BELGIUM – THE COUNTRY OF CONTRASTS

A rich and bubbling vat of beer, chocolate, oil paint and bureaucrats, Belgium gives off the heady pong of the bourgeoisie. This country has more history, art, food and architecture per square centimeter than many of its bigger neighbours.

LOCATION :

Belgium borders France, Germany and the Netherlands, and has a stretch of coast on the North Sea.

VISA: The visa is to be obtained prior to arrival in the country. 

HOW TO GET THERE :

International Airport : Jet Airways (9W) has direct connections to Brussels from Mumbai. Approx. flying hours is 9.25 hrs. Other European carriers fly via their home town.

Brussels International Airport is located 13 Kms northeast of the city center.

GETTING AROUND :

Airport Train

The train station is located on the lower level of Brussels International Airport (1st floor). There is a train shuttle service from the airport to the North, South and Central stations of Brussels. The shuttle runs at least every 20 minutes and takes approximately 20 minutes. It operates between 5:30am - 12:20am from the airport and 4:45am - 11:10pm from the city. The cost is approximately Euro 3.00 per person. Buy your ticket before getting on the train to avoid a surcharge fee.

Airport Taxis

Taxi service from the airport to the city center is approximately Euros 30-40. Taxis are available 24 hours. Discount round-trip rates are available.

Train : The Belgian railway network is an excellent option for exploring the country; comprising a modern, fast, convenient and affordable network that covers just about every town of any size in Belgium.

The trains are of three types: Intercity, regional and local, with the first being the fastest. The national rail company is the SNCB. Seats cannot be booked in advance, but tickets are available at any station. There are a selection of rail passes, including multi-passes, weekend group saver tickets, the Railpass and the Benelux Pass (valid in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, and a good option to explore if you're going to visit two or more of these countries).The other important rail link to be mentioned is, of course, the Eurostar. There are ten trains a day to Brussels from London's St. Pancras Station.

CURRENCY :

Euro notes are issued in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros. Coins come in denominations of 1 & 2 Euro, and 5, 10, 20, 50, 1 and 2 cent pieces.

Many foreign exchange offices open on Sundays. There is no limit on the amount of foreign currency which may be brought in or out of the country.

BUISNESS :

Money can be exchanged in all banks and major airports. Traveller's cheques are widely accepted. Banks open from 09h00-12h00 and 14h00-16h00 Mon-Fri.

CLIMATE :

One is unlikely to encounter extremes in weather during an average Belgian year. April to September is the warmest time, but be prepared for grey skies and soggy streets no matter what time of year you go. Visitors may be forgiven for assuming umbrellas and raincoats are part of the Belgian national dress.

Belgium is seldom too hot or too cold. Summer temperatures average 54 F (13 C) - 72 F (21 C) and winter averages from 32 F (0 C) - 43 F (6 C).

CLOTHING : In summer bring lightweight, comfortable clothing, & a sweater or a jacket for the evening. During the winter bring warm clothes, & it is always a good idea to pack an umbrella & a rain coat.

TIME : Belgium is 3 hours 30 minutes behind India

ELECTRICITY : A.C. 220 volts - 50 cycles. Plugs are of the round 2-pin type.

DIALLING CODE :

International dialling code:  

32

Area codes:

Bruges: 50, Brussels: 2, Antwerp: 3, Charleroi: 71, Ghent: 9

TIPS :

Service charges and VAT are always included in prices. If exceptional service is given, tip at your discretion. Suggested tip for portage is 1 Euro per piece; for coatroom attendants 1.25 to 2.50 Euros per coat; for bathroom attendants 0.25 to 0.50 Euros. 

LANGUAGE : There are three officially recognized languages: French and Dutch are the main languages; German is spoken by a small segment of the population and English is widely spoken.

INFORMATIVE WEBSITE :

www.visitbelgium.com

CITIES :

BRUSSELS :

Brussels is the ultimate European city. As the headquarters to the EU (European Union) and NATO it is often referred to as The Capital of Europe. It is an international metropolis – a mosaic of languages, cultures, and traditions. Aside from the splendid and varied architectural styles of the city, Brussels also hosts over 80 museums, numerous tourist attractions, a vibrant nightlife, and more restaurants than you could count.

Accomodation Options in Brussels :

Brussels has the complete range of accommodation, from period buildings in the city centre to modern complexes on the outskirts.

If you want to be in the heart of the city, aim for a hotel as near as possible to the Grand'Place. The square offers immediate access to Brussels's premier attractions and is a beautiful location to stay in its own right.

If you want the luxury to go with the location, try the Marriott. A five-star hotel by the Grand'Place, this establishment is one of the best places to luxuriate in the city with all the amenities you'd expect of an international hotel plus a prime spot right in the heart of things.

For greater peace and quiet, and an increase in greenery, there are plenty of hotels to choose from around Parc du Cinquantenaire. This leafy expanse to the east of the city centre also has its fair share of attractions - the Museum of Art and History, the Museum of Military History and Autoworld to name a few - but is less crowded, especially during the evening.

The Quartier Louise area is also a favourite target for tourists, with loads of hotels to choose from. Situated around the Palais de Justice, this quarter still allows easy access to the city centre, and to the lively antique markets and shops on the Place du Grand Sablon. As with the Parc du Cinquantenaire, hotel prices in this area are likely to be significantly cheaper than those near the Grand'Place. One such hotel is the NH City Centre, situated on the Chaussée de Charleroi. With a good level of accommodation and bright, airy rooms, this offers great value for money while still being easily accessible.

Alternatively seek out some of the grand hotels near to the Gare du Nord. Although the areas around train stations are generally less salubrious than elsewhere, Brussels is an exception.

