{"id":127939,"date":"2021-01-27T06:00:24","date_gmt":"2021-01-27T05:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/?p=127939"},"modified":"2026-09-24T12:25:48","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T10:25:48","slug":"fakta-om-belgien","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/","title":{"rendered":"Facts about Belgium - 30 things you (maybe) didn't know ..."},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ta_ads_container\" class=\"takeover-container has-clientside-condition loading run-count-0\" data-ttl=\"86400\"><div class=\"takeover-bar\"><a class=\"blog-logo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/\" title=\"FREEDOMtravel - Sweden&#039;s largest travel magazine - \" rel=\"home\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/FREEDOMtravel-resemagasin.png\" alt=\"FREEDOMtravel - Sveriges mesta resemagasin\"><\/a><a class=\"home-link close-takeover\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/\">Go to FREEDOMtravel<\/a><\/div><div class=\"takeover-content\"><div class=\"label\">Advertisement<\/div><div id=\"freed-3237609623\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/se.adria-mobil.com\/husvagnar\/alpina\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"adria-freedom-computer-1920x900px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-dator-1920x900px.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-dator-1920x900px.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-dator-1920x900px-300x141.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-dator-1920x900px-1024x480.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-dator-1920x900px-768x360.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-dator-1920x900px-224x105.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-dator-1920x900px-600x281.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-dator-1920x900px-1536x720.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-dator-1920x900px-18x8.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-dator-1920x900px-433x203.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-dator-1920x900px-1200x563.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" width=\"1920\" height=\"900\"   \/><\/a><\/div><script>( window.advanced_ads_ready || jQuery( document ).ready ).call( null, function() {if( advads.get_cookie( \"advanced_ads_ad_impressions_317709_timeout\" ) ) {if( advads.get_cookie( \"advanced_ads_ad_impressions_317709\" ) ) {var advanced_ads_ad_impressions_317709 = parseInt( advads.get_cookie( \"advanced_ads_ad_impressions_317709\" ) ) + 1;} else { var advanced_ads_ad_impressions_317709 = 1; }} else {var advanced_ads_ad_impressions_317709 = 1;advads.set_cookie_sec(\"advanced_ads_ad_impressions_317709_timeout\", \"true\", 86400 );}advads.set_cookie_sec(\"advanced_ads_ad_impressions_317709\", advanced_ads_ad_impressions_317709, 86400 );});<\/script><\/div><\/div>\n<h3 id=\"h-skribent-peter-bergstrom\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Writer: Peter Bergstr\u00f6m<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Updated: September 2026<\/em>&nbsp;| 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.<\/p><div class=\"sharethis-buttons\"><div class=\"st-custom-button\" data-network=\"twitter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform-cdn.sharethis.com\/img\/twitter.svg\"><span class=\"label\">Tweet<\/span><\/div><div class=\"st-custom-button\" data-network=\"facebook\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform-cdn.sharethis.com\/img\/facebook.svg\"><span class=\"label\">Share<\/span><\/div><div class=\"st-custom-button\" data-network=\"linkedin\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform-cdn.sharethis.com\/img\/linkedin.svg\"><span class=\"label\">Share<\/span><\/div><div class=\"st-custom-button\" data-network=\"pinterest\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform-cdn.sharethis.com\/img\/pinterest.svg\"><span class=\"label\">Pin<\/span><\/div><div class=\"st-custom-button\" data-network=\"reddit\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform-cdn.sharethis.com\/img\/reddit.svg\"><span class=\"label\">Share<\/span><\/div><div class=\"st-custom-button\" data-network=\"digg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform-cdn.sharethis.com\/img\/digg.svg\"><span class=\"label\">Share<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Add waffles, fries, beer, diamonds, Art Nouveau architecture, carrier pigeons and shrimp fishing from horseback and there is a lot of excitement to discover. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ad6fed05f983\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseprofile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ad6fed05f983\" checked aria-label=\"toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#Fakta_om_Belgien\" >Facts about Belgium<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#1_Saxofonen_uppfanns_av_en_belgare\" >1. The saxophone was invented by a Belgian<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#2_En_belgisk_prast_var_pionjar_bakom_Big_Bang-teorin\" >2. A Belgian priest pioneered the Big Bang theory<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#3_Tintin_Smurfarna_och_Lucky_Luke_ar_belgiska\" >3. Tintin, the Smurfs and Lucky Luke are Belgian<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#4_Belgien_har_tre_officiella_sprak_%E2%80%93_och_ett_komplicerat_statsskick\" >4. Belgium has three official languages \u2013 and a complicated system of government<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#5_BMI_skapades_av_en_belgisk_astronom\" >5. BMI was created by a Belgian astronomer<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#6_Den_forsta_helt_syntetiska_plasten_uppfanns_av_en_belgare\" >6. The first fully synthetic plastic was invented by a Belgian<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#7_En_belgare_forandrade_hur_varlden_ritades_pa_kartan\" >7. A Belgian changed the way the world was drawn on the map<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#8_Den_belgiska_pralinen_borjade_med_medicin_doppad_i_choklad\" >8. The Belgian praline started with medicine dipped in chocolate<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#9_Brysselvafflan_och_Liegevafflan_ar_tva_olika_saker\" >9. The Brussels waffle and the Li\u00e8ge waffle are two different things<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#10_Pommes_frites_ar_en_belgisk_institution_%E2%80%93_men_ursprunget_ar_omtvistat\" >10. French fries are a Belgian institution \u2013 but their origins are disputed<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#11_Belgisk_olkultur_ar_ett_UNESCO-kulturarv\" >11. Belgian beer culture is a UNESCO cultural heritage<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#12_Trappistol_ar_inte_en_sarskild_olstil\" >12. Trappist