Belgium

Although Belgium's "national identity" only dates back to 1830, it has a rich and interesting Flemish heritage which also blends French, Dutch, and German cultures and heritages. For a country similar in size to Maryland, Belgium has a lot to see from its northern coast on the English Channel, sandy beaches with dunes, interesting cities of Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges, and Ghent, and intriguing international commercial and political environment to its canals, enchanted medieval castles, woodlands, and parks. Because Belgium is wedged between France, The Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg, it is a small country with a huge language divide. It main languages are Flemish and French; therefore, visitors to Belgium should plan on packing a French and/or Flemish to English dictionary. Beyond the cities and villages, Belgium has a quaint country-side with charming farms and waterways, perfect for bicyclists who want a closer look at Europe to tour. Surprisingly, Belgium is famous for its beers which have unusual flavors and often brewed by Trappist Monks-the each monastery has a special brewing formula that makes the various beers very special.

Art lovers enjoy visiting Belgium and The Netherlands when they are on the trail of the famous Flemish masters and medieval painters, including van Eyck, Memling, Rubens, Brueghels, van Dyck, and Jordaens. Other visitors, who have literary or historical interests, enjoy following the paths of famous classic writers like John McCrae who wrote the famous poem In Flanders Fields or touring the famous castles of Belgium. Other historians prefer to visit Waterloo, one of the most famous battlefields in Europe where the saying originated, "Napoleon met his Waterloo."

While touring the country-side, visitors to Belgium should look at the various breeds of farm dogs in Belgium. Its most famous breed, Bouvier de Flanders, is large, strong dog, formerly used to pull dairy charts was almost annihilated during World War II. Today, they are considered a rare breed and coveted internationally by dog lovers.

In Brussels, visitors are often awed by the "hectic pace" of the city with its busy traffic. To avoid the traffic, visitors can get around by subway. There are castles, parks, theatres, museums, medieval areas, and cathedrals to visit in Brussels while enjoying the local cuisine which includes freshwater eels, delicious sauces, and rich chocolates.

Other cities to visit in Belgium are Bruges with its canals and cosmopolitan lifestyle, Ghent the 14th and 15th cloth-making capital, and Antwerp with its sense of history that welcomes every visitor. Many think of Venice when they visit Bruges which has a medieval elegance. Ghent has interesting museums, particularly the Design Museum Gent. Throughout Belgium, the beautiful cathedrals in the cities boast exquisite religious art, and the crafts people make delicate laces, fabrics, and regional artifacts that are lovely. While in Belgium, visitors need to sample the chocolate!

Because Belgium is small, visitors can include a driving tour of Belgium while visiting The Netherlands and Luxembourg. If visitors are traveling through Europe by train, the cities of Belgium are wonderful places to stop for a visit.

Visitors to Belgium should take advantage of it unique place on the British Channel directly across the water from England. They can enjoy the beaches and sand dunes in Belgium or compare the English Channel coastline in The Netherlands and France.

While touring Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg or anywhere in Central Europe, be sure to go to the coolest capital in the European Union:   Brussels. In Brussels, which just dazzles with lots of great art and shopping, also boasts the perfect spot for the business traveler in Europe because it is the center of power politics and economics with many multinational businesses.
 Consequently, Brussels has a lively international buzz with everything on the cutting edge where Flemish, French, and English are spoken. Shopping in Brussels is very high fashion while its art and design are somewhat avant-garde. Its casual-chic culture boasts a fantastic night-life and restaurants featuring gastronomic delights, including bowls of steamed mussels for which Brussels is famous. Throughout Belgium, as well as in Brussels, travelers can find some interesting beers. In fact, 800 varieties of beer are served in Belgium. Savvy travelers enjoy sampling the local beers at the picturesque sidewalk cafes in the trendy Brussels neighborhoods.

Other suggested trips that include Belgium are:

1. Start in Brussels and travel south to Luxembourg, Strasbourg, and Frankfurt am Main.
2. Wind through Belgium to France and go to Paris.
3. After visiting Belgium and The Netherlands, take the train from Amsterdam east through the flat Dutch countryside to Germany.