Belgium

Belgium is a country in Western Europe. Hosting the European Union’s headquarters, Belgium is neighboured by France on the southwest, Germany to the east and the Netherlands on the north. The country itself covers an area of more than 30,000 square kilometres and boasts a population of 11 million people. The capital of Belgium is Brussels; a city with a population of more than 1 million people and a true landmark for the European institutions.

Belgium has a generally mild climate; with frequent rain and cloudy weather. The best months for tourists to visit Belgium is between May and September; which will generally be their warmer summer months. If you are not an outdoor person, November to March will be ideal; although it might be accompanied with colder days and occasional rain and snow, it will be considerably less crowded.

Belgium has three official languages; which is Dutch, French and German. Dutch is the most prominent at about 6.2 million, followed by French at 3.3 million and German at about 75,000. There are minor differences between the Belgian Dutch and French and many people speak dialects of Dutch in their local environment.

Belgium’s official currency is the Euro. Before 2002 it was the Belgian Franc.  The country has a fairly strong and stable economy and since it’s located in a highly industrialized area it is currently the world’s 15^th largest trading nation.

Belgium boasts various tourist attractions that is considered a definite must-see. One of the most popular attractions is the Royal Museum of Fine Art in Antwerp. It houses a vast collection of paintings that dates back to the 14^th century. The building is suitably decorated with Corinthian columns and large bronze hoses.

Waterloo is also a popular location to visit. Many paraphernalia can be found here; including the Lion of Waterloo Victory Monument, which is a man-made hill with more than 200 steps to the top. One can also visit the Wellington Museum for a audio-visual reconstruction of the actual battle.

BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE:

 Visit the Embassy of Belgium website for the most current visa information.

Local embassy information is available below and at the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates.

U.S. Embassy Brussels, Belgium

27 Boulevard du Régent (the Consular Section is at 25 Boulevard du Régent)

B-1000 Brussels

Telephone: 011-32-2-811-4000 (available 24/7)

Consular Section Fax: 011-32-2-811-4546