beer is not a specific beer style<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#13_Ordet_spa_kommer_fran_en_belgisk_stad\" >13. The word spa comes from a Belgian town<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#14_Belgiens_kust_binds_ihop_av_en_enda_sparvagnslinje\" >14. The Belgian coast is connected by a single tram line<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#15_I_Belgien_fiskar_man_rakor_fran_hastryggen\" >15. In Belgium, people fish for shrimp from horseback<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#16_Beginerna_levde_religiost_utan_att_vara_nunnor\" >16. The Beguines lived religiously without being nuns<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#17_Klocktornen_blev_symboler_for_stadernas_frihet\" >17. The clock towers became symbols of the freedom of the cities<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#18_Plantin-Moretus_bevarar_ett_tryckeri_fran_boktryckarkonstens_storhetstid\" >18. Plantin-Moretus preserves a printing press from the heyday of printing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#19_Bryssel_blev_en_huvudstad_for_jugendarkitekturen\" >19. Brussels became a capital of Art Nouveau architecture<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#20_Manneken_Pis_har_en_garderob_som_fa_manniskor_kan_konkurrera_med\" >20. Manneken Pis has a wardrobe that few people can rival<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#21_Atomium_ar_en_jarnkristall_forstorad_165_miljarder_ganger\" >21. The Atomium is an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#22_Audrey_Hepburn_foddes_i_Bryssel\" >22. Audrey Hepburn was born in Brussels<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#23_Belgien_blev_sjalvstandigt_forst_1830\" >23. Belgium only became independent in 1830<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#24_Belgien_tog_541_dagar_pa_sig_att_bilda_en_ny_regering\" >24. Belgium took 541 days to form a new government<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#25_Leopold_II_styrde_Kongofristaten_som_sin_personliga_besittning\" >25. Leopold II ruled the Congo Free State as his personal possession<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#26_Flandern_blev_ett_av_forsta_varldskrigets_mest_kanda_slagfalt\" >26. Flanders became one of the most famous battlefields of World War I<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-28\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#27_Napoleon_besegrades_slutgiltigt_vid_Waterloo\" >27. Napoleon was finally defeated at Waterloo<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-29\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#28_Antwerpen_har_handlat_med_diamanter_i_arhundraden\" >28. Antwerp has been trading diamonds for centuries<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-30\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#29_Cykling_ar_en_del_av_Belgiens_folksjal\" >29. Cycling is part of the Belgian soul<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-31\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#30_En_belgisk_tavlingsduva_har_salts_for_16_miljoner_euro\" >30. A Belgian racing pigeon has been sold for 1.6 million euros<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-32\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#Snabba_fakta_om_Belgien\" >Fast facts about Belgium<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-33\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#Fler_fakta-reportage\" >More factual reports<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-34\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#Peter_Bergstrom\" >Peter Bergstr\u00f6m<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-35\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/#Prenumerera_pa_vart_nyhetsbrev\" >Subscribe to our newsletter<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fakta_om_Belgien\"><\/span>Facts about Belgium<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We&#039;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.<\/p><div class=\"freed-grupp-i-blogginlagg freed-entity-placement\" id=\"freed-716151945\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><div id=\"freed-slider-88752\" class=\"custom-slider freed-slider-1104347572 freed-slider\"><ul><li><div id=\"freed-3743821015\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/se.adria-mobil.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"adria-freedom-top-banner-588x158px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-toppbanner-588x158px.gif\" alt=\"\"  width=\"588\" height=\"158\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><div id=\"freed-3472033203\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ullbadden.se\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"ullbadden_588x158_feb_2026\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ullbadden_588x158_feb_2026-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ullbadden_588x158_feb_2026-1.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ullbadden_588x158_feb_2026-1-300x81.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ullbadden_588x158_feb_2026-1-224x60.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ullbadden_588x158_feb_2026-1-18x5.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ullbadden_588x158_feb_2026-1-433x116.jpg 433w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"158\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><script>( window.advanced_ads_ready || jQuery( document ).ready ).call( null, function() {var $freedslider1104347572 = jQuery( \".freed-slider-1104347572\" );$freedslider1104347572.on( \"unslider.ready\", function() { jQuery( \"div.custom-slider ul li\" ).css( \"display\", \"block\" ); });$freedslider1104347572.unslider({ delay:4000, autoplay:true, nav:false, arrows:false, infinite:true });$freedslider1104347572.on(\"mouseover\", function() {$freedslider1104347572.unslider(\"stop\");}).on(\"mouseout\", function() {$freedslider1104347572.unslider(\"start\");});});<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Saxofonen_uppfanns_av_en_belgare\"><\/span>1. The saxophone was invented by a Belgian<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The saxophone is named after its inventor <strong>Adolphe Sax<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p><div class=\"freed-grupp-i-blogginlagg-2 freed-entity-placement\" id=\"freed-4726033\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><div id=\"freed-slider-88753\" class=\"custom-slider freed-slider-148092950 freed-slider\"><ul><li><div id=\"freed-3533452319\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.elmia.se\/husvagn\/for-besokare\/biljetter\/?utm_source=freedomtravel&#038;utm_medium=banner&#038;utm_campaign=elmiahusvagn_kop_biljett_mars-sep\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"ElmiaHusvagnHusbil_2026_FREEDOMtravel_vi_ses_2027_588x158\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ElmiaHusvagnHusbil_2026_FREEDOMtravel_vi_ses_2027_588x158.