Travel to Belgium

Europe, a historical, cultural and geographical mammoth that squares up confidently to any other continent on earth. From its Northern Lights to its Southern shores, this drama queen keeps on thrilling, surprising and confusing with her extraordinary wealth of sights, sounds, peoples and parties Europe offers you a new and a  fresh experience. Europe having a proud cultural heritage, leads the others in fashion, art, music, architecture and design. Europe is a delight to tourists. 

 

The snow-covered Alps, the coastlines, the ancient cities like Rome, the Vatican, the Scottish highlands, the graceful canals of Venice, etc Europe has it all. Belgium is a low-lying country on the North Sea coast in the Benelux, northwest Europe. Sitting at the crossroads of Western Europe Belgium shares borders with France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Known for its medieval architecture and atmosphere cities like Brussels, Ieper, Antwerp attract thousands of tourists. 

 

Belgium got its independent status in 1830 after being freed from the Netherlands. It remained occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The city of Ieper and the nearby areas have many war graves near the battle zones. Belgium has central rolling hills, wooded hills, valleys of Ardennes Forest in southeast, flat coastal plains in northwest. Belgium comprises of three regions listed from north to south: Flanders, Brussels, Wallonia. Ieper or Ypres is a town in the Belgian Flanders endowed with wonderful architecture. Ieper is best known as the site of three major battles of the First World War.

The many memorials and cemeteries of the fallen in and around Ieper draw thousands of visitors each year. Ieper is the official Flemish name for the city while Ypres is its French name. Ieper has a wonderful countryside with many routes for cycling and walking. 

 

Ieper is generally very safe to live or roam. Some of the place which are a must visit are: 

 

1. Menin Gate- The Menin Gate is a Dedication to the commemoration of British and Commonwealth soldiers who were killed in the Ypres Salient of World War I and whose graves are unknown. 

 

2. Flanders FieldMuseum: Located in Grote Market or the Main Square, it is the most famous and a must see monument in Ieper relating to the First World War. It is said to be one of the world’s biggest war museums, located in the rebuilt colossal building Lakenhalle (cloth hall), topped by a 70m high belfry. 

 

3. Cemeteries in Ieper: Ieper has over 75 Commonwealth military cemeteries for the First World War soldiers. The Ramparts Cemetery which was founded in 1915, rests 153 Britons, 11 Australians and 9 Canadians. Even a memorial has been dedicated to the Indian Army which was erected recently in 2002 to remember the brave soldiers from India at the Ramparts. 

 

In Belgium people like to eat and hence is famous for its good cuisines. Some dishes considered as Belgian specialities include Mussels, Stoofvlees, Witloof met kaassaus, Konijn met bier and Waffles. Restaurants, pubs are very commonly found in Belgium as people like visiting them regularly. A bed and breakfast (or B&B) is a small lodging establishment which offer overnight accommodation and breakfast, but may not usually offer other meals. 

 

Generally, bed and breakfasts are private homes with around less than 10 bedrooms available for commercial use. Several establishments can be found easily in the Ieper marketplace that offer bed and breakfast services. Many old farms have been transformed to bed and breakfast establishments for the tourists. These bed and breakfast establishments also provide services like bicycles and vespa rentals.

Belgium has a lot more going for it than some of the dreary descriptions and jokes about it would suggest. It is a low lying country, situated between France and Holland with a coastline facing England across the North Sea.

A welcoming country to visit

One of the reasons for its boring, unpopular image probably stems from its capital, Brussels being a dreary collection of administrative offices and its associations with E.U. bureaucracy. Another reason is Belgium’s identity crisis. It is Flemish-speaking in the north and French-speaking in the south and there has always been a considerable clash of cultures between the two, both competing for a definition of what is the real Belgium. However, if one delves beneath the surface of this uninspiring portrayal of Belgium, it soon becomes apparent that the country has much to offer. For a start, it is actually packed full of absorbing history; from both before and after its separation from the Netherlands in 1830. 

