Facts about Belgium - 30 things you (maybe) didn't know ...

Writer: Peter Bergström

Updated: September 2026 | Belgium is a relatively small country that has left a surprisingly large mark on the world. It is home to the saxophone, chocolate, the Smurfs and an important precursor to the Big Bang Theory. Belgians have also given us Bakelite and BMI, while another Belgian changed the way the world was drawn on maps.

Add waffles, fries, beer, diamonds, Art Nouveau architecture, carrier pigeons and shrimp fishing from horseback and there is a lot of excitement to discover.

Facts about Belgium

We've traveled around Belgium quite a bit, both by campervan and by train. Here we offer 30 interesting, fun and sometimes unexpected facts about Belgium.

1. The saxophone was invented by a Belgian

The saxophone is named after its inventor Adolphe Sax, who was born in Dinant in what is now Belgium in 1814. His father made musical instruments and the young Adolphe himself began experimenting with how instruments could be improved.

He later moved to Paris and developed a completely new wind instrument that combined the characteristics of both woodwind and brass instruments. In 1846 he received a patent for the saxophone. Dinant is still very proud of its famous son. Colorful saxophones adorn the bridge over the Meuse River, among other places.

2. A Belgian priest pioneered the Big Bang theory

One of the most important figures behind our modern picture of the origin of the universe was both priest and physicist – and Belgians.

Georges Lemaître was born in Charleroi in 1894 and studied physics, mathematics, and astronomy, among other subjects. In the 1920s, he argued that the universe was expanding, and in 1931 he presented the idea that the universe had once begun in an extremely compact state that he called a ”primordial atom.”.

This became an important precursor to what we know today as the Big Bang theory. The very expression Big Bang however, came later – and was not coined by Lemaître.

3. Tintin, the Smurfs and Lucky Luke are Belgian

Belgium is something of a superpower when it comes to cartoons. Tintin was created by Belgian comic book artist Hergé, actually Georges Remi, and was first published in 1929.

The Smurfs were created by Belgian Pierre Culliford, better known as Peyo, and first appeared in 1958. The cowboy Lucky Luke was also created by a Belgian: Maurice De Bevere, who worked under the name Morris.

4. Belgium has three official languages – and a complicated system of government

Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French and German. But language boundaries are also an important part of how the entire country is organized.

Belgium is a federal state with three regions: Flanders, Wallonia and the Brussels Region. In addition, there are three linguistic communities – Flemish, French and German-speaking – which are responsible for issues such as culture and education.

As if that weren't enough, there are four language areas, as Brussels is officially bilingual in French and Dutch. In other words, the Belgian system of government is not something you can summarize on the back of a napkin.

5. BMI was created by a Belgian astronomer

The measure we know today as BMI, Body Mass Index, has its roots in the Belgian astronomer, mathematician and statistician Adolphe Quetelet.

In the 19th century, Quetelet became interested in human physical characteristics and developed an index that relates weight to height. It was originally called the Quetelet index and was intended as a statistical tool for studying populations and the ”average person.”.

It was only much later that the index began to be used in healthcare and was given the name BMI. Quetelet did not create an individual health test in the sense in which BMI is often used today.

6. The first fully synthetic plastic was invented by a Belgian

The chemist Leo Baekeland was born in Ghent in 1863 and later emigrated to the United States. There, in 1907, he developed the material Bakelite. Bakelite is often described as the world's first fully synthetic plastic and had properties that made it useful in a wide range of products. It was heat-resistant, did not conduct electricity very well, and could be molded.

Soon Bakelite was appearing in everything from telephones and radios to electrical components and jewelry. The age of plastics had begun – with the help of a Belgian from Ghent.

7. A Belgian changed the way the world was drawn on the map

Born in 1512 in Rupelmonde, in what is now Belgium, Gerardus Mercator became one of the great names in cartography. In 1569, he introduced the map projection that still bears his name. Mercator's projection allowed sailors to plot a course as a straight line on the map, making it very useful for navigation.

The disadvantage is that land areas are distorted the further away from the equator you get. This is why, for example, Greenland can look almost as big as Africa on a Mercator map, even though Africa is many times larger in reality.

8. The Belgian praline started with medicine dipped in chocolate

The story of the Belgian praline actually began in a pharmacy. In 1857, Swiss Jean Neuhaus opened a shop in the elegant Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert in Brussels. He sold medicines but began coating the medicines in chocolate to make them a little more pleasant to swallow.

In 1912, his grandson Jean Neuhaus Jr. took the idea a big step further: he removed the medicine and instead filled the chocolate shell with treats. The Belgian praline was born.

A few years later, Louise Agostini, married to Jean Neuhaus Jr, developed the elegant ballot-the box that protected the pralines better than the paper cones they had previously been sold in.

9. The Brussels waffle and the Liège waffle are two different things

”Belgian waffle” can mean quite different things depending on where in Belgium you are. Brussels waffle is usually rectangular, light and airy with large deep panes. The Liège waffle is denser, sweeter and often more irregular in shape. The dough contains pearl sugar which caramelizes when the waffle is baked.

