Belgium

1. The country has plenty to fascinate travelers - it is the birthplace of Tintin and his dog Snowy, Jean Claude Van Damme; the Smurfs( Les Schtroumpfs); Joseph Merlin, inventor of roller skates, Leo Baekeland, inventor of plastic.

2. If you want to see the finest museums in Belgium, you must see the Horta museum in Brussels; Begijnhof in Bruges; the In Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres; and Rubens' House in Antwerp.

3. Bag snatching and pick pocketing is prevalent, even in reputable hotels. You should be vigilant in Brussels at major railway stations, while boarding a train, on the underground, buses and trams, and particularly in the vicinity of Rondpoint Schuman and Gare du Midi.

4. Do not leave valuables such as handbags or mobile phones visible in your car. Keep car doors locked at all times.

5. Take only a minimum amount of cash, credit cards and personal ID when you go out. Leave jewelry in a secure place (e.g. hotel safe deposit), along with bank details, address books and other valuable personal effects.

6. Most of these tips are meant to make your trip a great! Easy emergency numbers are 101(police) and 101(fire/ ambulance).

7. For treating minor ailments, head to an apotheek/ pharmacie (chemist); tourist offices and hotels can assist in finding a ziekenhuis/hopital(hospital) with an English speaking doctor.

8. Elaborate details can be obtained from the Belgian Embassy.

9. Adequate comprehensive (medical) insurance would be an advantage for you.

10. Check Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice before traveling.

11. Don't drink and drive- the benefit is yours.

12. Enter next of kin details into the back of your passport.

13. Belgium has a mild, maritime climate. Carry clothes to match the weather.

14. Belgian cuisine is highly regarded throughout Europe- combining French style with German portions. The national dish is mosselen (mussels) cooked in white wine and served with a mountain of frites.

15. Eating out is expensive.

16. This deserves to be mentioned- the quality of Belgium beer is excellent and the variety incomparable.

17. One problem you may face is the Linguistic divide. The most confusing part will be on the road- when you are following a particular sign.

18. The national tourist office books accommodation for free and has camping &hotel leaflets and booklets on guesthouses.

 

The historically rich towns, serenity of the hilly Ardennes with the busy bars and cafes give that blend, which makes the place truly worthwhile.

Contacts-Belgium

 

TIME ZONE

GMT + 1

TELEPHONE SERVICES

Country Code: 32
IDD: International direct dialling is available
Outgoing Code: 00

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Dial 112 anywhere in the EU to reach the emergency services. Additional local numbers:- Police - 101; Fire; Ambulance - 100; or from a mobile phone - 112.

LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION

Office de promotion du Tourisme Wallonie-Bruxelles; 61 rue Marché-aux-Herbes; B-1000 Brussels; Belgium Tel: (2) 504 0390 Fax; (2) 504 0270.

PASSPORT INFORMATION

Valid passport required by all: except nationals of EU countries and nationals of Andorra; Liechtenstein; Malta; Monaco; San Marino and Switzerland providing they carry a national ID card. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change.
Contact embassy before departure.

VISA INFORMATION

Required by all except: Nationals of Great Britain; Australia; Canada; USA; EU; Japan; Andorra; Argentina; Brazil; Brunei; Chile; Costa Rica; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Ecuador; El Salvador; Guatemala; Honduras; Hungary; Iceland; Israel; Jamaica; South Korea; Liechtenstein; Malawi; Malaysia; Malta; Mexico; Monaco; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Norway; Panama; Paraguay; Poland; San Marino; Singapore; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Switzerland; Turkey (if resident in an EU country and have a residence permit valid for a further 4 months); Uruguay; Vatican City and Venezuela.

PROHIBITED ITEMS

Unpreserved meat products. Other preserved foodstuffs must be declared.

AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX

BFr250/530.

HEALTH MATTERS

Typhoid, Malaria, Yellow Fever, Other Health Risks: Rabies

CURRENCY

Belgian Franc (Bfr) = 100 centimes Credit cards and Travelers cheques are widely accepted. US dollars are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Over 2000 locations.

MONEY WIRING SERVICES

MoneyGram: 0800 7 1173 Western Union: 0800 99088.

CREDIT CARD EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Amex: +44 1273 696933
Diners Club: No local number.
Belgium Visa: 0800 7 1460

TRAVELERS CHEQUES EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Belgium Thomas Cook: 0800 1 2121 Belgium

BANKING HOURS

0900 - 1200 and 1400 - 1600 Mon. to Fri. Some banks are open 0900 - 1200 Sat.

COST OF LIVING

Relatively expensive.

LANGUAGES

Dutch and French.

WEATHER

Warm from May - Sept; and snow likely during the winter months.

RELIGIONS

Mostly Roman Catholic with small minorities of Protestants and Jews.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

2000: Jan 01; Apr 24; May 01; Jun 01; 12; Jul 21; Aug 15; Nov 01; 11; 15; Dec 25- 26.
2001: Jan: 01; Apr 16; May 01; 24; Jun 04; Jul 21; Aug 15; Nov 01; 11; 15; Dec 25

POST

2- 3 days to other European destinations. Poste Restante is available in the main cities.

RADIO FREQUENCIES

BBC: 11.78 6.195 3.955 0.648 VOA: 15.20 11.97 9.670 6.040

WOMEN IN SOCIETY

Similar values as in the rest of Western Europe.

TRANSPORT

RAIL: A dense; regular service operates. A reduced rate card can be purchased for unlimited discounts for 1 month period.