Belgium’s schools have started a new academic year with “headscarf arrests”: Antwerp police arrested eight youngsters at the Royal Athenaeum in Hoboken a week after classes started. The arrested students violated a ban on demonstrations and worn Muslim headscarf’s which are a ligher version of well known  burkas or burqas.

While many believe the ban of Muslim headscarf in Belgium as well as other European countries is a demonstration of social prejudice and religious intolerance rather than an attempt to integrate Muslim women into the Belgian or European societies, some of the local authorities seem to be quite serious about the the Muslim headscarf ban.

The quality of the Belgian chocolates and famous Belgian pralines has been acknowledged worldwide. The chocolate “made in Belgium” is known as a delicacy. Belgian chocolate pralines have been the food of champions, a lure for lovers, the indulgence of the rich and later, the favorite of the masses.

Choosing hotel in Belgium

Travel in Belgium is very compact due to the close proximity of Belgian cities to each other. And, while such proximity makes it easy to book hotel in one Belgian city and use it as a base, you will certainly be able to experience much more staying in a hotel or bread&breakfast in any Belgian city or small town that you visit on your Belgium tour.

Belgium culture starts with Belgian Monarchy, goes through saxophone, museums and comics and on to the enjoyment of  excellent food, chocolates and beers. In fact, there is no single Culture of Belgium. Belgium Culture is a fusion of Flemish culture, French culture and German culture.  A truly common Belgian cultural identity is friendliness and indulgence in life.

On a journey to Benelux, one cannot miss the opportunity of experiencing the local specialities of foods and drinks. Belgium offers one of the most unforgettable tasting experiences of all. If you travel to Benelux in September, make sure to visit the Belgian town of Durbuy to discover regional food products: beer, bread and cheeses during a sampling trail, all weekend long.

Mechelen is one of the most richly historic towns and a very easy, very rewarding and exciting stop, only 20 minutes from either Brussels or Antwerp. If you travel by train from Antwerp to Brussels or the other way around, a stop in Mechelen will not cost you anything extra and you can enjoy a new Belgian city on your way.

A real student city, Leuven hosts the biggest Belgian Catholic University. The famous university “Alma Mater” exists in Leuven since in 1425. Erasmus founded the Three Language College where Hebrew, Latin and Greek was taught and which served as model for the College de France in Paris. Justus Lipsius, Mercator, Vesalius were all famous scholars in Leuven.

One of the three main cities of the Belgian Ardennes, Tournai is a place with a very recognizable landmark — the Cathedral, which is certainly the main destination for any visit to Tournai today. The grand Cathedral of Notre Dame, a five-towered Romanesque and early Gothic masterpiece was built during the 12th and 13th centuries. 

So, what about Belgium? …People understand Europe the way they’ve been introduced to it – The usual tourist Mecca’s, the attractions on a thousand postcards. Then they remember Belgium, the little country, they passed through a few days ago. It seems beautiful, it’s practically next-door to Paris, London and Amsterdam, and they have 24 hours to explore it before heading home. Two hours later, they are crazy about Belgium!