiries about them will be welcomed and appreciated by the vast majority of Belgians.

As a rule of thumb, do not speak French in Flanders or Dutch in Wallonia . Even if you're looking to practice your language skills, try not to speak the "wrong" language in the wrong region, as this can sometimes be considered to be offensive. Like with many countries, the best option is to ask first if someone speaks English or French in Flanders, or Dutch/English in Wallonia. Although you will generally find many more French speakers in Flanders than Dutch speakers in Wallonia, the former may not, for political reasons, want to speak French to you. The latter are unlikely to know more than a few Dutch phrases they learnt at school. English as a second (or third) language is more prevalent in Flanders and Brussels. Some people won't hesitate to either dismiss you or at worst give an icy response, if you speak the "wrong" language in the wrong area.

This doesn't apply to the German-speaking areas (as the German-speaking community is an observer in the Flanders-Wallonia dispute) and Brussels. As a tourist, it's better to communicate in English as it's considered to be the "diplomatic" language of the country.

The Flanders-Wallonia dispute and the possibility of Belgium partitioning are highly controversial, emotional issues and should be avoided. You should avoid discussing them where possible.

As with many countries in Europe, Inquiring about someone's salary or talking about your own is uncommon and in conversation is a great way to make someone feel uncomfortable. Similarly, discussing personal, political, or religious convictions are no-go areas until you're better acquainted with someone.

Do not tell the Walloons (and most of the people of Brussels) that they are French. Most Walloons, despite speaking French, are not and do not consider themselves French. And, for similar reasons, do not tell the Flemish (and also the people of Brussels) that they are Dutch. Most Flemings, despite speaking Dutch (Flemish), are not and do not consider themselves Dutch. The same applies to the 75,000 German-speaking Belgians, who have a heavy historical background with their neighbour Germany.

Generally speaking, Belgians tend to keep to themselves and those they are most familiar with; it is not uncommon to meet people that live within 5km of their place of birth deep into adulthood, and as a result outsiders may feel as if Belgians are aloof and unfriendly. This definitely applies to Brussels (with its hustle and bustle) and Flanders (where people are definitely more reserved than their Walloon counterparts). Making friends with locals will take time, but it will be worth it.

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Voyages en BELGIQUE

Comment évoquer un voyage en Belgique sans aborder la bière, le chocolat ou les moules-frites ? Pourtant l’essentiel n’est vraiment pas là, mais plutôt dans l’accueil de ses habitants qui donne tout son relief au plat pays de Brel.

Son héritage architectural lié à son riche passé peut être admiré dans la plupart de ses villes et, notamment à Gant et Bruges, fleurons de la Renaissance flamande. Bruxelles, capitale belge et européenne, se nourrit quant à elle des influences de toutes les nations qui y sont représentées et de son histoire pour proposer mixité culturelle, richesse créative et dynamisme exceptionnel. Un voyage en Belgique est donc un dépaysant et culturel et ce, juste de l’autre côté de nos frontières.

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Vous avez prévu de partir à Bruxelles ? Nous pouvons vous aider ! Sur Visitons Bruxelles.com, vous trouverez toutes sortes d' informations actualisées sur que voir , où dormir ou encore sur les meilleurs quartiers où manger .

Guide de Bruxelles

• Informations
• Comment s'y rendre
• Bruxelles en 48 heures

Si vous découvrez ce guide, c’est que vous êtes très probablement en train de planifier votre voyage à Bruxelles. Si c’est le cas, vous aurez très certainement de nombreuses questions qui vous viennent à l’esprit au moment de préparer votre séjour en Belgique . Afin de vous faciliter la tâche, Civitatis  vous offre un guide touristique contenant toutes les informations dont vous avez besoin pour profiter au maximum de votre voyage.

Pourquoi visiter Bruxelles ?

