Feel Belgian culture like a local. Here are 6 wonderful activities and experiences to have on your travels, from chocolate-making and beer-drinking to markets and festivals.
About the author: Babs, the writer behind Next Stop Belgium, was born in Belgium and still calls the country home. Her mission is to show others the beauty Belgium has to offer.
Surrounded by some of the greatest names in European geography such as France, the Netherlands and Germany, Belgium is a tiny and often overlooked country.
However, there are tons of beautiful places to visit in Belgium such as the many picturesque Medieval cities and towns. And on top of that, there’s Belgium’s world-famous art and delicious food.
From grand architecture in Brussels, Antwerp and other big cities to stunning nature in the Belgian Ardennes, this country has something for just about anybody. But if you’re looking for unique cultural experiences, you might have to search a little deeper.
At first glance, it might seem like Belgium doesn’t have any outstanding cultural traditions that are worthy of your time. There are no traditional costumes nor are there unique ceremonies to attend. If you were to ask the Belgians themselves, they might tell you there are no cultural heritage activities to undertake.
But that’s not necessarily true.
Belgium is a country that has been strongly influenced by its geographical position at the border of Germanic Europe and Latin Europe. This has resulted in an eclectic society influenced by many other cultures over history.
It’s not possible to describe one ‘Belgian culture’ – the northern Dutch-speaking part part (Flanders) and the southern French-speaking part (Wallonia) have long had significant cultural differences, something that can still be felt quite strongly today.
The two parts of Belgium have their own artists, musicians and traditions and both are more drawn to the cultural habits of the neighbouring countries that match the dominant language, respectively the Netherlands and France, than to each other.
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6 ways to immerse yourself in Belgian culture
1. Pretend to be a knight while driving Belgium’s castle route
Although this might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Belgium, the country has an enormous number of castles to show off with. In fact, it has the highest density of castles per square metre in the world.
Just about every destination has a castle. Most of them are open to visit, but some remain a little mysterious as you can only admire them from the outside.
There are over 3,000 castles dotted around the country and thanks to the small size of Belgium, it’s fairly easy to visit many of them. If you’re relying on public transport and are short on time, your choices will be limited. In this case, don’t miss the Gravensteen, one of the best things to do in Ghent as it’s located smack bang in the historic centre.
Explore more of the castles in Belgium by making a road trip. This way you can combine your preferred architectural styles with the many stunning vistas and back roads you can find in the country.
As mentioned, Belgian castles are very diverse in period and style. They range from fairytale-like structures such as the Château de Rêves and burcht Reinhardstein, to the symmetrical Renaissance architecture of the Château de Freÿr. Many of them also come with stunning gardens or a forest to wander through.
2. Take a chocolate workshop and learn all about your favourite candy
It’s common knowledge that the best chocolate in the world comes from Belgium. There’s an unmistakable connection between the sweet candy and the small European country. In fact, Brussels Airport sells the largest amount of chocolate in the world every year.
More than 150 years of experimentation has led to high-quality products, worldwide fame, and a whole lot of creativity.
A chocolate workshop is an unforgettable foodie experience and a great way to discover more about this sweet treat. After a bit of theory around chocolate beans and the process of making chocolate, the largest part of the workshop is spent making your own creation.
Rather than producing it in bars, most Belgian chocolate is sold as pralines (small treats with different kinds of filling) or as figures. Holidays such as Sinterklaas and Easter come with their own special chocolate shapes and it is a tradition to gift those to one another.
Of course, the best part of the workshop is that you get to take your handmade chocolate home and savour every last bit of it.
3. Dive into Belgium’s comic book subculture
Comic books play a huge role in Belgian culture as the country has the most comic creators and illustrators per square metre in the world.
The most famous Belgian fictional figure is of course Tintin, a young detective who solves crimes with his loyal sidekick, white fox terrier Snowy. First published in 1930, Tintin’s writer, Hergé, is often criticised nowadays for his world-views. However, that doesn’t change the fact that Hergé was the comic book artist who inspired many others and resulted in comic books becoming the ‘Ninth form of art’ in Belgium.
Other Belgian comic books that have received worldwide recognition are cowboy Lucky Luke, always on his horse Jolly Jumper, and the group of blue Smurfs.