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ElmiaHusvagnHusbil_2026_FREEDOMtravel_vi_ses_2027_588x158.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ElmiaHusvagnHusbil_2026_FREEDOMtravel_vi_ses_2027_588x158-300x81.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ElmiaHusvagnHusbil_2026_FREEDOMtravel_vi_ses_2027_588x158-224x60.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ElmiaHusvagnHusbil_2026_FREEDOMtravel_vi_ses_2027_588x158-18x5.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ElmiaHusvagnHusbil_2026_FREEDOMtravel_vi_ses_2027_588x158-433x116.jpg 433w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"158\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><div id=\"freed-2852426570\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/husbilslandet.com\/i-lager?amount=-1&#038;vehicle_type=camper&#038;price=219000%2C8874149&#038;y=2005%2C2027&#038;weight=1000%2C18000&#038;rea=true\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Demo sale (588 x 158 px)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Demoutforsaljning-588-x-158-px-.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Demoutforsaljning-588-x-158-px-.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Demoutforsaljning-588-x-158-px--300x81.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Demoutforsaljning-588-x-158-px--224x60.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Demoutforsaljning-588-x-158-px--18x5.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Demoutforsaljning-588-x-158-px--433x116.jpg 433w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"158\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><script>( window.advanced_ads_ready || jQuery( document ).ready ).call( null, function() {var $freedslider148092950 = jQuery( \".freed-slider-148092950\" );$freedslider148092950.on( \"unslider.ready\", function() { jQuery( \"div.custom-slider ul li\" ).css( \"display\", \"block\" ); });$freedslider148092950.unslider({ delay:4000, autoplay:true, nav:false, arrows:false, infinite:true });$freedslider148092950.on(\"mouseover\", function() {$freedslider148092950.unslider(\"stop\");}).on(\"mouseout\", function() {$freedslider148092950.unslider(\"start\");});});<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/schuetz-mediendesign-saxophone-546303_1280-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-315288\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/schuetz-mediendesign-saxophone-546303_1280-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/schuetz-mediendesign-saxophone-546303_1280-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/schuetz-mediendesign-saxophone-546303_1280-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/schuetz-mediendesign-saxophone-546303_1280-224x149.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/schuetz-mediendesign-saxophone-546303_1280-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/schuetz-mediendesign-saxophone-546303_1280-433x289.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/schuetz-mediendesign-saxophone-546303_1280-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/schuetz-mediendesign-saxophone-546303_1280-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/schuetz-mediendesign-saxophone-546303_1280.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The saxophone was invented by a Belgian. Photo: schuetz-mediendesign \/ Pixabay.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_En_belgisk_prast_var_pionjar_bakom_Big_Bang-teorin\"><\/span>2. A Belgian priest pioneered the Big Bang theory<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most important figures behind our modern picture of the origin of the universe was both <strong>priest and physicist<\/strong> \u2013 and Belgians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Georges Lema\u00eetre 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 \u201dprimordial atom.\u201d.<\/p><div class=\"freed-grupp-stora-banner freed-entity-placement\" id=\"freed-4230716675\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><div id=\"freed-2510024731\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/firstcamp.se\/bra-att-veta\/incheckning-efter-stangning?utm_source=display&#038;utm_medium=Freedom-Travel&#038;utm_campaign=Freedom-Travel-sommar-2026\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Dropin_freedom_travel_588x280_SE_final\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dropin_freedom_travel_588x280_SE_final.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dropin_freedom_travel_588x280_SE_final.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dropin_freedom_travel_588x280_SE_final-300x143.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dropin_freedom_travel_588x280_SE_final-224x107.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dropin_freedom_travel_588x280_SE_final-18x9.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dropin_freedom_travel_588x280_SE_final-433x206.jpg 433w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"280\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This became an important precursor to what we know today as the Big Bang theory. The very expression <em>Big Bang<\/em> however, came later \u2013 and was not coined by Lema\u00eetre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ChatGPT-Image-24-sep.-2026-08_45_00-1024x683.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-315329\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ChatGPT-Image-24-sep.-2026-08_45_00-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ChatGPT-Image-24-sep.-2026-08_45_00-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ChatGPT-Image-24-sep.-2026-08_45_00-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ChatGPT-Image-24-sep.-2026-08_45_00-224x149.png 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ChatGPT-Image-24-sep.-2026-08_45_00-18x12.png 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ChatGPT-Image-24-sep.-2026-08_45_00-433x289.png 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ChatGPT-Image-24-sep.-2026-08_45_00-1200x800.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ChatGPT-Image-24-sep.-2026-08_45_00-600x400.png 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ChatGPT-Image-24-sep.-2026-08_45_00.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">AI-generated image describing the Big Bang.