20 Facts About Belgium: What is Belgium Famous For?

Are you going to Belgium? Are you thinking of going to Belgium? Do you want to travel smart and not like a clueless tourist? We’ll take you through fun facts about Belgium, from its tumultuous history and peculiar linguistic divide to Belgium’s weather and some useful emergency contacts.

Belgium is best known for chocolate, waffles, beer, fries, medieval cities like Bruges and Ghent, strange icons like Tintin and Manneken Pis, and being the political capital of Europe. But that’s just the surface—here are 20 things Belgium is truly famous for.

Read more from my Belgium travel blog.

 

What is Belgium known for? Quick list of Belgian icons:

• Belgian chocolate & pralines
• Waffles (Brussels & Liège)
• Fries & moules-frites (mussels)
• Beer culture (UNESCO-listed)
• Medieval cities: Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp
• Atomium
• Manneken Pis
• Comics: Tintin, Smurfs, Lucky Luke
• EU headquarters in Brussels
• Festivals: Carnival of Binche, Flower Carpet
• Famous Belgians: Magritte, Rubens, Audrey Hepburn, Jean-Claude Van Damme
• Complex politics & languages
• Rainy weather
• Rich industrial history (and Congo baggage)

 

 

You might also be interested in reading:

• Belgium Itinerary: 7 Days in the Heart of Europe!
• Belgium Travel Tips: 19 Things That Will Make Your Trip Easier
• The Top 15 Museums in Belgium: From Comics to Beer
• Our 9 Top Restaurants in Belgium
• 7 Best Day Trips from Brussels (Includes Train Details)

 

Belgium’s food and beer: what the country is famous for

No comment necessary, Belgium is known for its food and beer because its just that memorable (and sooo not healthy)

 

Belgium Government and Politics 

The Grand Place is the main square in Brussels and I thought it was amazingly grand. Everything is gold and important-looking.
 

Belgium is one of my favorite countries food-wise, and I wrote a whole article just about the traditional food and beer of Belgium, so take a peek over there if you want details on why you can’t call French fries French and how much I hate mussels. 

Belgian waffles and comfort food

Being known for waffles is kind of a good flex i suppose

 

Belgium is known for waffles, though the Brussels and Liège versions are practically two different species. Of course, when you think Belgium, you probably think chocolate, you think beer and you probably think fries. I have to say a lot of Belgian food is fried, and whatever isn’t fried at least comes with a side of fries. So what?! It’s good, ok!? 

One of the most famous things about Belgium is its waffles—both Brussels and Liège styles.. You’ll see waffle houses all over the place, but actually having a great waffle is not easy—don’t fall for the tourist traps.

 

 

Belgian beer culture (UNESCO-worthy!)

The Bruges Beer experience in Bruges is heaven for every beer lover on planet Earth

 

Belgium’s beer culture so strong it made UNESCO’s list. Nobody drinks wine in Belgium. Its beer and more beer, everywhere, all the time. Even high-end restaurants pair their dishes with beer instead of wine.  

If you think that’s bonkers, visit the Beer Experience Museum in Bruges to educate yourself. You’ll gain a new appreciation of beer that’ll go way past just drinking a pint with your buddies. It’s even on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.   

Also in Bruges is a unique underground beer pipeline. This innovation allowed the De Halve Maan brewery to stay in the city center when everyone else was building new plants on the outskirts of town.

 

Belgium’s medieval cities: famous landmarks and tourist attractions

 

If you come to Belgium expecting jaw-dropping mountains or dramatic fjords, you’ll be bored out of your mind. Belgium is as flat as an ironing board. Your Belgium itinerary will be mostly cities and villages—that’s where the vibe, history, and appeal all live. Belgium is famous for its cobblestones, town halls and towers, and medieval atmosphere. Where to find it?

Bruges and Ghent: famous towns in Belgium

Bruges’ canal tour and the Church of Our Lady are more than just honorable mentions on this list

 

Ghent has loads to offer as well–my personal recommendation is Graslei and St. Nicholas’ Church

 

• When people ask what Belgium is known for, Bruges usually tops the list. It is a city that’s so pretty it almost feels fake—but so touristy you’ll barely see a local unless they’re serving your lunch or piloting your canal boat. The compact center is basically an island of canals, with highlights like Market Square, Burg Square, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, the Church of Our Lady with its Michelangelo, and the UNESCO-listed Belfry (get tickets unless you want to be stuck outside like us).

