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|  | BELGIUM COUNTRY SNAPSHOT AND INTERESTING FACTS | "Nothing but beer and chocolate?"
A land whose specialities include ubiquitous beers and delicate chocolates, Belgium is often perceived to be dull. The image that it's simply a staid haunt for business executives and Eurocrats, or the gateway to the rest of Europe, reinforces the idea. But Belgium is a prime destination if you're interested in countryside, culture, and history, served up alongside a huge proportion of highly acclaimed restaurants serving everything from haute cuisine to moules-frites or Belgian waffles.
Easy to travel around, this pocket-sized country is divided by the Flemish north (Flemish-speaking) and the Walloon south (French-speaking). Brussels, the capital, is the heart of the country and the European Union. Expanding outwards from the brilliant Gothic architecture of the Grand-Place, this cosmopolitan city contains numerous interesting museums and many fine eateries. The Manneken Pis statue is the place to pose for a photograph and laugh incredulously at others doing likewise.
Ostend, in the north, is a popular seaside resort with a long sandy beach, bustling harbour and shops to explore. With its canals and cobbles, thirteenth-century Bruges is one of Europe's finest examples of a medieval town and home to some impressive art collections. Antwerp is renowned for diamonds and throughout all these towns it's difficult to escape the bars and pavement cafés. The south holds great appeal for outdoorsy types - the forested Ardennes is a nature-lover's paradise cut by rivers and gorges where walking opportunities abound. How dull is that? Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. 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 in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy. This modern private enterprise economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north. With few natural resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. Roughly three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Public debt is nearly 100% of GDP. On the positive side, the government has succeeded in balancing its budget, and income distribution is relatively equal. Belgium began circulating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth in 2001-03 dropped sharply because of the global economic slowdown, with moderate recovery in 2004. | Open here a detailed map in a new window. Map Server Travel-Island.com. | 
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| | | RESORTS AND EXCURSIONS | The anachronistic images of 'boring Belgium' have been well and truly banished over the last decade as the country promotes its key destinations, along with a string of new attractions. Belgium always had a lot more going for it than the faceless political and bureaucratic buildings that litter its capital, Brussels, with a string of engaging cities in Bruges, Ghent, Liège, and Brussels itself, that offer impressive architecture, lively nightlife, first-rate cuisine and numerous other attractions for visitors. Then there is reinvented Antwerp, now a hotbed of fashion and modern design, and the more bucolic charms of the chocolate box beauty of the mountainous Ardennes region to the east, as well as the sweeping sand of the coastline resorts of the western seaboard.
Brussels
Brussels is home to the European Union and NATO, amongst many other institutions, but beyond their facelessness the city's architecture is a smorgasbord, with the gothic Grand Place the undoubted highlight. Other key sights in Brussels include St Michael and St Gudule's Cathedral and the Mont des Arts park, which links the upper and lower parts of the city. Then there is the elegant Place Royale, built between 1774 and 1780 in the style of Louis XVI, the Museum of Ancient Art and the Museum of Modern Art. The Manneken-Pis, and his less heralded sister the Janneken Pis, are statues that hint at the exuberance and irreverence of the 'Bruxellois', a spirit that reaches its zenith in the city's numerous bars which, along with the 1000 types of Belgian beer, are not to be missed. Among other areas worth exploring are the Ilot Sacré, the picturesque area of narrow streets to the northeast of the Grand-Place; the fashionable boulevard de Waterloo; the administrative quarter, a completely symmetrical park area commanding a splendid view of the surrounding streets; the Grand Sablon, the area containing both the flamboyant Gothic structure of the Church of Our Lady of Sablon and the Sunday antique market and lastly the Petit Sablon, a square surrounded by Gothic columns, which support 48 small bronze statues commemorating medieval Brussels guilds. A more modern attraction is the bizarre Atomium, a futuristic, atom-shaped aluminium tower built for the 1958 World Fair. One crucial out-of-town attraction is the Battle of Waterloo site, 18km (11 miles) to the south of Brussels, commemorating the battle that shaped the future of both Belgium and modern Europe, of which Brussels is now such a crucial hub.
