Belgium Travel Guide

Belgium — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: Western Europe.
Language: The official languages are Dutch, French and German. Dutch is slightly more widely spoken than French, and German is spoken the least. English is widely spoken in the Flemish region.
Area: 30,528 sq km (11,787 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are of the round two-pin type.
Population: 10.7 million (2008).
Population Density: 350 per sq km.
Capital City: Brussels.
Government: Constitutional monarchy. The Kingdom of Belgium was established in 1830. In 1993, Belgium became a federal state comprising three autonomous regions.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Yves Leterme since 2009 (second term).
Head of State: King Albert II since 1993.
Religion: Mainly Roman Catholic (75%, although few attend regular mass), with small Protestant and Jewish communities.

Recent History

Belgium as a nation only came into being in 1831, after France helped it wrest its independence from the Netherlands and Leopold I was inaugurated as the country’s first king. Over the next century it evolved into a parliamentary democracy with French as the official language of government. French influences also dominated the mainstream culture, making the friction between Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia at times very pronounced. The era was also marked by the rise of Belgium as a colonial power, and is remembered for the brutal treatment of King Leopold II (son of Leopold I) in the Congo Free State.

The country suffered four years of German occupation during World War I, seeing some of the most intense conflicts of the entire campaign and emerging in ruinous condition, something repeated when it again fell into German hands over World War II. It experienced good post-war economic growth, however, and state reforms helped it to recover stability, although there remain tensions between Flanders and Wallonia. The current prime minister, Yves Leterme, took office for the second time in November 2009.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +32. For operator services, dial 1324. There are call boxes in all major towns and country districts, and telecards are available from newsagents, railway stations and post offices.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is excellent.

Internet

Internet cafés are widely available throughout the country.

Media

As a result of its political and linguistic divide, Belgium has two separate public broadcasting organizations - Dutch-speaking VRT and French-speaking RTBF - each with its own regulations and running its own radio, TV and external broadcasting. Cable services offer dozens of domestic and foreign channels. The Bulletin is an English magazine published weekly in Brussels.

Post

Airmail takes two to three days to other west European destinations.Mon-Fri 0900-1700 (hours can vary).

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
22 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
2 Jun Ascension Day
13 Jun Whit Monday
11 Jul * Flemish Community Holiday
21 Jul Independence Day
15 Aug Assumption
27 Sep * French Community Holiday
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
11 Nov Armistice Day
15 Nov German Community Holiday
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
9 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
17 May Ascension Day
28 May Whit Monday
11 Jul * Flemish Community Holiday
21 Jul Independence Day
15 Aug Assumption
27 Sep * French Community Holiday
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
11 Nov Armistice Day
15 Nov German Community Holiday
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day
*Observed by the respective communities.

Contact Information

British Embassy in Belgium

British Embassy, Avenue d'Auderghem 10 Oudergemlaan, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: (2) 287 6211.
Website: www.ukinbelgium.fco.gov.uk
Opening hours: (Embassy) Mon-Fri 0900-1730; (Consular) Mon-Fri 0830-1230, Wed 1400-1600; (Visa) Mon-Fri 0900-1130.

Embassy of Belgium in the UK

17 Grosvenor Crescent, London SW1X 7EE, UK.
Tel: (020) 7470 3700 (general enquiries) or 0871 3760023 (visa enquiries, 0830-1200).
Website: www.diplomatie.be/london (general) or www.vfs-be-uk.com (visa information).
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700; (visa) 0830-1200 (applications), 1400-1500 (collections).

Office de Promotion du Tourisme in the UK (Belgian Tourist Office Brussels & Wallonia)

217 Marsh Wall, London E14 9FJ, UK
Tel: (020) 7537 1132 or 0800 954 5245 (brochure request line).
Website: www.belgiumtheplaceto.be

Toerisme Vlaanderen in the UK (Tourism Flanders - Brussels)

Flanders House, 1A Cavendish Square, London W1G 0LD, UK
Tel: (020) 7307 7738 or 0800 954 5245 (brochure request line).
Website: www.visitflanders.co.uk

Embassy of Belgium in the USA

3330 Garfield Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 333 6900.
Website: www.diplobel.us
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1200; visa info by phone 0930-1200 and 1400-1600.