Belgium
The small country of Belgium that borders France, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Germany and the North Sea is one that you do not hear a lot about. Its mainly known for its Waffles, Chocolate and its beer. Belgium is so much more than those items. Belgium is home to a very diverse 11 million people that speak French, Dutch (Flemish) or German. The country is ruled by a Monarch and a parliament and Prime minister. Brussels in Belgium is the capital of the nation as well the capital of the European Union. The country is full of history and interesting sites. Donna and I visited Belgium briefly in 2015 just driving through the country and stopping to eat Belgian food. We visited Belgium more extensively in December of 2018 and had the chance to visit Brussels, Ghent, and Bruges. We did not know what to expect when traveling to Belgium during the winter but we are both glad we did!
Getting to Belgium and Transportation
You have a few options when traveling to Belgium. Brussels has a International Airport (Brussels-National at Zaventem) that has flights to all over the world. If you are already in Europe Rail and bus service are an option. If you are in Paris or Amsterdam you can take the high speed Thalys rail to Brussels. We started our trip going to Amsterdam and took the Thalys rail. The rail prices are affordable (we sat in 1st class for around ($45 a person) and it does go fast. We saw it get up to 170 mph while riding it. It takes around 1.5 hours to go from Amsterdam to Brussels. When in Belgium you can take Belgian rail to most areas in Belgium. We used Belgian rail to go to the airport from Brussels. In Brussels there is a subway and tram system that are easy to use. We used the subways while we were in Brussels. To get to Ghent and Bruge we chose to take a guided tour that took us to those cities. We also took a hop-on hop-off bus to sites in Brussels.
Other Country Information
Belgium is a part of the European Union and is a part of the Schengen Agreement that allows you to move throughout European nations without going through border security (except for the initial entry). Depending where you are in Belgium will determine what the primary language is that is spoken. In Brussels French is the primary language spoken. In other areas Dutch and German is spoken. English is known by many people in Belgium and we had no trouble speaking with anyone. The currency is the Euro and is usually worth a little more than a dollar.
Brussels
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and the capital of the European Union. Its a vibrant city full of great food, beautiful architecture, a political powerhouse and many other interesting sights. We spent three nights in Brussels and had the chance to see quite a bit of the city. Since we were in Brussels during the Christmas season we also had the opportunity to visit the Brussels Christmas Market and see a display on Nativity Scenes from around the World. We used both a hop-on hop-off tour bus to see Brussels as well as using the subway and just walking.
The Atomium
Built in 1958 for the Worlds Fair the huge Atomium is the model of an Atom in a gigantic scale. You can buy tickets to ride the elevator to the top sphere and get a wonderful view of Brussels and the surrounding area. There are stairs and escalators to other Atom Spheres that have exhibits on the Atomium and the 1958 world’s fair. The Atomium is a symbol of Brussels and is an awesome sight to see. It is highly recommended to visit it when in Brussels. It takes around 45 minutes to an hour to tour the site.
Mini-Europe
Located next to the Atomium is a very well done theme park called Mini-Europe. It contains miniature versions of many of the top sites of the member European Union countries. When you first enter you are given a guide book with many different language choices that describes the monuments and buildings you are looking at. As you walk through each country is labeled and there is a button to play the countries national anthem. There are also buttons that activate motion like in Ireland a dog herding sheep. The buildings and displays are very detailed. In front of the British parliament there is a miniature Brexit Protest and there is a fire that miniature fire boats put out at a port. If you do not have time to visit all the countries in the EU this is a nice way to see the sites. Donna and I thoroughly enjoyed Mini-Europe and would go again. You can buy a combo ticket to the Atomium and Mini-Europe to save a little money(its around $20 or so for each site per person). It took us a little over an hour to visit Mini-Europe and walk through the nice park. Check it out if you are in Brussels!
The EU Parliament and Parliament Welcome Center
Brussels is the capital of the European Union (a group of 28 countries that are linked economically and politically). It is the home of the European Commission, other European offices and the Hemicycle which is a chamber for the European Parliament or other meetings. We spent an entire day in the EU quarter of the city due to the many tours. We toured the Hemicycle for Free and it s a very nice tour. You are given a tablet that allows you to listen and watch information about the building and what the Parliament does. It is an impressive operation. The tour takes about 30 minutes. Next door to the Hemicycle is the Parliament Welcome Center. It has an also free museum that goes over the EU countries, the history of the EU and gives good information about what the EU is doing today and the members of the Parliament. You are also given a tablet and the museum is highly interactive. It can take an hour or so to tour. These sights are very nice to visit and are free which makes it even better.
The House of European History
Near the Hemicycle is the stunning House of European History. It is a free and highly interactive museum that chronicles the history of Europe. It is six stories tall so there is a lot to see. You are given a tablet and it contains information about all the artifacts. The exhibit begins with the beginning of Europe and where its name comes from, continues to the revolutions of Europe, goes through the World Wars, the Cold War and modern times. The museum does a great job going over what is and has been great about Europe but also goes over the tragic time and challenges Europe has had. It does not gloss over the tough times. We spent several hours looking at all the rare artifacts such as the gun used to kill Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand that started World War I. I highly recommend you visit this museum if you are in Brussels!
The Grand Place
Located in the center of Brussels is the Grand Place square. It is one of the most beautiful squares I have been to and is also a Unseco World Heritage site. The large square is surrounded by beautiful guildhalls and the city hall. The architecture is exquisite. There are many statues are gold and the main buildings are a site to see. Since we were there before Christmas there was a huge nativity scene and a beautifully decorated, huge Christmas tree in the center. There is shopping street located right off the Grand Place where you can buy Chocolates, Waffels, and many other things. While we were there with the Christmas Market going on there was a lot of activity in the square and it was nice just walking the square and enjoying the evening there. Spending a little time walking the square is a must when in Brussels.