• Ghent is bigger than Bruges but the historical center is tiny, packed with canals and Gothic towers. Don’t miss Graslei and St. Michael’s Bridge, climb the Belfry for the best view of St. Nicholas’ Church, and definitely see the Gravensteen Castle—a moat, a defense system, and a whole lot of medieval ego. 

 

Antwerp: Belgium’s style capital

I mean, how could Antwerp not be beautiful, if even the train station looks like this

 

Antwerp is Belgium’s second-largest city and adds to the list of famous things about Belgium with its diamond district and port. Because of these, it oozes old-money confidence. It mixes medieval wealth (the Grote Markt, Cathedral of Our Lady, Rubens’ legacy) with modern design—just look at the alien-like Port House bolted onto an old fire station. The Antwerpen-Centraal train station is basically a cathedral for trains, and yes, it deserves the hype.

 

Brussels: Atomium, Manneken Pis, and the city’s most famous landmarks

You can admire the cool details of the Atomium in Brussels

 

Manneken Pis is famous with tourists, though not for me personally

 

Brussels is supposed to be boring because of politics, but I absolutely loved the capital and all of its amazing museums. If you’re looking for famous landmarks in Belgium, start with the Atomium and Manneken Pis, though, I’ll be honest, the little statue didn’t impress me:

• Among Brussels landmarks, the Atomium stands out as Belgium’s weirdest icon. The Atomium, a giant steel atom built in the 1950s, which sounds dumb on paper but is actually super awesome when you’re standing under it.

• Manneken Pis, a statue of a little kid who has been publicly peeing for centuries. They dress him in costumes, many of which are gifts from foreign officials visiting Belgium. You’ll roll your eyes—and then take the photo anyway, because of course you will.

 

Villages: tiny but worth a visit

Deurle is a prime example of the beauty that hides in the Belgian countryside

 

Belgium also hides some villages that make good side-trips, for example:

• Oud-Rekem is officially one of the prettiest villages in Flanders.

• Deurle is an artist village with river views and cute cottages.

• Dinant clings to cliffs over the Meuse like it’s afraid to fall in. It has colorful houses and a citadel looming above (and saxophones everywhere).

 

 

Quick list—Belgium is famous for these attractions:

Wandering through these quiet canals @ Bruges feels like stepping into a storybook

 

If you need the cheat sheet for “what Belgium is known for,” here it is:

• Bruges’ canals and Markt Square
• Ghent’s Belfry and St. Bavo’s Cathedral
• The Atomium in Brussels
• Manneken Pis in Brussels
• Antwerp’s Cathedral and Rubens House
• The Grand-Place in Brussels (flower carpet if you’re lucky)
• Dinant’s cliffs and saxophones
• Leuven’s over-decorated Town Hall
• Oud-Rekem & Deurle and other villages

 

Belgium and the EU: why Brussels is the political capital of Europe

The Grand Place is the main square in Brussels and I thought it was amazingly grand. Everything is gold and important-looking

 

The Kingdom of Belgium is a federal constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. The monarchy part is headed by King Philippe, while the parliamentary part is currently (in 2025) led by Prime Minister Bart De Wever. The federal government is based in the capital city of Brussels.

 

Why Brussels is the capital of the European Union

The visitors’ center at the European Parliament is called Parlamentarium. We loved it!
 

The capital of Belgium, Brussels, is also the de facto capital of the European Union. De facto because it isn’t officially the capital, as there is none, but it's where all the important meetings happen.

The reason Brussels was chosen to be this important is supposedly because it is halfway between Germany and France, who have always been fighting each other, and when they finally reached a reconciliation, the EU was able to be established.

EU institutions that have their seats in Brussels are the European Commission, Council of the European Union, European Council, and one of the seats of the European Parliament. Strasbourg in France is officially the main one, but who are they trying to kid?

Pro travel tip: The visitor’s center of the EU Parliament, the Parlamentarium, is one of my favorite museums in Belgium. Coincidently, my favorite hotel, Radisson Red is almost right next to it.  

 

 

My favorite hotel in Brussels: Radisson Red

 

Belgium’s culture and arts: what makes it unique

The Atomium was one of my favorite things to see in Brussels

 

If you’re looking for cultural facts about Belgium, comics and surrealist art are impossible to miss. 

