Travel to Belgium

Belgium, officially known as the "Kingdom of Belgium" is a founding member of the European Union. You will find numerous attractions in Belgium like lovely canals, historical places, beautiful cultural locations, and great shopping centers. Due to these factors tourists from across the world get attracted to visit Belgium.

The number of tourists visiting this lovely country has increased year after year. According to a recent article in the Canarian Weekly, Belgium has made a big contribution to the growth in global tourism; the number of visitors has increased by 9.38% in Belgium. Due to this rise a number of hotels have come up in this lovely country. Here is a list of some of the well known Belgium accommodations:

1.Thon Hotel Brussels City Centre: This is one of the many hotels that has come up recently. Located in the center of Brussels, Thon Hotel Brussels City Centre is ideally situated for tourists and business travelers. It is just opposite the main shopping center of the city and within walking distance from the Grand Place. This Belgium hotel has warm Norwegian style decoration and is easily accessible by road. Opened in April 2000, this hotel offers some of the best amenities to its guests. Staying here you can take advantage of facilities like internet access services and a restaurant (including a bar). In your free time you can visit the Royal Museums of Fine Arts,or go golfing at the Brabantse Golf.

2.Husa President Park Hotel: Built in 1985 this 4-star hotel is barely 3km from the Brussels city center. The Husa President Park Hotel is close to numerous tourist attractions like the Brussels City Hall, Grand Place and the Royal Palace of Brussels. Guests here can utilize facilities like internet access, laundry service, and a 24-hr check in. The beautiful garden behind the hotel gives it a lovely and serene look. In this Belgium hotel, the rooms are well equipped to fulfill all the business requirements as well as basic tourist needs.

At Otel.com, you can get details about cheap hotel rooms and the best part is that you will not be charged for booking, cancellation or amendment of reservations. In case of any difficulty you can also take help of the online 24/7 customer service. Online executives will ensure that you can smoothly complete the reservation procedure!

Situated in Northern Europe, bordering North Sea, between France and the Netherlands, Belgium, as a country that can boast of rich historical past, dating back to the middle ages. The country is studded with museums and historical sites- Museum of Musical Instruments (Old Brussels), The Bastogne Historical Center, Tresor du Prieure d'Oignies(Namur) and Grand Place(Brussels). There are also a lot of World Heritage Sites in Belgium. Besides these, Belgium also has a large number of Sacred and Religious places.


Belgium is a highly industrialized nation in the world and comes within top ten trading rank. Its economy is primarily service oriented with a high per capita income and a very productive labor force. Citizens of most European nations do not require any documents to enter the country, people from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and USA do not require a visa for visits up to three months. The average daily expenses for a tourist will be anywhere above $35, depending upon the circumstances but staying in Brussels will be much more expensive.The major cities in Belgium are Antwerp, Brussels, Bruges, Dinant, Genk, Ghent, Hasselt, Leuven, Liege, Namur, Oostende. Spa, and Waterloo.


Though the period from May to September is excellent for visiting Belgium, the summer (July to September) is a good time to visit Brussels. For foreigners, safety is not a big concern in Belgium. Except a few areas in Central Brussels, and the outskirts of Antwerp, most areas are safe for foreigners. Tourists will have to be quite cautious in vacant streets and places and while traveling alone at night. Among the big hotels, BHC Group (Espace53), Café Bergenhof, Kelly's Irish Pub and O'Reilly's Irish Pub Brussels are the most famous.


During the festive season, Burges Ice Festival is quite famous, with ice pieces sculpted from no less than 300,000 kgs of crystal ice and 400 tons of pure snow. The treasure-trove of icy masterpieces is a specialized thermal tent, where the temperature is kept at a constant -5 degrees C. At Brussels Rhythm and Blues Club, non-stop live music with men in Blue and the Witness can be had for the tourists. 

Late evening at the Brussels museums comprise all conceivable subjects, from the most classical to the funniest, from artistic to the scientific passing by technology, industry, history, exoticism and even gastronomy. All hotels in Brussels have an extensive home page with pictures, prices and rooms descriptions so that we can have a good idea of what the accommodation looks like. Web sites available for booking in about 750 hotels in Belgium and there is a wide variety to choose from.

From 800,000 BC the oldest ancient stone instruments were recovered in present day Belgium. At approximately 400,000 BC, here in the village area of Spy was located the river of Meuse where in Neanderthals it is believed the first homo sapiens settled in Europe.