Beautiful historical buildings and architecture abounds in nearly every city. Ghent provides a fascinating example of a medieval port and has the most number of historical buildings to see. Bruges however, is the most attractive from a scenic point of view. It is a beautifully preserved 14th century Flemish town whose narrow cobble-streets, canals and gabled houses demand at least a day’s visit and preferably a longer stay there.For a lively city with plenty to do, head for Antwerp which as well as being Europe’s diamond capital and a hotbed of modern fashion, still manages to reveal its impressive past through places like the house where Rubens lived and worked for thirty years.

Although much of Belgium’s countryside is flat and lacking in scenic appeal, the Ardennes region is mountainous and offers a beautiful wooded landscape of wild crags and ravines where one of the most famous battles of World War 2 was fought.

Belgium’s people are generally some of the most welcoming you will find anywhere. They are noted for their love of good food in large helpings. The word Gourmands (meaning big cuisine) rather than Gourmets (meaning fine cuisine) describes the typical Belgium very well. Another cliché often used to describe Belgium cuisine is; French food in German sized helpings. It is very apt!

When to visit

The warmest time of the year is April through to September but Belgium weather is inclined to provide days of grey skies and rain at any time.

A popular tourist attraction takes place at the beginning of July. This is the Ommegang Pageant, a spectacular medieval festival dating back to 1359. The colorful procession through the streets of Brussels is followed by a flag and horse parade. Next, crossbow men surround a statue of the Virgin that the procession has escorted from the Sablon Church. Finally everyone settles down to enjoy an incredible fiesta of games and entertainment.

Getting to Belgium

The UK has several discount airlines operating flights from many of its airports to Brussels, Antwerp and other cities. Visitors from other European countries will usually travel by train or road. U.S. and Canadian tourists will probably need to consider flights to France or the UK rather than finding a direct flight.

Students are throwing everything in, when it comes to studying abroad. Unlike yester years, when study abroad destination referred to the states; now a day scholars are exploring other options such as Asian and European countries. Among the European countries, Belgium is fast emerging as a superior study abroad destination for intellectuals.

The vivacious and sophisticated societal scene at Belgium augmented with multicultural, multi ethnic and multi linguistic atmosphere makes it a perfect place for foreigners to pursue their higher education. The sparkling and pleasurable type of weather n this part of the continent makes your stay even more satisfying. It also has a strongly globalized economy and is among the 15 largest trading nations. In spite of the cultural, language and political barricades, Belgium boasts of a shared cultural sphere wherein everyone can acclimatize straight forwardly. This nation is also renowned for its cuisine which will surely tickle your taste buds; most famous being French fries (this originated in Belgium), beer, chocolate and waffles.

Belgium is also known for diamonds, its thriving fashion industry and shipping. Scholars who are eager to pursue PhD programs will love to study in Belgium as it is abode to some of the most advanced research laboratories (notably in the field of information technology, nanotechnology, life sciences, etc.). The international standard of teaching at the top universities in Belgium will surely sweep you off your feet. The infrastructure aspect of Belgium is highly sophisticated with a plethora of shopping malls, pubs, sports centers, movie theatres, etc. The sheer number of courses offered at Belgian institutes will amaze you as they proffer under graduate and post graduate courses pertaining to disciplines such as physiotherapy, sciences, language and literature / history, archeology and art science, psychology, theology, philosophy, medico-social health sciences, dentistry, law, economics and applied economics, physical education and educational sciences, medical sciences, political and social sciences, pharm

aceutical sciences, engineering and applied biological sciences.

One needs to score aptly in TOEFL to display his/ her English fluency to get admitted into Belgian institutions. One should also consult Belgian embassy in one's country before pulling off the admission procedures. In Belgium, it is compulsory to register yourself with the local admin pertaining to your local address. It is highly advisable to do a bit of intricate research on the World Wide Web, before chipping in for the whole study abroad stuff as it will make you clear on aspects such as relevant paper work required, etc. The cost of living in Belgium is pretty reasonable with urban areas being slightly pricier than the countryside. Something like 550 - 650 €/month will let you adjust accommodation, food, utility bills and travel.

