The ‘quiet man of Europe,' where life is slow and gentile and the people warm and friendly. Belgium is famous for its beer, beurocrats and chocolate, but there's so much more on offer for the traveller.
Situated in northwest Europe, it's not as boastful as some of its brasher neighbours, but the country has so much to shout about. Whether it's quaint cobbled streets or the canals of Bruges, the diamonds of Antwerp, (a major diamond trade and production centre), the beaches of Ostende or some of the country's 3,000 castles. There are more castles per square mile than anywhere else in the world.
Brussels is the capital city and is home to both the European Union and NATO, as well as many major international companies. Brussels also has a sumptuous history that you can see reflected in its many picturesque historic buildings and plazas. The city is also packed with designer shops, choclatiers and terrific restaurants. It's a vibrant cosmopolitan metropolis.
World famous for its rich, exquisite, imaginative chocolates a visit to a chocolate shop is a must. It's also hard to avoid as there are more than 2,000 throughout the country. Belgium produces more than 172,000 tonnes of chocolate per year
For history buffs there are the poignant World War 1 battlefield tours and museums of Flanders.
Belgium's main international airport is Brussels airport, 14 kilometres outside the capital. There are good rail and road links with the rest of the continent and car and passenger ferries operate to and from Britain. Travel inside the country is easy, particularly with a dense and efficient railway network. Many cities and towns boast of their excellent public transport systems.
Belgium has temperate weather. It's warm in the summer and cool to cold in the winter.
|