Starting 300,000 BC Homo sapiens were definitely known to be the residents here. On the other hand, there are Neolithic remains left and still to be obtained from Speines, a place where drawing out of flint mine used to operate. Dated as of 1750 BC started the foremost mark of Bronze Age in Belgium. Settlement of Celtic tribes was around this region by 500 BC and involved in trading operations with the Mediterranean world. As of around 150 BC, the earliest coins were first used.

Belgae was the primary name that is used to call the residents of Belgium (whom modern Belgium is named after). The inhabitants occupied Gaulish or Celtic Europe, a valuable area of Northern Gaul during the Roman occupation era. There was an uncertainty of divisions between the two areas of the Belgae located on the Northern portion and the Gauls to the Southern portion on the same hand, but Gauls seem to have been the leading crowd.

Gauls dominion was modified when they were influenced by the Romans and Germans. Julius Caesar's De Bello Gallico quoted the coming of the German tribes from north and the east. There is an evidence of Indo European spoken dialect by the Belgae according to the Linguists. The language or multi language has been called Nordwestblock.

As mentioned and resourced from De Bello Gallico, by the time of 51 BC, Belgae come to be swamped by the armed forces of Julius Caesar. The present Belgium is known to have prospered as a Roman province. Its occupied area was even bigger than modern Belgium and had five major cities. The cities were named Nemetacum (Arras), Divodurum (Metz), Bagacum (Bavay), Aduatuca (Tongeren) and Durocorturum (Reims).

Located to the Northeast was the province of Germania Inferior and was just an adjacent province. There are other cities that were in the territory and they are the following: Traiectum ad Mosam (Maastricht), Ulpia Noviomagus (Nijmegen), Colonia Ulpia Trajana (Xanten) and Colonia Agrippina (Cologne). Both provinces include what are now known as the Low Countries.

Germanic tribes conquered this Roman province around the 5th century, which fortold the end of the Roman Empire. The tribes entered the Roman province of "Gallia". Franks lead and administered the installation of a new kingdom over the Merovingian Dynasty Ruler. Clovis I, the famous king ever started the Dynasty which reigned from Northern France, but his administration was based in present-day Belgium. He advocatec the conversion into Christianity and gathered Christian Scholars. Irish monks became the Christian world preachers to the masses then eventually begun a new trend of conversions (Saint Servatius, Saint Remacle, Saint Hadelin).

During the first Millennium the Romans and then the Vikings ruled over the area that is now called Belgium. However in 891A.D. Arnulf of Carinthia who was close to Leuven achieved victory against the Vikings. The land of Franks Viking Dynasty then separated and then later recombined quite a few times by the ruling Merovingians and Carolingians.

Tempting… Sweet… Sinfully delicious… Erinomainen! The mouth-watering Belgian chocolate and pralines will surely delight your senses; just as your Havaianas will gratify the needs of your feet that are itching to travel around the towns and villages of Belgium. And as you walk around that old village with your little kid running around on baby flip flops, you suddenly stop to sniff the air that smells of waffles and French fries that Belgians just really love.  And while walking around the museum with your stylish shoes, you stop to admire a portrait of a man in a turban.

Being the biggest brewer in the world by volume, you stop by a fine restaurant and have a bottle of beer after having seen the wonderful boulevards and stores in the city of Brussels. And as you gulp every drop of that tasty beverage, you decided to go to the Abbey of Westyleteren to taste the famous Trappist beer. What better way to go to the city of Ypres than to walk there wearing the world’s best flip flops and taste the world’s best beer.

And as you enjoyed cycling on the country’s relatively flat terrain, you pushed the pedal with ease and comfort, thanks to your reliable Havaianas. Enjoying the trails and tracks that abound in the country wouldn’t be hard with your sandals on. This highly urbanized country houses cities that are fascinating combinations of new and old, traditional and contemporary. The churches, houses and guild halls contrast with the modern houses, buildings and factories, a delightful sight to many tourists. Just like those flip flops you were wearing, from Havaianas Belgium, as you tour around the enchanting cities of beautiful Belgium.

Belgium is located in the Northwest of Europe, and Brussels is the capital of Belgium. Belgium, are monarchy just like Sweden and Britain. Today I will introduce you something about Brussels that has a long history. The first visit to Brussels, uncolored by expectations, is therefore all the more rewarding. Narrow cobbled streets open suddenly into the breathtaking Grand-Place, with its ornate guild houses, impressive Town Hall and buzzing atmosphere. It would be difficult to find a more beautiful square in the whole of Europe. 

Bars, restaurants and museums are clustered within the compact city centre, enclosed within the petit ring, which follows the path of the 14th-century city walls. The medieval city is clearly defined by its narrow, labyrinthine streets, making it easy to distinguish the later additions, such as Leopold II's Parisian-style boulevards - Belliard and La Loi - today lined with embassies, banks and the grand apartments of the bourgeoisie and close to the glitzy new EU quarter. The working class still congregate in the Marolles district, although this area is on the up-and-up.

