Belgium

Belgium is situated in northwestern Europe with its borders touching Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and France. While Dutch is the official language most people speak French and German as well as English, notably in the Flemish region.

Belgium’s landscape is full of contrasts ranging from the sprawling plains in the north and the west to the rivers and gorges of the Ardennes in the southeast. Belgium boast rich forestland near the border with Germany as well as infinite stretches of sandy beaches along the northern coast. Belgium is also extremely rich in historical sites, dotted throughout the country, with churches, castles and picturesque ancient cities.

Brussels, the capital is also rich in historical heritage with the spectacular Gothic Grand Place, the St Gudule’s Cathedral, the splendid Place Royale and the Mont des Arts Park amongst many other historical and cultural sites.

Antwerp offers more traditional attractions as well as contemporary ones with the striking Grote Markt, commemorating the legend of the city’s origins and the 18th century Groenplaats, featuring the statue of Rubens. The city of Bruges is an UNESCO World Heritage site, of magnificent splendor with its Cathedral, belfry tower and 14th century town hall. Gent is yet another town which boasts many historical sites as well as Liège, whose citadel towers over the riverbank of the River Meuse. Finally do not miss Belgium’s second oldest city, Tournai, which features two UNESCO heritage buildings, the Cathedral of Our Lady and the oldest belfry in Belgium.

The climate is typically seasonal, warm from May to September with wet winters and frequent snowfalls.

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    Basilica (Tongeren Basilica), Tongeren

    The Tongeren Basilica, built in Gothic style in the 13th century, where recent excavations have produced some of the richest archaeological finds in Flanders. Archaeological excavations have proven the presence of an edifice here starting from the 4th century, while a Carolingian prayer house existed here in the 9th century.

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    Beguinage, Antwerp

    The Beguinage in Antwerp is a group of houses and a church surrounding a central courtyard. Starting from the 16th century, it was occupied by a religious sisterhood known as the Beguines.

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    Beguinage, Brussels

    A beguinage is an architectural complex which formerly housed beguines, lay religious women who lived in community without taking vows or retiring from the world.

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    Beguinage, Diest

    A beguinage is an architectural complex which formerly housed beguines, lay religious women who lived in community without taking vows or retiring from the world.

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    Beguinage, Kortrijk

    A beguinage is an architectural complex which formerly housed beguines, lay religious women who lived in community without taking vows or retiring from the world.

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    Beguinage, Lier

    The 13th-century Beguinage, another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Lier. It is an incredibly quaint place and one of the largest and most beautiful beguinages in Belgium.

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    Beguinage, Tongeren

    The Beguinage, founded in 1257, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. Its enclosure wall was destroyed in the 19th century: it separated the beguinage from the rest of the city and thus guaranteed peace and quiet for the small religion-inspired community.

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    Beguinage, Turnhout

    The beguinage, formerly home to a religious sisterhood known as the Beguines, was founded in the 13th century on what was then the grounds of the local castle.

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    Belfry (Belfry of Bruges), Bruges

    The belfry of Bruges, or Belfort, is a medieval bell tower in the historical centre of Bruges, Belgium. One of the city's most prominent symbols, the belfry formerly housed a treasury and the municipal archives, and served as an observation post for spotting fires and other danger.

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    Belfry (Belfry of Gembloux), Gembloux

    The Gembloux belfry, clock tower of the former Saint-Sauveur church, is a UNESCO world heritage site. The Gembloux belfry is a 35-metre-high tower dominating the centre of this Walloon town located between Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve and Namur.

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    Belfry (Belfry of Ghent), Ghent

    The 91-metre-tall belfry of Ghent is one of three medieval towers that overlook the old city centre of Ghent, Belgium, the other two belonging to Saint Bavo Cathedral and Saint Nicholas' Church.

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    Belfry (Belfry of Lier), Lier

    In 1369 Hendrik Mijs built a Gothic belfry next to the clothmakers' hall. It stands as a symbol of freedom and independance. Belfry (Belfry of Lier), Lier.

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    Belfry (Belfry of Mons), Mons

    The belfry of Mons is one of the more recent among the belfries of Belgium and France. This belfry, classified in Belgium since 15 January 1936, belongs to the major cultural patrimony of Wallonia. and is classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1 December 1999.

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    Belfry (Belfry of Namur), Namur

    The belfry of Namur, also called Tour Saint-Jacques (Saint-Jacob's Tower), is an historical building of the city of Namur, Belgium. The tower, constructed in 1388 as part of the city wall became a belfry in 1746. It is one of the 56 belfries of Belgium and France classified in the world patrimony of the UNESCO.

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    Belfry (Belfry of Thuin), Thuin

    The belfry (1638), formerly a church tower, dominates the townscape of Thuin. It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage property comprising 56 belfries throughout Belgium and northern France.

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    Belfry (Belfry of Tournai), Tournai

    The belfry of Tournai, Belgium, is a freestanding bell tower of medieval origin, 72 metres in height with a 256-step stairway. This landmark building is one of a set of belfries of Belgium and France registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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    Belfry (Binche Belfry) and Town Hall, Binche

    he belfry is located in Binche's town hall, which dates back to the 14th century. Burnt down by the French in 1554, the hall was soon restored in a Renaissance style by architect Du Broeucq. Belfry (Binche Belfry), Binche.

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    Belfry (Hallentoren), Tielt

    The Belfry (Hallentoren), Cloth Hall, and Aldermen’s Chamber are classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Belfry (Hallentoren), Tielt.

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    Belfry (the Belfry of Kortrijk), Kortrijk

    The belfry of Kortrijk, or Belfort in Dutch, is a medieval bell tower in the historical centre of Kortrijk, Belgium. One of the city's most prominent symbols, the belfry formerly housed a treasury and the municipal archives, and served as an observation post for spotting fires and other danger.

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    Binche (Carnival of Binche)

    Binche is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006, Binche had a total population of 32,409. The total area is 60.66 km² which gives a population density of 534 inhabitants per km². Since 1977, the municipality of Binche has gathered the town of Binche itself with seven old municipalities - Bray, Buvrinnes, Epinois, Leval-Trahegnies, Peronnes-lez-Binche, Ressaix and Waudrez.

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    Boat Lift No-1, Houdeng-Goegnies

    The lifts on the old Canal du Centre are a series of four hydraulic boat lifts near the town of La Louviere in the Sillon industriel of Wallonia, classified both as Wallonia's Major Heritage and as a World Heritage Site. Boat Lift No-1, Houdeng-Goegnies.

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    Boat Lift No-2, Houdeng-Aimeries

    The lifts on the old Canal du Centre are a series of four hydraulic boat lifts near the town of La Louviere in the Sillon industriel of Wallonia, classified both as Wallonia's Major Heritage and as a World Heritage Site. Boat Lift No-2, Houdeng-Aimeries.

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    Boat Lift No-3, Strepy-Bracquegnies

    The lifts on the old Canal du Centre are a series of four hydraulic boat lifts near the town of La Louviere in the Sillon industriel of Wallonia, classified both as Wallonia's Major Heritage and as a World Heritage Site. Boat Lift No-3, Strepy-Bracquegnies.

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    Boat Lift No-4, Thieu

    The lifts on the old Canal du Centre are a series of four hydraulic boat lifts near the town of La Louviere in the Sillon industriel of Wallonia, classified both as Wallonia's Major Heritage and as a World Heritage Site. Boat Lift No-4, Thieu.

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    Bruges

    Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country.