Flanders
Antwerp
Although still Europe's second-largest port the city of Antwerp has moved on from its purely industrial past. Today the inhabitants, or Sinjoors as they are known, are at the cutting edge of fashion and design with countless boutiques and shopping outlets across the city. This energy also surfaces in the trendy bars and hip nightclubs that have now joined the more traditional charms of the beer and gin bars that still pull in the more reserved drinkers. Beyond modern Antwerp the more traditional attractions complement the new, with the impressive Grote Markt, containing the Town Hall and the Brabo Fountain, which commemorates the legend of the city's origin and also the eighteenth century Groenplaats, with its Rubens statue. The work of local artistic luminary Peter Paul Rubens surfaces all over Antwerp, most notably at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, home to what is arguably the world's finest collection of his work. The Rubens' House, the magnificent 17th-century house where the painter lived and worked, contains works by the painter and his associates as do many other museums and churches. Antwerp's maritime heritage can be explored on tours of the port and also at the the Steen, a 12th-century fortress now housing the National Maritime Museum, that overlooks the buzzing new city of today.
Bruges
Bruges is pure picture postcard with a perfectly preserved medieval heart that can be explored from the comfort of a canal boat ride, which takes tourists around the myriad of waterways that lead to the city often being referred to as the 'Venice of the North'. Bruges offers a variety of attractions such as the Lake of Love, which in the Middle Ages was the city's internal port, the 14th-century Town Hall featuring a façade decorated with bas-reliefs and statues of a Biblical nature; the Cathedral of the Holy Saviour, a fine example of 13th-century Gothic architecture and home to many treasures; and the Grote Markt which was formerly the commercial hub of the city. Bruges boasts several good museums, including the Groeninge Museum which houses a comprehensive and fascinating collection of six centuries of Flemish paintings, from Jan van Eyck to Marcel Broodthaers. The Memling Museum , housed in the medieval Saint John's Hospital, is dedicated to the painter Hans Memling. The city is close to some excellent beaches and the fertile Polder region, dotted with abbeys and parks. The year 2002 is a big one for Bruges as its lively cultural and artistic scene is being recognised with the award of European City of Culture.
Ghent
Bruges' perennial poor cousin has plenty to offer visitors today, with the lack of tourist crowds an attraction in itself. This old cloth centre was once the largest medieval city in Europe after Paris. The medieval heart of Ghent boasts many historic buildings, including three abbeys. Key attractions include St Bavo's Cathedral, place of Charles V's baptism and home to The Adoration of the Mystical Lamb, the Van Eyck brothers' masterpiece; the Town Hall, where the Treaty of Ghent was signed in 1576; the Castle of the Counts, a medieval castle surrounded by the Lieve canal; the 15th-century Cloth Hall; the medieval town centre with its old guild houses; the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Museum of Industrial Archaeology.
The Coast and West Flanders
The Belgian coastline is a largely sandy affair that stretches for 67km (42 miles) from Knokke near the Dutch border to De Panne on the French border with over a dozen resorts. Bathing in the sea is free on all beaches and there are facilities for sailing, sand yachting, riding, fishing, rowing, golf and tennis. Some of the best resorts are De Panne, Nieuwpoort, Westende, Lombardsijde, Bredene, De Haan, Wenduine and the town of Ostend, where Queen Victoria once took to the waters. Ostend, Knokke and Middelkerke are the liveliest resorts.
Visiting the World War I battlefields is an increasingly popular activity, with a number of sites open with varying degrees of facilities. The killing fields of Ypres are the most accessible with a war museum, monuments, military cemeteries and the battlefields themselves all located around the town.
