Welcome to Belgium!1
There's just something about Belgium. Maybe it's the friendly & welcoming people who
with three official languages still find it easy to converse in English, the 4th unofficial
language. Maybe it's the stunning architecture decorating the quaint cobblestone
squares. Or perhaps it's the incredible cuisine found in the vast array of restaurants
where each meal seems better than the last. Energetic and carefree, the overall mood
in Belgium is infectious, summoning in all of us to live as Belgians and enjoy life to the
fullest.
Well situated between France and Holland, the
kingdom of Belgium encompasses all the best
that Europe has to offer in an area no bigger
than Maryland. Within the span of one day you
can take a romantic cruise down a canal in
Bruges, hunt for diamonds in Antwerp, enjoy
waffles on the beach in Oostende, frolic in a
festival in Binche, get lost in a castle in Namur,
discover antiques at an outdoor market in
Liege, and explore a fine art museum in
Brussels.
Often called the Essence of Europe, Belgium is both multicultural and multilingual.
Flanders in the north, a flatland criss-crossed by canals, is proud of its medieval art
cities, Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent. To the south in Wallonia, you will find the rolling hills
of the Ardennes, countless castles, and the cities of Liege, Namur, and Tournai. The
city of Brussels is one of the world's great cosmopolitan capitals, home to both the
European Union and NATO, as well as a wealth of international trade and finance
companies.
1
http://www.visitbelgium.com/?page=about-belgium
1
Belgium's history has always been linked to both commercial and cultural exchange,
and much of its character is due to its role as the great meeting place of Western
Europe. It would be difficult to name a European country who didn't want to stake their
claim in Belgium at one time or another. Traces of the Austrians, Spanish, French and
Dutch can still be seen in its architecture and in the lifestyle of its people. You will see
superb examples of art and architecture past and present - Romanesque, Gothic,
Baroque, and Art Nouveau.
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 themselves certainly do not. And after
all this we didn't even mention the beer & chocolate.
Is Belgium flat? The area in the North, called Low Belgium, is very flat with sandy
beaches, polders and small hills rising to about 197 feet. The area in the centre known
as middle Belgium has some rolling hills and rover valleys, while the area in the French
Speaking South referred to as High Belgium rises to 2277 feet above sea level at the
Signal de Botrange in the wild Hautes Fagnes region.
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BRUSSELS MONUMENTS
Brussels is Belgium’s largest city, its capital and the de facto capital city of the
European Union. The Brussels Capital Region has a population of approximately 1
million. Brussels is officially a bilingual city, which means that most public buildings and
streets have both a Dutch name and a French name. Below, we present the French
(often most common) name first, then the Dutch name.
1. Grand Place / Grote Markt
The Grand Place is the central market
square of Brussels. It is surrounded by guild
houses, the city's Town Hall, and the Bread
House. The Grand Place was named World
Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1998. The
Town Hall (pictured left) was constructed
between 1401 and 14592.
The construction of the left wing is entrusted
in 1402 to Jacques Van Thienen. The
building became the symbol of the whole
population after the sharing of the power
between the patricians and the trades in
1421. It is completed by one second wing
between
1444
and
1450,
then
by a
monumental tower from 1449 to 1454, built
2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Place
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on the site of the antique medieval belfry by Jan Van Ruysbroeck. The 12 feet high
copper statue representing Saint-Michael crushing the demon, was hauled at the top of
the spire (97 meters high) in 14543.
Facing the Town Hall is the ‘Bread House’ (Broodhuis). The Dutch name refers to a
wooden construction, where around 13th century bakers sold their bread. It was
replaced by a stone building around 1400, that was later occupied by the Duke of
Brabant (hence the French name, Maison du Roi or King’s House). The current building,
constructed between 1515 and 1536, acts as the City Museum4.
