On Brussels, Capital City of Belgium

Population:

10,584,534

Currency: Euro (€)

Famous Landmarks: Grand Place, the Town Hall (Hotel de Ville), The Belgian Center for Comic Strip Art (Center Belge de la Bande Dessinee), Christmas Markets, Atomium, Mini Europe, Rue de Bouchers, Comic Strip Route, Royal Greenhouses, the Royal Palace, Cathedral of Saints Michel and Gudule, The Cantillon Brewery, Mont des Arts, Galeries St Hubert, Palais de Justice

Links:
Official website of Belgium
The Lonely Planet Guide to Belgium
World Facts: Belgium, straight from the CIA!

Located between France and Holland, this almost understated country offers diversity in food, architecture and arts and they are only about the size of Maryland, United States. They’re multilingual people with three (!) official languages namely Dutch, French and German, and English being the fourth unofficial language. Impressive eh?

Interesting facts about Belgium include their love for comic strips where all throughout Brussels, one can find murals of famous comic characters. Smurfs, the adorable, lovable, blue-colored creatures hail from Belgium- the creator, Peyo that is! There are over 400 different types of beer available from every imaginable flavor and taste! Each beer comes in its own glasses where that type of beer may only be served in that specific glass. There are over 2,130 chocolate shops spread across Belgium. Hmmm, love those Belgian chocolates! Hollywood icon Audrey Hepburn was born in Brussels. Actor Jean Claude Van Damme is Belgian. The saxophone was invented in Belgium in 1846 and to keep that jazz spirit alive, Jazz festivals are happening throughout the year.

This was my younger sis and her boyfriend’s second stop on their backpacking trip in 2004.

I don’t know if I’ll ever visit Belgium, with all the other countries on my top 20 but if time and money permits, why not?! Meantime, calling anybody from Belgium, I’d like to have a postcard of those comic strip murals! 🙂