introduction

CIA: Belgium; 2008

Belgium, officially Kingdom of Belgium, is a low-lying country on the North Sea coast in Western Europe, between France and the Netherlands. The capital of the country is Brussels, from which it is easy to get to the majority of West European capitals. 

As a member of the long-standing international Benelux community, Belgium sits at the crossroads of Western Europe. Its immediate neighbors are France to the southwest, Luxembourg to the southeast, Germany to the east and the Netherlands to the north.The country prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU.

history

Egide Charles Gustave Wappers: Wappers belgian revolution of 1830; 1834; taken from www.wikipedia.org

The first invaders were the Romans who arrived to Belguim in the first century BC and stayed for about 500 years after which it was the turn of the Germanic Franks.

This was the Middle Ages, also known as the Dark Ages, partly due to a shocking lack of decent domestic illumination, also because, freed from the restraining hand of Roman order, the local inhabitants set about each other with a vigour. In fact the Low Countries, as they were then known, were split into a number of feudal states, and generally warring states.

Getting a bit more up to date, these were united in the course of the 14th and 15th centuries by the House of Burgundy as the Burgundian Netherlands. Well, if you are going to be named something it might well be after a decent wine. A degree of autonomy followed in the 15th century, after which the states were known as the Seventeen Provinces.

The history of Belgium as such can really be traced back to a very un-civil war - the Eighty Years’ War - which started in 1568 and you can make your own guess as to when it finished. This divided the Seventeen Provinces into the United Provinces in the North and the Southern Netherlands to the south.

It now gets just a tiny bit complicated. The Southern Netherlands were ruled successively by the Spanish and the Austrian Habsburgs. The area was fought over by numerous would-be French conquerors, not to mention being involved in the Franco-Spanish and Franco-Austrian wars during the 17th and 18th centuries. Not a time of general peace and love then. During this time much of what is now Belgium was over run by the French, thus ending Spanish-Austrian rule, and with the end of the French Empire in 1815 the Low Countries got back together again as the United Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Following swiftly after this, a mere 15 years later, the 1830 Belgian Revolution lead to the establishment of an independent, Catholic, and neutral Belgium under a provisional government. One year after this King Leopold I was installed as king – and Belgium has been a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy ever since.

surfing

Sampont: Blankenberge Pier; 2006

Belgium makes the most of her 60 kilometres of shore line with some fun beachbreaks. Its all mainly windswell dependent unfortunately with December to February offering the best chance of a decent swell to build up during that time. This is winter of course in the Northern Hemisphere and you may be surfing with snow on the beach - everyone should do this at least once in their lives.

There are a number of piers and groynes that have been constructed along the beach and these have served to actually pool the sandbanks in various places offering what can sometimes be a very good wave. Blankenberge Pier is probably the most consistent of these spots.

The odd storm cell that threads its way from Scotland and spins away in the near landlocked body of water to the north of Belgium will offer a few rare gems along the coast. Bring everything you have made of rubber for this trip. 

what to pack

Cserlajos: Nike Cortez 'TB trainers; 7 January 2007

A small backpack makes a good carryon bag and will be useful in daily life.  Women: remember to take a good flat pair of shoe's.... And for everybody: pair of comfortable walking shoes will be great for sightseeing. Beach clothing & sandals will be useful if you are going in the warm season. Try to choose classics, and items that you can mix and match. Have at least one set of nicer clothing for more formal occasions.

Definitely take along some bug repellent spray, good sunscreen and sunglasses! Better take your medicines with you (esp. anti hastamine tablets), as the brands can be unfamiliar. By the way, getting a trip medical insurance would be a good idea.

All the gear if you plan to camp: a good sleeping bag and tent that are good for very low temp; special gas container u can use for heating food and water; a sturdy backpack or a cargo pack with a good daypack.

Bring plenty of memory for digital cameras and bring plenty of batteries.

Everything can be bought in Belguim, but again, travelling to the remote areas, better to bring everything with you.