Belgium travel guide
Often overlooked, Belgium offers an interesting mix of languages, cultures, fine cycling, big bird flocks and, yes, mouthwatering beer and chocolate!
In a way, Belgium is two countries in one. In the Dutch-speaking north of the country, known as Flanders, you’ll find the culture-rich cities of Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent. Their well-preserved gothic and baroque architecture, picturesque canals, cobbled streets, top restaurants and irresistible chocolatiers make them perfect long-weekend destinations.
Flanders’ flat, open landscape means it is little-visited by outdoor enthusiasts but there is one secret gem for nature-lovers: Het Zwin. This nature reserve on North Sea coast plays host to thousands of migratory birds and in summer is awash with purple zwinnebloem (sea lavender).
In stark contrast to Flanders’ pancake-flat landscape, French-speaking Wallonia boasts the wooded hills of the Ardennes forest and the wild landscape of the Haute Fagnes, which is home to many rare animals and plants. This area attracts many Belgium hikers, mountain-bikers and canoeists, yet is strangely little-visited by foreigner tourists. Ssshh! Don’t let them in on this secret!
Wanderlust recommends
- Visit perfectly-preserved medieval Bruges in winter, when there are fewer crowds, the iced-over canals glisten and you’re never far from a warming hot chocolate.
- Go hiking, kayaking, mountain-biking and horseriding in La Roche, the adventure-sport capital of the Ardennes.
- Hike through the Hautes Fagnes Nature Reserve – a haven for rare fauna and flora such roe deer, the black grouse and Wintergreen Chickweed – a pretty white flower with seven petals.
- Get your culture fix in Antwerp, home to Ruben’s studio, many fine examples of his work and impressive medieval, gothic and baroque architecture.
- Head to the coast, hire a bike at Knokke and cycle through Het Zwin national park where dykes, polders, ponds and lagoons play host to a fascinating mix of freshwater and seawater birds.
Wanderlust tips
If you’re unsure what a Belgian person’s mother tongue is, it’s probably best to stick to English until you’ve worked it out. Some Flemish-speakers are offended if you greet them in French and Walloons may take exception if spoken to in Flemish.
Another problem with the linguistic divide is road signs. For example, If you’re driving from Antwerp and flowing a sign to Bergen (Flemish), once you cross into Wallonia, the city becomes Mons (French). Make sure you know the French and Flemish names for places or you’ll risk getting hopelessly lost. And don’t forget the pockets of German-speakers in the east.