For example, a visit to Brussels affords you the opportunity to experience Europe in its entirety in just a couple of hours. That's because the city plays home to the an attraction known as Mini Europe, a park where all of Europe's countries are represented in miniature so you can wander around each country in just a matter of minutes! With mini versions of Europe's most famous landmarks - from the Eiffel Tower to the Leaning Tower of Pisa - you'll be able to snap shots of some of the world's most incredible sights without paying to fly there.

When it comes to spots of interest, Brussels has many diversity. Museums and galleries, traces and monuments, churches, gardens and parks, cinemas, and markets represent some of the must-drop by sites in the place. The Beaux Art Museum and the coincident Art Museum, the Belgian Comic Strip Museum, the Brewery Museum, and The Horta Museum are some of the greater important museums in Brussels. Illustrious features include terrific dwelling, Arc de Triomphe, and Parc du Cinquantenaire. As for gardens and parks, site du Petit Sablon and Brussels Park are a breath of fresh air.

here's no better place to learn about the history of Brussels than its historic Old Town sector. You'll find everything there, from stunning Gothic buildings to the city's Grand Place, which was a marketplace established in the thirteenth century, as well as the mesmerising Galeries St Hubert, an arcade with a glass roof that is stocked with theatres, shops and cafes.

Being a motorhome enthusiast for five years now, I've always dreamt of that extended trip of fourteen weeks or so in Belgium. Being a self employed doctor, I finally realised that I was in a position to make this dream a reality. My wife Natasha and our faithful dog Scamp were more than willing to be travel partners on this trip of a lifetime. So after much research, planning and packing we were finally on the road to Belgium.

My motorhome is a four year old two berth, A Class Knaus with a Ford Transit engine and our previous longest trip was a seven night trip to Ireland, covering 600 kilometres. This trip started with a choppy ferry trip, to take us to the continent, followed by a pleasant but long road journey to our destination. We decided to make four overnight stops on our way there and these were mainly in campsites, which suited us perfectly, as it broke up our journey. One feature of the journey was finding the local fuel prices very consistent, but certainly cheaper than we have been used to on our previous visit. Our TomTom satellite navigation system was pretty useful, although traditional maps are a must on a journey of this type. In fact we used maps mostly for navigation and the sat nav to identify nearby fuel stations.

On arrival at our destination, our first impressions were satisfactory. The medium, municipally run campsite clearly had close to all the amenities we required and was very like the pictures in the online site that we had viewed in our preparation. For a site with one hundred or so pitches, we found the staff rather unfriendly and the site was very  quiet even during the day. The weather was very good, considering that we travelled in Autumn. The local market each Tuesday was a great source of fruit, vegetables, meat and cheeses. The overall experience was an amazing one and I would thoroughly recommend a motorhome holiday at Belgium.

About the Country

Belgium is situated in the west of Europe. The land here mostly comprises of flat coastal plains in the northeast, and southeast is occupied by the Ardennes Forest. Dutch, Flemish, French and German are the official languages of Belgium, with Dutch being the widely spoken followed by French. The weather here is pretty predictable. Months from April to September are the warmest. Otherwise the weather is pretty humid and skies are gray, that explains why umbrellas and raincoats are a part of the dressing. So, if the visit is planned for holidays during the rainy season, one must not forget to carry sufficient cover for maximum protection, as this is a coastal region. In case of emergency call 100 or 112.

Culture

Belgians are English-friendly and will make every attempt to speak in English with a foreigner. Always remember to carry a small gift or at least flowers especially when invited over dinner. The dress to wear will be mentioned in the invitation, when invited for a party. Smoking in public is acceptable.

Shopping

Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges, Ostend, Namur, Mons, Liège, Ghent and Mechelen are the main shopping centers. Belgium is famous for ceramics and hand-beaten copperware from Dinant, laces from Bruges, crystals from Val Saint Lambert, woodcarvings from Spa and Belgium’s finest chocolates. In jewelry, diamonds from Antwerp are on high demand.

Eating Out

The specialty of most of the restaurants is horse and rabbit meat dishes. Although visitors can find a wide range of ethnic foods, but the most famous are frites and mayonnaise and mitraillette; mitraillette is a large bun filled with fries, donair meat and garlic sauce, the vegetarians can ask for a veg. substitute for the donair meat. While eating at a restaurant, tipping is considered customary along with the value-added tax. At the cinemas, leave a €0.50 tip for the attendant and €0.25 after using the public toilets.

