Belgium holidays

First-class food, great beer and past-meets-present cities – holidays to Belgium cover plenty of angles.

Two distinct sides

With four countries along its borders and a North Sea coastline to boot, it’s no surprise that Belgium’s had several different influences throughout its colourful past. Nowadays, there are two fairly distinctive sides to the country. The northern region, Flanders – where the locals speak Flemish – and the southern area, Wallonia, where French is more prevalent. That’s not quite the full story though. Head east, and there’s a small pocket of the country where German’s spoken by the locals

Belgium city breaks

Belgium’s capital, Brussels, attracts the bulk of the country’s visitors, who flock there for its royal museums and palaces, and UNESCO-ticked main square, Grand Place. Elsewhere, Bruges’ scenic canals and medieval charm draw in the crowds, too, while Antwerp’s a favourite with art and fashion fans. And not forgetting Ypres, which gets thousands of visitors each year who come to reflect on the horrors of the First World War.

Foodie’s favourites

When it comes to food, Belgium more than holds its own on the global stage. The likes of Belgian waffles and praline chocolates have become staples the world over, but there are still plenty of hidden gems back on home turf. Take moules frites – these steaming pots of creamy mussels are widely considered to be the country’s national dish. And even French fries – which despite the name, are said to have originated in Belgium – have a local flourish. They’re usually served with a big dollop of mayo-like chip sauce here.