Brussels is probably the most cosmopolitan city of Europe, with liveliness and an appeal that are closely linked to its role of the Europe’s crossroads. The capital of Belgium has many spellings, Bruxelles, the French version is most frequent. Brussels is the capital of Belgian Monarchy  and the seat to the Europe’s bureaucratic institutions — The European Commission and the European Parliament.
Brussels is also the Headquarters of NATO and a European lobbying and commercial hub for many multinational corporations. But what describes Brussels best is the greatest variety of museums, bars, restaurants, and other cozy places to visit when you’re up to enjoying life!

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.

Smart textiles, nano textiles and intelligent clothing are becoming more and more the buzzwords throughout the fashion industry. What are the recent evolutions and what is still to come? The smart fashion conference in Antwerp, Belgium, will provide more insight news, ideas and concepts and is an excellent platform for everyone involved with future intelligent fashion design.

The iron symbol of once glorious steel making industry of Benelux is known today as one of the most distinct landmarks in Europe. Atomium has represented Belgian capital Brussels for half a century now. The monument was built for Expo ’58, the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair and represented the might of the Iron and Steel industry of Benelux. Designed by André Waterkeyn, Atomium is 102-metres (335 ft) tall. Nine steel spheres are connected so that the whole forms the shape of a unit cell of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times.

The history of Dutch Tulips is amazing. Until today, the dutch tulips remain one of the brightest associations when it comes to describing Holland’s top attractions. The biggest tulip fields in Holland can be found in the Keukenhof tulip gardens.

Dutch art and European Art in the Amsterdam’s Royal Museum of art.
Rijksmuseum of Amsterdam is a real pearl and not only due to its highest Royal status and the Girl with a Pearl Earring masterpiece painted around 1665 by the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer. (Highly recommended on the subject: Peter Webber’s Girl with a Pearl Earring movie.)

There are several hundreds of amazing masterpieces by Dutch painters, Flemish artists and other masters across epochs and varying in style. Regular art exhibitions held at the ground floors of the Amsterdam’s Royal Arts Museum, Rijksmuseum, can become a really surprising bonus for you when you visit. An astonishing collection of impressionists for instances all in one place!

The Hague is the home to the Dutch Queen and the seat of the Dutch Government. Internationally recognized as the world’s capital of international Justice and diplomacy. After New York and Geneva, The Hague is the third UN city in the world. The Hague is also the meeting point of the international haute volée.

The International Court of Justice, with it’s seat in the monumental Peace Palace is one of the most famous institutions based in The Hague, the political and administrative center of The Netherlands.

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.

Ghent Festivities. Every year the long-established, ten-day cultural event takes over the historic city center of medieval Ghent in Belgium. There is free music on all the central squares and hundreds of vibrant activities, including three international festivals. The Ghent Festivities treat visitors to 10 days of continuous free feasts on several squares in the historic centre of the city.