Electricity

Voltage is 230 V and frequency is 50 Hz.

Travel

Delta Air Transport has inaugurated its new European airline SN Brussels Airlines recently. It flies to more than 58 destinations in Europe and as well as worldwide. The Brussels Zayentem airport is twelve km from the city and it takes 35 minutes to reach the city from the airport. The airport has facilities like duty free shops, car parking, taxi booking, car hiring, banks, post office, restaurants, and medical help. 

Internet and fax services are provided for the passengers. The Airport City Express train transports passengers to three main railway stations - Brussels North, Central and South. One can avail a bus which runs regularly from the airport, taxis can also be hired which wait outside the arrival hall. Tipping the taxi drivers is considered customary. Train runs every 15 minutes.

Another airport, Brussels South Charleroi, is 5 km away from Charleroi and 46 km from Brussels. Ryan air serves as the local airline here and has cheap deals for several European destinations to and from Charleroi. The facilities provided here are bus and train services, café, car hire, and duty free shops.

Ostend airport is 5 km away from the city and car parking, car hire, duty free shops, and restaurants are provided here. Antwerp airport is just 2 km away from the city. Buses run to the Brussels Central Station every few minutes. Liege is situated at a distance of 5 km away from the city. Buses run at regular interval here. The departure tax at Brussels Zayentem is €20.93, Brussels South Charleroi is €3.49, Ostend and Antwerp is €10, and at Liege is €7.

There is a network of high-speed trains, which are operated by Thalys, from Belgium to France, connecting Brussels with other destinations like Bordeaux, Chambéry, Cannes, Marseille, Lyon, Nice, Valence Perpignan, and Rennes. Booking should be made in advance for these trains. The national railway operates through out the day providing service every few minutes to destinations such as Andorra, Austria, France, Czech, Germany, Italy, Poland, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the UK and the Netherlands. Insiders can avail the Inter-Rail pass which allows visitors to travel almost 29 European Countries. This service is valid for residents who have been settled there for more than 6 months.

Duty Free Items

Visitors can carry alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes, coffee and tea without getting customs duty levied on them, but only the goods should be limited. Check out for the limits before carrying such goods. Food items that are not preserved are better avoided.

This databook provides key data and information on the Vodka in Belgium (Spirits). This report is a comprehensive resource for market, category and segment level data including value, volume, distribution share and company & brand share. This report also provides expenditure and consumption data for the historic and forecast periods.

Scope

Highlights

Reasons to Purchase

Table 3: Vodka, Belgium, value by segment (€m), 2004-09 9
Table 4: Vodka, Belgium, value forecast by segment (€m), 2009-14 10
Table 5: Vodka, Belgium, value by segment ($m), 2004-09 11
Table 6: Vodka, Belgium, value forecast by segment ($m), 2009-14 11
Table 7: Vodka, Belgium, volume by segment (liters, million), 2004-09 13
Table 8: Vodka, Belgium, volume forecast by segment (liters, million), 2009-14 14
Table 9: Vodka, Belgium, brand share by volume (%), 2008-09 16
Table 10: Vodka, Belgium, volume by brand (liters, million), 2008-09 16
Table 11: Vodka, Belgium, company share by volume (%), 2008-09 18
Table 12: Vodka, Belgium, volume by company (liters, million), 2008-09 18
Table 13: Vodka, Belgium, distribution channels by volume (%), 2008-09 19
Table 14: Vodka, Belgium, volume by distribution channel (liters, million), 2008-09 19
Table 15: Vodka, Belgium, expenditure per capita (€), 2004-09 21
Table 16: Vodka, Belgium, forecast expenditure per capita (€), 2009-14 21
Table 17: Vodka, Belgium, expenditure per capita ($), 2004-09 22
Table 18: Vodka, Belgium, forecast expenditure per capita ($), 2009-14 22
Table 19: Vodka, Belgium, consumption per capita (liters), 2004-09 23
Table 20: Vodka, Belgium, forecast consumption per capita (liters), 2009-14 23
Table 21: Belgium population, by age group, 2004-09 (millions) 24
Table 22: Belgium population forecast, by age group, 2009-14 (millions) 25
Table 23: Belgium population, by gender, 2004-09 (millions) 25
Table 24: Belgium population forecast, by gender, 2009-14 (millions) 26
Table 25: Belgium nominal GDP, 2004-09 (€bn, nominal prices) 26
Table 26: Belgium nominal GDP forecast, 2009-14 (€bn, nominal prices) 26
Table 27: Belgium real GDP, 2004-09 (€bn, 2000 prices) 27
Table 28: Belgium real GDP forecast, 2009-14 (€bn, 2000 prices) 27
Table 29: Belgium real GDP, 2004-09 ($bn, 2000 prices) 27
Table 30: Belgium real GDP forecast, 2009-14 ($bn, 2000 prices) 28
Table 31: Belgium consumer price index, 2004-09 (2000=100) 28
Table 32: Belgium consumer price index, 2009-14 (2000=100) 28