Tuition fee pricing is utterly levelheaded at approximately €500 per year.  But intellectuals can apply for study in Belgium scholarships as there are a no. of institutions like Flemish Inter University Council (VLIR), The Belgian Development Cooperation, Royal Museum of Central Africa, and Institute for Tropical Medicine etc. proffering financial aids.

Belgium is a rich mixture of bubbling beer, chocolates, oil paints and bureaucratic that shed a liquor fragrance of bourgeoisie. But, if you mix the stew a bit you will find a country that is artificial product, with two-thirds of her residents with German-Flemish origins and the rest are from Kilt-Latin and Wallonia origins.

Belgium is not one of the prominent countries in Europe, but only because her residents do not tend to brag with their achievements. In fact there is more history, art, architecture, high quality of dishes and architecture for square meter than many of the larger and more vocally neighboring countries.

When looking for accommodation in Belgium you should choose one of the various Belgium hotels. The location of the country is very attractive for the visitors touring in this area. Belgium is "squeezed" between Netherlands, Germany, Luxemburg and France. It is one of the smallest countries in Europe. Her north part is plain and the south part is controlled by the picturesque Ardanian Mountains. The 65 kilometers of the coast line on the north shore is full with leisure sights except for a few sections of drift-wind dunes. At the plain part of Belgium are spread out a net of canals. The weather is relatively comfortable and the extremely hot months (July-August) are also the rainiest.

Transportation in Belgium: In Belgium it is easy and cheap to get from place to place, it may compensate you on the high prices for the hospitality options and difficulty in finding a vacancy. Although there is abundance of busses and it is easy to rent a car, the primary means of transport the efficient train network. The intercity trains are the fastest and there are also the interregional and the local trains. In the far-flung areas the busses are filling the absent. In the cities there are effective systems of public transportation like the tramcar and a small Metro network in Brussels and Antwerp. Taxis are available in any of the train stations. Bicycle riding is very popular on the north region and it is possible to rent them at the train stations. Many roads have a separate path for bicycles. Another option is to rent a boat-house and cruse with it along the many rivers.

There are many attractive destinations in the country where you could tour the cities and than rest at one of the Belgium hotels and continue the day after:

Antwerp: Antwerp (In Flemish- Antwerpen, in French- Anvers), that her name is capable of squeezing heavy groans from every beginner artists that wants to become Robens, is a compact city with a rich history. This is perhaps the less appreciated city in Belgium by the tourists and with no reason. Antwerp lies between the river schelde and the Ring Road, which is build on a moat from the 16th century that was created in order to attempt on preventing the Spanish to enter the cities.

Bruges: Bruges (in Flemish – Brugge), that was established in the 13th century, is the most touristic city in Europe that was best preserved since the middle ages. The city is blessed with two main plazas from the middle ages, the "Markt" and the "Burg" and the most fascinating art exhibitions in Belgium. To look at the spectacular view from the top of the city, you should clime the 366 stairs of the center fort, the Belfort.

Bruges can be a great city to end the day and enjoy the night life of the city and recharge your energy in one of the Bruges Hotels in the city.

Charleroi: This is the largest city and municipality of Wallonia that is located in the province of Hainaut. Charleroi is in the heart of a cast coal basin, which is called "Pays Noir". The city is also known for its publishing industry. The most famous one is Dupuis which is one of the main publishers of "Franco-Belgian Comics".

The must sights in Charleroi are: The Belfry, the "Maison Doree and the museums of fine arts, glass and photography.

