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Belgium tourist information with details about travel to and around the country. Where to stay and what to see is made easier with insider tips and hand-selected Belgium links, by dedicated editors and visitors to TravelNotes.org - The Online Guide to Travel.
Benelux Belgium is also called Belgique in French and België in Dutch. It is a constitutional monarchy and together with the Netherlands and Luxembourg forms the Benelux Countries. Countries neighbouring Belgium are: Holland, Germany, Luxembourg and France.
Getting to BelgiumThe main railway station in Brussels is the Gare du Midi; the nucleus of the Belgian railway system. Airlines and Airports: Tourist InformationVisit Belgium: LanguageYou'll hear a variety of languages in Belgium: Dutch in the north, French in the south, and German along the eastern border. The majority of the population speak Dutch, formerly known as Flemish, and the rest speak French; the French-speakers making up the larger group in Brussels. Some people are bilingual, and many Belgians speak English as well. Weather in BelgiumView a graphical weather forecast for the week ahead in places around Belgium. Anderlecht Weather, Antwerp Weather, Brussels Weather, Charleroi Weather, Gent Weather, Liege Weather, Mechelen Weather, Mons Weather, Namur Weather, Oostende Weather, Spa Weather. The capital of Belgium, also spelt Bruxelles in French or Brussel in Dutch, is on the Senne River; in the middle of the country. Brussels is the headquarters of the European Union and NATO. The town developed from Gallo-Roman settlements in the marshes of the Senne Valley before the 7th century AD and probably derived its name from the Dutch word Broekzelle; meaning village of the marsh. In 1383 Brussels replaced Louvain as the capital of the Duchy of Brabant and continued to be a seat of government for the next four centuries. Brabant was amalgamated by the duchy of Burgundy in 1430, then became a possession of the Austrian Habsburgs in 1477. The city was made the capital of the Netherlands in 1530 [See Holland]. Before the European Commission erected their modern architectural statements, the futuristic, molecular shaped Atomium was a modern symbol of Brussels. The Brussels theme park attracts visitors to see the mini- replicas of Europe's monuments. Historical landmarks in the capital of Belgium include a 13th-century Gothic church, famous for its stained-glass windows, the Nôtre Dame de Finistère, and St Jacques sur Coudenberg. The Gothic style Hôtel de Ville dates from the 15th century; the Palais de la Nation from the 18th- century, and the Palais de Justice from the 19th- century. Grand-PlaceEmperor Charles V established Brussels as his northern capital 450 years ago. The Grand-Place, in the centre of the city, has majestic baroque Guild Halls and is a striking testament to Belgium's place in history. La BourseThe stock exchange, near the Grand-place, is housed in a neo-classical building topped by Rodin statues. To the west of La Bourse are some of the city's trendiest watering holes. Parc de BruxellesThe Royal Palace is the king's official residence, built on the site of the old dukes of Brabant's seat; which burned down in 1731. At the other end of the Parc de Bruxelles is the Belgian Parliament; housed in the 18th-century Palais de la Nation. Sightseeing
Leave and re-board the bus as often as you like within the stated validity period of your ticket (usually 24 hours) and enjoy the City of Brussels at your own pace. Brussels City Sightseeing Tours, with multi-lingual commentary, start from Central Station; every hour, between 10:00 and 18:00, and take about 90 minutes.
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Brussels Hotels: eBrussels Hotels: Antwerp is one of the busiest ports in the world, even though it is located on the Schelde River between the North Sea and Brussels. It is also connected to Liège by the Albert Canal. Antwerp replaced the walls that formerly encircled the city with a system of boulevards. The cathedral of Notre Dame is the largest church in Belgium, and contains several paintings by Rubens; who spent most of his life in Antwerp. The market-place in Antwerp is interesting for the surrounding Guildhouses; built during the Middle Ages, when Antwerp grew into one of Europe's leading trading centres and the first European stock exchange was founded. Antwerp has also been a centre for diamond cutting since the 16th-century. The city's fine arts museum contains paintings by several of the Flemish masters. Accommodation in AntwerpHotels
in Antwerp: The Flemish PaintersNorthern Europe was one of the centres of the Renaissance during the 15th and 16th centuries. The Flemish painters Hubert van Eyck and Jan van Eyck, Hieronymus Bosch, and Pieter Bruegel the Elder were among the outstanding artists of this period. Rubens and Sir Anthony van Dyck were outstanding in the 17th century, and are regarded by many as two of the most important Flemish painters. The MonarchyKing Albert II became the sixth king of the Belgians on August 9, 1993. His older brother, King Badouin, had been Europe's longest-ruling monarch at the time of his sudden death on July 31. The former king left no heirs. Albert's eldest son, Prince Phillipe, was expected to follow his uncle, but Albert's decision not to renounce the throne was considered his duty. Albert tries to use his role as a symbol of Belgian unity; urging caution against further national dissolution. The rivers and canals that cut through Ghent divide the city into a number of small islands, which are connected by a network of some 200 bridges. Every five years Ghent hosts the flower shows called Floralies, attracting visitors from all over the world. In the suburbs of St Amandsberg is a small, walled town containing numerous small houses, 18 convents, and a church. 700 members of the Béguines sisterhood devote themselves to charitable work. The Cathedral of St Bavon, with a crypt dating from 941, houses the celebrated 12-panelled Adoration of the Lamb, painted by Hubert van Eyck and Jan van Eyck. Accommodation in GhentHotels
in Ghent: Situated near the ports of Oostende and Zeebrugge, Bruges is a popular weekend destination for many British stocking up on cheaper tobacco and beer. There is even a small smuggling operation between Belgium and Britain. If you haven't come to northern Belgium for as many packets of rolled tobacco as you can squeeze into a shoulder bag before the ferries turn around, then you will have time to explore Bruges. There are many medieval buildings in Bruges, including the 13th-century market hall; the Cathedral of St. Salvator; the Chapel of the Precious Blood; the 13th-century church of Notre Dame; and the Hôtel de Ville -- the oldest town hall in Belgium. Among the art treasures not to be missed are a marble Virgin and Child, attributed to Michelangelo, and paintings by Hans Memling and Jan van Eyck. The counts of Flanders fortified Bruges in the 9th century and it prospered as a trading port until the rivers silted and the city became known as Bruges-la-Morte; dead Bruges in French. Construction of the canal between Bruges and Zeebrugge early in the 20th century brought the city back to life. More than 50 bridges span the canals in the city, and they open for ships to pass. Bruges
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