Belgium Travel Guide

The Bare Bones: What you Need to Know

Population: 10.25 Million
Size: 30000 km2
Religion: Mainly Roman Catholic with a large Protestant Minority.
Currency: The Euro

Visas Passports etc.

UK Citizens only need passports or formal ID cards and for US citizens passports are required for visits up to 90 days. Ensure that children have up to date paperwork and if travelling with someone else's children in the role of guardian make sure you have notification of your relationship to the child and permission for them to be with you. Some form of national ID card or a passport should be carried at all times. A Photocopy of your passport should be sufficient.

Be Safe

Normal common sense rules apply in Belgium. The crime rate is generally low but beware of pickpockets and bagsnatchers.
Take care with baggage and personal possessions. Report loss or theft of Passports to the police immediately and then contact the nearest embassy or consulate.

Stay Healthy

Belgium has a very modern system of healthcare.

UK citizens should in theory get emergency treatment free of charge on production of an E111 form. If you are charged for any medical treatment make sure you get receipts in order that you can claim back money spent from the NHS.
US citizens should ensure that they have ample medical insurance cover.

On the Road

Belgian roads are excellent but native drivers can be a little combative.
Drive on the left. Don't use mobile phones whilst driving. Always wear seat belts and obey the speed limits. In the cities beware of bicycles and pedestrians. Breaking traffic laws carry heavy and often on the spot, fines. Whilst a valid domestic driving licence should be enough an IDP (International Driving Permit) makes things like car hire easier.

Drugs and the Law

Drug possession and drug dealing/trafficking are illegal and punishments can be heavy.

When to Go

Belgium has mild summers and mild(ish) winters. It can rain at any time. July and August are the warmest but often wettest months. Snow is rare although in the Ardennes region it can fall heavily, this part of the country tends to be a little cooler than the rest.

Cash and Plastic

Cash is still King in Belgium but debit and credit cards are fairly widely accepted. ATM machines are not commonplace outside of the main cities where a few can be found.

So, What is it Really Like?

A small country that has been branded 'boring' in some quarters. Possibly, its larger neighbours, Germany, France and the Netherlands have overshadowed it; certainly this has been true in the past when each of these countries has claimed sovereignty over Belgium. The 'boring' tag may be derived from the fact that Belgium, in particular Brussels has become home of the faceless European Union bureaucrat. Despite this, there is much to recommend Belgium to the traveller.

Historically Belgium as an independent state is less than 200 years old. Before that, the three main cities - Brussels, Antwerp and Bruges - were of considerable influence in the world of medieval Europe. Belgium's countryside has stood witness to many of Europe's most significant battles. Added to this is the rich artistic legacy of Breugel, Rubens and Van Eyck, some great scenery, good food and a place at the heart of the new Europe. There is also the Beer and Chocolate.