Social ConventionsFlemish Belgians will often prefer to answer visitors in English rather than French, even if the visitor’s French is good. It is customary to bring flowers or a small present for the hostess, especially if invited for a meal. Dress is similar to other Western nations, depending on the formality of the occasion. If black tie/evening dress is to be worn, this is always mentioned on the invitation. Smoking is generally unrestricted.
International Travel:Getting There by AirThe main airline is
Brussels Airlines (website:
www.brusselsairlines.com), which was created
following a merger between
SN Brussels Airlines and
Virgin Express in March 2007.
Departure TaxNone.
Main AirportsBrussels Zaventem (BRU) (website:
www.brusselsairport.be) is 12km (8 miles) northeast of the city (journey time - 35 minutes).
To/from the airport: The
Airport City Express train (website:
www.b-rail.be) connects all three main railway stations (Brussels North, Central and South) with the airport (journey time - 20 minutes). The airport station is located on level one below the terminal. Other trains also depart frequently for the city and for destinations all over Belgium. Coaches depart from the airport bus station on ground level for major cities in Belgium, France and The Netherlands. Buses run regularly to and from the city and the bus station is located below the arrivals hall. Taxis are only available from outside the arrivals hall; all licensed taxis are recognizable by their yellow and blue license emblems. A tip is generally included in taxi fares. Some hotels offer courtesy coaches.
Facilities: Car parking, car hire, post office, banks, bureaux de change, bars, restaurants, duty-free shops, medical facilities, and conference and business facilities.
Brussels South Charleroi (CRL) (website:
www.charleroi-airport.com) is 5km (3 miles) from Charleroi and 46km (29 miles) from Brussels. Airlines serving the airports include
Ryanair.
To/from the airport: Buses depart every 30 minutes to Charleroi (journey time - 10 minutes). There are regular coaches and trains to Brussels (journey time - 1 hour).
Facilities: Automatic money changer, car hire, cafe, business lounge and duty-free shop.
Getting There by WaterP&O Ferries (tel: 0870 598 0333, in the UK only; website:
www.poferries.com) serves Zeebrugge from Hull with overnight sailings (journey time - 14 hours) and
Superfast Ferries (tel: 0870 234 0870, in the UK only; website:
www.superfast.com) connects the same port with Rosyth, near Edinburgh, (journey time - 18 hours).
Transeuropa Ferries (tel: 01843 595 522, in the UK; website:
www.transeuropaferries.com) links Ramsgate with Ostend for passengers traveling with cars (journey time - 4 hours).
Getting There by RailSociété Nationale des Chemins de Fer Belges (SNCB) (Belgian National Railways) (tel: (02) 528 2828; website:
www.b-rail.be), operates frequent day and night trains to destinations all over Europe.
Trains à Grande Vitesse (TGV) (tel: 0870 737 1371,
Rail Europe, in the UK only; website:
www.tgv.com) operates between Belgium and France, departing from Brussels Midi station.
Further high-speed trains are operated by
Thalys (tel: (02) 528 2828; website:
www.thalys.com), linking Brussels with Paris, Amsterdam and Cologne. Journey time from Paris is 1 hour 20 minutes, Amsterdam is 2 hours 20 minutes, and Cologne 2 hours 25 minutes.
Eurostar (tel: 0870 518 6186, in the UK only; website:
www.eurostar.com) connects Brussels with Lille and London via the Channel Tunnel (journey time - 2 hours 30 minutes, reducing to 1 hour 50 minutes from November 2007 when the service transfers from London Waterloo station to the new international terminal at London St Pancras).
Rail PassesInterRail: offers unlimited first- or second-class travel in up to 30 European countries for European residents of over six months with two pass options. The
Global Pass allows travel for 22 days, one month, five days in 10 days or 10 days in 22 days across all countries. The
One-Country Pass offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month in any of the countries except Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro. Travel is not allowed in the passenger’s country of residence. Travelers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children’s tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on
Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from
Rail Europe (website: www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).
The
Eurailpass (website:
http://www.eurail.com/) offers unlimited first-class train travel in 17 European countries. Tickets are valid for 15 days, 21 days, one month, two months or three months.
Getting There by RoadBelgium is connected to the rest of Europe by an excellent network of motorways. All roads are well signposted with green ‘E’ symbols indicating international highways. Although frontier formalities between Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and The Netherlands have now all but vanished, motorists (particularly on smaller roads) should be prepared to stop when asked to do so by a customs official.
Eurotunnel (tel: 0870 535 3535, in the UK only; website:
www.eurotunnel.com) runs shuttle trains for vehicles between Folkestone in Kent, with direct road access from the M20, and Calais, with links to the A16/A26 motorway (Exit 13). All road vehicles are carried through the tunnel in shuttle trains running between the two terminals. Driving time from Calais to Brussels is approximately 2 hours.