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Tintin_Smurfarna_och_Lucky_Luke_ar_belgiska\"><\/span>3. Tintin, the Smurfs and Lucky Luke are Belgian<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Belgium is something of a superpower when it comes to cartoons. <strong>Tintin<\/strong> was created by Belgian comic book artist Herg\u00e9, actually Georges Remi, and was first published in 1929.<\/p><div class=\"freed-grupp-stora-banners-i-blogginlagg-2 freed-entity-placement\" id=\"freed-1772761075\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><div id=\"freed-3493896251\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/wifi.se\/produkt\/hybrid-traveller-portabel-5g-router-med-backup-batteri-i-over-6-timmar-usb\/\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"freedom\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/freedom.gif\" alt=\"\"  width=\"588\" height=\"288\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Tintin-1024x575.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-82324\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Tintin-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Tintin-600x337.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Tintin-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Tintin-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Tintin.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tintin at the Moof museum in Brussels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Belgien_har_tre_officiella_sprak_%E2%80%93_och_ett_komplicerat_statsskick\"><\/span>4. Belgium has three official languages \u2013 and a complicated system of government<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Belgium has three official languages: <strong>Dutch, French and German<\/strong>. But language boundaries are also an important part of how the entire country is organized.<\/p><div class=\"freed-placering-11 freed-entity-placement\" style=\"text-align: center;\" id=\"freed-1651109584\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><div id=\"freed-slider-88783\" class=\"custom-slider freed-slider-2222123503 freed-slider\"><ul><li><div id=\"freed-2420858803\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/husvagnsbranschen.se\/medlemmar\/\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"HRF new xl 2026-9\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-224x224.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-12x12.jpg 12w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-325x325.jpg 325w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-520x520.jpg 520w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-320x320.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"588\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><div id=\"freed-4120662473\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/protect.checkpoint.com\/v2\/r02\/___https:\/www.kabe.se\/se\/nyheter\/kabe-roadshow-2026\/___.YzJlOmthYmU6YzpvOmVkZTIyYjJkNTMxZTZkZjM1YWVhOTViM2NkZTIxMzBlOjc6NDMyYTozYTBkNmIzNGEyZDExNmUyY2ZhYWU3MGNkNzExYmE4ZDUzNjRmYzI5NjgwOTNhNTk5MmZlZDQ2ZTVlNTA3NmVkOmg6VDpO\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"oaddtrip Kabe\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-224x224.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-12x12.jpg 12w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-325x325.jpg 325w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-520x520.jpg 520w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-320x320.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"588\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><script>( window.advanced_ads_ready || jQuery( document ).ready ).call( null, function() {var $freedslider2222123503 = jQuery( \".freed-slider-2222123503\" );$freedslider2222123503.on( \"unslider.ready\", function() { jQuery( \"div.custom-slider ul li\" ).css( \"display\", \"block\" ); });$freedslider2222123503.unslider({ delay:4000, autoplay:true, nav:false, arrows:false, infinite:true });$freedslider2222123503.on(\"mouseover\", function() {$freedslider2222123503.unslider(\"stop\");}).on(\"mouseout\", function() {$freedslider2222123503.unslider(\"start\");});});<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Belgium is a federal state with three regions: Flanders, Wallonia and the Brussels Region. In addition, there are three linguistic communities \u2013 Flemish, French and German-speaking \u2013 which are responsible for issues such as culture and education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As if that weren&#039;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"578\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galleria-Bryssel-1024x578.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-82267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galleria-Bryssel-1024x578.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galleria-Bryssel-600x339.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galleria-Bryssel-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galleria-Bryssel-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galleria-Bryssel.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Belgium is a multilingual country.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_BMI_skapades_av_en_belgisk_astronom\"><\/span>5. BMI was created by a Belgian astronomer<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The measure we know today as <strong>BMI, Body Mass Index<\/strong>, has its roots in the Belgian astronomer, mathematician and statistician Adolphe Quetelet.<\/p><div class=\"freed-stor-banner-plats-14 freed-entity-placement\" id=\"freed-746675336\"><div id=\"freed-slider-88782\" class=\"custom-slider freed-slider-205852393 freed-slider\"><ul><li><div id=\"freed-1972184165\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/husbilslandet.com\/i-lager?amount=-1&#038;vehicle_type=camper&#038;price=219000%2C8874149&#038;y=2005%2C2027&#038;weight=1000%2C18000&#038;rea=true\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Demo sale 588x588px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-224x224.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-12x12.jpg 12w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-325x325.jpg 325w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-520x520.jpg 520w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-320x320.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"588\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><div id=\"freed-2695741353\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/se.adria-mobil.com\/husvagnar\/alpina\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"adria-freedom-XL-588x588px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-XL-588x588px.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-XL-588x588px.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-XL-588x588px-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-XL-588x588px-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-XL-588x588px-224x224.