 

Belgian comics you can’t avoid

Belgians really have loads of famous comic book characters @ Comics Art Museum

 

Many famous comics come from Belgium, such as Tin Tin, The Smurfs and Lucky Luke. If you didn’t know this, you’ll be repeatedly reminded of it once you step out of the plane, with comics murals, museums and comics-inspired design in places like hotels and restaurants (and Brussels Airlines airplanes).  

Comics museums and murals in Brussels and Charleroi

There is a Comics Art Museum in Brussels that’ll gladly be your window into the comics world, and the famous Tin Tin mural can’t be missed and is located a few steps away from Belgium’s famous peeing kid fountain, Manneken Pis.  

In Charleroi, The Smurfs birthplace, they even have a 2 km-long comic book trail through the city where you can admire sculptures and murals.  

Famous Belgian artists and icons

Peter Paul Rubens is a name to remember if you ever plan on visiting Antwerp

 

Among other artists hailing from Belgium are surrealist artist René Magritte (check out his museums in Brussels), baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens (see his house in Antwerp), the lovely Audrey Hepburn, and “the muscles from Brussels” Jean Claude Van Damme. You probably don’t know the name Adolphe Sax, but if I say he crafted a well-known musical instrument, I think a light bulb will go off. He was from Dinant, which is now adorned by sculptures of said musical instrument.

Belgian festivals and quirky traditions

Belgians love their parades and processions and local festivities originating in either religious or mythological stories.  

Carnival of Binche

If you’re looking for fun facts about Belgium, try explaining why men in ostrich-feather hats throw oranges at people in Binche…

One of the most famous events in Belgium is the Carnival of Binche, held annually on the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday preceding Lent. It is also held in other cities, but the one in Binche, between Mons and Charleroi in Wallonia, is the most significant.  

The most visually stunning participants are the Gilles, men and boys wearing traditional costumes, wooden shoes and wax masks. They walk around from the crack of dawn signing traditional songs and basically causing a ruckus in order to ward off evil spirits.

Later in the day they take off their masks and some wear tall hats made of ostrich feathers. This is when they throw oranges around as a symbol of good luck. Smart residents cover their windows for this part of the procession in order to prevent damage. Wait, isn’t broken glass also considered good luck?! There can be around 1000 Gilles roaming around at a time.

Flower Carpet in Brussels

I haven’t been there to see the real thing, but luckily Mini-Europe has a tiny version on display :D

 

Every two years in August, Brussels rolls out its most over-the-top welcome mat: a 70 x 24 meter Flower Carpet laid across the Grand Place. It’s made from around 600,000 begonias, placed by hand in a single day. For four days, the square turns into a technicolor mosaic and then—because Belgium can’t resist being Belgium—it all gets torn down and composted.

It’s short-lived, over-crowded, and if you’re lucky it’ll rain on it (because Belgium). But when you see the whole square blanketed in flowers with Gothic spires towering above, you’ll get why it’s one of the Belgium’s most photographed traditions.

 

Belgium’s flag: black, yellow, red… and confusing

The Belgian flag
 

Speaking of quirky, Belgium’s own Constitution is very vague on the appearance of its flag and only mentions that “The Belgian nation chooses for its colors red, yellow, and black.” But in what order? In which direction?! We need clarification!   

The lack of proper flag instructions has caused the Belgian flag to have horizontal stripes with different ordered colors in the past, sometimes causing confusion as to which country the flag belongs to. Not the best thing to be confusing in, say, times of war.  

Why is the flag almost square?

Even though you’ll probably see the Belgian flag flown at the more traditional flag proportions of 2:3 on most public buildings, the official proportions are actually 13:15, making the flag almost a square but not quite. You’ll notice the short and stout version of the flag on royal palaces (like the Royal Palace of Brussels).  

Fun fact: The yellow on the Belgian flag is, in fact, yellow, unlike the yellow on the similarly-colored German flag, which is actually gold.  

 

Languages and regions of Belgium explained

Traveling around Europe in a day at Mini-Europe in Brussels

 

The three languages and regions of Belgium

 

Belgium is officially split in two different ways: by language and by region.

There is the Dutch-speaking Flemish Community, the French-speaking French Community, and the tiny German-speaking Community.

The regions of Belgium are the Flemish Region (Flanders), the Walloon Region (Wallonia), and the Brussels-Capital Region. Brussels belongs to both the Flemish and French Communities and is officially bilingual—though French is what you’ll hear most often.

