Belgium:
For some reason, when most people hear "Belgium," they yawn. It is, however, an excellent tourist destination for its urban and rural attractions. The cities are full of well-preserved architecture and museums filled with art. The southern, forested part of the country, the Ardennes, attracts hikers and bikers. The crime rate in Belgium is low, notwithstanding the news we've all heard about a famous child molester
Accommodations range from five-star luxury hotels in Brussels, one of the most expensive cities in Europe, to cheaper youth hostels.
In Brussels, about 85% of the inhabitants are native-French speakers. French is also the majority language in Wallonia, the southern part of the country. But about 60-65% of the Belgian population lives in Flanders, the northern part of the country, and speaks Dutch. "Flemish" is a sometimes-used blanket term for the Dutch dialects spoken in Flanders. And, of course, many people speak really good English.
This page last updated October 28, 2000.
Thanks to Denis De Frenne of Belgium for explaining Beligian language complexities to me.