Belgium, this small country in the heart of Europe, is full of surprises and amazing facts. Here is a list of things you may not have known about Belgium that will make you want to get to know it even more.
- Fewer McDonald’s: Belgium has one of the lowest ratios of McDonald’s restaurants per capita in the developed world. A sign of your love for local gastronomy?
- Beer Kingdom: With around 178 breweries, Belgium produces more than 800 different beers. Cheers!
- Love for Chocolate: Belgium produces more than 220,000 tons of chocolate per year.
- Gourmet Airport: Zaventem Airport holds the world record for chocolate sales.
- A Star Is Born: The legendary Audrey Hepburn was born in Brussels.
- Artistic Innovation: Oil painting? Thanks to the Belgian Van Eyck brothers for this invention.
- Unusual Politics: Belgium holds the world record for the longest period without a government. A fact both amusing and impressive!
- Pioneer of the Web: Robert Caillau, co-inventor of the World Wide Web, is proudly Belgian.
- Innovation in Roads: Modern asphalt for roads is an invention of Belgian professor Edward J. De Smedt.
- Measure of Health: The body mass index (BMI) is a creation of the Belgian mathematician Lambert Adolphe Quetelet.
- Liquid Traditions: In the 1970s, light beer was served during lunch in schools.
- Culture in Fiesta: The Ghent Festival is the largest cultural festival in Europe.
- Electronic Vibes: Tomorrowland is the world’s largest electronic music/EDM festival. Techno is only a small part of what is offered.
- Material innovation: Plastic (bakelite) is an invention of the Belgian Leo Hendrik Baekeland.
- Coastal Journey: The Belgian coastal tramway is the longest streetcar line in the world.
- Musical Talent: The world-renowned singer Gotye was born in Bruges.
- Castles Everywhere: Belgium has the most castles per square kilometer in the world.
- Cosmic Origins: The Big Bang theory was proposed by the Belgian priest and physicist Georges Lemaître. The Moon pays tribute to him with a crater named after him.
- Roll with Style: Roller skates are the invention of Belgian Jean-Joseph Merlin.
- Revolutionary History: The “Manifesto of the Communist Party” by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels was written in Brussels.
- Innovations and Celebrities: The dynamo was invented by Belgian Zénobe Gramme, and Belgium boasts such personalities as Jacques Brel, Adamo, Eddy Merckx and many more.
- Comics in Abundance: Belgium’s French-speaking community is the world’s largest producer of comics per capita.
- Founding of NYC: New York was founded by the Belgian Pierre Minuit, who bought the island of Manhattan in 1626.
- Musical Legacy: Ludwig van Beethoven descended from a Flemish family from Mechelen.
Additional Fact: The first violinist on the Titanic was from Spa, Belgium.
Belgium is a country rich in history, culture and innovations. These facts are just the tip of the iceberg of what this wonderful country has to offer. How proud we are of our small country! ♥️🇧🇪