Parce que l’on y mange le meilleur chocolat et que l’on y boit les meilleures bières au monde  ; parce que c’est une ville si proche de la France et que les vols sont presque donnés ; parce qu'on vous a parlé en bien de cette ville ; parce que vous aimez les moules ou parce que vous avez toujours voulu découvrir le Manneken Pis , ce petit bonhomme effronté qui est le symbole de la ville.

Bruxelles est non seulement la capitale belge mais également la capitale européenne. Cette ville réunit les caractéristiques d’une grande ville avec le charme des petites villes plus tranquilles.  Modernes avec une touche classique, les rues de Bruxelles sont empreintes de charme et d’histoire .

N’importe quelle excuse est bonne pour faire un saut chez nos voisins les Bruxellois !

Comment organiser son voyage ?

Pour que votre voyage à Bruxelles soit parfait, il faut être bien organisés . Afin de préparer au mieux votre séjour, nous vous conseillons de commencer par découvrir l’histoire de la ville et lire notre section sur les informations pratiques  ; vous pourrez ensuite connaître les quartiers et les lieux importants de la ville ainsi que ses musées .

N’attendez pas de réserver votre hôtel au dernier moment !

En utilisant notre moteur de recherche , vous pourrez réserver des hôtels de toutes catégories aux meilleurs prix garantis . Vous pourrez bénéficier de remises allant jusqu’à 75% et paierez une fois arrivés à l’hôtel.

• Hôtels à Bruxelles – Réservation en ligne au prix minimum garanti.

top activités

Free tour dans Bruxelles Découvrez les plus beaux monuments de Bruxelles avec cette visite gratuite et apprenez-en plus sur l’Art Nouveau, le chocolat et la bière belge.

Excursion à Bruges Connue comme la Venise du Nord, Bruges est l'une des villes médiévales les plus fascinantes d'Europe . Découvrez-la avec un guide francophone expert !

Excursion à Bruges et à Gand Gand et Bruges sont 2 des villes médiévales les mieux conservées d'Europe. Visitez les deux joyaux de la Belgique en une seule journée depuis Bruxelles .

Brussels Card La Brussels Card inclut l’ accès gratuit à 49 musées et monuments de Bruxelles avec d’importantes réductions dans certains magasins et restaurants.

Excursion à Gand Découvrez Gand, une charmante ville au centre médiéval encore remarquablement conservé . Cette excursion au départ de Bruxelles est incontournable !

Bus touristique de Bruxelles Le bus touristique de Bruxelles est la meilleure option pour découvrir les principaux sites de la ville en respectant l'environnement .

Visite à la découverte de la bande dessinée Bruxelles commence par le B de bande dessinée, le neuvième art. Découvrez les vignettes urbaines de la capitale belge et parcourez ses rues !

Excursion à Luxembourg et Dinant Grâce à cette visite, vous découvrirez Luxembourg, une ville européenne surprenante . En rentrant à Bruxelles, vous passerez par les Ardennes et Dinant.

Excursion d'une journée à Amsterdam Partez en excursion à Amsterdam une journée et découvrez les jolis canaux et les maisons inclinées, ainsi que tous les lieux incontournables !

Atelier de chocolat à Choco Story Lors de cet atelier sur le chocolat belge , apprenez à fabriquer différentes confiseries à Choco Story , un musée bruxellois populaire consacré au cacao.

Billet pour le Choco Story Découvrez l'histoire du cacao en allant au Choco Story, le Musée du Chocolat de Bruxelles . Le billet comprend également une délicieuse dégustation !

Billet pour le Parc Mini-Europe Avec ce billet pour la Mini-Europe à Bruxelles , vous visiterez un parc où les monuments les plus célèbres d'Europe sont reproduits en miniature .

Free tour à la découverte de l'Art Nouveau Au XIXᵉ siècle émerge un mouvement architectural hors-norme.  Venez découvrir la richesse de l'Art Nouveau à Bruxelles lors de ce free tour .

Free tour dans la Bruxelles insolite et secrète Lors de ce free tour alternatif dans Bruxelles , visitez les quartiers les moins touristiques de la capitale belge , et découvrez le mode de vie des habitants.

