Belgium Travel Guide

Language

The Flemish, in the north, speak Dutch (60% of the population); the Walloons in the south speak French (40%). Brussels is bilingual, the majority of citizens speaking French. In the east there is a small German-speaking community. English is also spoken.

Currency

Euro (EUR) divided into 100 cents. Most credit cards are accepted (Visa, American Express, Diners Club and Eurcard) as are travelers checks (though it is best to carry them in Euros, US dollars or Pounds Sterling to avoid additional charges when exchanging). ATMs are available in all major cities. Banks are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, and are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Some banks close for an hour during lunch. There are however some foreign exchange offices that trade on Sundays.

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Time

Local time in Belgium is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October).

Electricity

Electrical current in Belgium is 230 volts, 50Hz. European-style two-pin plugs with receptacle and male grounding pin can be used.

Communications

The international access code for Belgium is +32. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). City codes are required for all calls within Belgium; the area code for Brussels is (0)2. Mobile phones operate on GSM networks. Public phones take coins or phone cards. Internet cafes are widely available.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Belgium arriving from non-EU countries are allowed to enter the country with the following items without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; 1 liter spirits over 22% in alcohol or 2 liters of dessert wine 22% in alcohol and sparkling wine, and 2 liters wine; 50g perfume and 250ml eau de toilette; and other goods such as souvenirs to the value of EUR175. Prohibited items include unpreserved meat products.

Tourist Office

Belgian Tourist and Information Office, Brussels: +32 (0)2 504 0390 or www.belgium-tourism.net

Embassies in Belgium

• Embassy of the United States, Brussels: +32 (0)2 508 2111.
• British Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 287 6211.
• Canadian Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 741 0611.
• Australian Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 286 0500.
• South African Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 285 4400.
• Embassy of Ireland, Brussels: +32 (0)2 282 3400.
• New Zealand Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 512 1040.

Belgium Embassies Abroad

• Embassy of Belgium, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 333 6900.
• Embassy of Belgium, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7470 3700.
• Embassy of Belgium, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 236 7267.
• Embassy of Belgium, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6273 2501.
• Belgium Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 440 3201/2.
• Embassy of Belgium, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 205 7100.
• Consulate of Belgium, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 974 9080.

Emergency

Emergencies: 101, 112 (cell).

Language

The Flemish, in the north, speak Dutch (60% of the population); the Walloons in the south speak French (40%). Brussels is bilingual, the majority of citizens speaking French. In the east there is a small German-speaking community. English is also spoken.

Currency

Euro (EUR) divided into 100 cents. Most credit cards are accepted (Visa, American Express, Diners Club and Eurcard) as are travelers checks (though it is best to carry them in Euros, US dollars or Pounds Sterling to avoid additional charges when exchanging). ATMs are available in all major cities. Banks are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, and are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Some banks close for an hour during lunch. There are however some foreign exchange offices that trade on Sundays.

0.6887

Time

Local time in Belgium is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October).

Electricity

Electrical current in Belgium is 230 volts, 50Hz. European-style two-pin plugs with receptacle and male grounding pin can be used.

Communications

The international access code for Belgium is +32. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). City codes are required for all calls within Belgium; the area code for Brussels is (0)2. Mobile phones operate on GSM networks. Public phones take coins or phone cards. Internet cafes are widely available.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Belgium arriving from non-EU countries are allowed to enter the country with the following items without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; 1 liter spirits over 22% in alcohol or 2 liters of dessert wine 22% in alcohol and sparkling wine, and 2 liters wine; 50g perfume and 250ml eau de toilette; and other goods such as souvenirs to the value of EUR175. Prohibited items include unpreserved meat products.

Tourist Office

Belgian Tourist and Information Office, Brussels: +32 (0)2 504 0390 or www.belgium-tourism.net

Embassies in Belgium

• Embassy of the United States, Brussels: +32 (0)2 508 2111.
• British Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 287 6211.
• Canadian Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 741 0611.
• Australian Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 286 0500.
• South African Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 285 4400.
• Embassy of Ireland, Brussels: +32 (0)2 282 3400.
• New Zealand Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 512 1040.

Belgium Embassies Abroad

• Embassy of Belgium, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 333 6900.
• Embassy of Belgium, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7470 3700.
• Embassy of Belgium, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 236 7267.
• Embassy of Belgium, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6273 2501.
• Belgium Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 440 3201/2.
• Embassy of Belgium, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 205 7100.
• Consulate of Belgium, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 974 9080.

Emergency

Emergencies: 101, 112 (cell).