The guilds, which obtained an active participation in communal management and see
their economic power increasing thanks to the frequent stays of the court of the dukes
of Burgundy, settle quickly around the new Town hall. The fat makers occupy "La
Brouette" (the Wheelbarrow), the cabinetmakers and the barrel makers "Le Sac" (the
Bag), the boatmen "Le Cornet" (the Horn), the haberdashers "Le Renard" (the Fox), the
3
http://www.ilotsacre.be/site/en/curiosities/grand_place-brussels.htm
4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Place
4
Four Crowned (sculptors, stone cutters, masons and slaters) "La Colline" (the Hill) and
the carpenters "Le Pot d'Etain" (the Pot of Tin).5
In 1695, during the Nine Years’ War, the French bombarded the Grand Place,
destroying large parts of the Bread House and the surrounding buildings. In subsequent
years, the square was rebuilt by the town’s guilds.
The statue of Everard ‘t Serclaes was made by the
artist Julien Dillens (1849-1904). It is said that the
statue brings luck and grants the wishes of all who
touch it. Many tourists touch (or rather rub) the
statue, and this constant polishing keeps the body
depicted in the statue shiny compared to the rest of
the sculpture.
2. Manneken Pis
This fountain is a very famous landmark in Brussels. It is located on the Stoofstraat
(Rue de l’Etuve), close to the Grand Place.
It is not known exactly why the statue was created, but there are many different
legends. One is that the 5-year old son of a Belgian nobleman got lost in Brussels. His
father desperately searched for him, but he couldn't be found anywhere. Eventually, two
days after he went missing, he was found - at that time he was urinating. His father was
very happy to get his boy back, so he paid for a fountain to be made showing the boy as
he looked when he was found.
5
http://www.ilotsacre.be/site/en/curiosities/grand_place-brussels.htm
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Over its 300 years of existence, it has become a popular tradition for clothes to be made
for the statue. You can see many of these costumes in the Salle du Mannequin-Pis at
the City Museum (Musée de la Ville de Bruxelles, Maison du Roi, Grand' Place).6
3. Rue des Bouchers
A short walk from the Grand' Place is Rue des Bouchers (Butcher Street). Here you
can find many restaurants along the road, many serving traditional Belgian dishes.
Off the middle of this road is a short passage called Impasse de la Fidelité.
6
http://www.ukstudentlife.com/Travel/Tours/Belgium/Brussels.htm
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4. The Royal Galleries of Saint-Hubert
The Royal Galleries of Saint-Hubert are a glazed shopping arcade. The twin regular
façades have distant origins in Vasari’s long narrow street-like courtyard of the Uffizi in
Florence. It was designed by the young architect Pierre Cluysenaer. The construction
started in 1846. It lasted for 18 months and was inaugurated by King Leopold I in
June1847.
5. The Cathedral7
In Place Saint Gudule (Métro: Gare Centrale) is a magnificent cathedral in Gothic style,
built between the 13th and 15th centuries. The interior is very beautiful. Two of the
attractions are the stained glass windows and the pulpit, which has been carved from
oak.
7
http://www.ukstudentlife.com/Travel/Tours/Belgium/Brussels.htm#CathedraleSaintMichel
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6. Notre-Dame du Sablon8
The Notre-Dame du Sablon is a lovely church built in Gothic style. The sculptures in
the doorways were created in the 19th and 20th centuries. The church is noted for its
four-fold gallery with brightly colored stained-glass windows.
La Place du Grand Sablon is famous for the antique and book fair, which is held there
on Saturdays and Sundays.
8
http://www.ukstudentlife.com/Travel/Tours/Belgium/Brussels.htm#CathedraleSaintMichel
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7. Kappelekerk/Notre-Dame de la Chapelle9
Notre Dame de la Chapelle (Our Lady of the Chapel) is a large Romanesque-Gothic
church. Construction began on the church in 1210 and was completed by the end of the
13th century. It thus marks the period of transition between the Romanesque and
Gothic styles; the transept and choir are Romanesque-Gothic, while most of the
remainder is in the Flamboyant Gothic style.
Notre-Dame de la Chapelle is also the burial site of Pieter Brueghel the Elder and his
wife; their epitaph is also in one of the chapels.