The Winter Wonders Christmas Market
Being in Brussels during the Christmas season we were able to visit the 2.5 Kilometer (1.5 miles) long Brussels Christmas Market. It was a great experience for use. Its hundreds of booths that sell Christmas crafts, clothing, souvenirs, food, drinks and anything else you can imagine. Each night we were in Brussels we walked the Christmas Market and got the affordable food there. There were many food choices along the way. We also tried Mulled Wine (a spiced warm wine that tastes like cider mixed with wine) and had some local beers while at the market. The market also had entertainment. This year the Christmas Market was celebrating Finland so there was a screen where you could watch simulate Northern Lights, Finnish food to try, an light show on a church and a dome movie screen. They also had a carnival with rides. We walked past Christmas Carolers and many beautiful Christmas lights. The Market is free to walk around and most of the entertainment is free. It is easy to navigate as it is a loop through the city. We would love to go back to the market and see other markets around throughout Europe.
Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula
On the day we took a hop on hop off tour of Brussels that allowed us to see the Royal palaces and many other sites in the city we got off and stopped at The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Guluda in the center of Brussels. It is a beautiful church with magnificent architecture. We walked inside and they had an exhibit on nativity scenes from around the world. We also took a quick walk for a Euro under the church to see the ruins of earlier churches build at the site. We spent about 45 minutes looking at the art in the church and the great nativity scene exhibit. Its a nice stop as you are walking through Brussels.
Other things to do in Brussels
There are many other things to do in Brussels that we did not have the time to do but did a glimpse of much of the city from the Hop-on hop-off bus. You could visit the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History, go see the Royal palaces, tour the huge Art Deco Basilica of the Sacred Heart, and other sites. You could also walk through the shopping areas and get chocolates, waffles and any other souvenirs you would like. There are many day trip options like visiting World War I and World War II Battlefields (we would like to do that someday), visit Luxembourg, and visit Ghent and Bruges (like we did on this trip). Also walk by the Manneken Pis (the famous statue of a boy peeing in a fountain. There are quite a few other statues and monuments you can see in the area. Brussels can keep you busy for a a few days with all there is to do there.
Ghent, Belgium
Located 45 minutes from Brussels the city of Ghent is one of the largest cities in the country and has some nice sights to see. It is famous to Americans since the Treaty of Ghent was signed there ending the War of 1812. The city is one full of churches, squares and some canals. We walked the city with our tour guide and visited an old smokehouse full of Belgian ham drying inside the traditional way. We walked along the river as well. There is the huge Gravensteen Medieval castle that sits along the river. It is an impressive sight to see and would be great to tour. We did not have time to tour it but did get to see it from the outside. We got the chance to walk in the Cathedral and visit the nice Christmas Market the city had. It was not as large as Brussels’s market but we did buy some Nutcrackers and Tiramisu Chocolates that were wonderful. It was a nice first stop on our day trip in Belgium.
Bruges, Belgium
Bruges is a relatively small city in the far Northeast part of Belgium. We visited it as our final stop on our day trip out of Brussels. Its an incredibly charming and beautiful city that has been an important port city for many years. It is know as the Venice of the North due to it canal system. You can see boats (not gondolas) going through and touring. We unfortunately did not have time for a boat tour but we did walk much of the city. The city is said to always have Swans in its lake due to a requirement of an old leader in the past to honor a fallen friend. We saw swans, elaborate churches, and beautiful bridges and buildings throughout the city. The Church of Our Lady has a White Marble Madonna and child created by Michelangelo. We walked into the Basilica of the Holy Blood that has an elaborately decorated exterior and inside is said to contain the Blood of Jesus Christ that was brought back from Israel during the crusades. We were able to see the relic and touch the box it was in. We walked through the only preserved Beguinage (kind of a convent for poor women to live who have not taken vows but live under certain rules by the church. We saw the huge Belfry in the town center where there was another small Christmas market was going on that we visited. The buildings in the town center are nice to look at with the colorful paint and interesting architecture. The city is a Unesco World Heritage sites due to wonder of the city. It is a great place to visit in Belgium and I highly recommend if you go to one city other than Brussels to come to Bruges.
Food and Drinks in Belgium
While we were in Belgium we tried a few of the specialties Belgium is famous for and some other local dishes. While we were in Belgium we got a couple different Belgian Waffles as deserts. We got a chocolate and a caramel banana waffle. Both were really good. You can almost try any sweet topping you can think of on your waffle. Fries are also a popular snack in Belgium that are served in a paper cone in many cases. In Belgium there are many different kinds of sauces/dressings you can put on your fries other than the traditional ketchup. We of course got Belgian Chocolate during the trip and it was wonderful. We tried some of the more expensive kinds and it was some of the best Chocolate we have had. We also tried the local Flemish Beef Stew that was quite good. The other local item we tried was beer. We tried a glass of the more local beers that are lesser known in the United States. They were nice to try and were good as well. If you are in Belgium trying these items are highly recommended so you can get a flavor of the country.
Tips for Belgium
Belgium is a small country but one that is full of character and is the heart of the European Union. There is a lot to do in Brussels but you should try to go out of Belgium’s largest city and see the smaller cities like Bruges and Ghent. A day trip to the World War I battlefields or Bastogne would also be a nice addition. Staying inside the city limits of Brussels (the airport is a little ways away) will save you time getting to the main attractions in Brussels. Using the hop-on hop-off bus and public transportation is the way to go in Brussels to be able to affordably get around and see everything you can. If you want to go to other cities such as Amsterdam and Paris the Thalys high speed rail is a good option and is pretty affordable. When traveling through Europe places like Paris, Rome and London are the places most people think about. While those cities are great, be sure and try out Belgium as well as it will be a great experience as well!