Develop a taste for luxury in this sleepy North Sea nation
Often overlooked in favor of its flashy and much larger southern cousin France, Belgium has an understated charm that goes far beyond its waffles. It is a gilded country, from its baroque churches and golden-laced market squares to its artisanal beers and unbelievable chocolates. Belgians are very proud of their heritage, their monarchy, and their relationship with the difficult, if provident, North Sea. You can pass an enlightening afternoon here gazing at Flemish art in one of the country's many museums or strolling along the canals in placid Bruges. Belgium is home both to many sleepy hamlets, where life still moves at a leisurely pace, and to feats of architectural ingenuity like the Antwerpen-Centraal train station. A quintessentially Belgian experience is to visit one of the many breweries, some of which were established centuries ago. Little about the technique for making the potent and flavorful ales has changed, and even today a few breweries are still run by monks. Spend a long spring night in a café enjoying moules frites with mayonnaise and a Duvel beer while listening to the mix of Flemish and French being bantered by passersby. Take it slow and enjoy, for that is the Belgian way.
