Belgium Travel Guide

Changing of the Guard, Brussels © Belgium Tourism

It may be a little country, but it is a lovely one, so it is sad that Belgium is often overlooked when travellers plan a trip to Europe. Tucked between the desirable and obvious destinations of London, Paris and Amsterdam, Belgium is usually treated as a stepping stone to the English Channel, or, at most, a quick stop-over for a look-see in the capital, Brussels.

Beyond the city of Brussels with its historic Gothic buildings and tall European Union office blocks, is a treasure-trove of undiscovered lazy seaside towns, and the inland wooded gorges of the splendid Ardennes, sprinkled with medieval castles and steeped in folklore. The medieval city of Bruges has character and charm galore with a rich architectural heritage, graceful canals, winding waterways and cobbled streets, and is a favourite with visitors. Belgium is a country that has inspired many artists and writers with the charm of its Gothic cathedrals, town halls, gabled guildhouses and rich museums.

After a busy day exploring it all, evenings are best spent experiencing Belgium's fantastic cuisine and delighting in the country's variety of 300-odd brews of beer. Belgians have a reputation for their gracious hospitality, no doubt due in part to the country's location, which has created an international crossroads for commerce and culture. Despite this, Belgium and its distinct regions of Flemish Flanders (north) and French Wallonia (south) has proudly preserved its traditions and identity.

Belgium Basics

Time: GMT +1 (GMT +2 from March to October). Belgium is six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and nine hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time.
Electricity: 220 volts, 50Hz. European-style two-pin plugs can be used.
Money: Euro (EUR) divided into 100 cents. Most credit cards are accepted (Visa, American Express, Diners Club and Eurcard) as are travellers cheques (though it is best to carry them in Euros, US dollars or Pounds Sterling to avoid additional charges when exchanging). ATMs are available in all major cities. Banks are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, and are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Some banks close for an hour during lunch. There are however some foreign exchange offices that trade on Sundays.

Currency Exchange Rates
€ 1.00 =	US$ 1.36	£ 0.68	C$ 1.51	A$ 1.66	R 9.47	€ 1.00	NZ$ 1.85

Note: These rates are not updated daily and should be used as a guideline only.

Language: The Flemish, in the north, speak Dutch (60% of the population); the Walloons in the south speak French (40%). Brussels is bilingual, the majority of citizens speaking French. In the east there is a small German-speaking community. English is also spoken.
Entry requirements for Americans: US nationals must have a passport valid for at least three months beyond period of stay. A visa is not required for stays of up to three months.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: UK nationals must possess a valid passport. A visa is not required for stays of up to three months. British Overseas Territories Citizens, and British Overseas Citizens require an endorsement on their passports guaranteeing re-admittance to the UK or the country that issued the passport.
Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadians must have a passport valid for at least three months beyond period of stay. A visa is not required for stays of up to three months.
Entry requirements for Australians: Australian nationals must have a passport valid for at least three months beyond period of stay. A visa is not required for stays of up to three months.

Entry requirements for South Africans: South African nationals require a passport valid for at least three months beyond intended period of stay. A visa is required. Entry is entry is not permitted when holding aTemporary Passport due to a new ruling by the Benelux countries on 1 May 2007.
Entry requirements for New Zealanders: New Zealand nationals require a passport valid for at least the period of intended stay. No visa is required for stays of up to three months.
Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals require a valid passport. No visa is required for stays not exceeding three months.
Passport/Visa Note: The borderless region known as the Schengen area includes the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. All these countries issue a standard Schengen visa that, in principal, allows the holder to travel freely within the borders of all. All visitors require a passport that is valid for at least three months after leaving Belgium. Nationals of non-EU countries are recommended to hold return or onward tickets, sufficient funds and documents for their next destination.
Health: No vaccinations are required. Medical facilities and care in Belgium are excellent but expensive so travellers are advised to take out medical insurance. UK citizens receive emergency medical care for a reduced cost, but should have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), to qualify.
Tipping: Service charges are included in bills and tipping is not necessary, unless for exceptional service. Porters, coatroom and bathroom attendants are generally tipped.
Safety: Most visits to Belgium are trouble-free, but travellers should be wary of street crime in the cities, such as mugging and pickpocketing, particularly in Brussels at major railway stations and on public transport. Brussels is home to a number of international organisations, including EU and NATO, which could become the target of indiscriminate terrorist attacks.
Customs: Belgium law requires everyone to carry some form of official identification at all times.

Business: Belgians are very formal in business, enjoy a great deal of personal space, and are generally reserved and extremely private. Dress should be conservative; dark suits are acceptable, with a high importance placed on quality and neatness of clothing. Punctuality is extremely important at meetings, which will begin and end with a quick, light handshake with all involved, and exchanging business cards is standard practice; it is recommended that cards are printed in English with the other side translated in either French or Dutch depending on the main language of the region where business is to take place. Business hours are generally 9am to 5.30pm or 6pm Monday to Friday.
Communications: The international access code for Belgium is +32. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). City codes are required for all calls within Belgium; the area code for Brussels is (0)2. Mobile phones operate on GSM and 3G networks. Public phones take coins or phone cards. Internet cafes are widely available.
Duty Free: Travellers to Belgium arriving from non-EU countries are allowed to enter the country with the following items without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; 1 litre spirits over 22% in alcohol or 2 litres of dessert wine 22% in alcohol and sparkling wine, and 2 litres wine; 50g perfume and 250ml eau de toilette; and other goods such as souvenirs to the value of €175. Prohibited items include unpreserved foodstuffs.

