Belgium
is Europe in a nutshell, multicultural and multilingual. Flanders in the
north, a flatland criss-crossed by canals, is proud of its great art cities,
Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent. To the south in Wallonia, you will find the rolling
hills of the Ardennes, numerous castles, and the cities of Liege, Namur,
and Tournai.
The Flemish speak Dutch and the Walloons speak French. In Brussels, the
capital, both languages are spoken. But to make it easy, everybody speaks
English, albeit with an accent.Belgium's history has always been linked
to both commercial and cultural exchange, and much of its character is due
to its role as the great meeting place of western Europe. Traces of the
Austrians, Spanish, French and Dutch can still be seen in its architecture
and in the lifestyle of its people. Today, its capital city of Brussels
is one of the world's great cosmopolitan cities, home to both the European
Union and NATO, as well as a wealth of international trade and finance companies.