Namur-Wepion: Namur is the capital city of Wallonia, in the southern part of Belgium. It is standing in a confluence of the Sambre and Meuse rivers. Eight kilometers south from Namur stands the city of Wepion. The city is known for her micro-climate and the sun-exposed plantations that are perfect for growing strawberry. Weipon is famous for her strawberry beer, the "La Wepionnaise"

The city relatively close to the Brussels, the capital city, where you reach there in order to stay at one of the Namur Hotels as well as starting the next day tour in the city or end your tour near by the country main international airport near Brussles.

Wavre: This is the capital city of the Walloon Brabant province in Belgium. Wavre is also called "the City of the Maca" because of the little boy statue that tries to climb the wall of the city hall. The tradition says that if you hold the Maca buttocks will bring you a year of luck. Among the sights Wavre is offering you should be visiting the Gothic style church, the city hall and the Walibi amusement park.

As small as Belgium is as a country and big and large are the destinations and attractions this country has to offer. That is what makes Belgium a must country to visit when coming to Europe. Choose among the many attractions you want to see or do and then spend the night in any of Belgium Hotels, each one designed differently in order to reach the needs of all kinds of travelers.

It can be traumatic scheduling a Belgium holiday, particularly if you lead a chaotic life. With work, family, and friends to manage, taking time out to plan your trip can at times get complicated. Serving to make life easy for some Belgium travelers are Belgium vacation packages, which in addition to helping diminish strain, can also frequently decrease your fees on the whole. 

Finding tour deals to Belgium with a Belgium vacation tie together is frequently possible because you are bundling some of the dissimilar aspects of your trip jointly. This can make for an actually low-stress escape that tends to engage very little development on your part. Plus, a variety of Belgium vacation package includes top destinations, attractive sights, and things to do, so you know that they have your greatest interest in mind. 

As stated, it is characteristic for a Belgium vacation package to put together different aspects of your trip. In other words, you can generally pair your flight with your Belgium lodgings, and also include other things like car rentals, other means of transport, sightseeing, meals, and much more. Travel agencies are happy to suggest travel deals to Belgium when tourists lump things together and pay in one plunge. 

Probabilities are good that when you start looking into Belgium vacation packages, you will be astonished at how numerous choices there are. For travelers keen in doing some bicycling in Belgium, you are headed to the right place. Nevertheless, as an alternative of just getting a Belgium vacation package reserved that has you biking in Belgium, you may take it a little further and comprise time in the Netherlands or France as well. 

Bike tour packages are obtainable for persons who think they desire to enjoy both biking and river cruises in Belgium, and these can take in time outside of Belgium as well. Your resting place will be a relaxed cabin on board the barge, and you will be able to take hold of your bike and set off discovering once you get to your desired destinations, which are generally towns like Bruges and Antwerp. 

There are lavish packages that provide stay at luxury hotels, and there are inexpensive packages that still feature a presentable room at a fine price. As talked about, the choices for Belgium holiday packages are complete, and you can book ones that take care of the complete journey if you so wish.

A jester throws toy cats down from the belfry of Ieper on the second Sunday in May. Meanwhile in a parade, dozens of floats and 2,000 actors explore and present the role of the cat in history, literature, and folklore. This is the famous Cat festival of Belgium, an event which happens every 3 years. It is just one of the surprises awaiting the visitor who expects simple normality in this country which is often perceived as straight-laced as befits a city at the heart of EU sobriety.

You get the best of two worlds in Belgium. The north of the country is Flemish, while the south is French-speaking. Small wonder it?s the heart of the EU. Here, you can cut through the European red tape to sample beer, chocolate and other Belgian delights.

Here are 10 great reasons to visit Belgium to help start your holiday planning.

Belgium is a place that buzzes with cutting-edge design and a contemporary lifestyle, while retaining age-old traditions. You can be sitting in an old-fashioned coffee shop one minute and admiring the latest fashions in a trend-setting boutique the next. The country also has a quirkiness that never ceases to amaze - from cheeky statues to weird and wonderful festivals.

Cities: Brussels, with its stunning Grand Place and art nouveau heritage, and picture-perfect Bruges, with its pretty canals and medieval buildings, are the shining stars - but it is also worth discovering trendy Antwerp, historic Liege and quaint Ghent.

