World-famous chocolate, beer and diamonds, and an intriguing role in changing recent European history. Make the most of your holiday overseas with our guide to the top 5 things to do in Belgium . We’ll help you enjoy the best the world has to offer.
1. Brussels’ Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate
The Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate, is near the main market square in central Brussels. Chocoholics can marvel and drool over the history of Belgian chocolate, from the arrival of the cocoa bean in Europe right through to live demonstrations of today’s special techniques and processes that make Belgian chocolate so popular worldwide.
2. Belgian beer tours
A trip to Belgium isn’t complete without sampling at least some of its huge range of specialist beers. From the distinctive Lambic beers, brewed in the Pajottenland region, to Flanders Red Ale, a fruity, sour beer with red malt, the Belgians claim to have the widest range of high-quality beers in the world. And there are numerous guided tours of breweries throughout the country. Informative, provided you don’t get carried away.
3. Antwerp Diamond Museum
Antwerp has been the diamond capital of the world for centuries, so it’s not surprising to find the world’s largest diamond museum here. It’s an impressive audio-visual tour, with interactive displays and headphones that guide you through the whole process and how it’s changed through history, from mining techniques through to the creation of beautiful jewellery. Going with your girlfriend? Leave your wallet at the hotel…
4. Bastogne
Many say the ‘Battle of the Bulge’ at Bastogne in 1944 turned the tide against Hitler’s advance in World War II. Despite having almost no ammunition, food or shelter, and being exposed to heavy fire from German artillery, the American 101st Airborne division held out in the woods near Bastogne and eventually secured this strategic position for the Allied war effort. A remarkable place for history buffs and WWII enthusiasts to visit.
5. Ypres’ WWI battlefields
Ypres stood in Germany’s path through Belgium into Northern France during the First World War. The town was heavily bombarded, but rebuilt after the war – so well it’s hard to imagine the devastation it suffered. Original battle trench networks and bullet-ridden trees remain in the countryside around Ypres, particularly near Passchendaele, where you’ll find the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world.
No matter where your Belgian adventure takes you, make sure you have travel insurance. Then you can relax and enjoy your journey.