And do the waffles have to be covered with cream, chocolate sauce, strawberries and a small mountain of other goodies? Absolutely not. A really good Belgian waffle can do just fine with significantly less decoration.

10. French fries are a Belgian institution – but their origins are disputed

Belgium has a very special relationship with French fries. All around the country there are fritkots or friteries, small street food restaurants and eateries that specialize in fries and a variety of sauces. Belgian fries are traditionally fried twice and are often served with mayonnaise.

But did the Belgians invent French fries? Belgium and France have long claimed the honor, and the stories about the origin of French fries are difficult to prove. The safest thing is therefore to let the origin debate continue – and to note that French fries in any case have a very strong position in Belgian food culture.

11. Belgian beer culture is a UNESCO cultural heritage

Belgium is known for its huge variety of beers – from spontaneously fermented lambic and fruit beers to strong monastery beers and modern specialty beers. But it’s not one particular Belgian beer that UNESCO has recognized. Since 2016, Belgian beer culture on the organization's list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

It's not just about the brewing, but also about the knowledge, traditions, serving and the role of beer in Belgian society. Different beers are also often served in their own special glasses, which makes ordering at a Belgian pub a small cultural experience in itself.

12. Trappist beer is not a specific beer style

A Trappist beer does not have to have a certain color, alcohol content or taste. The designation Trappist is instead about where and under what conditions the product is manufactured.

For a beer to be allowed to carry the label Authentic Trappist Product Among other things, it must be produced in or directly adjacent to a Trappist monastery and under the supervision of the monastic community. The activities must be subordinate to monastic life and the income must be used for the needs of the monastery, the Trappist order and charitable purposes.

Belgium has a very special place in the history of Trappist architecture, with classic names such as Orval, Chimay, Rochefort, Westmalle and Westvleteren.

13. The word spa comes from a Belgian town

Going to a spa now sounds like something you can do almost anywhere in the world. But the word itself has a connection to a real place: the city of Spa in Belgium.

Spa became famous for its mineral-rich springs and developed into an exclusive health resort where Europe's aristocracy and other wealthy visitors traveled to drink the water, bathe and socialize.

The name of the resort eventually began to be used as a general term for spas and bathing facilities. Since 2021, Spa has also been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Great Spa Towns of Europe.

14. The Belgian coast is connected by a single tram line

Belgium doesn't have a very long coastline, but there is a convenient way to travel almost the entire length of it. Coastal Tram, the coastal tram, runs from De Panne near the French border to Knokke-Heist near the Netherlands, passing a long line of seaside resorts along the way.

The tram has become something of an institution on the Belgian North Sea coast, making it possible to hop between beaches, seaside resorts and coastal towns without a car.

15. In Belgium, people fish for shrimp from horseback

In Oostduinkerke on the North Sea coast, an unusual fishing tradition still lives on. Fishermen ride out into the shallow sea on powerful horses, pulling nets through the water to catch gray shrimp.

When the horses return to the shore, the catch is sorted, and the tradition is also surrounded by local knowledge, festivities and social customs. Shrimp fishing on horseback in Oostduinkerke has been on the UNESCO list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2013 – and is today a very special part of the identity of the Belgian coast.

16. The Beguines lived religiously without being nuns

During the Middle Ages, special women's communities emerged in parts of Western Europe. The women were called begin and lived religious lives together, but without taking the same permanent monastic vows as nuns.

They could work, have their own assets, and leave the community. Many were unmarried women or widows.

In Flanders, special beguinages were built with residences, churches and green courtyards within walls. Thirteen Flemish beguinages are today on the UNESCO World Heritage List and tell the story of an unusual opportunity for women to live relatively independently in medieval society.

17. The clock towers became symbols of the freedom of the cities

In many places in Belgium, tall trees rise belfry, or bell towers, over the old city centers. They were more than just beautiful towers.

As the cities of present-day Belgium grew wealthy and independent during the Middle Ages, bell towers became symbols of civic power and the rights that the cities had gained. They could store important documents, and from the towers bells could summon residents to meetings or warn of danger.

A large number of Belgian and French bell towers are together included in the UNESCO World Heritage List Belfries of Belgium and France.

18. Plantin-Moretus preserves a printing press from the heyday of printing

In Antwerp there is a museum that is something special for those who like books and history. Christophe Plantin founded his printing house in the 16th century, and the Plantin and Moretus families ran the business on the same site for several hundred years. Historical printing presses, types, books, manuscripts and archives are still preserved here.

Plantin-Moretus is so unique that the entire museum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering a rare opportunity to step into the era when printed books transformed the spread of knowledge in Europe.

19. Brussels became a capital of Art Nouveau architecture

At the end of the 19th century, Brussels became one of the most important cities for the new architectural style Art Nouveau, which in Swedish is often called Art Nouveau. A central figure was the Belgian architect Victor Horta. He used iron, glass, undulating lines, plant forms and open floor plans in a way that broke with older architecture.

Four of his buildings in Brussels – Hôtel Tassel, Hôtel Solvay, Hôtel van Eetvelde and his own home and studio – are collectively a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Strolling around Brussels, you can also find many other beautiful Art Nouveau facades.