Visite privée dans Bruxelles. À vous de choisir ! Lors de votre visite privée, vous serez accompagné d'un guide pour découvrir Bruxelles en exclusivité en famille ou entre amis. Vous allez adorer !

Billet pour le musée Train World de Bruxelles Découvrez l'histoire du plus ancien réseau ferroviaire d'Europe en réservant votre billet pour le musée du train de Bruxelles .

Excursion à Dinant et Luxembourg Lors de cette excursion à Dinant et Luxembourg , vous visiterez une belle ville de Wallonie et la capitale du Grand-Duché , l'un des plus petits pays d'Europe .

Dégustation de bière belge dans Bruxelles Avec ce parcours dégustation, vous découvrirez le monde de la bière belge de la meilleure des façons, en visitant différentes brasseries de la capitale.

Excursion à Anvers Découvrez Anvers, la capitale du diamant et l'une des cités médiévales les plus fascinantes de Belgique avec cette excursion en train depuis Bruxelles.

Visite panoramique dans Bruxelles Si vous voulez voir les lieux les plus emblématiques de Bruxelles d'une manière différente, cette visite panoramique en bus à toit ouvert est idéale !

Visite avec dégustation de chocolats, bière et frites dans Bruxelles Vivez une expérience gastronomique authentique grâce à cette visite avec dégustation de chocolats, bière et frites dans Bruxelles . Un vrai régal !

Hard Rock Café de Bruxelles sans file d'attente Profitez de la musique et de la cuisine à l'américaine au Hard Rock Café Bruxelles , un restaurant populaire sur la célèbre Grand Place.

Pub Crawl : tournée des bars à Bruxelles ! Vous souhaitez faire la fête dans la capitale belge ? Rencontrez de nouvelles personnes et passez un bon moment avec cette tournée des bars à Bruxelles  !

Excursion privée au départ de Bruxelles Laissez-vous séduire par le charme des trois plus jolies villes de Belgique : Gand, Bruges et Anvers , avec un guide privé rien que pour vous et vos proches.

Excursion sur les champs de bataille des Flandres Découvrez l'une des scènes les plus importantes de la Première Guerre mondiale en Belgique lors de cette excursion sur les champs de bataille des Flandres.

Billet pour le Belgian Beer World Amateurs de bière, découvrez les secrets de la tradition brassicole belge avec ce billet pour le Belgian Beer World . Dégustation incluse !

Jeu de piste à Bruxelles : Les origines de la ville Histoire, mystères et de nombreuses curiosités vous attendent dans ce jeu de piste à Bruxelles : Les origines de la ville .

Art Nouveau Pass Grâce à l' Art Nouveau Pass , visitez trois bâtiments Art Nouveau de Bruxelles , l'une des capitales européennes où ce style architectural est le plus présent .

Excursion à Delft et au parc de Keukenhof Laissez vous charmer par la Hollande avec cette excursion à Delft et Keukenhof depuis Bruxelles . De magnifiques tulipes colorées vous attendent !

Bus de Noël à Bruxelles Prévoyez du temps dans votre emploi du temps pour admirer les décorations de l'Avent de la capitale belge à bord du bus de Noël de Bruxelles.

Votre guide de Bruxelles

Le guide touristique Visitons Bruxelles est le résultat d’expériences personnelles de voyageurs comme vous. Tout au long de ce guide, nous nous efforcerons de vous aider à planifier au mieux votre séjour, en économisant un maximum et en vous révélant les astuces les plus intéressantes pour utiliser au mieux votre temps .

Les informations et les données pratiques ont été actualisées en décembre 2022 . Si vous détectez une erreur ou jugez que nous devrions apporter des modifications, n’hésitez pas à nous contacter.

Nos guides touristiques

• et bien plus encore

Conseils aux voyageurs

Dans cette rubrique, vous trouverez notre video avec nos conseils et toutes les informations importantes lorsque vous voyagez à l’étranger. Les conseils aux voyageurs ont valeur d’avis et ne sont pas contraignants. 

