Travel to Belgium

Bruges is one of those great little cities that tourists love. It seems to have been frozen in time... and in fact it was. Back about five or six hundred years ago, it was a busy river port town, then the harbor silted up and traders moved on. This little walled city didn't change for centuries, and that's why it's thriving today... because it is so well preserved.

Tourists do crowd this medieval city of gothic design, but somehow you don't mind. We've never felt there was anything wrong with calling yourself a tourist and going to the most popular destinations... everyone wants to see them for a good reason. Brugge is in the Flanders part of Belgium. Did I confuse you with that spelling change? Just so you know what you're looking for... remember that French/Flemish language sharing arrangement in Belgium.... It's Bruges in French as well as English, and it's Brugge in Flemish (or Dutch).

This historic center of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The current city boundaries still coincide exactly with those of the medieval city center. Structures and squares and canals are preserved. Head first for the Market Square. This is the heart of town and you can get your bearings from here. The city center is closed to cars, so if you drive in, find a parking lot on the periphery. It's an easy city to explore on foot. As an alternative, since this is a tourist town, you'll find horse-drawn carriages to take you around the cobblestone streets.

You can always find the Market Square because it is crowned by the Belfry tower. This Bell tower has been here for seven hundred years. If you're lucky, you might catch a carillon concert... The carillonist plays a manual keyboard to ring the 47 bells. Cruise the picturesque canals, and you'll discover hidden gardens and quaint bridges. This romantic city looks even more romantic from a boat on the canals. There are museums where you can see early Flemish paintings... you may find they were painted right in this city. Visit the churches, tour the 14th century City Hall.

If you are a chocoholic, you'll love Bruges. There are 49 chocolate boutiques according to the official Brugge website... AND a chocolate museum! You'll be tempted by stores all over town. They are so serious about their chocolate that some of the family run chocolate makers shut down if the weather gets too hot... don't want to ruin the chocolate!

Bruges' crocheted lace was famous in the 16th century, and you can still see ladies making it. Shops are full of lace edged hankies, lace collars, lace mats... anything lace you can imagine. There is always time for a Belgian beer... take a brewery tour in and sample a beer at the end for a small fee. The tour lasts about 45 minutes, and it's given in three languages. So when you're in Belgium, find this little town that time forgot, but tourists have found. Even though you won't feel like you discovered it for yourself, the Old World charm in Bruges will win your heart.

Unlike the title, Belgium is much more than just the chocolate-box of the world, but that is not something coming as too much of a surprise to tourists, particularly to those who have been there. The country is more than 175 years into its independent existence, and is hardly showing signs of ageing! True, there have been valiant attempts to alter its downtrodden image, but the change has taken shape in a most natural manner. There are quite heavy impressions of medieval architecture uncannily preserved here. Coming to the cities, Brussels and Antwerp lead the pack, followed by Bruges, which is pleasant despite, and also because of, the fact that there are scores of tourists perpetually present here at every single day of the year. Ghent, on the other hand, is a slightly scaled down version of the more dynamic cities of the country, so to speak. Once a city that rivalled Paris in its splendour, Ghent is today happier playing second fiddle to cities like Brussels.

Belgium is an undisputed leader when it comes to moral freedom. Gays and lesbians have been given equal rights compared to heterosexuals, while Euthanasia, a concept that is condemned and criticised in most parts of the world, was legalised in 2002. The topics of discussion over a couple of Duvels, the country's signature pale ale produced in the town of Breendonk, are aplenty, which is also one of the reasons why the country is having one of the most social environments in the world.

Brussels certainly has a split personality in every sense of the word. The competition rages on in many forms – Flemish v/s French, unique v/s boring and happening v/s historic. Eurocrats and red tape set aside, the point of conflict, so to speak, are not just limited to the predictable ones. However, it is this healthy disparity in the times of globalisation that sets the mood for a tourist's unforgettable sojourn in Brussels. The city is also known for its café culture, Art Nouveau architecture and fine dining options. Surreal art also comes to life here, in the northern suburb of Jette, to be specific. The variation in architecture ranges from the age-old Grand Place to the new-age Art Nouveau façades. In the midst of all this, the quality of life is superb – great shopping, numerous choices for eating, 'out of the world' chocolates, and an enviable pub culture.