20. Manneken Pis has a wardrobe that few people can rival

The little peeing boy Manneken Pis is only just over half a meter high but has become one of Brussels' most famous symbols.

Perhaps the most special thing is his clothes. For several hundred years there has been a tradition of giving the statue costumes, often in connection with holidays, organizations or international visits. Over time, the collection has grown to well over a thousand costumes.

Manneken Pis is also joined by Jeanneke Pis, a peeing girl, and Zinneke Pis, a dog. In other words, Brussels has taken the theme surprisingly far.

21. The Atomium is an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times

The Atomium was built for the World Exhibition Expo 58 in Brussels and has become one of Belgium's most recognizable buildings.

The nine large spheres represent the structure of an iron crystal, magnified approximately 165 billion times. The structure is 102 meters high and the spheres are connected by large tubes containing stairs and escalators.

The Atomium was tied to the World Exhibition and was not necessarily intended as a permanent monument. But the Belgians kept their giant iron crystal, and today it is hard to imagine Brussels without it.

22. Audrey Hepburn was born in Brussels

Audrey Hepburn is perhaps most associated with Hollywood films such as Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday and My Fair Lady. But her life actually began in Belgium.

She was born in Brussels on May 4, 1929 as Audrey Kathleen Ruston. Her mother was Dutch and her father was British. The family later moved from Belgium, and Hepburn spent much of World War II in the occupied Netherlands before eventually becoming one of the most famous film actresses of the 20th century.

23. Belgium only became independent in 1830

Belgium may feel like an old European country, but the modern Belgian state is younger than you might think.

After the Napoleonic Wars, the area became part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. In 1830, the Belgian Revolution broke out, and Belgium declared its independence. The following year, Leopold I became the first king of the Belgians. Belgium developed into a constitutional monarchy and remains a kingdom.

24. Belgium took 541 days to form a new government

Belgian politics can be complicated – which is perhaps not surprising in a country with multiple language groups, regions, communities and political parties.

After the parliamentary elections on June 13, 2010, it took a full 541 days before a new federal government was able to take office on December 6, 2011.

This does not mean, however, that Belgium lacked a functioning government throughout the period. The previous government continued in a transitional role while the protracted negotiations took place. But 541 days to agree on a new government is still an impressive political marathon.

25. Leopold II ruled the Congo Free State as his personal possession

A much darker part of Belgium's history is associated with King Leopold II. When the Congo Free State was formed in 1885, the area was not a Belgian colony but Leopold's personal possession. Under his rule, the area was heavily exploited, including for ivory and natural rubber. The system was based on forced labor and was characterized by widespread violence, abuse, and death.

Reports of the conditions led to growing international criticism. In 1908, Leopold was forced to hand over the area to the Belgian state, after which it became the colony of the Belgian Congo. The colonial history and its legacy are still intensely debated in Belgium.

26. Flanders became one of the most famous battlefields of World War I

Belgium was hit hard by World War I after the German invasion in 1914. The area around Ieper, in French Ypres, became the scene of several major battles.

Even today, there are enormous numbers of war cemeteries, memorials and traces of the Western Front in the landscape. The name Flanders Fields became internationally known through the poem by Canadian doctor John McCrae. In Flanders Fields, written in 1915.

The red poppy, mentioned in the poem, has later become an international symbol of remembrance for the dead of World War I.

27. Napoleon was finally defeated at Waterloo

On June 18, 1815, the battle was fought Battle of Waterloo south of present-day Brussels. Napoleon Bonaparte's French army faced an allied army under the British commander the Duke of Wellington and Prussian forces under Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. The defeat marked the end of Napoleon's attempt to regain power in Europe.

A few days later, Napoleon abdicated for the second time and was eventually sent into exile on the island of Saint Helena. For Swedes, Waterloo of course has another association: in 1974, ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest with the song Waterloo.

28. Antwerp has been trading diamonds for centuries

Antwerp has been an important center for the diamond trade since at least the 15th century. As the city grew into one of Europe's major trading centers, gemstones also became part of the economy.

The diamond district is still located near Antwerpen-Centraal and is home to traders, exchanges, cutters and jewelers. The exact proportion of the world's diamonds passing through Antwerp varies depending on how it is counted and changes over time. But the city's historical and contemporary importance to the international diamond trade is indisputable.

29. Cycling is part of the Belgian soul

Belgium is a small country but a giant in road cycling. It is home to some of the sport's most classic one-day races, including Flanders around and Liège–Bastogne–Liège. Cobblestones, short, brutal hills, rain, mud and huge crowds are part of Belgian cycling culture.

And then of course there is Eddy Merckx. The Belgian, nicknamed ”The Cannibal”, is considered one of cycling’s greatest of all time and won the Tour de France five times.

30. A Belgian racing pigeon has been sold for 1.6 million euros

We conclude with a sport where Belgian stars have wings. Homing pigeon racing has a long and strong tradition in Belgium, where particularly skilled racing pigeons can be very valuable. Breeding, bloodlines and racing results are taken very seriously.

In 2020, the Belgian racing pigeon was sold New Kim at auction for a breathtaking 1.6 million euros to a Chinese buyer. Yes, a pigeon. For 1.6 million euros.

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