Belgium

Cities Info


Why should you come to Belgium ? Because it is the best kept secret in Europe. Visiting medieval cities, quaint towns, gothic cathedrals and town halls, castles and carillons will keep you busy during the day. At night go to a pub, there are more than 350 delicious beers to chose from. The reputation of our gourmet food makes the French jealous and it is almost impossible to find chocolates as good as ours!

Belgium, a kingdom no bigger than Maryland, is Europe in a nutshell, multicultural and multilingual. Flanders in the north, a flatland criss-crossed by canals, is proud of its great art cities, Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent. To the south in Wallonia you will find the rolling hills of the Ardennes, numerous castles, and the cities of Liege, Namur, and Tournai. Its capital city of Brussels is one of the world's great cosmopolitan cities, home to both the European Union and NATO, as well as a wealth of international trade and finance companies.

The Flemish speak Dutch and the Walloons speak French. In Brussels, the capital, both languages are spoken. But to make it easy, everybody speaks English, albeit with an accent.
Somehow, Belgium has maintained a low-key approach to all of this international sophistication. It is a country for connoisseurs, but connoisseurs who do not take themselves too seriously. Because the Belgians certainly do not.

Country Fact

BELGIUM Map Country Fact*:

Full country name: Kingdom of Belgium
Area: 30,518 sq km
Population: 10,348,276
Capital city:Brussels (pop: 980,000)
People: 55% Flemish (of Teutonic origin), 33% Walloons (French Latin) and about 10% foreigners.
Language: Flemish, French and German. Most Belgians also speak English
Religion: 75% Roman Catholic
Government: Constitutional parliamentary monarchy
Business Hours: Most business open aMon-Fri 08.30-17.30
Major industries: Services, agriculture, chemicals, engineering, metal products, car manufacturing, iron and steel, textiles and food
Major trading partners: EU (esp. Germany, France, Netherlands, UK), USA
Internet Domain: .be
International Dialing Code:+32

Event

Calendar of Events*:

January:
1st - New Year's Day
6th - Three Kings (Epiphany)

May:
1st - Labor Day
5th - Ascension Day
July:
11th - Day of Dutch Speaking Community (Only in Flanders)
21st - Independence Day
August:
15th - Assumption Day
November:
1st - All Saints Day
11th - Armistice Day
December:
25th - Christmas Day
26th - Boxing Day

* Information is subject to change. For further update, please check these website:www.news.bbc.co.uk, www.cia.gov, www.visitbelgium.com

 

Major Touries Cities

BRUSSELS

There's much more to Brussels than beer, chocolate and chips. Brussels ('Bruxelles' in French, 'Brussel' in Flemish) a is stylish city where business-suited Eurocrats hope to build continental unity in one of Europe's only bilingual capital cities. Its millenniums-old tradition of pragmatic mercantilism and international relations is symbolized by grand halls, fabulous architecture and Pis Mannekin, the sculpture of a little boy urinating that has become the city's beloved symbol.

It's no wonder that Brussels' most famed exports include Hergé's intrepid explorer Tintin, and the surreal art of masters such as Magritte and Delvaux, whose creations capture the absurdity and excitement of a city that has become the undisputed crossroads of Europe. So head to a cozy cafe, order a lambic beer or fresh hot chocolate and just soak it all in.

Local Travel Agent(s):
Globe - Trotters

Address: 179, Rue Victor Hugo Street, Brussels 1030 Belgium
Phone: +321 2 732 90 70, Fax: + 321 2 736 44 34

LVI

Address: 28 Rue John W Wilson, 1000 Brussels Belgium
Phone: +321 2 2300190

Brussels City Map

Population: 980,000
Area: 161 sq km (63 sq mi)
Country: Belgium
Main language: Flemish, France and German
Time: GMT/UTC +1
Telephone Area Code: 02

NAMUR

Namur is prosperous city in the heart of French-speaking Wallonia. As a result of strategic geographical location the confluence of the Sambre and Meuse rivers, the town was once an important military fortress, besieged on many occasions. Its enormous citadel, spread over the hill known as Le Champeau, bears witness to its warring past. Today the superb Jambes Bridge spans the two rivers.

Local Travel Agent(s):
Currently not available.

Please check again later.

Namur City Map

Population: 104,994
Area: 30,510 sq km
Country: Belgium
Main language: Flemish, France and German
Time: GMT/UTC +1
Telephone Area Code: 081

 

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