Known as the unsung city of the Flanders, Ghent is situated between Brussels, Bruges and Antwerp. A canal city that is as visually spectacular as it gets, it has more often than not been ignored by tourists, and that is why those who choose to tread the road not taken are rewarded handsomely. Sitting on the junction of the Scheldt and Leie rivers, the crowning glory of Ghent is the Het Gravensteen castle. Having an illustrious history, thanks to King Charles V, the city today is the capital of the Oost-Vlaanderen province, and also Flander's biggest university town.

To constantly stay in contact with family and friends while in Belgium, there is no better service provider than Matrix, as up to 80% savings are assured, with fantastic savings on every call and network coverage among the best in the world.

If you are lucky enough to be taking a trip to Belgium, there are multiple types of accommodation that is available. You can go with a four or five star hotel if you want the ultimate experience with charm and class. Many of these hotels are parts of a larger hotel chain, while others are boutique in nature. If you want to experience the best accommodations, than you will have to pay the price. You should expect to pay at least two hundred dollars a night for these rooms.

When planning a trip to Belgium you can also choose to save a little money and make yourself feel more at home by staying at a quaint bed and breakfast. These are the best value and experience as you get to sample the local food and meet new people in the area for anywhere from sixty dollars to one hundred and sixty dollars per night. Bed and breakfast accommodations often have a very relaxing, homey feel to them which is perfect for someone who is on vacation.

If you are going on vacations in Belgium and want to save as much money as possible for the amazing attractions and dining, than you should check out the many hostels that are available. These rooms will usually cost you around twenty to thirty five dollars per night, which is the perfect price for anyone on a budget.

One of the popular places to stay in Belgium is the Bedford Hotel & Congress Centre. This hotel is easily accessible from all major areas in the city. The rooms are decorated in warm tones with marble bathrooms, mini bars, cable TV, as well as wooden desks. All guests can enjoy the traditional delicious French cuisine and amazing panoramic views of the city while working out in the fitness room. This hotel starts at about ninety five dollars a night.

Belgium is a thriving country and one of the new places to look out for when it comes to key exhibitions. These are some excellent events which take place this year in Belgium and some of these are detailed below.

1. Decoforce - is an exhibition of contemporary ideas for both interior and exterior decoration. This trade show is a unique opportunity for all buyers to get up-to-date on the latest trends and changes in the industry. Decoforce takes place from 30th August through to the 2nd September 2009 at the Brussels Exhibition Centre.

2. MATEXPO - Also known as Machines, Techniques & Materials Exhibition, is one of the leading trade shows for this industry with over 150 exhibitors. This exhibition will be hosted at the Kortrijik Expo from the 2nd - 6th September,

3. DECOSIT - is one of the most important upholstery events in Belgium and Europe and this attracts all of the key players in this field. Decosit will be held from the 8th - 11th September at Brussels Exhibition Centre.

4. Broodway - The world of bakery and confectioneries comes to life at the Broodway exhibition! Sweet treats, bakery equipments, packaging equipments and more await when you drop by this trade show that runs from the 13th - 16th September at the Kortrijk Expo.

5. Business Gift Expo - The only exhibition in Belgium which focuses on stationery goods and office accessories. This two day trade show will falls on 15th & 16th September and will be held at Brussels Exhibition Centre.

6. Professional Wellness - The one-stop event for everyone in the Spa & Wellness industry, this exhibition promotes the latest in Fitness and exercise, beauty and body care, and everything else to do with your general well-being. Catch the show either on the 19th or 20th September when it comes to the Kortrijik Expo.

7. Label Expo Europe - The world's largest event for the label, converting, web printing and product decoration industry is opening its doors from the 23rd - 26th September at Brussels Exhibition Centre and welcomes all in the industry as it showcases the latest in cutting edge technology.

