Belgium

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Why visit Belgium?

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Belgium Self-deluding foreigners who have never been here often joke that nobody can name five famous Belgians. Or that Belgium is ‘boring’. So, there’s beer and mussels, but what else?’ Belgians’ downbeat, self-deprecating sense of humor means that locals are more than happy to let such folks fool themselves. If foreigners want to ignore the country’s astonishing art history, its 60-plus UNESCO sites, and bizarre carnivals, so be it. But the truth is that Belgium remains a country where people live well. There are strong social support systems, liberal attitudes, imaginative museums, a vibrant theatrical and artistic life and fabulous food. Belgian beers are divine and endlessly varied. Big new attractions for visitors continue to blossom.
Above all, though, Belgium is a country of two distinct halves. Dutch-speaking Flanders (Northern Belgium) has a flat, often monotonous landscape, but it is interspersed with fabulous historic cities. These lie close together and are conveniently interconnected by regular trains, making travel by public transport seamless. In French-speaking Wallonia (Southern Belgium), however, most attractions are contrastingly rural: caves, castles, bucolic valleys and outdoor activities.

What does Belgium bring in mind?

Mons

As the capital of the province of Hainaut, Mons is best known for the magical and surprising ringing of the town’s glorious Belfry bells, which hail from the 80 meter tower. Winding streets allow visitors to easily traverse the city sites that are a rich mixture of architectural styles. Naturally, a stop by the Van Gogh House is a must to see amazing reproductions of this master’s works.

Dinant This city lies along the sparkling Meuse River in the Namur province just 65 km south of the capital city. The Caves of Han and the Grotto of Dinant are some of the natural attractions that bring visitors here. These caves are some of Europe’s largest and most beautiful and are situated in within a Wildlife Reserve teeming with native flora and fauna. However, the city’s landmark, The Collegiate Church of Notre Dame is still remarkable after being partially rebuild post a massive landslide, as does the restored Citadel that overlooks the city.

Leuven

Home to the oldest Catholic university in the world and two seemingly endless streets are laden with interesting shops and galleries, while the more historical section of the city boasts sites such as the Belfry on St. Peter’s Church and the Grand Beguinage. This city’s location makes it an ideal alternative to Brussels as a vacationer’s main hub to explore the rest of the country.

Tournai Adjacent to France, the quaint and lovely community of Tournai is an excellent place to tune out the hustle and bustle of larger Belgium cities. This city is home to what is believed to be one of the most beautiful churches in the world – the five-towered Gothic and Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral.

Mechelen

A vibrant town that doesn’t draw the tourism that many other Belgium cities do, Mechelen is actually one of the best places to visit in Belgium. From tours of the Beguinage Brewery to river boat tours, there is much to see and do in this Flanders locale. A trip to the top of the St. Rombout Cathedral’s massive tower is the best way to get a panoramic view of the Antwerp Port and this lovely city.

Ardennes For hiking, biking and camping, visitors to Belgium should 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.

Spa Less than an hour from Liege is the city of Spa, a picturesque Belgian town often referred to as the “Pearl of the Ardennes,” nestled in a wooded valley surrounded by rolling hills and countless rivers and springs. Having given its name to all spas, visitors from across Europe have traveled to Spa for its healing hot spring water treatments since the 14th century. For some travelers, a trip to Spa must include a visit to the relaxing Thermes de Spa for any one of the many modern spa treatments.

Namur

Namur, the capital of Belgium’s French-speaking region, sits along the Meuse River and is just one-hour by car or train from Brussels. This impressive fortified town is surrounded by one of Europe’s largest ancient citadels, first built during the 3rd and 4th centuries. For shopaholics, the city is popular for its many fabulous boutique shops.

Things NOT TO MISS in Belgium

• Visit Grand Place: The Grand Place, with its ornate baroque and gothic guild houses, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. Built as a merchant's market in the 13th century, it serves as the city center and a great place to enjoy Belgian hospitality at one of the many terrace cafes.

• Contemplate Town Hall (Hotel de Ville): The first building you notice upon entering the Grand Place is the striking gothic town hall, which dates back to the 13th century. Its beautiful facade features the famous needle-like crooked spire which is topped by the archangel St. Michael.

• See Manneken Pis: This famous statue of a little boy peeing in a fountain is a perfect representative of the irreverent Belgian humor. The unique Brussels icon has been amusing visitors on the corner of Rue de L'Etuve & Stroofstraat. Over time it has become a tradition for visiting heads of state to donate miniature versions of their national costume for the little naked boy.

• Cathedral of Saints Michel and Gudule: This magnificent cathedral, tactfully dedicated to the male and female patron saints of Brussels, is located near Central Station. It was completed by the end of the 15 th century in the Brabant Gothic style but was damaged by the French shelling of 1695.

• Place du Petit Sablon: Just above the Grand Sablon is the jewel of a square: Petit Sablon. Originally a horse market, it was converted in 1890 into an elegant & charming flower garden with lavish fountains, surrounded by wrought-iron fences decorated with stone statuettes.

• Maison du Chocolat

• The Dinosaur Gallery at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences: Explore the largest dinosaur museum in Europe. This is a great exhibit for the whole family, with many new dinosaur skeletons to discover and learn about as well as hands-on activities for children.

• Christmas Markets: During the month of December, Brussels' Grand Place is magically transformed into a winter wonderland of holiday delights with an enormous Christmas tree and nightly sound & light shows. Nearby on Place Sainte Catherine resides a European Christmas Market village made up of wooden cottages filled with Christmas goodies, European food specialties and handicrafts.

• Tapis de Fleurs

• Ommegang Festival: Every year, the lavish Ommegang procession commemorates the tribute paid to Emperor Charles V and his VIP guests. Richly colored costumes, horses, embroidered banners, flag throwing and stilt jousting are always on the menu for this annual event

• Galeries St Hubert: This gorgeous, glass roofed arcade in the center of town, lined with cafes, theaters and luxury stores has the distinction of being the first shopping arcade in Europe.

Top Destinations in Belgium

Brussels

Known for its diversity of sites and places of interest, Brussels is the capital city of Belgium and is likely where visitors will begin their sightseeing. As the headquarters of many European institutions, Brussels might also be considered something of a capital for the European Union.

Bruges

The spirit and history of the Vikings releases strongly in this lovely city of canals that have earned it the title as the Europe’s ‘Venice of the North.’ Easy to traverse, Bruges is home to glorious medieval architecture, particularly on the southern side of the city’s main hub, The Grote Market Square. Flanking its western side, visitors can enjoy the neo-gothic style amid Provincial Court. Other sites not to miss include the spectacular Gruuthuse Mansion, and the impressive Saint John’s Hospital.

Ghent

Belgium’s best kept secret, Ghent is a city of history. During the Middle Ages, it was one of the richest and most powerful cities in Europe. It was once considered the second largest city north of the alps, after Paris. The impact of this rich past can be clearly seen when viewing the imposing architecture of churches and the houses of rich traders. The whole of the city center is restored in this fashion, and still breathes the atmosphere of a thriving late-medieval city state.

Antwerp

A city with many faces. While it may not be as historically preserved as Bruges or Ghent, it is a very dynamic city, offering a perfect mix of history and present-day modern life. Lovers of great food, great beer, and good times, this city is most well-known for the Diamond District, where more than 70 percent of the world’s rough diamonds are traded.

Liege

Liege, the largest French-speaking city in Belgium after Brussels, is a historical city situated along the Meuse River. In the fall of 2009, the city welcomed the opening of a stunning, new train station, which brings visitors to Liege from Brussels in one hour, Maastricht, Holland in twenty minutes and Paris in two hours.