Belgium is known for its high standard of living, perhaps due to its good food, which should, naturally, be washed down with plenty of quality Belgian beer.
Moules-frites, waffles and, of course, fine chocolate are all specialities which hail from
Belgium.
The country is made up of three areas:
Flanders, the Flemish region in the north,
Wallonia, the French-speaking region in the south, and the capital city of
Brussels in the centre.
Belgium is also the home of the comic book, and many 2-D characters were created there, notably Hergé's
Tintin and Peyo's
Smurfs.
Belgium is a great deal more than just the European political hub that is
Brussels.
Antwerp is a magpie's paradise: it is the home of gemstones, diamonds in particular, while
Bruges, the "Venice of the North", has a well-preserved historic centre which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
More in
Belgium Guide