Belgium travel guide
Fact file
| Name |
From 'Gallia Belgica', province of the Belgae (Celts & Germans) |
| Currency |
Euro |
| Language |
Dutch, French, German |
| Population |
10,584,534 |
| Size |
30,528 km2 |
| Cities |
Brussels, Antwerp |
| Religion |
Predominantly Roman Catholic |
Location & geography
Belgium is in northwest Europe. Belgium shares borders with France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Belgium has three main geographical regions: the coastal plain in the north-west and the central plateau both belong to the Anglo-Belgian Basin; the Ardennes uplands in the south-east are part of the Hercynian orogenic belt. The climate is maritime temperate.
Capital city
Brussels is the headquarters of the European Union. Beneath the glass office buildings this ancient city retains its medieval core where tourists who holiday in Brussels can enjoy the atmospheric architecture, fine wining and dining and upmarket shopping for which this cosmopolitan city is renowned.Within the 14th-century city walls is the compact centre of the old city with the beautiful Grand Palace at its heart.
Natural world
The digitalis, wild arum, hyacinth, strawberry, goldenrod, lily of the valley, and other plants common to temperate zones grow in abundance. Beech and oak are the predominant trees.
Among mammals still found in Belgium are the boar, fox, badger, squirrel, weasel, marten, and hedgehog. The many varieties of aquatic life include pike, carp, trout, eel, barbel, perch, smelt, chub, roach, bream, shad, sole, mussels, crayfish, and shrimp.
Food & drink
- Belgian food is, like the country itself, a mix of Germanic and Latin influences.
- Lapin à la Gueuze. (Rabbit in Geuze - a fermented, sour beer from Brussels)
- Pralines (filled chocolates, famous Belgian dessert/snack)
- Mosselen-Friet (mussels and chips – Belgium invented the ‘French fry’!)
- Stoemp (potato mashed with other vegetables, often served with sausage)
Health &safety
Most visits to Belgium are trouble-free, but travellers should be wary of street crime in the cities, such as mugging and pick pocketing, particularly in Brussels at major railway stations and on public transport. For a list of relevant vaccinations and other health precautions click here.
Travelling
Belgium law requires everyone to carry some form of official identification at all times. Belgium is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October). Flight time from the UK is approximately 1 hour long.
Places of interest
- The National Opera House, Brussels
- Museum of cocoa and chocolate
- The Castle of Buillon
- Belgium Beech trees