The Brussels Jazz Marathon is a very popular event in Belgium that draws visitors from all over Europe, the UK and the US. The Brussels Jazz Marathon plays host to 125 concerts, 400 artists and several open stage performances. Visitors who are interested in being a part of the Brussels Jazz Marathon will be please to know that the entry to all concerts is free. The Brussels Jazz Marathon is a three day event that is conducted annually during the last week of the month of May.

The venues for the Brussels Jazz Marathon outdoor concerts include the Grand Place, or Grote Market as the Dutch call the famous town square in the city centre, the Place du Grand Sablon, another tourist spot and market square, Place Ste Catherine and Place Fernand Cocq plein XL, both popular squares. Free bus rides are arranged by the STIB to run on select routes connecting popular locales with the places of performance. There are more than 50 indoor venues all around the city.

Over the years, the Brussels Jazz Marathon has drawn in several jazz stars including Trumpeter Bert Joris, Jazz Big Band, Charlier, Sourisse Quartet and Jean-Paul Estievenart. These artists are some of top Belgian jazz players to have been participants in the marathon. Some of the most notable international jazz artists to be a part of the Brussels Jazz Marathon include Jennifer Scavuzzo’s Take the Duck which won the best small group’s name of year 2002, Trio Grande with Matthew Bourne, a British pianist and Beat n’Blow Brass Band Berlin.

To promote jazz, the Brussels Jazz Marathon has initiation workshops for young people combined with jazzy makeup shows, ice cream treats and a mini marathon. There are other special attractions like Movin’ Jazz which is a mobile group of musicians and comedians. A festive mood envelops the city of Brussels during the summer when the Brussels Jazz Marathon is hosted over the weekend. It is worth making a trip to Brussels during this time to enjoy the music and its medieval architecture.

Bruges is a perfectly preserved medieval town in the Western-Flanders region of Belgium. Its idyllic setting of cobbled stone streets, 16th century architecture and winding canals made it a favorite romantic destination in Europe. In fact, it is considered by many as the most beautiful city in this part of the world. Moving around is as uncomplicated as going to your local park because it is small enough to be explored on foot. If you want to glam it up, you can easily hail a charming horse-drawn carriage. But, if you want to do it the traditional touristy way, there is also an hourly City Bus Tour waiting at the Market Square. Despite its small egg-shaped size, the city is a treasure trove of quaint and interesting attractions that will keep its visitor occupied for hours.

Bruges takes pride in the beauty of its cathedrals and churches. The Basilica of the Holy Blood is one major attraction. It features the 11th century St. Basil's Chapel and a museum housing the bejeweled gold and silver Holy Blood Shrine. Other famous cathedrals include the Our Lady's Church, whose tower is one of the most prominent features of the city's skyline. The Jerusalem Church is also worth checking out for its fine-looking stained glass windows. City halls may seem like boring places to visit, but not in Bruges. It dates back to 1376 and features remarkable workmanship. Take time to visit its gothic council chamber and once you are in the middle of the room, look up and be amazed with its stunning high ceiling adorned with elaborate medieval carvings. If you are interested in governance and things like that, you can head on to the adjoining chamber where government documents and some pieces of art are placed on exhibit.

For a birds eye view of this picture perfect medieval village, climb up the 272 foot-high Belfry Museum. It is believed to have been built way back in the 13th century. But, more than its rich history, what is most exciting for me is getting a good look at the internal mechanism of the Belfry Tower clock. It's not just a good photo opportunity but also an interesting piece of artwork to look at. Along the way to the top, you will also pass by a carillon of 47 bells. If you get excited with just one tower bell, what more with more than 3 dozens of them? If you are interested in local crafts, visit the Lace Centre at Peperstraat. It is a museum dedicated to Bruges most celebrated lace-making industry. 

You can get acquainted with the process of this delicate craft and how it evolved throughout the years. Of course, you can buy some of the exquisite handiwork if you can't resist the temptation of a good purchase! Finally, Bruges is not called Venice of the North without reason. Take advantage of its meandering canals and the picturesque scenery along the way. There are plenty of tour boats in the area. You can choose one with a multi-lingual guide if you want more insight to the city's history or you can do away with a guide and just enjoy the scenic view in peace and quiet.