World / Europe / Belgium

This founding member of the European Union is centrally located between France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany, drawing tourists and business travellers in equal measure. The highlights of Belgium tourism include the nation's culinary specialities, which attract gourmands from around the world, its historic northern battlefields and its internationally renowned diamond centre of Antwerp.

With three official languages, holidays in Belgium are a multicultural experience. Flemish-speaking Flanders in the north is home to the impressive medieval cities of Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent, as well as the battlefield towns of Ypres and Messines, where many of the bloodiest WW1 and WW2 battles took place. French-speaking Wallonia has a more rural feel, with rolling Ardennes hills and historic castles dotting the agricultural landscape. Capital Brussels is an art nouveau delight and home to the headquarters of NATO and European Union parliament. In the heart of town, lies 13th century Grand Place, a Unesco-listed square, where terrace cafes serve traditional moules frites washed down with Belgian beer. There is an excellent canal and rail network connecting this compact country's major cities, making day trips between Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia quick and easy.