Despite its size, Belgium offers something for everyone - not least of which are the 2,000-plus chocolate shops or the hundreds, if not thousands, of different brands of beer available all over the countryside. Divided into 3 regions but two halves, with the Dutch-speaking Flanders in the north and French-speaking Wallonia in the south; it has always had to fight for its independence as surrounding countries fought for its ownership. The third region is the Brussels Capital region.
The north is where you’ll find the most popular tourist attractions such as the pretty and quaint cities of Bruges – also known as the Venice of the north with its winding canals, cobblestone streets and romantic atmosphere. Antwerp is Belgium’s second biggest city and a lively, cultural hub for lovers of fashion and the art and music scenes. It’s also where you’ll find Cathedral of Our Lady, Belgium’s most spectacular Gothic cathedral that took 169 years to build. Its magnificent spire can be seen from virtually any point in the city and inside you’ll find four canvases by the artist Rubens.
The quietly up and coming city of Ghent is a pleasant surprise for those tourists that venture there; a cosy medieval centre with an abundance of museums and galleries; elegant and imposing architecture; and many lively bars and cafes lining the banks of the canal. Saint Bavo Cathedral houses one of the earliest-known oil paintings called The Adoration of Mystic Lamb which was completed in 1432 by Jan Van Eyck. Antwerp is also home to the impressive looking Gravensteen Castle, a partially restored medieval fortress.
It’s also in Flanders that you’ll find the moving and historic Ypres. Known for its poppy-covered fields, lined with tombstones of the some 300,000 fallen soldiers of the First World War, the city was completely destroyed by bombardment.
No visit to Belgium is complete without a sampling of all the delectable delights its known for – enjoy a morsel of mussels, a cone of chips (frites) with mayonnaise, sample a chocolate of ten and drool over mouth-watering waffles.
