CAPITAL BRUSSELS - POPULATION 11.3 MILLION - AREA 30,528 SQ KM -OFFICIAL LANGUAGES DUTCH, FRENCH
It's ironic that this EU stalwart can't unify its own population. Tensions between Dutch-speaking Flanders and francophone Wallonia recently bubbled to the point that the country went without government for months – 45% of Flems in favour of becoming a separate nation left the government unable to form a ruling coalition. You don't think of Belgium as a hotbed of revolution – more a safe-as-houses domain of sumptuous chocolate, great beer and frites (evidenced by the new Frietmuseum, medieval Bruges' homage to the fried potato). However, one thing that does unite the country is its increasingly well-connected rail network, which will help you access cosy auberges amid the dense Ardennes forest or the medieval castles of the Gueule Valley.
FLANDERS, BELGIUM
There's something satisfyingly complete - as well as scenically refreshing - about Belgium's Coast Tram. The Kusttram hugs the country's entire North Sea shore, tracing the 68km Flanders shoreline from De Panne (near the French border) to Knokke-Heist (near the Dutch) - a traverse of a nation in just two hours, with sand dune and sea views all the way. There's more, too: Surrealism started hereabouts, and many suitably strange sculptures pass by the tram window. Less odd are the beachside cafes: stop off at charming De Haan to eat moules frites in sight of the sea. |
