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General Information Official Name: Kingdom of Belgium (Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie) Usual Name: Belgium (Belgique/Belgie) Area: 11,787 sq miles (about the size of Maryland) Capital City: Brussels (Bruxelles) Nationality: Belgian Languages: Dutch (60%) French (40%) German (less than 1%) Population: 10,364,388 (July 2005 est.)

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Liège

Tourist Information
(by Emlyn)

• Visas: American citizens do not need a visa to visit Belgium as long as their stay in the country does not exceeds 90 days. European citizens can travel freely to Belgium if they're from the Schengen area. Citizens from other countries should consult their national Belgian Embassy.

• Tourism: about 13 millions a year.

• Going places while there: Belgium is famous for its thorough freeway network (which is lit at night). Trains are also pretty common. Cities are well equipped with public transportations.

• Time Zone: Western Europe Time zone (GMT+1, GMT+2 (daylight savings))

• Electricity: 220V

• Weights & Measures: Metric system

• Currency: Euro (€)

  • Coins: 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, 1 €, 2 €.

  • Bills: 5 €, 10 €, 20 €, 50 €, 100 €, 200 €, 500 €.

  • Credit and Payment Cards: ATM and credit cards are widely used and accepted all over the country.

• Basic Costs:

  • Food: cheap: 7-10 €, medium range: 10-25 €, high end: 25 and more.

  • Lodging: cheap: 30-40 €, medium range: 40-70 €, high end: 70 and more.

• Legal Holidays: On holidays, all business and administrations are closed (with very very few exceptions). One also needs to be aware that if a legal holiday falls on a weekend, administrative offices are likely to be closed on the Monday.

  • New Year's Day: Jan 1st.

  • Easter Monday: the day after Easter. exact dates will vary but always in March or April.

  • Labor Day: May 1st.

  • Ascension Day: 40 days after Easter (always on a Thursday, usually in May).

  • Pentecost Monday: late May or early June.

  • Flemish Community Day: July 11th (celebrated only in Flanders).

  • National Holiday: July 21st.

  • Assumption Day: August 15th.

  • French Community Day: September 27th (celebrated only in Wallonia)

  • All Saints Day: November 1st.

  • Armistice Day: November 11th (doesn't commemorate only the end of WW1 but also all war veterans (like Veterans Day in the US))

  • German Community Day: November 15th (celebrated only in the German speaking parts)

  • Christmas: December 25th (do not miss the "Christmas markets" if you're in Belgium for the Holidays).

• Other Important Days: Non legal holidays.

  • Valentine's Day: February 14th.

  • Mardi Gras: a very important day in Belgium with parades in many cities.

  • Easter: the Catholic dimension of the day is getting more and more lost in favor of becoming a big family day (almost the Belgian Thanksgiving)

  • Mothers Day: On the second Sunday of May.

  • Fathers Day: On the second Sunday of June.

  • Halloween: Just like other European countries, Halloween recently arrived in Belgium, but it's not as popular as in the US, as it's not part of the local culture.

  • St Nicholas' Day: December 6th. Saint Nicholas is really the Santa Claus of many Northern European Countries. This day is heavily celebrated by children and young adults (it's really the missing link between Halloween and Christmas).

  • New Year's Eve: Like in many other countries, most Belgium gather with friends to celebrate the New Year.

• Tipping: Service is included everywhere in Belgium and tipping is not expected. With the exception of tourist guides to whom it's preferable to give about 2 Euros.

• Food: Belgian cuisine is not as famous as other European cuisines, but traditional dishes are worth the try, especially if you're already there. Don't forget one thing though, French Fries should actually be called Belgian Fries as they're an institution in the country.

• Alcohol: People under the age of 18 are not allowed to drink alcoholic drinks (not including beer though) in bars and restaurants. It is not illegal to consume alcohol in the street but it not seen as very appropriate.

• Tobacco: Tobacco is legal everywhere, but less and less welcome in most public places.

• Drugs : Belgium is pretty permissive regarding the use of cannabis and hashish (only their use). Other drugs are completely illegal and their use as well as their sale is severely repressed.