Belgium is a small nation with a rich history; it was home to battlefields from both world wars in the 19th century. Additionally, Belgian beer and chocolate have long been prized commodities.
Since then, several artistic movements have emerged here, such as Flemish Renaissance and expressionist painting. A Belgian named Adolphe Quetelet invented the body mass index while Stromae is an internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter.
History
Belgium has seen significant political transformation since it became independent in 1830. Prior to World War I, two political groups dominated Belgian politics: Catholic Party (church-oriented and conservative) and Liberal Party (anti-clerical and progressive). But with industrialisation on the rise in Belgium in the 20th century came another power-brokering force in form of Socialist Party representing an emerging industrial working class.
In 1993, a constitutional reform was instituted that modernized and enhanced Parliament. The goal was to transform its chambers into modern and efficient institutions. Federal legislative power has since been divided between two chambers: House of Representatives and Senate. Both share legislative competencies on issues pertaining to State structures and institutions while they both share authority for matters impacting daily life for their respective constituents.
The second branch consists of Communities and Regions, which exercise broad authority over issues pertaining to their inhabitants’ language and culture. Examples include the Flemish Community, French Community, German-Speaking Community; it took until 1980 for Brussels’ Community Assembly and Government to become fully competent for regional economic matters.
As part of the fourth state reform implemented in 1988-89, an array of additional powers were devolved to the Communities and Regions. These included legislation rights on cultural matters, education responsibilities, and creating regional economic assemblies. Community legislatures and governments now bear responsibility for transportation, public works, water policy, education, culture and cultural heritage while the regions have jurisdiction in housing zoning economic matters and executive bodies. Both the Constitutional Court (Cour d’Arbitrage- Raad van State) and highest administrative court (Conseil d’Etat- Hof van Cassatie) have consistently declined to review decisions by either House regarding members credentials.
Culture
People tend to associate Belgium with world-famous beer, delectable chocolate and delectable French fries; but what many don’t realize is that this beautiful country also produces some of the finest wines in Europe.
Belgium is a small nation boasting an extraordinary cultural wealth. Home to numerous museums and art galleries – such as the Royal Museum of Fine Arts which houses masterpieces by Brueghel, Van Eyck and Rubens – Belgium has long been involved with artistic endeavors, pioneering several major European painting movements through artists like Van Eyck, Brueghel and Rubens as early adopters of oil paint; more recently Magritte has achieved international renown.
Belgians are open-minded and adaptable people. They prioritize privacy, work hard and maintain self-discipline. Additionally, they play an active role in their community and government and tend to be reserved when meeting new people; but once familiar they tend to warm up quickly.
Religion plays an integral role in Belgium with most citizens being Catholic. There are, however, various religious communities present and their freedom is guaranteed under its Constitution. Mosques, temples and synagogues can be found across multiple cities.
Postwar Belgium witnessed the formation of one-issue parties dedicated to protecting cultural, linguistic or regional interests of specific segments of its population. These linguistic parties eventually led to revisions to Belgium’s constitution in 1970 that granted Flemish and Walloon regions greater economic autonomy.
Food
Belgian cuisine is well-renowned for its delectable dishes and sweets, including waffles, fries and chocolate as staples. But Belgium offers much more for foodie travellers; its gastronomic landscape boasts a diverse array of regional specialities like waterzooi from Ghent; couque biscuit from Dinant; and gugelhof beer soup from Brussels – as well as classic European classics such as French, German and Dutch dishes influencing its cuisine.
Early cuisine of Belgium can be traced to early tribes who hunted, fished and foraged for berries and herbs for sustenance. Since then, its cuisine has evolved significantly to include an abundance of meats, fish, cheeses and vegetables; regional ingredients like potatoes, leeks, kale and Belgian endive also play an integral part of its repertoire.
Belgian cuisine is well known for its refined cuisine, with many Belgian chefs boasting international reputations. A typical meal begins with a light breakfast, followed by medium lunch, snacks, and finally dinner.
One of the most iconic Belgian dishes, mussels with fries are enjoyed all year long and make for a delectable bite, especially when enhanced with sauces like mustard or curry. Indulge with an indulgent glass of beer as the perfect pairing!
Croquettes, similar to their French counterpart, are another iconic Belgian dish. Croquettes come stuffed with everything from abbey cheese to grey shrimp or foie gras; typically served alongside salad, fried parsley and frites for optimal enjoyment.
Belgium cuisine must-tries include delectably rich and creamy waffles, delicious chicken or duck-filled choux pastry (baked puff pastry), hot soup and of course, the world-famous Belgian beer!
Beer
Belgium boasts an extensive brewing history dating back centuries, making them the source of today’s vibrant craft beer industry. Family and monastic breweries pass down techniques and recipes for creating diverse taste profiles: delicate wheat beers and lambics to old brown ales, dubbels, tripels, gueuzes and specialty Belgian styles like Brut de Flandres and Speciale Belge inspire brewers worldwide.
Beer is an integral part of Belgian culture and a part of daily life, from daily activities and festivals to socializing and digestif consumption. Beer can even be used in cooking (including beer-washed cheeses) and to enhance other food flavors.
Belgian beer culture remains relatively unique; while other nations may have seen their beer spread globally, Belgians remained close-knit and preserved traditional methods and styles that are seldom seen outside their homeland. With such a distinct brewing heritage that makes for fascinating exploration!
Delirium Tremens utilizes various yeast strains to produce an array of aroma and flavor compounds. As such, Delirium Tremens conjures images of pears and oranges while Chimay Bleue tastes of figs and prunes while Sint Bernardus Wit exhilarates with zesty pepper and clove notes. Belgian beer connoisseurs don’t shy away from experimenting either by adding flavors such as roasted coffee, caramel or chocolate or adding spices like coriander and grains of paradise or exotic fruits into their beer production process.
Many beers are served in glasses designed specifically to accommodate large heads, known as tulip glasses. Bartenders will often apologize if the specific glass they had in mind has run out, and will serve the beer differently instead.
Weather
Belgium boasts a temperate climate typical of northwestern Europe, with mild winters and somewhat cool summers. Precipitation occurs frequently throughout the year – particularly between April and October.
Temperature and relative humidity generally remain stable across the country, with averages typically falling within a range of 34-74 degrees Fahrenheit in most regions. There may be small seasonal variations; however.
Springtime brings trees and wildflowers blooming to life in a vibrant display across the countryside and hills, while as temperatures warm, more sun begins to shine more frequently and restaurants, cafes, and bars set tables outside on streets or by canals to welcome customers with comfortable temperatures that don’t feel overcrowded. Spring is an ideal season to visit; trees and wildflowers offer breathtaking displays in any season, creating vibrant scenes all year long!
As autumn advances, the landscape gradually takes on more of a grey and brown hue as leaves begin to drop from trees. Although sun still manages to break through some days’ cloud cover, overall it feels much drier compared to summer travels. Therefore autumn makes an excellent time to travel as less tourists visit between late June and early September – this makes for more relaxing travel experience!
Brussels experiences its rainiest period from October through January, when skies are typically overcast or partly cloudy most days. Conversely, its driest months span May through October when skies tend to remain either mostly clear or completely clear most of the time. Below is a chart that displays how many wet days there were in each month (note that this number may change daily depending on precipitation amounts):