8. BIS + Immosfeer - A leading trade fair in the Building & Real Estate industry, this exhibition draws in the who's who of the industry and features exhibits from bathroom fittings to metal detectors all under one roof at the Flanders Expo in Gent from 3rd - 11th October.

9. Empack Expo-Brussels - Find the latest innovative ideas from the packaging industry. 7th & 8th October are the important dates for this exhibition which will be hosted by Brussels Exhibition Centre.

10. Kiosk Expo - A one of a kind expo, marking a strategic meeting point for decision makers from multiple industries. Key figures from multiple sectors including from the tobacco industry, I.T, games and confectionery will gather to discuss & implement a new level of customer service technology. This exhibition runs from the 31st - 2nd November at Flanders Expo, Gent.

Surrounded by France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, Belgium thrills the guest with its varied views: the rivers and passes of the Ardennes create a strong contrast with the vast plains that occupy a great area of the country, the majestic forests from the German and Luxembourg borders with the never-ending sand beaches of the northern coast. In Belgium, you will come across a land that is extraordinary through its old towns, with countless castles and sanctuaries that will leave remarkable memories.

BRUSSELS

Brussels it's the place where you will be stunned to hear lots of unfamiliar languages. It has not long ago acquired the „international city” status, aside from being the „capital” of the European Union and United Nations. In Brussels lives a great diversity of people, from public servants and eurocrats to immigrants from Congo, Northern Africa or Turkey, who supported the cultural and culinary variety of the place. Contemplating above towers and modern city's remarkable boulevards, you will ascertain that Belgium's old soul is still whole, persisting in the vintage districts of modest workers or in the conservative neighborhoods.

There are two languages that are being used in Belgium: Flemish, the language of the German origin citizens from the north, and French. While on the streets of this beautiful city you should pay great concern to detail: traditional shops with extraordinary building details, sumptuous walls built in Art Deco style, doors and gates enhanced with really special sculptures, altars slipped in the facades of buildings at the corner of the street, bearing the image of the Virgin Mary.

"The soul" of Brussels is the Grand-Place market, built in Baroque and Gothic styles, where you can witness the parade of  families descendants at the beginning of July or you can entertain yourself with theater plays or open air concerts. In the south you will discover the area known as The Template, where the pre-nineteenth century Belgian spirit has been retained just about . In the north you will discover the old labor neighborhood of Marolles, where street names today denote skill types that were undertook by their former inhabitants.

A tripper that has a weakness for beautiful should not skip a visit to the Museum of Art, home of some of the most important works of Pieter Breughel - including the acclaimed Fall of Icarus - and of Peter Paul Rubens, and to the Museum of Modern Art, which prouds itself with the work of Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, Salvador Dali or Francis Bacon.

GHENT

Ghent is the Flemish capital of the country, built in Gothic and Renaissance style, with a population of only 230,000 inhabitants. Majestic is the buildings construction from Graslei, the city's old port. There are two rivers, Leie and Lieve, that overpass this area. From the St. Michielsbrug bridge, the view is superb: in the north you will recognize the Gravensteen castle, home of Flemish counts between ages 9-12, where you can still contemplate an ample range of torture instruments. The other castle, Geraard of Duivelsteen, dated from the13th century, has the same inauspicious notoriety.

BRUGES

This stylish Flemish city saw an important progress since the Middle Ages. Through this port, the town became a critical commercial transit of goods from Italy, the Far East, England or Russia. Bruges was famous all over the world for its wool products and the particular skill of its upholstery masters. The renowned Markt market dates from the 13th century; climbing its 366 stairs, you will examine the remarkable view of this old city. Heilige Bloed Basiliek Basilica will speak to you about the times of the second crusade, when the Patriarch of Jerusalem – says the legend – brought some drops of blood of Jesus to the Count of Flanders.

Belgium is famous for being packed to the brim with historic architecture, art galleries and restaurants serving fine cuisine. Located in the north west of Europe with around ten and a half millions residents, Belgium has had a relatively quiet history compared to some of their larger European neighbours, but this by no mean makes Belgium inferior as a tourist attraction with some breathtaking architecture which has was inspired over the course of hundreds of years through the middle ages, the renaissance, the revolution and of course modern times.