Chocolate: Forget the diet and enjoy some of the richest, smoothest chocolate to be found anywhere. Wherever you go in Belgium, you won't have to look far. The country has more than 2,000 tempting chocolate shops. Beer: Tickle the taste buds with over 400 different types of beer. Some of the best is made by Trappist monks.

Dining: Local favourites include waffles, mussels, and chips with mayonnaise. Gourmets are spoilt for choice. The country boasts more Michelin star-rated restaurants per head of population than France. Battlefields: Famous battlefields such as Passendale and vast cemeteries such as Tyne Cot are sober reminders of the Great War. The Last Post is sounded every evening at the Menin Gate in Ypres, where the excellent In Flanders Fields museum tells the story of the region's role in World War I.

Beaches: Have some family fun at over a dozen seaside resorts along the coast of Belgium. Top spots include Ostend and Knokke. Art: Belgium's great artistic heritage is reflected in the grand masters and also in famous cartoon characters. Rubens and Van Dyck lived in Antwerp. Brussels has museums dedicated to Magritte and comic-strip heroes such as Tintin.

Fashion: Funky Antwerp is the capital of cool. Home to one of Europe's leading fashion schools, the city boasts designer boutiques as well as stylish restaurants, bars and clubs.

Countryside: Head for the hills of the Ardennes and explore dense forest and deep valleys. Take a hike or bike ride through wooded trails or try the excitement of canoeing and paragliding.

Festivals: Belgians love to party. Few events are more unusual than the colourful Cat Parade, staged every three years in Ypres to celebrate all things feline.

Continuous availability of bargain flights to Belgium - plus rail too - is another reason to consider a visit to this great country of constant surprises.

When he got lost looking for a shortcut to India in the late 1400s, Christopher Columbus found the delicious treat known as chocolate in the New World. It is commonly believed that the ancient Aztecs were to have drunk chocolate a long time before anyone else in the world even knew of its existence. In its original formulation, it was a very bitter concoction created from the roasted seeds of cocoa and mixed with spices. In the Americas it was considered to be a sacred drink that was enjoyed by the Aztecs but only the very elite of their society could afford it. The Aztecs were not ignorant of the value of the cocoa bean and began using it as part of their monetary system and to buy their gold.

The treat that got its start in the New World is the same that would become known as Belgian chocolate, which is the original recipe that was kept secret by the Spanish Aristocrats. The nobility couldn't keep the success of the drink from spreading to other European countries however, and it became widespread. The European nobles experimented with the recipe and were the first to add sugar to it, which made it much more drinkable then the previously bitter drink originated by the Aztecs. 

Medical practitioners even professed that it cured certain diseases because it held such a high and sacred value. When chocolate arrived in Belgium it was considered to be a magnificent gift, due to all of the history that came with it and the legends of its medicinal effect that it was told to have. The Belgian confectionary created the praline filling for the chocolate in 1912, which was packaged to give out as special gifts to others. The delicacy soon became known as Belgian chocolate because of the unique filling the Belgians created in rich milk chocolate.

To make the special chocolate it is first taken from large pods that come from the cocoa tree, and then the cocoa seeds or beans are taken from the pods. The beans are then sun dried and delivered to the chocolate makers. Once the Belgians get the beans they roast them and crush them into the cocoa powder that they make the Belgian chocolate with. They then add the cocoa butter that comes from the beans and add that to the powder, sugar, and the milk powder.

The Belgian chocolate makers are very choosy with the cocoa powder that they allow for use in the making of Belgian chocolate and will only allow the finest quality to be used. They use the same discretion when it comes to picking the ingredients they use to make their chocolate filling that is known as praline. They make this product by hand so that they can be sure to bring out only the finest possible chocolate. The pride in their product also leads them to choose the cocoa beans by hand as well so that only the best possible source product is sued in the making of Belgian Chocolate.