There’s just something about Belgium. Maybe it’s the friendly & welcoming people who with three official languages still find it easy to converse in English, the 4th unofficial language. Maybe it’s the stunning architecture decorating the quaint cobblestone squares. Or perhaps it’s the incredible cuisine found in the vast array of restaurants where each meal seems better than the last. Energetic and carefree, the overall mood in Belgium is infectious, summoning in all of us to live as Belgians and enjoy life to the fullest.

Well situated between France and Holland, the kingdom of Belgium encompasses all the best that Europe has to offer in an area no bigger than Maryland. Within the span of one day you can take a romantic cruise down a canal in Bruges, hunt for diamonds in Antwerp, enjoy waffles on the beach in Oostende, frolic in a festival in Binche, get lost in a castle in Namur, discover antiques at an outdoor market in Liege, and explore a fine art museum in Brussels. A dense train network connects all of Belgium and makes navigation simple and comfortable for travelers.

Often called the Essence of Europe, Belgium is both multicultural and multilingual. Flanders in the north, a flatland criss-crossed by canals, is proud of its medieval art cities, Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent. To the south in Wallonia, you will find the rolling hills of the Ardennes, countless castles, and the cities of Liege, Namur, and Tournai. The city of Brussels is one of the world's great cosmopolitan capitals, home to both the European Union and NATO, as well as a wealth of international trade and finance companies.

Belgium's history has always been linked to both commercial and cultural exchange, and much of its character is due to its role as the great meeting place of Western Europe. It would be difficult to name a European country who didn’t want to stake their claim in Belgium at one time or another. Traces of the Austrians, Spanish, French and Dutch can still be seen in its architecture and in the lifestyle of its people. You will see superb examples of art and architecture past and present - Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, and Art Nouveau.

Somehow, Belgium has maintained a low-key approach to all of this international sophistication. It is a country for connoisseurs, but connoisseurs who do not take themselves too seriously. Because the Belgians themselves certainly do not. And after all this we didn’t even mention the beer & chocolate.

Interesting  Trivia about Belgium:
-Belgium produces 172,000 tons of chocolate per year in over 2,130 chocolate shops.
-There are over 400 different types of beer in  Belgium running the gamut from white to raspberry beer.
-The saxophone was invented in Belgium by Adolph Sax in 1846. There are numerous jazz festivals throughout the year celebrating our love for jazz music.
-Spa is a city in Belgium where all other spas get their name from. Luxury spas are located throughout Belgium where you will surely get the royal Spa treatment
-The little blue cartoon creatures known as Smurfs are absosmurfly Belgian, created by Peyo. throughout Brussels there are murals attesting our love for Comic Strip Art
-Action film hero Jean Claude Van Damme, a.k.a. the Muscles from Brussels, hails from Belgium
-Brussels is headquarters to the European Union (EU) & NATO. With this much international activity, it's no wonder English is widely spoken.

What to do in Brussels:
Grand Place
The Grand Place, with its ornate baroque and gothic guild houses, is usually the first port of call for most visitors to Brussels and one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. Built as a merchants market in the 13th century, it serves as the center of the city and is a great place to experience Belgian hospitality at one of the many terrace cafes dotting the charming square. It also serves as a venue for numerous concerts and events throughout the year and during the warmer months is adorned by a vibrant, daily flower market.
 
Town Hall (Hotel de Ville)
The first building you notice upon entering the Grand place is the striking gothic town hall, which dates back to the 13th century. Its beautiful facade features the famous needle-like crooked spire which is 315 feet in height and is topped by the archangel St. Michael. Tours are available of the interior, which contains 15th century tapestries and works of art.
 
Manneken Pis  
This famous statue of a little boy peeing in a fountain is a perfect representative of the irreverent Belgian humor. The unique Brussels icon has been amusing visitors on the corner of Rue de L’Etuve & Stroofstraat since 1619. Over time it has become a tradition for visiting heads of state to donate miniature versions of their national costume for the little naked boy. The wardrobe of Mannekin Pis can be seen at the Brussels museum and includes over 760 outfits – even an authentic Elvis jumpsuit.
 
