Discover Belgium: 14 Amazing Fun Facts to Make You Fall in Love with This Charming Country

1. Chocolate Conquest

It seems that Belgium has been engulfed in a chocolaty conspiracy ever since pharmacist Jean Neuhaus plotted to conquer the world's sweet tooth with a delightful creation, Belgian pralines: In 1912, he masterminded the first chocolate confection containing almond paste, leading to an explosion of lusciously inventive flavors like milk salted caramel, dark raspberry, and dark peppermint, and inspiring artisan chocolatiers such as ChezSlaughter Chocolate to craft ganache fillings using essential oils, extracts, nut butters, and jams.
Source => chezslaughterchocolate.com

2. Blue Belgian Creation

Feeling blue? Turns out, so do they: Peyo, the Belgian genius behind Johan and Peewit and the Smurfs, actually derived his pseudonym from a mishap in the pronunciation of his nickname "Pierrot", and skyrocketed these tiny blue critters to fame in 1958 alongside his other works like Steven Strong and Jacky and Célestin, created by a talented team following the establishment of Peyo's 1960s-era studio.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

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=> Fun Facts about Luxembourg

3. Potato Museum Marvel

You know how they say "you say potato, I say potahto"? Well, in Belgium they say, "Let's build a museum!": The Frietmuseum in Bruges is not only the world's first museum dedicated to potatoes, but it also houses a peculiar collection of historical potato peelers and fry-making machines, and traces the spud-tastic journey from Peru circa 8000 BC to the birth of Belgian fries, all within the ancient Gothic Saaihalle dating back to 1399.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Giant Atomic Marbles

What do you get when you cross a giant who loves playing with marbles and a city hosting the World's Fair? A towering Atomium structure in Brussels, of course: Standing at 102 meters tall and built in 1958, this unique centrepiece features nine stainless steel spheres connected in a unit cell formation, with three of them open to the public for exhibitions. Originally meant to be a fleeting architectural wonder lasting only six months, the Atomium stuck around and even got a shiny makeover between 2004 and 2006.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Real-Life Town Square-ville

If you've ever wondered if Town Square-ville was ever a real place, your architectural dreams have come true: Belgium is home to the absolutely stunning Grand Place, a central square in Brussels that's surrounded by ridiculously fancy guildhalls, and is just one of the country's 11 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Source => lepainquotidien.com

6. Flying Feline Festivities

In the land of waffles, chocolates, and Hercule Poirot, the citizens of Ypres have an annual pastime that involves feline fun and flying furr-mations: Kattenstoet, the Festival of the Cats, swaps live cats for plush toy versions for a jester to toss from the belfry tower of the Cloth Hall. The quirky event features people dressed as cats, witches, mice, and historical townspeople, accompanied by brass bands and equestrian ensembles, making it a purr-fectly delightful tourist attraction in Belgium.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Premium Potty Experience

In Belgium, the phrase "spend a penny" takes on a whole new meaning, and even tiny tots strut with pride into their very own pint-sized privy portals: Belgian public restrooms are marvelously clean, often featuring attendants who disinfect door handles, while children enjoy free and miniature access. Usage fees range from 50 cents to one euro, payable through coins or contactless debit cards, making French rest stops' free yet grubby loos pale in comparison.
Source => marikrueger.com

8. Tennis Titans

In a land known for waffles and chocolate, it appears that Belgium is also serving up some smashing tennis talent: Xavier Malisse reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 19, while David Goffin aced his way to an impressive world No. 7 ranking.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Pricey Pigeon Phenomenon

Who knew a bird in the hand could be worth two in your bank account? In Belgium, pigeons are the real high-flyers in the world of racing sports: In November 2020, a two-year-old female racing pigeon named New Kim sold for a record-breaking $1.8 million at auction. Stemming from a long-standing tradition that began in the 19th century, more than 20,000 pigeon fanciers compete in this elite realm - think of it as the Champions League of the sport. It's taken wing in China as well, where billionaires are flocking to invest in these feathered speedsters, driving up the prize money for races.
Source => newseu.cgtn.com

10. Sky-High Dining

Why did the Belgian diner literally levitate? Because they couldn't just "rise above" other gastronomic experiences: In Belgium's Dinner in the Sky, guests are hoisted 50 meters above ground, savoring Michelin-starred meals created by a renowned chef, all while soaking in awe-inspiring views of Brussels and indulging in lavishly luscious libations.
Source => theodderway.com

11. Saxxy Belgian Invention

In a land where waffles reign supreme, one man dared to blow his own horn – literally: Adolphe Sax, a Belgian inventor and musician born in 1814, gifted the world with the smooth and sultry sounds of the saxophone, along with other brass beauties like the saxhorn and saxtuba.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

12. Astronaut-Envy Illumination

In Belgium, there's no need to look to the stars when its streets seem to hold the secrets of the universe: boasting approximately 2.2 million streetlights with an average of 186 bulbs per square mile, the inhabitants of this tiny but illuminated nation have turned their roadways into the envy of orbiting astronauts, who gaze down at the perfect glowing orange grid below.
Source => bbc.com

13. Gnome-Brewed Delights

Gnomes, fruitful libations, and frolicking with ibexes: Belgium's Achouffe Brewery is not only famed for its unique and delectable beers brewed by crafty gnomes, such as Mc CHOUFFE, CHOUFFE Soleil, and N'ice CHOUFFE, but also for their flagship beverage - CHOUFFE BOK 6666, the preferred brew of intrepid gnome Marcel, who scales the Ardennes' peaks in search of ibex camaraderie.
Source => chouffe.com

14. Punchy National Anthem

When Belgium's feisty revolutionaries weren't waffling about their independence, they penned a national anthem that packed a punch: "La Brabançonne" was written during the 1830 Belgian Revolution by the rebellious "Jenneval," later set to music by François van Campenhout in 1860, with an edited version dropping shade on the Dutch Prince to avoid hitting below the Orange belt.
Source => en.wikipedia.org