And yes, the Flemish and French parliaments both have their seat in Brussels and argue endlessly over who really owns the capital. Brussels is mostly French-speaking but it’s an enclave in Flanders, so emotions can go flying all over the place.  

French, Dutch, and German are the three official Belgium languages. In general, the south—Wallonia—speaks French, the north—Flanders—speaks Dutch (also called Flemish), and the German speakers are shoved away on a little smidge of land in the east, right up against Germany.

Why English is the unofficial fourth language of Belgium

 

Most Belgians, especially in Brussels, also speak English. That’s how people from different regions actually manage to talk to each other.

For travelers like me, it is very easy communicating in Belgium. For the most part. Sometimes, in museums, like in my personal favorite, the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels, everything was only in Dutch and Frech! Luckily, in these cases they give you a tablet with an audio guide and off you go, choosing one of many languages available to suit everyone’s needs.

 

Belgium’s history in a nutshell: the facts you should know

Pretending to be a count at the Gravensteen in Ghent

 

A quick look at Belgium history explains why the country is still so divided. Belgium has been conquered, divided, rebuilt, and is somehow still standing. As a huge history fan, I’ll buckle down and give you the speedy version of Belgium’s super-complicated past:

Part 1: From tribes to Romans

There have been tribes in today’s Belgium since the Neolithic. By 56 BCE, Julius Caesar swooped in and, somehow, conquered the fierce Belgae without much trouble. The Romans left roads and trade, turning Belgium into a European crossroads, which wasn’t bad for business.

 

I don’t know how he did it, but Julius Caesar didn’t have much trouble taking over when he arrived in Belgium

 

Part 2: Medieval wealth and chaos

After the Franks and then the Vikings, who  sailed up and down Belgian rivers and pillaged everything in their way, Belgium became a wasteland. Bla bla bla, famine. More fighting. The plague.  

Then came the lords and revolts. By the 14^th century, under Duke Philip the Good, the Low Countries became the richest part of Europe. His successors screwed it up, civil wars broke out, and the region bounced between French, Burgundian, and Habsburg rulers.

Part 3: Spanish Lowlands and revolts

In the 1500s, a few marriages between important families and their children inheriting large chunks of land later, Charles from the Low Countries was declared Charles V, King of the Spanish Empire. His son Philip II ruled from Spain, lost touch, and the Lowlands exploded in rebellion. Bla bla bla, anarchy. Unemployment. Mobs. The solution? Brutal repression. The result? Nothing good. Everyone hated Spain, and religion made the divides even worse.

Part 4: Reforms, prosperity… and more chaos

The Thirty Years’ War devastated the region. Enter Empress Maria Therese, who tried to make Belgium sexy again through—of all things—travel. New roads, comfy horse-drawn coaches, even canal boats that served meals. Suddenly Belgium was trending again.

Her son? Dun dun duuuun… He reformed laws and cut Church power. On paper, great. In practice, thousands lost jobs overnight and revolts flared again.

Fed up, Belgians turned to their old frenemy France. Refugees in Paris formed the Committee of United Belgians and Liégois, paving the way for modern Belgium. France annexed the country, trade boomed, prosperity returned—until Napoleon broke up with the Pope and Belgian Catholics stormed out too. 

 

Breakups are hard

 

Part 5: Independence at last

The Allies then shoved Belgium into a union with the Netherlands, with two capitals (Brussels and The Hague) so no one would be jealous. Belgians still felt second-class. Dutch was forced as the language, King William took schools from the Church, and Belgium snapped. Independence came in 1830—though Holland tried to claw it back for almost a decade until France helped seal the deal.

Part 6: King Leopold and Congo

Fast-forward: King Leopold II treated Congo as his personal property, exploiting its people for decades until international outrage forced him to hand it to the Belgian state. Belgium got rich; ordinary Belgians, not so much.

Part 7: The World Wars

In 1914, Germany invaded and Belgium fought surprisingly hard, earning global respect before being crushed under brutal occupation. In 1940, the Germans came back and this time Belgium lasted barely two weeks. The resistance was fierce, but the country’s fate as the “Battlefield of Europe” was sealed—a role that remains one of the most defining facts about Belgium.

