Belgium

Belgium is a densely populated country trying to balance the conflicting demands of urbanization, transportation, industry, commercial and intensive agriculture. It imports large quantities of raw materials and exports a large volume of manufactured goods, mostly to the EU. Rainfall and temperature

Climate

Temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy.

Terrain

Flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, wooded hills and valleys of Ardennes Forest in southeast.

History

Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830. It was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II and has many war graves near the battle zones, most of them are around Ieper (in English archaically rendered as Ypres, with Yperite another name for mustard gas due to intensive use there in WWI). It has prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy.

Electricity

Electricity is supplied at 220 to 230V 50Hz. Outlets are CEE7/5 (protruding male earth pin) and accept either CEE 7/5 (Grounded), CEE 7/7 (Grounded) or CEE 7/16 (non-grounded) plugs. Older German-type CEE 7/4 plugs are not compatible as they do not accommodate the earth pin found on this type of outlet. However, most modern European appliances are fitted with the hybrid CEE 7/7 plug which fits both CEE 7/5 (Belgium & France) and CEE 7/4 (Germany, Netherlands, Spain and most of Europe) outlets. Travellers from the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland and other countries using 230V 50Hz which use different plugs simply require a plug adaptor to use their appliances in Belgium. Travellers from the US, Canada, Japan and other countries using 110V 60Hz may need a voltage converter. However, some laptops, mobile phone chargers and other devices can accept either 110V or 230V so only require a simple plug adaptor. Check the voltage rating plates on your appliances before connecting them.

Some things that you should know before visiting

• Flemisch education is considered among the best in the world next to Japan and Sweden, so expect some nice conversations especially in student cities like Ghent or Leuven.
• Rock Werchter is voted almost each year to be the best music festival in the world.
• Flanders is in the top 20 of richest regions in the world. Yet the prices of a meal in a pub are really cheap and for a Stella you pay no more then 1.50 Euro's.
• Belgium has one of the highest taxrates in the world. An employer who pays a salary about 1500 euro's a month actually pays another 1500 euro's or more in taxes. Where does this money go to? It goes to a social network which is envied around the world. People only pay a small charge for healthcare, public transport is sometimes free of charge, and so on... And the budget for education, arts and culture is really enormous. The budget for defense is however very tiny.

Except for certain neighbourhoods in central Brussels and the outer edge of Antwerp (the port and docks), Belgium is a safe country. Belgians are somewhat shy and introvert, but generally helpful towards strangers in general. For those landing in Charleroi and Liège, those are the regions that boast the highest criminality rate in Southern Belgium. But if you keep an eye on your belongings, and don't wander alone at night, nothing really serious can happen to you. Muslims and people of North African ancestry may experience mild forms of resentment, a problem that is particularly acute in Brussels and Antwerp. Always use your common sense, of course. Don't walk in empty streets in the middle of the night, showing off your expensive equipment or jewelry. Marijuana laws are quite lenient, with small amounts only punishable by fines.

In the winter, like most other European countries, only influenza will cause you a considerable inconvenience. No inoculations are needed to enter or leave Belgium.