Belgium

Discover Belgium

Fun Foods

Belgian Waffles in Brussels, Frites, Speculoos, Chocolate

Julius Caesar called the Belgae "the bravest of all Gauls." These Celtic warriors fought so hard during the Gallic Wars from 58 to 50 BC that even Rome's greatest general was impressed. Ambiorix led a revolt in 54 BC before Rome finally conquered them in 51 BC.

Belgium declared independence from the Netherlands on October 4, 1830. It was officially recognized on April 19, 1839. National Day on July 21 celebrates when Leopold I became king in 1831.

Before independence, Napoleon fought his final battle at Waterloo just outside Brussels in 1815 and lost. He got exiled to a tiny island and died there.

World War I from 1914 to 1918 turned Belgium into a massive battlefield. The trenches at Ypres saw some of the war's most brutal fighting.

Belgium's darkest chapter happened overseas.

King Leopold II owned Congo as his personal property and enslaved millions of people to harvest rubber. Workers who didn't meet quotas had their hands cut off.

Belgium's chocolate and wealth came from brutal colonization.

Today's Belgium offers adventures without the violence.

The Atomium is a giant iron crystal with nine spheres connected by tubes you can explore.

Mini-Europe has all 27 EU countries built in miniature.

Manneken Pis is a tiny statue of a peeing boy who wears hundreds of different costumes throughout the year.

Belgium takes food seriously, especially breakfast.

Belgian waffles come in two types. Brussels waffles are light and fluffy. Liège waffles are thick and chewy with crunchy pearl sugar.

Frites (fries) come with mayo, not ketchup. Belgium makes over 300 different beers and chocolate famous worldwide.

Try moules-frites (mussels with fries), carbonnade flamande (beef stewed in beer), and speculoos cookies. Brussels' Grand-Place is a UNESCO site with gold buildings. Bruges has medieval canals for boat rides.