 

The Triumphal Arch in Brussels, Belgium

 

Part 8: Brussels, EU capital

After WWII, Belgium had had enough. It helped found NATO and pushed for European unification. Brussels became the de facto capital of the EU—halfway between France and Germany, the two countries that had been tearing it apart for centuries.

 

Facts about Belgium’s economic ups and downs

When you’re a rich country, you can afford to put a modern, alien spaceship-like structure on top of a historical building @ Antwerp Port House

 

Belgium’s early industrial power

Belgium has always punched above its weight economically. Among the overlooked facts about Belgium is that it was the first country in continental Europe to industrialize, building its early wealth on steel and coal mining, especially in Wallonia. By the early 20^th century, those industries started collapsing, and by the 1980s Belgium had racked up government debt equal to 120% of its GDP—yikes.

The divide between Flanders and Wallonia

Meanwhile, Flanders, once focused on textiles, rebounded fast and is now one of the wealthiest regions in Europe. Wallonia, not so much—its unemployment rate is double that of Flanders to this day. The fact that Flanders receives the vast majority of international investments adds to Wallonia’s spite.  There is a divide between the wealthier north and the poorer south that multiplies the tensions that the language barrier between the two regions brings.

 

In Wallonia, you’ll find quieter villages, like Celles, and open countryside (and a much higher unemployment rate)

 

Belgium’s modern economy

Today, Belgium remains one of the world’s top 20 economies, with a GDP over USD 600 billion. Given its strategic, central position, Belgium has developed a great transportation network (ports, railways, highways) that allowed it to integrate its industries with its neighbors. Belgium’s multilingual, skilled workers are also a huge trade advantage.But the same thing that made Belgium rich—being Europe’s crossroads—means it rises and falls depending on how Europe as a whole is doing.

Pro travel tip: Is you’re heading to Belgium, you’re in for some of the world’s best museums. Why? Because they have the budget for it! Read about them in my article:

 

 

Its industries with its neighbors. Belgium’s multilingual, skilled workers are also a huge trade advantage.  

 

Belgium’s weather: known for rain and short summers

Ghent on a sunny day in April

 

It rains over 50% of the year

One of the lesser-loved answers to what is Belgium known for is its rain—200 wet days a year! If you love the rain, you’ll love Belgium. Your chances of at least a drizzle are pretty high. Rain comes in pretty steady year-round with a slight increase in July and in December and the highest chance of a dry day in the spring (April-ish).    

Summers in Belgium are short. Seriously, if you blink you might miss it. It starts in July and is over by August. That’s a weather stat most definitely filed under ‘depressing facts about Belgium.’ Average daytime temperatures during Belgian summers are around 25°C.

 

Surprise! No rain today. Must’ve accidentally booked one of Belgium’s 165 dry days. Better spend it wandering Werregarenstraat before the drizzle returns

 

When not to visit Belgium

Winters are foggy with temperatures hovering around 3–7°C, but it’s the damp air that’ll get you. It stays this cold until March. Then again, maybe you’ll find the frozen canals of Ghent and Bruges charming.   

And so, I hereby proclaim April to June the best time to visit Belgium. Temperatures gradually rise to a pleasant 15–20°C.  

 

 

Belgium’s geography and size

Belgium in comparison with its neighbours

 

Comparing Belgium’s size to other European countries

Belgium is a small country in northwest Europe, mashed between the Netherlands, Germany, France and Luxembourg, with the Northern Sea creating 67 km (42 miles) of beaches in the north of the country (and the precipitation and fog that comes with it, see the Belgium Weather section below.) 

Geographically, Belgium is tiny—one of those facts about Belgium you remember when you realize it’s 22 times smaller than Texas. They say everything is bigger in Texas—they probably have shopping malls the size of Belgium there. I say it’s a small country because most others in Europe are larger. But it depends who you ask: Belgium is smaller than Denmark and the Netherlands, a bit bigger than Switzerland and Slovenia, and way bigger than itty bitty Luxemburg.

If you want numbers, Belgium is 280 km (175 miles) long and 145 km (90 miles) wide. 

There are no mountains in Belgium

The flattest dramatic view you’ll find in Belgium—enjoy this rare elevated spot from the Palais de Justice terrace before heading back down to ironing-board-level land

 

Belgium is as flat as an ironing board, except for the 694 m (2,277 ft) mound of Signal de Botrange and some rolling hills that are a poor excuse for an interesting landscape. The cliffs along valley of the Meuse River, most popularly showcased in the town of Dinant, are as dramatic as it gets in Belgium.  