Belgium Contacts

Belgian Tourist and Information Office, Brussels: +32 (0)2 504 0390 or www.belgium-tourism.net
Embassy of Belgium, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 333 6900
Embassy of Belgium, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7470 3700 .
Embassy of Belgium, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 236 7267 .
Embassy of Belgium, Canberra Tel: +61 (0)2 6273 2501 .
Belgium Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 440 3201/2.
Embassy of Belgium, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 205 7100 .
Consulate of Belgium, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 499 8933 .
Embassy of the United States of America, Brussels: +32 (0)2 508 2111 .
British Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 287 6211 .
Canadian Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 741 0611 .
Australian Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 286 0500 .
South African Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 285 4400 .

Belgium Airports

Brussels International Airport (BRU)

Location: The airport is located eight miles (13km) northeast of the city centre. Time: GMT +1 (GMT +2 from March to October). Contacts: Tel: +32 (0)2 753 7753 . Transfer to the city: The train station is located on the lower level (1st Floor). There is a train shuttle service from the airport to the North, South and Central stations of Brussels. The shuttle runs every 15-20 minutes and the journey takes approximately 20 minutes. It operates between 5.30am and 12.20am from the airport. There are also buses that serve Brussels, Antwerp and Eindhoven; the bus station is below the Arrivals hall. An airport bus link also operates between the Brussels-Luxembourg railway station and the airport. There are metered taxis available outside the Arrivals hall; the 30-minute journey to Brussels costs around €30. Car rental: Major car hire companies are represented at the airport, including Avis, Budget and Hertz; their desks are in the Arrivals hall. Facilities: Airport facilities include ATMs and bureau de change, a post office, duty-free shops, cafes/restaurants, a beauty shop, a Communications Centre with Internet access, religious services, train information and reservation, travel agency, and luggage lockers. There is also a mobile phone rental office and Wireless LAN hotspot service. Parking: Both long- and short-term parking are available 24 hours. NV Interparking SA operates parking facilities for more than 9,000 vehicles next to the terminal. Car Hotel provides long-term parking facilities close to the E19, and a free shuttle service to the passenger terminal every 10 minutes. Departure tax: None. Website: www.brusselsairport.be

Antwerp International Airport (ANR)

Location: The airport is located one mile (2km) east of Antwerp. Time: GMT +1 (GMT +2 from March to October). Contacts: Tel: +32 (0)3 285 6500 . Transfer to the city: Bus 14 leaves for Antwerp Central Station regularly. Taxis are available outside arrivals. Car rental: Avis and Hertz operate from the airport. Facilities: Airport facilities include a bank, restaurant, duty-free and a business centre. Departure tax: None. Website: www.antwerpairport.be

Belgium Climate and Weather

Belgium has temperate weather, warm in summer (May to September) and cool to cold in winter, with snow very likely.

Brussels	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rainfall (mm)	66	53	74	58	71	79	76	71	58	71	79	76
Rainfall (inches)	3.2	2.0	3.2	2.1	2.9	2.9	2.3	1.7	2.7	3.3	2.4	2.7
Min Temp (°C)	-1	0	2	4	8	11	12	12	10	10	3	1
Max Temp (°C)	5	6	9	12	17	19	22	22	19	14	9	6
Min Temp (°F)	30	32	36	39	46	52	54	54	50	45	37	34
Max Temp (°F)	41	43	48	54	63	66	72	72	66	57	48	43

Brussels

Home of the European Union, Brussels has become a bustling centre for bureaucrats and businessmen and is a thriving cosmopolitan metropolis. The buildings in the city are a fascinating mix of architectural styles, and there are numerous museums of interest throughout. Within the 14th-century city walls is the compact centre of the old city with the beautiful Grand Place at its heart. Visitors rarely stray beyond the walls of the 'petit ring' of the city centre, clearly defined from the newer glitzy quarters by its narrow maze of streets. This is where the key sights can be enjoyed, together with the best bars and restaurants.

Visitors can experience the beauty of the art and architecture, marvel at the bizarre sight of the Mannekin-Pis statue, and spend time shopping for traditional souvenirs such as Belgian chocolate and lace. The National Opera House and many other theatres host a variety of events and concerts for those wanting some high culture, and there are plenty of restaurants offering gastronomic delights. These outings can be rounded off by a drink or two in any one of the lively bars located near the Grand Place.

Vibrant and energetic, Brussels is a city of museums and architecture among Europe's finest, a shopper's fantasy and a diner's capital.