9
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/belgium/brussels-notre-dame-de-la-chapelle.htm
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8. Royal Palace10
The Royal Palace (Palais Royal) is used by the Belgian king / queen for official
occasions. The Belgian flag flies here when the king / queen is there. There is a
changing of the guard ceremony here each afternoon. The palace, which is furnished in
19th century style, is usually open to the public from late July until the middle of
September.
In the centre of the Place Royale is a statue of Godfrey de Bouillon on a horse, on his
way to Jerusalem for the First Crusade.
Behind this is a church called Eglise Saint-Jacques-sur-Coudenberg. The facade in
front of this 18th-century church is based on the design of a Roman temple - the
octagonal bell-tower was added during the 19th century. Members of the Belgian royalty
sometimes attend church services here.
10
http://www.ukstudentlife.com/Travel/Tours/Belgium/Brussels.htm
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9. Brussels Capital of Art Nouveau
Brussels is one of the main centres of the Art Nouveau world. The movement flourished
in Belgium from 1893 until the First World War. Enough survives of its buildings and
decorative designs to merit a visit, and the varying styles of the movement can be seen
in façades and interiors of buildings throughout the capital.
Typical Art Nouveau buildings are
 La Maison Cauchie
(near Parc du Cinquantenaire)
 The Museum of Musical Instruments
(near Gare Centrale)
 The Hôtel Solvay
 The Hôtel Tassel
La Maison Cauchie
The Museum of Musical Instruments
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10. Brussels and the European Union11
Brussels (Belgium) is considered to be the de facto capital of the European Union,
having a long history of hosting the institutions of the European Union within its
European Quarter. The EU has no official capital, and no plans to declare one, but
Brussels hosts the official seats of the European Commission, Council of the European
Union, and European Council, as well as a second seat of the European Parliament.
The Espace Léopold, the Brussels seat of the European Parliament, viewed from across Leopold Park.
Most of the institutions are located within the European Quarter of Brussels, which is the
unofficial name of the area corresponding to the approximate triangle between Brussels
Park, Cinquantenaire Park and Leopold Park (with the Parliament's hemicycle extending
into the latter). The Commission and Council are located in the heart of this area near to
the Schuman station at the Schuman roundabout on the Wetstraat. The European
Parliament is located over the Brussels-Luxembourg station, next to Luxembourg
Square.
11
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels_and_the_European_Union
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11. Parc du Cinquantenaire12
The Parc du Cinquantenaire is a few minutes' walk from the Metro station Schuman. It
was created to celebrate the first 50 years of the kingdom of Belgium (formed in 1830),
although the arch in the middle was not completed until 1905.
The buildings on both sides of the arch contain museums: the Royal Museums of Art
and History (French: Musées Royaux d'Art et d'Histoire), Autoworld (containing veteran
and vintage cars), and the Royal Museum of the Army and Military History (French:
Musée Royal de l'Armee et d'Histoire Militaire).
Brussels’ own Arc de Triomphe
12
http://www.ukstudentlife.com/Travel/Tours/Belgium/Brussels.htm
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12. Atomium13
In Laken, a northern suburb of Brussels, close to the Metro station Heysel, is the
Atomium (102m tall). This was built for the International Exhibition of 1958, and is
based on the structure of an atom of iron. There are 9 spheres, linked by stairs and
escalators. Its design was influenced by the Belgian metal industry, the focus on the
"atomic age" at the time, and possibly by the fact that there are 9 provinces in Belgium.
There are exhibitions inside some of the spheres, and it is possible to climb to the top
sphere for panoramic views of the city (there is a charge to go inside). It has become
one of the most famous symbols of Brussels.
The monument
View from inside the Atomium
The Atomium is located just beside the King Baudouin Stadium in Heysel Park. Just
next to it lies the Mini-Europe park
13
http://www.ukstudentlife.com/Travel/Tours/Belgium/Brussels.htm
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BRUSSELS MUSEUMS
1. The Museum of Ancient Art
Le Musée d’Art Ancien / Museum voor Oude Kunst houses a vast collection of
paintings, sculptures and drawings from the 15th to the 18th century. Paintings from the
former Southern Netherlands represent the bulk of the collection. The collection
includes works by Primitive Flemish artists such as Rogier van der Weyden, Petrus
Christus, Dirk Bouts, Hans Memling and Hieronymus Bosch, four important paintings by
Bruegel and masterpieces by Pieter-Paul Rubens, Jacob Jordaens and Anthony Van
Dyck.