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-XL-588x588px-12x12.jpg 12w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-XL-588x588px-325x325.jpg 325w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-XL-588x588px-520x520.jpg 520w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-XL-588x588px-320x320.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-XL-588x588px-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-XL-588x588px-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"588\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><script>( window.advanced_ads_ready || jQuery( document ).ready ).call( null, function() {var $freedslider205852393 = jQuery( \".freed-slider-205852393\" );$freedslider205852393.on( \"unslider.ready\", function() { jQuery( \"div.custom-slider ul li\" ).css( \"display\", \"block\" ); });$freedslider205852393.unslider({ delay:5000, autoplay:true, nav:false, arrows:false, infinite:true });$freedslider205852393.on(\"mouseover\", function() {$freedslider205852393.unslider(\"stop\");}).on(\"mouseout\", function() {$freedslider205852393.unslider(\"start\");});});<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 \u201daverage person.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/thomaswolter-tape-measure-3872780_1280-1-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-315297\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/thomaswolter-tape-measure-3872780_1280-1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/thomaswolter-tape-measure-3872780_1280-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/thomaswolter-tape-measure-3872780_1280-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/thomaswolter-tape-measure-3872780_1280-1-224x149.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/thomaswolter-tape-measure-3872780_1280-1-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/thomaswolter-tape-measure-3872780_1280-1-433x289.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/thomaswolter-tape-measure-3872780_1280-1-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/thomaswolter-tape-measure-3872780_1280-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/thomaswolter-tape-measure-3872780_1280-1.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: ThomasWolter \/ Pixabay.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Den_forsta_helt_syntetiska_plasten_uppfanns_av_en_belgare\"><\/span>6. The first fully synthetic plastic was invented by a Belgian<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The chemist <strong>Leo Baekeland<\/strong> was born in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2018\/08\/att-se-och-gora-i-gent-i-belgien\/\">Ghent<\/a> in 1863 and later emigrated to the United States. There, in 1907, he developed the material Bakelite. Bakelite is often described as the world&#039;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Soon Bakelite was appearing in everything from telephones and radios to electrical components and jewelry. The age of plastics had begun \u2013 with the help of a Belgian from Ghent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Gent-flod-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Resa till Belgien - resm\u00e5l i Belgien\" class=\"wp-image-258406\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Gent-flod-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Gent-flod-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Gent-flod-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Gent-flod-224x126.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Gent-flod-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Gent-flod-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Gent-flod-433x244.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Gent-flod.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Chemist Leo Baekeland was born in Ghent.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_En_belgare_forandrade_hur_varlden_ritades_pa_kartan\"><\/span>7. A Belgian changed the way the world was drawn on the map<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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&#039;s projection allowed sailors to plot a course as a straight line on the map, making it very useful for navigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/pexels-marina-zasorina-7634303-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-315332\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/pexels-marina-zasorina-7634303-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/pexels-marina-zasorina-7634303-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/pexels-marina-zasorina-7634303-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/pexels-marina-zasorina-7634303-224x149.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/pexels-marina-zasorina-7634303-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/pexels-marina-zasorina-7634303-433x289.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/pexels-marina-zasorina-7634303-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/pexels-marina-zasorina-7634303-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/pexels-marina-zasorina-7634303.jpg 1279w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">World map. Photo: Marina Leonova \/ Pexels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Den_belgiska_pralinen_borjade_med_medicin_doppad_i_choklad\"><\/span>8. The Belgian praline started with medicine dipped in chocolate<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A few years later, Louise Agostini, married to Jean Neuhaus Jr, developed the elegant <em>ballot<\/em>-the box that protected the pralines better than the paper cones they had previously been sold in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"578\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Choklad-Mary-1-1024x578.jpg\" alt=\"Belgien\" class=\"wp-image-129001\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Choklad-Mary-1-1024x578.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Choklad-Mary-1-600x339.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Choklad-Mary-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Choklad-Mary-1-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Choklad-Mary-1-433x244.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Choklad-Mary-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Chocolates in a shop window in Belgium.