Galeries St Hubert
This gorgeous, glass roofed arcade in the center of town, lined with cafes, theaters and luxury stores has the distinction of being the first shopping arcade in Europe. Built in 1847 and recently renovated, the Royal Galleries (Galerie de la Reine, du Roi and du Prince) are one of the most astonishing places to visit in Brussels.
 
Ommegang Festival (Grand Place)
Take a seat on the tiered stands or lean on the low barriers and find yourself transported to 1549. Every year, the lavish Ommegang procession commemorates the tribute paid to Emperor Charles V and his VIP guests. Richly-colored costumes, horses, embroidered banners, flag throwing and stilt jousting are always on the menu for this annual event.
 
The Belgian Center for Comic Strip Art (Center Belge de la Bande Dessinee)
Housed in an art nouveau masterpiece designed by Victor Horta, this museum pays homage to a particular Belgian passion, cartooning. Tintin and the Smurfs are the most famous Belgian comic strip characters but the museum also displays artwork from over 670 cartoonists. Other displays detail the stages of putting together a comic strip, from examples of initial ideas and pencil sketches through to final publication. Arranged over three levels, the museum also has a library and an art nouveau brewery.

Cathedral of Saints Michel and Gudule
This magnificent cathedral, tactfully dedicated to the male and female patron saints of Brussels, is located near Central Station. It was completed by the end of the 15th century in the Brabant Gothic style, but was damaged by the French shelling of 1695. The white stone façade is from the year 1250 and the interior is splendidly proportioned and stuffed with treasures

Royal Greenhouses
Built in 1874 by King Leopold II, the Royal Greenhouses contain one of the largest and finest private botanical collections in the world. The complex itself consists of 16 huge interconnected greenhouses complete with a dining hall, theater and reception areas. Of these 16 structures, the Winter Garden dome is the most impressive. Once a year, usually from the last week of April through the first week of May, the king invites the public to come see the greenhouses and the exuberant display of flowers brought into simultaneous bloom by the dedicated staff of the garden

Comic Strip Route
There are currently 18 large comic strip images decorating the sides of buildings around Brussels city center. This outdoor exhibition is known as the comic strip route and is organized by the Belgian Center for Comic Strip Art and the city of Brussels. Begun in 1991 as a tribute to Belgium’s talent for comic strip art, this street art project continues to grow.

Cinquantenaire Arch
This monument was erected to mark the 50th anniversary of Belgium’s independence from the Netherlands. The structure rears 144 feet high at the head of Avenue de Tervuren and is topped by a bronze chariot being ridden by the female personification of a triumphant Belgium, arms up in the air. Adding to the arch’s drama are the multi-columned Royal Museum of Art and History and the Royal Museum of Army and Military History the king had erected on either side, with the 90-acre Jubilee Park forming a verdant backdrop for all three.

Atomium
Built for the 1958 World Fair, the Atomium represents a molecule’s nine atoms – magnified 165 billion times. Something of a symbol of the city, it provides a panoramic view of Brussels and its surroundings. The 9 spheres that make up the “atom” are linked by escalators. The Atomium hosts a museum and is also a venue for special events. Closed for renovations, the Atomium will reopen in 2006.

What to do in Antwerp:
DiamondLand opened in 1983 and is the largest diamond showroom in Antwerp open to the public. Visitors are welcomed in their own languages and during a 20 minutes guided tour, they are made familiar with cleaving, sawing, bruting, polishing and the international rules for grading diamonds, treating subjects like carat, color, cut and clarity.

Interactive Diamond Museum
The largest diamond museum in the world is located in Antwerp. A visit to this museum is a sensual experience of sound and vision that immerses the visitor into the fascinating diamond world, through the production process of diamonds, from the origin, the exploitation, processing and manufacturing methods, to the end result of ornamental or industrial diamonds.

Ruebenshuis
This artist's home with the features of a palazzo is unequalled. The life of this great baroque painter unfolds before your eyes and enables you to discover his multifaceted talent: the painter, architect and diplomat, the collector and scientist, the husband and father. Above all, you will discover Rubens as the prince of baroque in Europe.