2. The Museum of Modern Art
Le Musée d’Art Moderne / Museum voor Moderne Kunst houses works of art from the
end of the 18th century up to the modern period: paintings, sculptures and drawings.
The Modern Art section also includes the Antoine Wiertz and Constantin Meunier
Museums, which are specially devoted to the work of those two artists who were key
figures in Belgian art in the 19th century.
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3. Magritte Museum
The Magritte Museum shows the largest collection in the world of the renowned Belgian
surrealist painter René Magritte. The museum is located near the Central Station and
Royal Palace.
4. Musical Instrument Museum14
The museum's collection represents Belgian musical history (including Brussels'
importance in the making of recorders in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and as
the home of instrument inventor Adolphe Sax in the nineteenth century), European
musical traditions, and non-European instruments. Among the notable pieces of the
collection are the famous Rottenburgh Alto recorder, instruments invented by Adolphe
Sax, a unique set of giant Chinese stone chimes, and the only existing copy of the
luthéal, an instrument used by Ravel
The museum's current location, as of 2000, is in the former Old England department
store, built in 1899 by Paul Saintenoy out of girded steel and glass in the art nouveau
style as well as an eighteenth century neo-classic building designed by Barnabé
Guimard. It is located near the Central Station and Royal Palace.
14
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_Instrument_Museum_(Brussels)
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5. The Museum of Natural Sciences
Musée des Sciences Naturelles / Museum voor Natuurwetenschappen features
Europe’s largest dinosaur gallery, with the famous iguanodons of Bernissart and an
extensive evolution gallery.
Location (near European Parliament)
Address:
Rue Vautier 29
1000 Brussels
6. Brussels Museum of the Geuze
One of the last traditional breweries where nearly nothing has changed during the last
century. You will experience a unique moment amid the lambic fumes which escape
from the barrels in which the beer matures for three years. Geuze is the typical beer of
Brussels and the Payottenland (North-West of Brussel)
Location (near the Gare du Midi/Zuidstation)
Address :
Rue Gheude 56
1070 Brussels
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7. Erasmus House15
The history of the museum at the Erasmus House is closely tied in with that of the
Chapter of Anderlecht (16th century). Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam stayed at this
very house in 1521. The house was converted into a museum in 1932. Today, the
collections (furniture, works of art, engravings, books and archives) form a unique
collection illustrating assorted stages in European history : the Renaissance, the reign
of Charles Quint, the Humanist movement, the flowering of printing and burgeoning
religious conflict. A reading room containing one of the world's largest collections of 16th
century volumes can be visited by arrangement.
Address:
Rue du Chapitre 31
1070 Brussels (Anderlecht)
Tel.: +32 (0) 2 521 13 83
Email : info@erasmushouse.museum
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http://www.opt.be/informations/tourist_attractions_anderlecht__erasmus_house/en/V/15839.html
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ATTRACTIONS IN THE SURROUNDINGS OF BRUSSELS
1. Castle of Gaasbeek16
Gaasbeek Castle (Dutch: Kasteel Gaasbeek), today a national museum, is located in
the municipality of Lennik about 10 km southwest of Brussels, in the province of Flemish
Brabant.
The fortified castle was erected around 1240 to
defend the Duchy of Brabant against the County
of Flanders. The castle was destroyed however
by Brussels city troops in revenge for the
assassination of Everard 't Serclaes, which was
commanded by the Lord of Gaasbeek.
At the beginning of the 16th century the Horne family constructed a brick castle on the
ruins of the medieval fortress. In 1565 Lamoral, Count of Egmont, acquired the castle
and its domain, including feudal rights in 17 surrounding villages. Accused of high
treason by Philip II of Spain, the Count of Egmont was beheaded three years later.