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_Brysselvafflan_och_Liegevafflan_ar_tva_olika_saker\"><\/span>9. The Brussels waffle and the Li\u00e8ge waffle are two different things<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201dBelgian waffle\u201d can mean quite different things depending on where in Belgium you are. <strong>Brussels waffle<\/strong> is usually rectangular, light and airy with large deep panes. <strong>The Li\u00e8ge waffle<\/strong> is denser, sweeter and often more irregular in shape. The dough contains pearl sugar which caramelizes when the waffle is baked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/gaufres-3-1024x577.jpg\" alt=\"Belgien\" class=\"wp-image-129149\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/gaufres-3-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/gaufres-3-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/gaufres-3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/gaufres-3-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/gaufres-3-433x244.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/gaufres-3.jpg 1199w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Pommes_frites_ar_en_belgisk_institution_%E2%80%93_men_ursprunget_ar_omtvistat\"><\/span>10. French fries are a Belgian institution \u2013 but their origins are disputed<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Belgium has a very special relationship with French fries. All around the country there are <strong>fritkots or friteries<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 \u2013 and to note that French fries in any case have a very strong position in Belgian food culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pommes-frites-Antwerpen-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Pommes frites Antwerpen\" class=\"wp-image-73171\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pommes-frites-Antwerpen-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pommes-frites-Antwerpen-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pommes-frites-Antwerpen-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pommes-frites-Antwerpen-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pommes-frites-Antwerpen.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">French fries with toppings at the classic Fritkot Max in Antwerp.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"11_Belgisk_olkultur_ar_ett_UNESCO-kulturarv\"><\/span>11. Belgian beer culture is a UNESCO cultural heritage<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Belgium is known for its huge variety of beers \u2013 from spontaneously fermented lambic and fruit beers to strong monastery beers and modern specialty beers. But it\u2019s not one particular Belgian beer that UNESCO has recognized. Since 2016, <strong>Belgian beer culture<\/strong> on the organization&#039;s list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#039;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Ol-Antwerpen-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\u00d6l\" class=\"wp-image-128994\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Ol-Antwerpen-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Ol-Antwerpen-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Ol-Antwerpen-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Ol-Antwerpen-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Ol-Antwerpen-433x244.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Ol-Antwerpen.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"12_Trappistol_ar_inte_en_sarskild_olstil\"><\/span>12. Trappist beer is not a specific beer style<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A Trappist beer does not have to have a certain color, alcohol content or taste. The designation <strong>Trappist<\/strong> is instead about where and under what conditions the product is manufactured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a beer to be allowed to carry the label <em>Authentic Trappist Product<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Belgium has a very special place in the history of Trappist architecture, with classic names such as Orval, Chimay, Rochefort, Westmalle and Westvleteren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgisk-\u00f6l-1-1024x577.jpg\" alt=\"Belgisk \u00f6l\" class=\"wp-image-47989\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgisk-\u00f6l-1-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgisk-\u00f6l-1-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgisk-\u00f6l-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgisk-\u00f6l-1-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgisk-\u00f6l-1-1200x676.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgisk-\u00f6l-1.jpg 1201w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"13_Ordet_spa_kommer_fran_en_belgisk_stad\"><\/span>13. The word spa comes from a Belgian town<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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: <strong>the city of Spa in Belgium<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spa became famous for its mineral-rich springs and developed into an exclusive health resort where Europe&#039;s aristocracy and other wealthy visitors traveled to drink the water, bathe and socialize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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. <em>The Great Spa Towns of Europe<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/spa-basturum-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-194346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/spa-basturum-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/spa-basturum-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/spa-basturum-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/spa-basturum-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/spa-basturum-433x244.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/spa-basturum-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/spa-basturum.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"14_Belgiens_kust_binds_ihop_av_en_enda_sparvagnslinje\"><\/span>14. The Belgian coast is connected by a single tram line<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Belgium doesn&#039;t have a very long coastline, but there is a convenient way to travel almost the entire length of it. <strong>Coastal Tram<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"701\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hpgruesen-kusttram-2724363_1280-1024x701.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-315315\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hpgruesen-kusttram-2724363_1280-1024x701.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hpgruesen-kusttram-2724363_1280-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hpgruesen-kusttram-2724363_1280-768x526.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hpgruesen-kusttram-2724363_1280-224x153.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hpgruesen-kusttram-2724363_1280-600x411.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hpgruesen-kusttram-2724363_1280-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hpgruesen-kusttram-2724363_1280-433x296.