In the 1990s, when the city of Brussels was looking to embellish its old walls with art to lift up the feel of the city, they unsurprisingly turned to comic books. What started as a couple of murals evolved into a set of more than 60 comic book characters that now decorate the streets of Brussels.
You’ll encounter many of them when walking around the centre, but follow this route if you want to spot them all.
To complete your introduction to Belgian comic book culture, make your way over to the Belgian Comic Strip Center museum for more background information. Take your time admiring the stunning architecture of the museum building, designed by Victor Horta.
4. Taste Trappist Ale at a local abbey brewery
Beer and Belgium – it’s a great marriage. With over 2000 different types of beer, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to taste them all, but don’t let that hold you back!
The beer-making tradition goes back all the way to the Middle Ages and forms such a big part of Belgian culture, it has been recognised as an element of Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
The method of brewing and the ingredients used determine the colour and the taste of the beer. By making small adjustments to those two factors, it’s possible to create an endless number of unique beers.
You can learn all about the production process and the different brewing methods during a beer tasting. There are 250-plus breweries in Belgium, and many of them offer tours.
Quite unique to Belgium are the abbey breweries and beer produced by monks, known as Trappist beer. Even though small family breweries are interesting, visiting an abbey gives an extra touch to your brewery tour as you’ll get information on the history of the abbey too. And they can always be found in rather stunning locations, which is another bonus.
5. Soak up the sounds, colours and flavours of the open-air markets in Brussels
Brussels is a multicultural city and there’s no better place to experience this character than at the open-air markets. Many local neighbourhoods have their own weekly or even daily market, but the most well-known Brussels’ market is the daily flea market on Het Vossenplein/La Place du Jeu de Balle.
This square is located in the working-class neighbourhood of De Marollen/Les Marolles. Even though the market is very popular with tourists, there are still plenty of locals visiting or hanging around. Find a sunny spot on a terrace and take some time to people-watch once you’ve finished your hunt for second-hand gear.
Another market that is well worth visiting is the antique market held every weekend at De Zavel/Le Sablon, a neighbourhood in the historic heart of Brussels. It’s one of the oldest in the capital and has been held here since the 60s. The big trees in the square shades the charming stalls and gives the market a cosy and artistic feel. As for the merchandise you can find here, it’s mostly art and antique silverware, statues, jewellery and glass.
From Friday to Sunday, you can find an art and handicrafts market on Het Agoraplein. This is the perfect place to scout some original Belgian souvenirs and gifts.
Finally, a weekly bio market is held every Wednesday on Het Sint-Katelijneplein/Place Saint-Catherine. The towering church, the many bars and restaurants and leafy trees give this market extra charm. Even if you don’t have to stock up on produce, you can just use it as an excuse to enjoy the lively atmosphere in this popular Brussels neighbourhood.
6. Celebrate Belgian culture at Carnaval in Aalst
Although not many traditional festivals have survived in Belgium, Carnaval is a big exception. Every town and city has their own procession and there’s often a whole week of celebration surrounding it.
The many groups that participate in the festival start designing their costumes and building their wagons nearly a year in advance, working towards that ultimate moment of showing off their work to the public in the hopes of being rewarded with a prize. But most of all, Carnaval is that one time when everything is allowed.
The oldest sources that mention a Carnaval celebration in Aalst go back to the 15th century. Even when the holiday’s popularity in the rest of Belgium waned during the 19th and 20th centuries, Aalst kept going strong. Nowadays, it’s a 3-day celebration that attracts people from far and away. Many traditions are kept alive, such as ‘beam throwing’ and the burning of the puppet to mark the end of the festivities.
In 2010, Aalst Carnaval was recognised by UNESCO as an element of Intangible World Heritage. However, Aalst Carnaval takes pride in the ability to mock everything and everyone.
In the years that followed, many international organisations expressed their displeasure at certain depictions. Feeling they didn’t do anything wrong (and supported in that statement by UNIA, the Belgian anti-discrimination society), Aalst kicked it up a notch for 2020. They were almost certainly facing removal from the UNESCO list and therefore, asked to be removed themselves. This means that as of 2019, Aalst Carnaval is no longer recognised.
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