Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BELGIUM
Belgium falls through the cracks. It's nestled between Germany,
France, and Britain, and it's famous for waffles, sprouts, endives,
and a statue of a little boy peeing—no wonder many travelers
don't even consider a stop here. But many who do visit remark that
Belgium is one of Europe's best-kept secrets. There are tourists—
but not as many as the country's charms merit.
Belgium is split between Wallonia in the south, where
they speak French, and Flanders in the north, where they speak
Flemish, a dialect of Dutch. French-speakers have often dominated
the government, even though about 60 percent of the population
speaks Flemish. Talk to locals to learn how deep the cultural rift
is. The longstanding Flemish-Dutch rivalry has become especially
intense in the last couple of years. Belgium's capital, Brussels,
while mostly French-speaking, is officially bilingual. The country
also has a small minority of German-speaking people. Because of
Brussels' international importance as the capital of the European
Union, more than 25 percent of its residents are foreigners.
It's here in Belgium that Europe comes together: where
Romance languages meet Germanic languages, Catholics meet
Protestants, and the Benelux union was established 40 years ago,
planting the seed that today is sprouting into the unification of
Europe. Belgium flies the flag of Europe more vigorously than any
other place on the Continent.
Bruges and Brussels are the best two first bites of Belgium.
Bruges is a wonderfully preserved medieval gem that expertly
nurtures its tourist industry, bringing the town a prosperity it
hasn't enjoyed for 500 years, when—as one of the largest cities
in the world—it helped lead northern Europe out of the Middle
Ages. Brussels is simply one of Europe's great cities.
Belgians brag that they eat as much as the Germans and as
 
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