Belgium Overview

Surrounded by France, Germany, and The Netherlands, Belgium is a convergence of different cultures. Appropriately, the small country attracts an array of travelers: chocoholics, Europhiles, and art-lovers all come together in Belgium. Sweet-toothed foreigners flock to Brussels, the home of filled chocolate, to nibble confections from one of 2000 cocoa-oriented specialty shops and to brush shoulders with diplomats en route to European Union and NATO headquarters. In Flanders, Gothic towers surround cobblestone squares, while visitors below admire Old Masters’ canvases and guzzle monk-brewed ale. Wallonie has less tourist infrastructure, but the caves of the Lesse Valley and the forested hills of the Ardennes compensate with their stunning natural beauty.

• Life And Times

Charlemagne ruled Belgium as part of his Holy Roman Empire around AD 800, but squabbles among grandsons following his death divided the country into separate regions: Flanders , the Flemish-speaking province ...more

• Essentials

Official Name: Kingdom of Belgium. Capital: Brussels. Major Cities: Antwerp, Ghent, Liège. Population: 10,584,534. Land Area: 30,500 sq. km.t Time Zone: GMT ...more

• Beyond Tourism

Volunteer (benévolat) and work opportunities in Belgium focus on its strong international offerings, especially in Brussels, which is home to both NATO and the EU. Private-sector short- and long-term ...more