Trouvez le conseil aux voyageurs pour l'un des pays ou l'une des régions .

Un aperçu des pays et régions

6 conseils pour votre voyage à l'étranger

Documents de voyage

Sur cette page, vous trouverez des informations sur les documents de voyage dont vous avez besoin pour voyager à l'étranger.

Belges en détresse

Malgré toutes vos précautions, vous vous retrouvez dans une situation de détresse à l’étranger. Que faire ?

L'assistance en cas de crise

En cas de catastrophe naturelle, de calamité ou d’accident impliquant un grand nombre de Belges, le centre de crise des Affaires étrangères est activé.

L’assistance consulaire belge ou européenne

Sur cette page, vous trouverez toutes les informations sur l’assistance consulaire belge ou européenne.

Santé et hygiène

Avant le départ.

Certaines précautions doivent être prises bien avant votre départ, particulièrement si vous devez vous faire vacciner.

Pendant le voyage

Certaines précautions doivent également être prises pendant votre voyage.

Problèmes de sécurité

Sur cette page, vous trouverez toutes les informations concernant les problèmes de sécurité qui peuvent être liés à votre voyage.

Piraterie en mer

La piraterie maritime moderne prend indifféremment pour cible les navires de commerce ou de pêche ou encore les bateaux de plaisance.

Avertissement général concernant le terrorisme lors d'un voyage à l'étranger.

Catastrophes naturelles

Notre terre recèle de nombreux endroits où la nature prospère dans toute sa splendeur. Toutefois, les caprices de Dame nature sont imprévisibles et peuvent avoir des conséquences catastrophiques pour l’homme. Ainsi, il arrive régulièrement que le monde soit secoué par des tremblements de terre, des ouragans ou des tsunamis Les voyageurs et les Belges qui résident dans des zones à risque doivent être conscients des risques éventuels. Il importe dès lors de respecter et de suivre les directives et mesures.

Assurances voyage

Des imprévus surviennent plus fréquemment au cours d'un voyage que chez soi. Découvrez nos conseils pour voyager sereinement.

Voyager avec des enfants mineurs

Comme pour les adultes, les documents de voyage nécessaires pour les enfants dépendent de votre destination.

Voyager avec des animaux

Sur cette page, vous trouverez toutes les informations si vous voyagez avec des animaux.

L’importation et l’exportation des biens sont réglementées au niveau international.

Aéroports et droits des passagers aériens

Sur cette page, vous trouverez toutes les informations concernant les aéroports : mesures de sécurité et droits des passagers aériens.

Votre argent

Sur cette page, vous trouverez toutes les informations concernant votre argent lorsque vous voyagez à l'étranger.

Armes à feu, pièces détachées et munitions

Sur cette page, vous trouverez toutes les informations si vous êtes détenteur d’armes à feu, de pièces détachées d’armes à feu ou de munitions

Transporteurs aériens - restrictions UE

Dans le but de renforcer davantage la sécurité en Europe, la Commission européenne – en concertation avec les autorités des États membres chargées de la sécurité aérienne – a décidé d’interdire l’exploitation dans l’espace aérien européen des compagnies aériennes jugées peu sûres.

17 conseils pour voyager durable

Un code de conduite bien ficelé pour voyager durable n’existe pas. Le contexte est déterminant mais dans tous les cas, le respect de l’humain et de la nature doit primer. Ces 17 conseils vous mettront sur la bonne voie.

Liens utiles

Liens utiles - voyager à l'étranger.

Sur cette page, vous trouverez tous les liens utiles lorsque vous voyagez à l'étranger.

Travellers Online

Vous voyagez vers l’étranger ? Enregistrez-vous sur Travellers Online !

• Centre de Crise national
• SPF Santé publique
• SPF Économie
• Institut de Médecine Tropicale à Anvers (Wanda)
• Union européenne
• Organisation mondiale de la Santé (OMS)
• Reopen.europa.eu

Réseaux sociaux

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