Belgium: A Small Country Full of Big Surprises

Belgium is a fascinating country with a rich history, culture, and quirks! Here are some fun facts about Belgium:

General Facts

1. Small but Mighty: Belgium is relatively small, about the size of Maryland, yet it has three official languages: Dutch, French, and German.
2. Heart of Europe: Brussels, Belgium’s capital, is often called the “Capital of Europe” because it hosts the headquarters of the European Union and NATO.

Food & Drinks

3. Chocolate Paradise: Belgium is famous for its chocolate, producing over 220,000 tons annually. The first praline was invented in Brussels in 1912 by Jean Neuhaus.
4. Fries Originated Here: Despite the name “French fries,” they were actually invented in Belgium. Locals enjoy them with mayonnaise rather than ketchup.
5. Beer Heaven: Belgium has over 1,500 different beer varieties, many of which are brewed by Trappist monks.

Culture & History

6. Comic Strip Central: Belgium is the birthplace of iconic comics like The Adventures of Tintin, The Smurfs, and Lucky Luke. Brussels even has a Comic Book Route with murals dedicated to famous characters.
7. Oldest Casino: The world’s oldest casino still in operation, Casino de Spa, was established in Belgium in 1763.
8. Napoleon’s Waterloo: The Battle of Waterloo (1815), where Napoleon was defeated, took place in Belgium near Brussels.

Quirky Facts

9. Manneken Pis: A small bronze statue of a boy peeing, located in Brussels, is one of the most famous landmarks in Belgium. It has over 1,000 costumes.
10. Longest Tram Line: The Belgian Coast Tram, stretching 68 kilometers (42 miles), is the world’s longest tram line.
11. Diamonds Are Forever: Antwerp is known as the diamond capital of the world, handling over 80% of the world’s rough diamonds.

Science & Innovation

12. First Modern Skyscraper in Europe: The Boerentoren (Farmers’ Tower) in Antwerp, built in 1931, is considered the first skyscraper in Europe.
13. Father of Modern Sociology: Adolphe Quetelet, a Belgian, developed the Body Mass Index (BMI) and contributed to statistics and social sciences.

Weird Holidays

14. Cat Parade: In Ypres, every three years, there’s a parade called “Kattenstoet” (Festival of the Cats) to commemorate the medieval custom of tossing cats from the belfry tower (thankfully, plush toys are used now).