Having walked nearly 1,000 kilometres across every Belgian region and
province while researching my travel guide, I made a surprising discovery:
Belgian residents, including Belgians, often don’t realise how much this
country has to offer. Compact yet remarkably diverse, Belgium rewards
curiosity with layers of history, culture and the unexpected.
The country is often defined by its icons: beer, chocolate, waffles, fries
(invented here, not in France), the Atomium and Brussels’ comical Manneken
Pis. But it is far richer with four cultural worlds in one, including the German-
speaking Community of Ostbelgien. Add a high density of UNESCO treasures
and 151 Michelin-starred restaurants, and Belgium quickly exceeds
expectations. Yet often its lesser-known places leave the strongest
impression.
MILITARY HISTORY
Belgium’s wartime past cuts deep, sometimes in surprising places. For
example, Ploegsteert, a Hainaut enclave within West Flanders, recalls a
rare moment of humanity during the First World War, when opposing soldiers
laid down arms on Christmas 1914 to share songs and even a football
match. There, you can retrace this remarkable story.
In a quiet forest near Brûly-de-Pesche, a remote site served as Adolf
Hitler’s headquarters in June 1940 before and during the invasion of France.
This is where a rare photo of him smiling was captured, slapping his knee
with glee over France’s quick surrender.Commandobunker Kemmel, carved 20 metres into a hillside during the Cold War, remains frozen in time with its communications equipment intact.
Nearby, Fort Eben-Emael—once considered impregnable—tells the dramatic
story of its swift capture in 1940 by German paratroopers.
NATURAL WONDERS
Belgium’s landscapes are more diverse than you may think. In Lommel,
there is a small-scale “Sahara” desert and near Nismes, limestone sinkholes
form a dramatic landscape like a miniature Grand Canyon.
In Remouchamps, the world’s longest navigable underground river carves
its way through vast caves, while Annevoie Water Gardens in Denée feature
fountains powered entirely by natural water pressure since the 18th century.
Limburg offers cyclists innovative routes through ponds at water level
(Bokrijk), up into treetops (Hecktel-Eksel) and across former mining
landscapes (Maasmechelen).
REPURPOSED INDUSTRIAL SITES
Belgium has excelled at transforming its industrial past. In Hainaut province,
former coal mines and industrial complexes have been reimagined as
cultural landmarks. For instance, UNESCO World Heritage Sites Le Grand-
Hornu in Boussu and Bois du Cazier in Marcinelles blend heritage with
contemporary art and design.
At Blegny-Mine near Liège, you can descend into a former coal mine to
experience miner conditions firsthand. Near Mons in Spiennes is one of
Europe’s oldest industrial sites: Neolithic flint mines around 6,000 years old,
with vertical shafts leading into a labyrinth of hand-carved galleries.
CURIOSITIES
Belgium is also a country of fascinating oddities. In Kelmis, the former
territory of Neutral Moresnet existed for over a century as a geopolitical
anomaly centred on a zinc mine before becoming Belgian in 1920. La Vielle
The Montagne museum recounts this bizarre no-man’s-land.
In Dendermonde, a giant wooden horse is paraded through the streets
once every decade in a UNESCO-recognised spectacle, while
Geraardsbergen has an annual bread-throwing and hilltop bonfire ritual.
The carnival of Stavelot features the mischievous Blancs Moussis, dressed
in white with red noses, playfully swatting spectators with dried pig
bladders—a bizarre yet beloved tradition.
Ellezelles commemorates its 1610 witch trials through the eerie Sentier de
l’Étrange sculpture trail, witch-themed symbols throughout the village and
an annual Sorcerers’ Sabbath.
UNIQUE CULTURE
Belgium’s past is not just preserved, it is often still lived. For example, in
Brussels, a functioning medieval crossbow guild, continues its centuries-old
tradition, with public shooting sessions on Tuesday afternoons.
The Hapje-Tapje festival in Leuven features the quirky Barmannenrace,
where waiters race through an obstacle course balancing trays of beer.
In Arlon, the white wine-based aperitif Maitrank (May drink) is celebrated
each May (this year 22-24) with festivals, music and a ceremonial fountain,
while on 15 August, Malmedy cooks up a giant omelette with around
10,000 eggs.
These are just a handful of surprising destinations in Belgium. While small in
size, its depth is extraordinary—much of it hiding in plain sight. This country
is not just a destination; it is a discovery.
Angela Dansby is an American-Belgian, Brussels-based writer and
communications consultant. Signed copies of her book, Best of Belgium: The
Complete Travel Guide Through Expat Eyes (Borgerhoff & Lamberigts, April
2026), are available at wowbelgium.com or unsigned at Waterstones
Brussels, Filigranes, Amazon.com.be and other retailers nationwide.
