I visited Brussels, Belgium in 2014 with some friends, on a long weekend challenge. The country is known as the land of of delicious waffles, beer and chocolate. Belgium is an interesting country with a blend of French, Dutch and German settlers and therefore the language and culture will vary depending on which part of the country you visit. 

As a people who enjoy good beers, the Belgians needed to create opportunities to enjoy their beverages, with ambiance. The result: a great number of music festivals held in the summer with the most famous being Tommorrowland, which has now also been exported to other parts of the world. But one cannot drink without food (that is a recipe for regret), the Belgians have various options to line the stomach, such as simple frites or for a more substantial meal, add carbonnades flamandes (beef stew cooked with beer instead of wine).

Due to the history and make-up of Belgium, the culture is very varied with influences from the different parts of the continent from which the Belgians originated. Ever wondered how the the noble lived in the medieval times? Belgium has the highest number of castles per square mile in the world. Therefore, there are ample opportunities to explore these medieval structures in the countryside and get information about how the households were run, a bit more about some of the nobles that have inhabited the country as well as seeing some of the furnishings that have been preserved over time. Another interesting cultural contribution of the Belgians to society are some of the comics we grew up with such as ‘The Smurfs’, ‘The Adventures of Tintin’, ‘Spiro et Fantasio’. There are galleries and museums galore sharing many of the creations by Belgians over the years. 

If one is into politics, Brussels is where the headquarters for a number of international organisations such as NATO, the European Union, United Nations and UNICES European Union.

Antwerp, in the north, is known for its diamond industry and trade. This history spans from the 16th century when the first diamond cutters guild was founded. Interestingly, about 85% of the world’s rough diamonds pass through Antwerp.