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hpgruesen-kusttram-2724363_1280-1200x821.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hpgruesen-kusttram-2724363_1280.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Coastal tram in Belgium. Photo: hpgruesen \/ Pixabay.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"15_I_Belgien_fiskar_man_rakor_fran_hastryggen\"><\/span>15. In Belgium, people fish for shrimp from horseback<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <strong>gray shrimp<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When the horses return to the shore, the catch is sorted, and the tradition is also surrounded by local knowledge, festivities and social customs. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2023\/11\/rakfiske-med-hast-i-belgien\/\">Shrimp fishing on horseback in Oostduinkerke<\/a> has been on the UNESCO list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2013 \u2013 and is today a very special part of the identity of the Belgian coast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/vercleven-shrimp-fishing-6523494_1280-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-315337\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/vercleven-shrimp-fishing-6523494_1280-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/vercleven-shrimp-fishing-6523494_1280-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/vercleven-shrimp-fishing-6523494_1280-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/vercleven-shrimp-fishing-6523494_1280-224x149.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/vercleven-shrimp-fishing-6523494_1280-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/vercleven-shrimp-fishing-6523494_1280-433x289.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/vercleven-shrimp-fishing-6523494_1280-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/vercleven-shrimp-fishing-6523494_1280-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/vercleven-shrimp-fishing-6523494_1280.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: vercleven \/ Pixabay,<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"16_Beginerna_levde_religiost_utan_att_vara_nunnor\"><\/span>16. The Beguines lived religiously without being nuns<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the Middle Ages, special women&#039;s communities emerged in parts of Western Europe. The women were called <strong>begin<\/strong> and lived religious lives together, but without taking the same permanent monastic vows as nuns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They could work, have their own assets, and leave the community. Many were unmarried women or widows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgien3-61-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-128239\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgien3-61-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgien3-61-600x337.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgien3-61-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgien3-61-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgien3-61-433x243.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgien3-61.jpg 1201w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Our on-site guide shows and tells about the beguinages.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"17_Klocktornen_blev_symboler_for_stadernas_frihet\"><\/span>17. The clock towers became symbols of the freedom of the cities<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In many places in Belgium, tall trees rise <strong>belfry<\/strong>, or bell towers, over the old city centers. They were more than just beautiful towers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A large number of Belgian and French bell towers are together included in the UNESCO World Heritage List <em>Belfries of Belgium and France<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgien3-55-1024x577.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-128242\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgien3-55-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgien3-55-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgien3-55-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgien3-55-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgien3-55-433x244.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgien3-55.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"18_Plantin-Moretus_bevarar_ett_tryckeri_fran_boktryckarkonstens_storhetstid\"><\/span>18. Plantin-Moretus preserves a printing press from the heyday of printing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Plantar-museum-1024x577.jpg\" alt=\"Antwerpen museum - Unesco v\u00e4rldsarv i Belgien\" class=\"wp-image-73182\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Plantar-museum-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Plantar-museum-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Plantar-museum-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Plantar-museum-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Plantar-museum.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Plantin-Moretus Museum in Antwerp.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"19_Bryssel_blev_en_huvudstad_for_jugendarkitekturen\"><\/span>19. Brussels became a capital of Art Nouveau architecture<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the end of the 19th century, Brussels became one of the most important cities for the new architectural style <strong>Art Nouveau<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Four of his buildings in Brussels \u2013 H\u00f4tel Tassel, H\u00f4tel Solvay, H\u00f4tel van Eetvelde and his own home and studio \u2013 are collectively a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Strolling around Brussels, you can also find many other beautiful Art Nouveau facades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"20_Manneken_Pis_har_en_garderob_som_fa_manniskor_kan_konkurrera_med\"><\/span>20. Manneken Pis has a wardrobe that few people can rival<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The little peeing boy <strong>Manneken Pis<\/strong> is only just over half a meter high but has become one of Brussels&#039; most famous symbols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Belgien\" class=\"wp-image-128978\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-433x244.