 

 

How expensive is Belgium?

One of our favorite restaurants in Belgium: Nüetnigenough in Brussels. A pint of beer in Belgium is around €5.

 

From franc to euro

Belgium’s currency is the Euro, which finally replaced the Belgian Franc in 2002 after a 3-year transition period during which both currencies were legal tender.  

You’d think that the presence of the headquarters of the EU would make Belgium a very expensive country, but it’s in fact not that bad. Neighboring Netherlands, France and Luxembourg are all more expensive, so Belgium comes out looking pretty cheap! Although realistically, it’s still on the expensive side. 

Examples of prices in Belgium

Another one of those uncomfortable facts about Belgium—a pint of beer will run you €5. Dinner for 2 at a nice restaurant costs €70–80. A room in a good 4- or 5-star hotel can cost from €200 to €300.

 

It's practically more economical to survive your whole Belgian vacation on waffles. Breakfast, lunch, dinner? Waffle it is.

 

You can pay by card everywhere except for maybe some tiny shops or souvenir shops. Even on public transportation, you can usually pay not only with cards, but also with your phone or smart watch. 

 

Religion in Belgium

St. Nicholas Church and the Belfry (which has the best view of St. Nicholas Church) in Ghent
 

Belgium is a secular country.  

Christianity is the most popular religion in Belgium, with Roman Catholicism taking first position with about 52% of Belgians adhering to it. About a third of the population of Belgium are non-religious folks, and the rest is a mix of other Christian faiths and other religions.

Fun fact about Belgium: The Jewish community is one of the largest in Europe, with 30 synagogues in Antwerp alone. 

Most non-religious Belgians hail from Wallonia. I guess their God disappointed them with the steel and coal fiasco and they called it quits with him (her?).

 

The people of Belgium

Bruges City Hall, a stunning Gothic landmark on Burg Square in the heart of Bruges

 

About 10% of Belgium’s citizens live in Brussels.  

The diversity of the population is central to Belgium culture. People of foreign background and their descendants make up 25% of the population. About half of them are from other European countries (mostly Italy, France, the Netherlands), the other half from either Morocco, Turkey or Congo.  

One of the more positive facts about Belgium is how well different communities seem to live side by side. To me, Belgium is like the United Colors of Benetton. People of all colors living together in what appeared to be perfect harmony. Unlike what I witnessed in South Africa or even the US, it just seemed to work a lot better in Belgium. Yes, I’m a white guy and no, I don’t care that I’m not supposed to have an opinion on racial issues.  

 

FAQ1: Is Belgium more famous for beer or chocolate?

That’s like asking a parent to pick their favorite child. Belgium is world-famous for both chocolate and beer, but if you look at global reach, chocolate wins on recognition (every airport shop sells “Belgian pralines”). Among travelers and beer nerds, though, Belgian beer is the highlight—it’s UNESCO-listed, comes in hundreds of styles, and pairs with food like wine.

 

Dive into the world of Belgian brewing at the Bruges Beer Experience

 

FAQ2: What city is Belgium most famous for?

Bruges is the city Belgium is most famous for with its canals, Markt Square, cobblestones, towers, and bridges that promise eternal love. Brussels might be the capital and Antwerp might be cooler, but Bruges is the one people put on their travel bucket lists.

 

FAQ3: Why is Brussels important in Europe?

Brussels is important in Europe because it’s the EU capital. The European Commission, European Council, and a major seat of the European Parliament are all here, along with NATO.

 

FAQ4: What makes Belgian waffles unique?

Belgian waffles aren’t just one thing—Brussels waffles are big, fluffy, and square, while Liège waffles are dense, caramelized, and studded with sugar chunks that crackle when you bite in. Both versions are better than the sad “Belgian waffle” you’ve seen at grocery stores around the world.

 

FAQ5: Why does Belgium have so many languages?

Because Belgium is basically three countries forced into one. The north speaks Dutch (Flanders), the south speaks French (Wallonia), and a tiny patch in the east speaks German. Add Brussels in the middle—officially bilingual, mostly French. Most people speak English well, too, because how else are they going to communicate together?

 

 

This post may contain affiliate links. We earn a small commission if you make bookings through my links, at no additional cost to you. This helps us keep this blog free, thank you!