The capital city of Belgium is the City of Brussels, which should not be confused with the Brussels area which is much larger. The actual city has a population of around 140 thousand residents. There are a plethora of tourist attractions in this grand old city such as the City of Brussels Town Hall, the old twining streets and numerous fine art galleries dotted around the city. Brussels is perfect for a long or short vacation and there are numerous Brussels bed and breakfast accommodations available, as well as modern Brussels apartment rentals.

Antwerp is another interesting and vibrant Belgian city with the area being home to around 400 thousand people and it serves as an important city in terms of the economy. Some architectural delights which are well worth a visit include the 16th century Guildhouse, Antwerp City Hall and in particular the Het Steen 19th century fortification. Whilst staying in an Antwerp bed and breakfast accommodation, visitors can enjoy numerous other tourists' attractions including the Antwerp Zoo, which is one of the oldest and most famous zoos in the world. The Boerentoren is also worth a visit as it has the title of the oldest skyscraper in Europe. There Royal Museum of fine arts always pull in big crowds and is an essential stop in a visit to Antwerp with works from famous artists such as Van Dyck, Titan and Rubens. After a hard days' exploration, you can relax in your Antwerp apartment rental, which are available throughout the city.

There are numerous other locations around Belgium which should be chosen to suit your needs, however a must see for all is the city of Bruges which has been tagged with ‘The Venice of the North' due to its canal based architecture, its entire city centre is classed as a world heritage site. The city is very popular with tourists looking to admire the fine architecture, numerous museums and art galleries. Staying in the city is easy by booking a Bruges bed and breakfast accommodation or some sort of Bruges vacation home rental.

The United States of America just passed a milestone when it enacted several important bills into law in their land. Last year, its Congress passed a stimulus bill that helped heal the deep wounds of financial cutback brought about by the menace of some big bosses in Wall Street. Just last month, the same batch of legislator sweepingly approved an almost a century old bill – the health care reform act. For this month, they have a pending bill that needed to be passed as the president suggested. That is the bill that will finally regulate banking in their land. But this is just the "other side of the world."

Together with the US, several countries across the globe also shared similar changes and developments in their legislations. We have a roll of countries that passed their own developmental legislations that either shocked the world for its magnanimity, raged many for its biased portions, and steep up emotions for its applicability. But in Europe, a country seems to be making news after legislation about the banning of certain religious clothing has been passed.

Belgium flooded the news including those of major media outlets like CNN and Time for passing a law that prohibits a Muslim woman from wearing burqas. It was after when Belgian lawmakers passed a law by the Lower House that bans Muslim women from wearing any clothing that covers their faces. The law is said to still pass in the Senate before it can finally becomes a law of the land. Astonishingly, if the Senate would favor this legislation, Belgium will become the first country that bans burqas and other Islamic garb among others.

Belgium is a highly Catholic country with some 47% claims they are from a catholic church. But Muslims represent the second largest religion in the country with 4% of the total population. The rest is divided into atheists and other religions. Most Muslims in the country come from Morocco and Turkey.

Because of this legislation, human rights group said that this law will most likely affect the freedom of the Belgian people. Amnesty International was one of the human rights advocates that denounced the passage of the said law. But Dennis Ducarme from the liberal Reformist Movement was quick to defend the law.

"We think all people in public places must show their face," Ducarme stressed. "We must defend our values in the question of the freedom and the dignity of the woman."

According to Ducarme, burqas are not necessarily a requirement for Muslim women. He stressed that only those extremist Muslims from Pakistan and Afghanistan have those kinds of clothing rules. He even added that because Belgium's Muslims are composed of those not radically inclined, it is possible for Belgian Muslim women to show their face in public. The parliament also agreed by saying that the law is more of in response to security and morality and not just for discrimination.  For this reason, working women in Belgium will have time to choose their workwear uniforms less the burqas.