Coach: Eurolines (tel: 0870 580 8080,in the UK only; website:
www.eurolines.com) runs regular coach services from the UK to Belgium. Travelers can book a 15- or 30-day pass.
OverviewThe following goods may be imported into Belgium by persons over 17 years of age arriving from non-EU countries without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco;
2l of wine,
1l of spirits or 2l of sparkling wine or 2l of non-sparkling wine or 2l of fortified wine;
50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette;
other goods up to €64.45 or €24.79 for nationals under 15 years (subject to change - contact the embassy for up-to-date information);
500g of coffee or 200g of coffee extract;
100g of tea or 40g of tea extract.
Abolition of duty-free goods within the EUOn 30 June 1999, the sale of duty free alcohol and tobacco at airports and at sea was abolished in all of the original 15 EU member states. Of the 10 new member states that joined the EU on 1 May 2004 and the two states that joined on 1 January 2007, these rules already apply to Cyprus and Malta. There are transitional rules in place for visitors returning to one of the original 15 EU countries from one of the other new EU countries. But for the original 15, plus Cyprus and Malta, there are no limits imposed on importing tobacco and alcohol products from one EU country to another. Travelers should note that they may be required to prove at customs that the goods purchased are for personal use
only. Member states may follow the EU’s guide levels of: 10l of spirits; 20l of fortified wine; 90l of wine; 110l of beer; 800 cigarettes; 400 cigarillos; 200 cigars and 1kg of tobacco.
Prohibited ImportsUnpreserved meat products. Other unpreserved foodstuffs must be declared.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirAs Belgium is such a small country, there are no internal flights.
Getting Around by RailSociété Nationale des Chemins de Fer Belges (SNCB) (Belgian National Railways) (tel: (02) 528 2828; website:
www.b-rail.be) operates a comprehensive railway network with regular trains on most lines. On the main lines there are more frequent trains. Further information is available from
Rail Europe (tel: 08708 371 371, in the UK only; website:
www.raileurope.co.uk).
Fares: First- and second-class, single and return tickets are available. However, a return ticket is double the single fare and is only valid on the day of issue. Children under 12 travel free in second class (restrictions apply).
Discount travel: Weekend return fares are available from Friday (after 1900) to Sunday for the outward journey and on Saturday and Sunday for the return journey (on long holiday weekends, these periods are extended). A 50% reduction card is also for sale. It entitles the holder to buy an unlimited number of half-price single tickets.
Go Pass offers preferential tariffs for 10 second-class trips within one year to people aged under 26. The
Rail Pass offers preferential tariffs for 10 second-class trips within one year to people over 26. People aged 65 and over benefit from special tariffs.
Rail PassesInterRail’s One-Country Pass offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Belgium. Travel is not allowed in the passenger’s country of residence. Travelers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children’s tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on
Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from
Rail Europe (website:
www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).
Getting Around by RoadTraffic drives on the right. Main towns are connected by toll-free motorways. Motorways are designated by a white ‘E’ on green signs, other trunk roads by the prefix ‘N’, and minor roads by a ‘P’.
Bus: Extensive regional bus services are operated by the bus companies which publish regional timetables. The main operators are
De Lijn (tel: (070) 220 200; website:
www.delijn.be) in Flanders, and
TEC (tel: (010) 235 353; website:
www.tec-wl.be) in French-speaking Wallonia. There are long-distance stopping services between towns.
Taxis: Plentiful in all towns. The tip is included in the final meter price. If there are no taxi stands, taxi companies may be telephoned for an small extra charge.
Car hire: Both self-drive and chauffeur-driven cars are available. All the major car hire companies are present in Belgium.
Regulations: The national speed limit is 120kph (75mph) on motorways, 90kph (56mph) on single lane roads and 50kph (31mph) in town. It is compulsory for seat belts to be worn in the front and back of vehicles. Children under 12 are not permitted to travel in the front seat of a car. A warning triangle must be displayed at the scene of a breakdown or accident. It is compulsory to carry a fire extinguisher or first aid kit in all vehicles. Trams always have priority on roads.
Documentation: For non-EU nationals an international driving license is recommended. EU nationals taking their own cars to Belgium should obtain a Green Card. Emergency assistance is available from the
Royal Automobile Club de Belgique (tel: (02) 287 0900; website:
www.racb.be).
Getting Around Towns and CitiesThere is a good public transport system in all the major towns and cities, with underground, tram and bus services in Antwerp and Brussels, bus and tramways in Charleroi, Ghent and Ostend and bus systems elsewhere. There is a standard flat-fare system, with discounts for five- and 10-journey multi-ride tickets. One-day tickets and multi-mode tourist travelcards are also available.
Journey TimesThe following chart gives approximate journey times from
Brussels (in hours and minutes) to other major cities and towns in Belgium.
| Road | Rail |
| Antwerp | 0.40 | 0.41 |
| Bruges | 1.00 | 0.53 |
| Ghent | 0.50 | 0.28 |
| Liège | 1.10 | 1.22 |
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