12 Good Reasons to Visit Belgium in 2024

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If you’re asking yourself the question “Is Belgium worth visiting?”, you have come to the right place. This post includes 12 good reasons to cast prejudice aside and visit Belgium on your next European trip.

Belgium is a small country that’s often overlooked on a trip to Europe. It’s overshadowed by other European destinations and it even has the reputation of being pretty boring.

Although it’s true that Belgium is quite petite and you probably won’t spend weeks exploring this country, it does have a lot to offer.

From fairytale-like towns to historic battlefields and a huge number of beers, there are plenty of amazing things Belgium is famous for.

So, let’s dive into it, you will find 12 good reasons why you should visit Belgium below. I hope this will convince you to include this little country on your European trip.

1. Picturesque Towns

There are many romantic towns with beautiful architecture to discover in Belgium. The medieval city of Bruges is probably the most famous one and it’s also one of my favourite cities in Belgium. It can be quite touristy during the summer months, but if you visit it off-season, the streets will be much quieter.

Bruges is not the only Belgian city that’s worth visiting, though. Don’t forget to visit the charming city of Ghent, Antwerp, which is Belgium’s fashion capital and Brussels, the capital, too. There is a lot worth seeing in these cities as well!

It’s good to know that Bruges and Ghent can be visited in one day if you’re short on time.

2. Wallonia & The Ardennes

Wallonia and the Belgian Ardennes are situated in the south of the country, and they’re completely different from the north.

If you’re a lover of the outdoors, this is probably the part of Belgium that you will love the most. Beautiful valleys, small villages, lush green forests and mysterious caves mark this region.

The Ardennes is the part of the country that you will want to visit if you would like to go hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking and more. This is where you will find some of the most beautiful hikes in Belgium. On top of that, the Belgian Ardennes also have some beautiful villages that you can explore.

If you’re visiting Belgium in winter, this region might just look extra magical if there’s snow!

3. Castles and ruins

One of my favourite things about Belgium is its large amount of castles and citadels. It’s said that Belgium has more castles per capita than France!

I won’t name them all, as the list would be too long, but some of the castles I think are definitely worth a visit are Bouillon Castle, Gravensteen Castle, Walzin Castle, Vêves Castle and Montaigle Castle. The latter is a great place to head to if you would like to see ruins.

Speaking about ruins, another beautiful place is the ruins of the 12th-century Villers Abbey in Villers-La-Ville.

It’s good to know that you can also stay in a castle in Belgium as the country is full of enchanting castle hotels!

Tip: Vêves Castle and Walzin Castle are perfect to combine with a trip to Dinant, the city where the saxophone was invented.

4. The Comic Book Culture

If you’re into comic books, you will LOVE Belgium. It was here that The Smurfs, The Adventures of Tintin, Spike and Suzy and many other comics were born. In fact, Belgium has more comic book artists per square kilometre than any other country in the world!

You can visit comic book museums, shops and bars, see comic book statues or go on a comic strip walk in the capital during your visit to Belgium. After all, one of the fun facts about Brussels is that this city dubbed itself the “Comic Book Capital of the World”, and it lives up to its title.

Brussels’ Comic Strip Walk follows a route that will take you along buildings that are covered in large murals of comic scenes.

5. Historic Battlefields

Belgium has seen a fair share of battlefields for a small country. Due to its location between Germany, France and Britain, it always had tactical importance.

If you’re a history buff, you will love learning more about the famous battles that took place in Waterloo and Ypres. These are now some of the most important historical sites in Europe.

If battlefields aren’t enough, you can also visit places like the Langemark Cemetery and the Passchendaele New British Cemetery or head to one of Belgium’s interesting war museums. Some of the most famous ones are In Flanders Fields Museum, Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, the Battle of Waterloo Museum and the Bastogne War Museum.

6. French Fries, Waffles & Chocolate

As I am from Belgium, one of the things I miss the most when I’m abroad is the food. There’s no better place to try French fries (which are actually Belgian) and waffles than in Belgium. Although these might be available throughout Europe and the rest of the world, Belgium is where they taste the best.

Make sure to try both Brussels and Liege waffles while you’re here, you won’t be disappointed! Belgian food is simply delicious, and I didn’t even mention the Belgian chocolate yet… it’s EXQUISITE.

7. Belgian Beer

Did you know that Belgium has over a thousand original beers and more than 200 active breweries? From bitter to sweet and from strong to non-alcoholic, Belgium has a beer for nearly any taste! The Belgian beer culture was even inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

My favourite Belgian beers are Corsendonk, La Chouffe and Kriek Lindemans but it’d be impossible to try them all… or it would take quite some time.

