Mouth-watering food and drink, culture-crammed cities and pretty countryside are what to expect on holidays to Belgium.
North and south
Belgium is a country that’s seen its share of drama over the years – its placement between France, Germany and the Netherlands has led to it being a battleground in Roman, Napoleonic and 20th-century times. These days there’s only a slightly frosty rivalry between the north and south of the country – the northern region, Flanders, speaks Flemish, while the southern area, Wallonia, has a distinctly more French feel. And if you look to the east, there’s even a small pocket where you’ll hear the locals speak German as their mother tongue.
City break VIPs
A big wedge of Belgium’s visitors makes a beeline for Brussels when drawing up their plans, and for good reason. The capital has a city centre that’s brimming with Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture – check out the UNESCO-ticked main square, Grand Place, for the best of it. Elsewhere, canal-threaded Bruges has held on to much of its medieval charm, and Antwerp is becoming a popular spot for art and fashion buffs. History lovers head to once war-torn Ypres for a dose of sobering First World War reflection, and up-and-coming Ghent flies under the radar despite having first-rate sightseeing stats.
Dine and drink
If you chat to someone who’s come back from a trip to Belgium, you can count on them raving about the food and drink. Steaming pots of creamy mussels, known as moules frites, are a staple, and sweet treats like loaded waffles and praline chocolates are must-tries. And one of the world’s best-loved foods, the humble French fry, is famously on another level in Belgium, especially when served with a rich dollop of mayo. On the liquid refreshment front, it’s the beer that gets everyone talking. Belgium’s known for its Trappist beers – these protected tipples only get the Trappist title if they’ve been brewed at one of a select few monasteries. Beer drinking is a more refined practice here, too – you’ll see lots of them served in sleek, stemmed goblets instead of pint glasses.