MUST – SEES :

GRAND PLACE :

The historic heart of Brussels, The Grand'Place is indisputably one of Europe's finest city squares and a bustling place around the clock. Upon entering the square, you can't fail to be impressed by the elegant guild houses that surround it, most of them dating from the 18th century and built in traditional Flemish style.
The centrepiece of the place is the medieval town hall, the only building that predates King Louis XIV's bombardment of Brussels city centre in 1695, when almost everything else was levelled.
Despite its impressive history, for most visitors, this is first and foremost a place for entertainment and there's certainly no shortage of venues for eating and drinking, from bars to restaurants.

THE ATOMIUM :

Immediately recognisable from countless postcards, the Atomium is one of the 20th century's most celebrated tourist attractions. Built in 1958 for Brussels's World Fair, it celebrates humanity's mastery of the molecules that make up our world. At 102m in height, it is some 165 billion times the size of the atomic lattice of iron crystals that it represents.

Inside the structure, you will find exhibitions, discovery centres and one of the world's fastest elevators. The main exhibitions rotate every 12 months or so but mostly concentrate on the 1958 World Fair and the thinking behind this remarkable structure. There are also occasional displays of modern art or technology as befits the building's status as one of the most audacious works of architecture of the last century.

Boulevard du Centenaire. Open: daily 09h00-20h00 (Apr-Aug); 10h00-18h00 (Sep-Mar). Admission: EUR9, adults; EUR6, children. Tel: +32 (0)2-474-8977

THE MANNEKIN PIS FOUNTAIN :

As with any true city symbol, the Manneken-Pis - better known as the "Brussels Boy" fountain - divides opinion.

Many locals feel it inappropriate that the sight of a bronze child passing water into a bowl should be the most enduring image of a visit to a city with such a rich cultural and political heritage. Others insist that this humorous and irreverent work is the perfect representation of a relaxed and progressive people. Either way, your visit won't be complete without a quick peek.

The fountain can be found on the corner of Rue de l'Etuve and Stoofstraat. The statue is often clothed in outfits that are changed monthly or so; a collection of the little fellow's previous apparel is housed at the nearby City of Brussels Museum.

EXCURSIONS :

GHENT :

Picturesque and peaceful Ghent is one of Belgium's major tourist draws after Brussels.

Splendid baroque architecture dominates the city and narrow alleys between medieval buildings give the visitor a fantastic sense of history as well as spectacular photo opportunities.

The city's historical markets are also a big draw with the flower market, bird market and the flea market being the most interesting and colourful. There is a lot to admire in the city with numerous museums tracing the city's long history. Ghent is 60km from Brussels (40 minutes on the train).

ANTWERP :

Rubens and Van Dyck are Antwerp's most famous sons and the city celebrates its two artistic geniuses everywhere.

A visit to the Rubenshouse in particular will be well rewarded. The artist himself lived (and died) here during his time in Antwerp and the house has been completely restored for visitors, containing several paintings by Rubens and his contemporaries.

The Renaissance architecture of the Rubenshouse fits in with the rest of the city, with the massive town hall being the crowning glory of this picturesque city.

If your interests are more inclined towards the materialistic, Antwerp is renowned for its diamond trade as well as being something of a centre for fashion: a browse through the boutiques of top Euro designers such as Dries Van Noten will be well rewarded, as will a wander through the diamond district. The city's clubbing scene has taken off in recent years too and many visitors make a point of checking out the great array of clubs and bars on offer. Antwerp is 50km north of Brussels

Bruge (Brugges) :

Probably one of the prettiest medieval towns in Europe Bruges is well worth a visit if you have a day to spare.
Located further north-west than Ghent the city is still only an hour away by train from Brussels. Don't miss the brilliantly named Cathedral of the Holy Blood - which houses a relic believed to be a phial containing the blood of Christ. Each May the city parades the somewhat macabre

relic in a medieval procession through the streets.

SHOPPING :

Brussels is called the “Shopwindow of the World” & there are enough specialities to keep you going for years! Visit the permanent Designer Centre, at 51 Galerie Ravenstein, near the Central Station & Sabena Air Terminal.  The big stores, Au Bon Marche etc all are great places to shop at.  Chain stores dominate along the Rue Neuve, but more interesting fare can be found in the area between the Rue de Midi and the Grand Place. A highlight is Galéries St Hubert, which is home to many designer shops.

Brussels’ classic souvenir is chocolate. Fresh creamy pralines are for sale at Wittamer, Place du Grand-Sablon, who have had almost a century to perfect their recipes. Other names to look out for are Neuhaus, Galerie de la Reine and Godiva, also located in the Grand-Place. Cheaper chocolates are available from the popular Léonidas chain. Dandoy produce melt-in-your-mouth macaroons and the Brussels speciality speculoos – a gingerbread biscuit with a crunch.

Beer is best bought at Bière Artisanale which stocks over 400 types of beer & glasses to suit.

Brussels lace (on show at the Lace Museum) is for sale at F Rubbrecht, or at the city’s largest lace maker, Manufacture Belge de Dentelle. Most of the souvenir lace shops around Grand-Place are less authentic.

Every day is market day in the different parts of Brussels. Among the best of these is the flower market, open Tuesday to Sunday 0800-1800, at Grand-Place, also the site of the Sunday morning bird market. Antiques are sold at the market on Place du Grand-Sablon, Saturday 0900-1800 and Sunday 0900-1300, while the flea market at Place du Jeu de Balle, in the Marolles district, is open daily 0700-1300, at is best on weekend mornings.

Standard shopping hours are 1000-1800/1900 but the Grand-Place area stays open until approximately 2000.