One of the best things to do when you’re visiting Belgium is to go on a beer tour and learn more about this brew. There are plenty of great beer tours in Brussels and other Belgian cities.

Fun fact: In Belgium, each type of beer is served in a unique glass, which is considered to improve its taste.

8. Surrealism Art

Although surrealism art was born in Paris, Belgium was the first country outside of France to establish a surrealism scene.

The Belgian surrealist movement became the second-largest after the French movement, and its most famous artist was the Brussels painter René Magritte.

Being an avid lover of surrealism and the painter Magritte, the Magritte Museum is one of my favourite museums in Brussels (and in the rest of the world).

There are many more great surrealist artists from Belgium though. Some examples are Paul Delvaux, Marcel Mariën and Paul Nougé.

9. The Blue Forest

The Hallerbos, also known as the Blue Forest, is a fairytale-like forest that turns blue for a few weeks every year.

Somewhere around mid-April, millions of blue hyacinths bloom, forming a beautiful carpet of blossom. The forest looks magical during this period and walking on the paths between the flowers is a wonderful experience.

As this forest is not far from Brussels, heading here is a great way to escape the city for a few hours.

10. Ease of Travel

Belgium is a small country with great train connections throughout the country. It’s easy and doesn’t take too long to get from one place to another, no matter if you’re taking public transportation or going for a road trip around Belgium.

You can get from Brussels to Antwerp in just 40 minutes, or from Brussels to Bruges in 1 hour, for example. As this city is located right in the middle of the country, it’s easy to visit the rest of Belgium as a day trip from Brussels.

In addition to this, other European destinations are also easy to reach from Belgium. You can get to Amsterdam, Paris or London by train in just 2 to 3 hours, for example, or combine a visit to Belgium with Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Check out my itinerary for the Benelux if this is something you’re interested in.

11. Famous Festivals

If you like music festivals, Belgium is a country you will love! There are plenty of famous festivals here. The most famous one is probably Tomorrowland but there are plenty of other great Belgian festivals. Rock Werchter, Graspop, Pukkelpop and Dour are just a few examples.

It’s good to know that Belgium is home to many free festivals too if you’re on a tight budget.

12. Unique Landmarks

There are many unique landmarks in Belgium. The most famous example is Brussels’ statue of a peeing little boy – Manneken Pis – but did you know that Belgium’s capital is also home to the statue of a little peeing girl (Jeanneke Pis) and a peeing dog (Zinneke Pis)? In fact, Brussels alone is home to some amazing monuments.

Besides peeing statues, you will also find some unique architecture in Belgium. Some examples are the Atomium in Brussels and Reading Through the Lines, a see-through church in Borgloon (you can see this church in the picture below).

🇧🇪 The Travel Resources I use for Belgium
_{By purchasing through the following links, you can support me at no additional cost. 💜}

🏨  Booking & Hostelworld: To find the best hotels, hostels and guesthouses
🚃 Omnio: To book trains and buses in advance
🛫 Skyscanner: To find the cheapest flights to Belgium
🚗 Discover Cars: To rent a car at the best rates
🏕 GetYourGuide & Viator: To book great tours and activities
💰 Heymondo: One of the best-reviewed travel insurance companies (get 5% off with this link!)

📋 Don’t forget to check if you need a visa to visit Belgium.

Reasons to Visit Belgium: Final Thoughts

If you’re asking me, Belgium is nice to visit and there are plenty of good reasons to travel to this country! And I’m not saying this because it’s my home country.

I think Belgium has a lot to offer for such a small country. It might not be a place to explore for weeks on end but I do think it is worth visiting during a Eurotrip. You will also be able to reach plenty of other destinations in Europe from here!

If you’re not convinced yet, you might want to check out my post featuring the most beautiful places in Belgium. I visited many, many places in this country during COVID-19 and was surprised to find plenty of stunning ones!

Are you planning a trip to Belgium? Check out my Belgium itinerary for 3, 4 or 5 days to make the most out of your trip.

Last but not least, here are some final pictures of what Belgium has to offer:

You might also like:

• Is Brussels Worth Visiting? 15 Reasons to Visit Brussels
• Is Bruges Worth Visiting? 14 Reasons to Visit Bruges
• Is Ghent Worth Visiting? 9 Reasons to Visit Ghent

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