In the following centuries the castle was
inhabited by several noble families. It
obtained its pseudo-medieval appearance
as the result of a renovation during the
years 1887-1898. The works were executed
by the architect Charles Albert and ordered
by the Marquis d'Arconati Visconti who
owned the castle at that time. His widow
Marie Peyrat (d. 1922) donated the castle to
16
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaasbeek_Castle
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the Belgian state, including the art collection and the grounds.
Since 1980 the castle has been owned by the Flemish Community (Vlaamse
Gemeenschap). The castle contains impressive art collections displayed in lavishly
decorated historical rooms. A remarkable collection piece is the authentic testament of
the famous painter Peter Paul Rubens The castle and its grounds (a park of 50 hectares
or 124 acres) are open to the public.
By car
From Ghent, Antwerp and Brussels: outer Brussels ring-road (R0), turnoff 15a, then
head for Vlezenbeek
By bus
From Brussels-South Station (Gare du Midi), bus 142 (Gaasbeek-Leerbeek), stops at
Gaasbeek Castle
By underground
From Brussels, line 5 to Erasmus terminus, then bus 142 (Gaasbeek-Leerbeek), stops
at Gaasbeek Castle
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2. Waterloo17
A. The centre of Waterloo: The Wellington Museum
This Museum is situated in the former stagecoach station where the Duke of Wellington
stayed on the nights of 17 and 18 June 1815. You can still visit the Duke's bedroom, the
office where he wrote his 'Victory Report, and his aide-de-camp's bedroom. Various
other rooms have been dedicated, each to an army, including authentic documents,
etchings, weapons and souvenirs of the various nations that took part in the combat.
Your individual ticket for entry into the Museum entitles you to an audio guide available
in various languages.
Duration of visit: 40 to 50 minutes
Address: Wellington Museum
147, Chaussée de Bruxelles
1410 Waterloo
Open: April to September 9.30 am - 6.30 pm
October to March: 10 am - 5 pm
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http://www.eurocitidi.eu/guidebooks/waterloo.pdf
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B. 5km south of the centre of Waterloo: The Battlefield Attractions
The Lion Mound is the Battle’s Commemorative Monument. Erected by the Dutch in
1826, it offers, from the top of its 226 steps, a panoramic view over the entire battlefield,
where 200,000 soldiers from seven different countries fought on 18 June 1815. Duration
of the visit more or less 30 minutes.
.
Address
Hameau du Lion 315,
Route du Lion
1410 Waterloo
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3. The Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren18
The Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA) is an ethnographical and natural history
museum in Tervuren, just outside Brussels. It focuses mainly on Congo, Belgium's
former colony. However, some aspects (especially regarding biological research)
extend to the whole Congo River basin, Middle Africa, East Africa and West Africa. First
purely intended as a colonial museum, after 1960 it became more focused on
ethnography and anthropology. Like in most museums, there is a research department
and a public exhibit department. The museum is surrounded by gardens, with the
biggest giant redwood in Flanders, and a large park with lakes.
Address
Leuvensesteenweg 13
3080 Tervuren
By car coming from Brussels
Join the Ring around Brussels
(R0), take the Tervuren exit
(N227), then turn left on the
Tervurenlaan
(N3).
roundabout,
turn
Leuvensesteenweg
At
the
left
on
to
the
Museum.
By public transport
From Brussels Central station, take the subway line 1B in (direction Stockel); get out at
Montgomery station. Then take tram 44 until you reach the final destination (terminus).
The tram links Montgomery with Tervuren in 22 minutes with four trams per hour during
the week and three trams per hour at the weekend. The Museum is 300m from the
tram 44 terminal.
18
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Museum_for_Central_Africa
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4. Hallerbos
The Hallerbos (Dutch for Halle forest) is a forest in Belgium, covering an area of 552 ha
(5.52 km2). It is mostly situated in the municipality of Halle, in Flemish Brabant.
The forest is known in the region for its bluebell carpet which covers the forest floor for a
few weeks each spring, attracting many visitors.
