Belgium

Travelling to
the Kingdom of Belgium

Belgium might be a small country, but it is chock-a-block with things to do. Discovering Art Nouveau in Brussels, hiking up old mine shafts in Charleroi and trying one of the 3000 Belgian beers are but the tip of the iceberg.

Nestled between the Netherlands, Germany and France lies the Kingdom of Belgium which just happens to be the country I call home. Belgium is famous for Belgian chocolates (delicious), Belgian beer (deceptively strong), our inconceivably complex political structure and our quaint medieval towns and castles (3000 of them to be precise).

The city of Brussels holds a double function, serving as both the capital for Belgium and Europe. It is home to the European Commission & Parliament as well as NATO. In practice, this means the city is a true melting pot of different cultures with a very diverse culinary scene.

The weather in Belgium is fickle, although not the wettest place in Europe, it is safe to say we do get our fair share of rain. A good rain jacket and a backup plan of rainproof activities are good things to have when visiting Belgium.

When it comes to language, things become a bit tricky in Belgium. The vast majority of Belgians speak English, however, it is not their native tongue. The northern part of the country (Vlaanderen) speaks Flemish while Brussels and the south of the country (Wallonia) speak French.

Where to stay in Belgium

One of the great things about Belgium is the relatively small size of the country, and the comprehensive public transportation network. Base yourself out of Brussels and use it as a hub for your day trips. A one-hour train ride will take you all the way to the seaside or deep into the Ardennes.

Traffic in Belgium

The Belgian traffic is notoriously bad. It is not uncommon to find traffic jams on the ring of Brussels at midnight. Part of the explanation for the high amount of cars on the road lies in the culture of receiving a company car as part of the Belgian salary package. This has cultivated the habit of taking the car over public transport amongst the Belgian population. Traveling around Belgium is often faster if you take the train or the bus.