The Kingdom of Belgium is a country in northwest Europe bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France and for a short stretch by the North Sea. Belgium consists of three regions, listed from North to South: Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia.
The main tourist destination in Belgium is Brugge which is arguably the largest historic centre in Europe, and perhaps the most beautiful city after Venice. A city tour of the old streets, Begijnhof (old convents) and medieval gardens is well worth doing, or enjoy a cruise on the canals to the nearby village of Damme.
Antwerp is the largest city, a bustling old port, it boasts a very large medieval district, beautiful baroque churches and late nineteenth century streets. Many artists (like Rubens and Vincent van Gogh) lived and worked here, hence the presence of Belgium's main museums. It is an important fashion centre and is renowned for its diamond trading.
Things to See & Do
* Brugge
* Antwerp
* Brussels
* Damme
General information
Cruise Season – Feb - Dec
Currency - Euro (€)
Language – French, Dutch, German
Land Area – 30,528 km²
Population – 10,600,000
Electricity – 2 round pins European style
Time - GMT plus one hour
International Country Telephone Code + 32
Port Location – The port is located at Zeebrugge on the North Sea.
Travel Links – Brussels international airport is Belgium’s main airport. Rail links are available to most European countries. You can get to Belgium from all over Europe on Eurolines coaches. International buses have stopovers in Antwerpen, Brussels north-station, Leuven & Liege.
Public transport is fast and comfortable, and not too expensive. There are frequent train connections between cities, with buses covering smaller distances.