Belgium is found in northwest Europe, in the Netherlands region, and though the country itself is relatively small, geographically speaking, it has lot’s of attractions and plenty of budget hotels available through Travel Clearance. Belgium is a rather densely-populated country, with a population of about 10.5 million people, however all these Belgian citizens do not speak the same language or share the same history. In the north part of the country is the Flemish region, where you’ll hear mostly Dutch spoken. In Brussels, the Capital region, French is the dominant tongue, and this is the case in the southern and easternmost region of Walloon too. Northern Belgium is separated from England by the North Sea, with France to its west, the Netherlands to the northeast, Germany to its east, and the smaller country of Luxembourg to the southeast. Belgium’s location has subjected it to many wars and uprisings throughout history with World War ll being the last of those.
When you travel in Belgium, you will see a lot of the country’s history on display. The medieval quarters in Brugge, Ghent, Antwerp, and Brussels are reflections of a time when the Flemish region was home to some very important and wealthy European cities. In Ghent you can visit Gravensteen Castle, which was built by the Count of Flanders, Philip of Alsace, in 1180.
Fortunately, many of Belgium’s old buildings survived the wars intact, so you can tour the cities and towns on your Belgium vacation and see some of the most amazing and interesting architecture, such as the medieval quarter in Brugge, which will take you back hundreds of years to the Golden Age, roughly the 14th century. Architecture that arose during this period remains intact and the old centre is a valued UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among its most prominent landmarks is the 13th century belfry, where the carillonneur still rings the bells on a daily basis.
In Brussels, the country’s vibrant capital, you can take a tour of it’s central Grand Place, a most impressive historic monument surrounded by guildhouses and the Gothic town hall or you can also visit the Victor Horta Museum to learn all about the Ghent-born architect who was a pioneer of Art Nouveau. Not only does Belgium excel in the architectural arts, but in other forms of art as well. Flemish masters like Rubens and Van Dyck were born in Belgium, and their paintings are on display all over the Flemish region of the country.
City sightseeing, Belgium’s rich culture and history, museum exhibits, all make travel in Belgium is very rewarding, but the country has even more to offer, such as it’s chocolate, its beer, its mussels, and its French fries, or Belgian fries in fact. Then for hiking, biking and camping, head to the rugged hills of the Ardennes with their tight forests, caves and cliffs. They are home to wild boar, deer and lynx and a number of friendly villages, lots of castles and a few other notable sights. This region in the east boasts stunning colours in the fall, and you can take a refreshing dip in the North Sea come summer, so different seasons see different options for Belgium tourism.
Belgian food is delightful, with a great array of restaurants on offer. Seafood on the Belgian coast is sumptuous, but you can enjoy mussels and other seafood favourites in other regions too. If it’s beer that you are looking for, then the Chimay brewery, run by theTrappist Monks, needs to be on your agenda, where you will be able to sample some of the strongest and tastiest brews.
Travel in Belgium is never dull, with fun tours to enjoy, beaches in the summer, friendly people who are proud of their country and an efficient public tranport system for getting around. A Belgium holiday will reveal delights that will likely have you wanting to come back for more.