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GASTRONOMIC BRUSSELS19
Brussels Waffles
A real treat, both crisp and light. Waffles are eaten hot accompanied with butter, sugar,
cream or fruit.
Fries and mussels
While Belgium is the homeland of the French fry, the combination of "moules-frites" is
certainly the most traditional of Brussels' dishes, which purists pair with a good glass of
beer. While true lovers of mussels and fries prefer their mollusks prepared "marinière"
style, they appear in countless other forms: in white wine, with cream, gratinéed, or
served cold.
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http://www.theworldwidegourmet.com/countries/flavors-of-brussels/
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Tartines with white cheese
Three cheeses in particular are the delight of the residents of Brussels who frequent the
fine old brasseries of the capital that serve the traditional snack known as a "tartine au
fromage blanc," or a slice of bread spread with white cheese. They are: ettekeis, a
pungent round; plattekeis, fresh white cheese; and pottekeis, a blend of the two. It is
usually the latter that is slathered onto a slice of gray bread and topped with onions and
horseradish, a treat usually enjoyed with a glass of good Brussels beer, whether
gueuze, lambic, faro or kriek.
Speculoos
Flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and brown sugar, these cookies, a close
relative of gingerbread, make a nice accompaniment to a cup of coffee. One of the
oldest jewels of Belgian gastronomy, they delight parents as well as children, to whom
they're given as a reward around the feast of St. Nicholas (6th of December).
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Whelks
The 500-year-old tradition of whelks goes back to the 16th century, a time when work
began at the port of Brussels, which also saw the development of the seafood business,
with products sold by vendors on foot. A handcart, an enameled pot, some celery and
water... the necessary ingredients to transform these little whelks into culinary delights.
The whelk guild continues to oversee the authentic tradition.
Rabbit in beer
Rabbit in beer is one of the most typical and well-known Belgian dishes. The beer used
in this dish is usually the original Belgian Kriek, which is used in many different dishes.
It's a cherry flavoured beer, produced only in Belgium.
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Recipe: Konijn Met Bier (Rabbit in Beer)
1 cut-up rabbit
1 small amount fat to fry the rabbit in
1 large onion finely chopped
2 carrots cubed into small blocks
1 apple cubed into small blocks
3 finely diced slices of smoked bacon
water
1 bottle dark beer or cherry/kriek cherry/kriek beer or 1 glass madeira wine
salt
thyme
sugar
bay leaves
1 large slice bread mustard
Brown the rabbit pieces in the fat. Sprinkle a little sugar over everything and add all
ingredients except the bread and mustard. Cover with the lid and let simmer until the
rabbit is tender. Spread the mustard on the bread. Take the rabbit pieces from the
sauce and lay the bread slice in the sauce and stir until the sauce is thickened. Serve
with fries and applesauce.
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Tourist offices in Brussels
The Brussels International tourist information office is located in the Town Hall in
Brussels’ Grand-Place.
Tel. : (+32.2) 513.89.40
Fax : (+32.2) 513.83.20
E-mail : tourism@brusselsinternational.be
Website : http://www.brusselsinternational.be
The information office also has reception offices :

at the South Station (Rue de France/Frankrijkstraat entrance)

at Brussels National airport, in the arrival hall

at the European Parliament (Rue Wiertz/Wiertzstraat).
Toerisme Vlaanderen (Tourism Flanders) is located at Rue du Marché-auxHerbes/Grasmarkt 63, 1000 Brussels.
Tel. : (+32.2) 504.03.00
Fax : (+32.2) 504.03.77
E-mail : info@toerismevlaanderen.be
Website : http://www.vlaanderen-vakantieland.be
The Tourism Promotion Office "Wallonia-Brussels"
Rue Saint-Bernard/Sint-Bernardusstraat 30, 1060 Brussels
Tel. : (+32.70) 221.021 – Brochures : (+32.2) 509.24.00
Fax : (+32.2) 513.04.75
E-mail : info@opt.be
Website : http://www.opt.be
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