Language

The Flemish, in the north, speak Dutch (60% of the population); the Walloons in the south speak French (40%). Brussels is bilingual, the majority of citizens speaking French. In the east there is a small German-speaking community. English is also spoken.

Currency

Euro (EUR) divided into 100 cents. Most credit cards are accepted (Visa, American Express, Diners Club and Eurcard) as are travelers checks (though it is best to carry them in Euros, US dollars or Pounds Sterling to avoid additional charges when exchanging). ATMs are available in all major cities. Banks are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, and are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Some banks close for an hour during lunch. There are however some foreign exchange offices that trade on Sundays.

0.6887

Time

Local time in Belgium is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October).

Electricity

Electrical current in Belgium is 230 volts, 50Hz. European-style two-pin plugs with receptacle and male grounding pin can be used.

Communications

The international access code for Belgium is +32. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). City codes are required for all calls within Belgium; the area code for Brussels is (0)2. Mobile phones operate on GSM networks. Public phones take coins or phone cards. Internet cafes are widely available.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Belgium arriving from non-EU countries are allowed to enter the country with the following items without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; 1 liter spirits over 22% in alcohol or 2 liters of dessert wine 22% in alcohol and sparkling wine, and 2 liters wine; 50g perfume and 250ml eau de toilette; and other goods such as souvenirs to the value of EUR175. Prohibited items include unpreserved meat products.

Tourist Office

Belgian Tourist and Information Office, Brussels: +32 (0)2 504 0390 or www.belgium-tourism.net

Embassies in Belgium

• Embassy of the United States, Brussels: +32 (0)2 508 2111.
• British Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 287 6211.
• Canadian Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 741 0611.
• Australian Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 286 0500.
• South African Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 285 4400.
• Embassy of Ireland, Brussels: +32 (0)2 282 3400.
• New Zealand Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 512 1040.

Belgium Embassies Abroad

• Embassy of Belgium, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 333 6900.
• Embassy of Belgium, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7470 3700.
• Embassy of Belgium, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 236 7267.
• Embassy of Belgium, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6273 2501.
• Belgium Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 440 3201/2.
• Embassy of Belgium, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 205 7100.
• Consulate of Belgium, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 974 9080.

Emergency

Emergencies: 101, 112 (cell).

Language

The Flemish, in the north, speak Dutch (60% of the population); the Walloons in the south speak French (40%). Brussels is bilingual, the majority of citizens speaking French. In the east there is a small German-speaking community. English is also spoken.

Currency

Euro (EUR) divided into 100 cents. Most credit cards are accepted (Visa, American Express, Diners Club and Eurcard) as are travelers checks (though it is best to carry them in Euros, US dollars or Pounds Sterling to avoid additional charges when exchanging). ATMs are available in all major cities. Banks are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, and are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Some banks close for an hour during lunch. There are however some foreign exchange offices that trade on Sundays.

0.6887

Time

Local time in Belgium is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October).

Electricity

Electrical current in Belgium is 230 volts, 50Hz. European-style two-pin plugs with receptacle and male grounding pin can be used.

Communications

The international access code for Belgium is +32. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). City codes are required for all calls within Belgium; the area code for Brussels is (0)2. Mobile phones operate on GSM networks. Public phones take coins or phone cards. Internet cafes are widely available.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Belgium arriving from non-EU countries are allowed to enter the country with the following items without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; 1 liter spirits over 22% in alcohol or 2 liters of dessert wine 22% in alcohol and sparkling wine, and 2 liters wine; 50g perfume and 250ml eau de toilette; and other goods such as souvenirs to the value of EUR175. Prohibited items include unpreserved meat products.

Tourist Office

Belgian Tourist and Information Office, Brussels: +32 (0)2 504 0390 or www.belgium-tourism.net

Embassies in Belgium

• Embassy of the United States, Brussels: +32 (0)2 508 2111.
• British Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 287 6211.
• Canadian Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 741 0611.
• Australian Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 286 0500.
• South African Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 285 4400.
• Embassy of Ireland, Brussels: +32 (0)2 282 3400.
• New Zealand Embassy, Brussels: +32 (0)2 512 1040.

Belgium Embassies Abroad

• Embassy of Belgium, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 333 6900.
• Embassy of Belgium, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7470 3700.
• Embassy of Belgium, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 236 7267.
• Embassy of Belgium, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6273 2501.
• Belgium Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 440 3201/2.
• Embassy of Belgium, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 205 7100.
• Consulate of Belgium, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 974 9080.

Emergency

Emergencies: 101, 112 (cell).