About Belgium

Is a tiny country like Belgium worth visiting? That’s the question I often see on the faces of people when I say I’m Belgian. And I won’t deny it: with less than 350 square kilometers it is a small country. But yet we possess a lot of cultural treasures, due to the fact that it has always been densely populated. The UNESCO acknowledged this and gave out 9 rewards to properties in Belgium. So yes, our country is worth visiting and we’ll help you decide what to visit. In the following list we’ve put the touristic sites most worthy of visiting first.

1. The Historical City Center of Bruges

First on our list is the city named: “The Venice of The North”. Its many waters and canals, medieval churches and old houses make it just as special as Venice itself. And on top of that you also get innumerous chocolate and beer shops here! Everyone gets pampered: women will find beautiful lace and other souvenirs, for the guys there are some rare Belgian beers, night clubs will please young people and museums, parks and restaurants make the puzzle complete. If you are in doubt about where to go in Belgium, then pick Bruges. You will catch 3 UNESCO world heritage sites at once, because Bruges also has an impressive belfry and béguinage.

2. The Houses in Art Nouveau Style by Victor Horta in Brussels

Victor Horta was one of the most famous architects of the Art Nouveau style (also known as Modern Art, Liberty Style or Jugendstil). The buildings he designed were something totally new and were an expression of the 20th century’s new ideas, arts and society. You can admire all buildings from the outside and take a look inside the house and workshop of the master himself.

3. The Museum, House and Workshops of Plantin-Moretus in Antwerp

Antwerp is not only famous for its fashion designers, but also for its many shops, clubs, different nationalities and open-mindedness. So beware when you try to get to this museum: the way to it is paved with interesting things and last time I went there, I got there just before closing time. The one hour I had left to look around wasn’t sufficient. There’s a lot to see: the building itself with the original chambers and offices, medieval printing equipment that explains how Plantin and his son Moretus printed, and not to forget the marvellous old book collection. Just for this last one I could spend a whole day there!

4. The Big Market Square of Brussels

The UNESCO came a little late when it rewarded this monument in 1998. Victor Hugo already called this market square the most beautiful in Europe and Jean Cocteau thought of it as the most beautiful theater in the world. That’s because it was built at the height of the city’s prosperity. Two buildings date from the 15th century: the Gothic town hall and the bread house. In this last one you must visit the wardrobe of Manneken Pis: he has over 500 costumes of which the oldest one dates back till 1698. It’s in terrible shape, but the second oldest one makes up for it: the costume given by French king Louis XV in 1747. When Brussels got bombarded, the guilds resurrected the destroyed buildings in the fabulous Flemish-Italian style.

5. The Béguinages in Flanders

A béguinage is a kind of convent where beguines lived. The difference between nuns and beguines is that the latter didn’t take vows and were financially independent. Béguinages only exist in Flanders and the North of France. They flourished in the Middle Ages but now there are just a few beguines left. The beguinages however are still islands of tranquility in the hectic city centers of today. They are very pleasant to walk around in, along the old houses with protective saints, small alleys, romantic gardens and chapels. Often you will also find a little museum and shop.

6. The Cathedral of Our Lady in Tournai

This church its architecture is one of the most interesting in the country: it is nicely divided into two separate styles. The cathedral was built in the early 12th century in the Romanesque style and is gigantic. The five towers above the transept already interlude the Gothic period. The choir was constructed in the 13th century in early Gothic style and creates a fascinating contrast with the old part of the church. There’s one more exceptional detail: the fresco’s in this kind of church are normally removed due to fashion changes or disasters, but here they are still exposed for everyone to admire.

7. The Belgian Belfries

Before the 11th century big towers could only be constructed by the nobility or church, but since cities began flourishing they also wanted to show off their wealth. For this purpose they constructed belfries in the prettiest styles: this is Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance arquitecture at its best. In essence the belfry served as a watch tower and announced certain events: when the city gates opened and closed, when there was fire in the city, when the work day started and ended and every hour. Therefore the carillon inside the tower was used. This musical instrument of at least 23 cup-shaped bells still plays the traditional songs of the country. Take a seat in one of the sidewalk cafes and wait until the belfry plays its joyful song.

8. The Flint Mines Dating From The Neolithicum In Spiennes

In Spiennes you can visit a very special and ancient monument: the flint mines dating from 4000 before Christ outnumber the inhabitants of the small village. More or less 1000 holes were dug here by our ancestors from the stone age. With primitive flint and antler tools they dug up flint from up to 16 meters beneath ground level. For about 1800 years, Spiennes was a center of flint trade. A visit to these mines will definitely surprise you of the technical ingenuity of our ancestors.

9. Four Hydraulic Boat Elevators in La Louvière

This last property on the UNESCO world heritage list shows the advancement of technology on the end of the 19th century. Four boat elevators together lift the boats 66 meters higher up the river. They are now in use by recreational boat lovers, ask one if you can come aboard and experience this amazing piece of industrial archeology! The commercial boats use another elevator that was inaugurated in 2002 and can lift up boats of 1350 tons. Since then, the traffic on the canal increased tenfold.

The complete list of UNESCO world heritage patrimony.