Wallonia
Liège
Liège opens up the other half of Belgian culture as it is the capital of Wallonia, the French-speaking portion of Belgium. A major city, situated on the banks of the Meuse, with many reminders of a colourful and affluent past, Liège was independent for much of its history, ruled over by prince-bishops for 800 years. The view from the Citadel covers the old town, the most impressive part of the city. Liège boasts many fine museums with the highlights The Museum of Wallonian Life, showcasing the unique culture of Wallonia; the Museum of Wallonian Art; the Museum of Modern Art, displaying the works of Corot, Monet, Picasso, Gauguin and Chagall to name but a few and the Curtius Museum, housing a large collection of coins, Liège furniture and porcelain. Liege's most notable buildings are the Church of St James, an old abbey church of mixed architecture, including an example of the Meuse Romanesque style, with fine Renaissance stained glass and the 18th-century Town Hall.
Tournai
The second-oldest city in Belgium dates back to the days of the Romans. World War II damaged much of the old town, but the Cathedral of Our Lady (12th century), boasts an impressive Belfry, which is the oldest in Belgium. The Museum of Fine Arts is one of the finest in Belgium, with works by Rubens and Bruegel, while the Natural History Museum is also worth visiting. Minibel, 28km (17 miles) outside the city at the Château of Beloeil, offers a display of scaled-down reproductions of many of Belgium's most interesting treasures and curiosities.
The Ardennes
This mountainous area is famous for its cuisine, forests, lakes, streams and grottoes. The River Meuse makes its way through many important tourist centres. The town of Dinant, in the Meuse valley, boasts a medieval castle, while its most famous landmark is the Gothic church of Notre-Dame. Annevoie has a castle and some beautiful water gardens, while Yvoir Godinne and Profondeville are well known for watersports. The old university town of Namur, with cobbled streets in its centre, has a cathedral, castle and many museums. Houyet offers kayaking and other assorted outdoor activities. The River Semois passes through Arlon and Florenville; nearby are the ruins of Orval Abbey, Bouillon and its castle, Botassart, Rochehaut and Bohan. The Amblève Valley is one of the wildest in the Ardennes and the grottoes in the Fond de Quarreux are one of the great attractions of the region. Among these is the Merveilleuse grotto at Dinant and the cavern at Remouchamps. There are prehistoric caverns at Spy, Rochefort, Hotton and Han-sur-Lesse. | PASSPORT AND VISA APPLICATION Furthermore, in order to get into many countries on the stay abroad you will require a visa of some type, even if you are just visiting. This is usually an insert, stamp or sticker which is placed in your passport and the duration of its validity varies from place to place. If you do intend to work or study in the country to which you are traveling, however, you should organize your visa even further in advance as this can take longer to process.
As well as your passport you should ensure that you have at least one other form of identification with you. This may be a driver’s license, birth certificate or any other form of ID which is acceptable worldwide. As with passports, bring at least two copies of all forms of identification in case of loss or theft.
Help to Passport and Visa Application Forms. How to find the right one(s)?
A passport is issued to you by your home country as proof of citizenship. Visas are stamped into your passport to allow you entry into other countries. Although there are exceptions, you are usually required to display your passport when entering or leaving a country. Once you arrive at your destination, carry a photocopy of your passport and keep the original in a safe place.
A visa is an endorsement or stamp entered into your passport by a foreign government. It allows you to enter that country for a specific reason and period of time. Start applying for visas as soon as your passport is available so that all your documentation is completed well before your departure date. To receive a visa you need to send your passport to an embassy or consulate of the country you want to visit. Most countries have embassies and consulates worldwide, and travel agents can usually tell you where the nearest ones are located. Keep in mind that your passport may be tied up for days or weeks until the paperwork is done, so plan accordingly. In addition, some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination before they will issue you a visa. The amount of time spent mailing your passport to the various agencies involved can really add up if you are visiting several countries. Plan ahead if possible. If you only have a few weeks to prepare, a commercial visa service can often speed up the process. |
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