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"21_Atomium_ar_en_jarnkristall_forstorad_165_miljarder_ganger\"><\/span>21. The Atomium is an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Atomium was built for the World Exhibition <strong>Expo 58<\/strong> in Brussels and has become one of Belgium&#039;s most recognizable buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Atomium-1-1024x577.jpg\" alt=\"atomium\" class=\"wp-image-82017\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Atomium-1-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Atomium-1-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Atomium-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Atomium-1-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Atomium-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Atomium in Brussels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"22_Audrey_Hepburn_foddes_i_Bryssel\"><\/span>22. Audrey Hepburn was born in Brussels<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Audrey Hepburn is perhaps most associated with Hollywood films such as <em>Breakfast at Tiffany&#039;s<\/em>, <em>Roman Holiday<\/em> and <em>My Fair Lady<\/em>. But her life actually began in Belgium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She was born in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2018\/12\/18-saker-att-gora-i-bryssel\/\">Brussels<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Grote-markt-bryssel-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Se och g\u00f6ra i Bryssel\" class=\"wp-image-82330\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Grote-markt-bryssel-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Grote-markt-bryssel-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Grote-markt-bryssel-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Grote-markt-bryssel-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Grote-markt-bryssel.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Audrey Hepburn was born in Brussels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"23_Belgien_blev_sjalvstandigt_forst_1830\"><\/span>23. Belgium only became independent in 1830<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Belgium may feel like an old European country, but the modern Belgian state is younger than you might think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Justitiepalatset-Bryssel-2.jpg-kopia-1024x577.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-301256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Justitiepalatset-Bryssel-2.jpg-kopia-1024x577.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Justitiepalatset-Bryssel-2.jpg-kopia-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Justitiepalatset-Bryssel-2.jpg-kopia-768x433.png 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Justitiepalatset-Bryssel-2.jpg-kopia-224x126.png 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Justitiepalatset-Bryssel-2.jpg-kopia-18x10.png 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Justitiepalatset-Bryssel-2.jpg-kopia-433x244.png 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Justitiepalatset-Bryssel-2.jpg-kopia-590x332.png 590w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Justitiepalatset-Bryssel-2.jpg-kopia-600x338.png 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Justitiepalatset-Bryssel-2.jpg-kopia.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Palace of Justice in Brussels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"24_Belgien_tog_541_dagar_pa_sig_att_bilda_en_ny_regering\"><\/span>24. Belgium took 541 days to form a new government<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Belgian politics can be complicated \u2013 which is perhaps not surprising in a country with multiple language groups, regions, communities and political parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Grote-Markt-by-night-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Grote Markt by night\" class=\"wp-image-82298\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Grote-Markt-by-night-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Grote-Markt-by-night-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Grote-Markt-by-night-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Grote-Markt-by-night-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Grote-Markt-by-night.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The central square in Brussels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"25_Leopold_II_styrde_Kongofristaten_som_sin_personliga_besittning\"><\/span>25. Leopold II ruled the Congo Free State as his personal possession<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A much darker part of Belgium&#039;s history is associated with King <strong>Leopold II<\/strong>. When the Congo Free State was formed in 1885, the area was not a Belgian colony but Leopold&#039;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Byggnad-Bryssel-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Kungliga slottet Bryssel\" class=\"wp-image-82299\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Byggnad-Bryssel-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Byggnad-Bryssel-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Byggnad-Bryssel-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Byggnad-Bryssel-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Byggnad-Bryssel-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Byggnad-Bryssel.jpg 1201w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Royal Palace in Brussels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"26_Flandern_blev_ett_av_forsta_varldskrigets_mest_kanda_slagfalt\"><\/span>26. Flanders became one of the most famous battlefields of World War I<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Belgium was hit hard by World War I after the German invasion in 1914. The area around <strong>Ieper, in French Ypres<\/strong>, became the scene of several major battles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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. <em>In Flanders Fields<\/em>, written in 1915.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The red poppy, mentioned in the poem, has later become an international symbol of remembrance for the dead of World War I.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"686\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/couleur-poppy-3352517_1280-1024x686.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-315342\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/couleur-poppy-3352517_1280-1024x686.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/couleur-poppy-3352517_1280-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/couleur-poppy-3352517_1280-768x515.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/couleur-poppy-3352517_1280-224x150.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/couleur-poppy-3352517_1280-600x402.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/couleur-poppy-3352517_1280-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/couleur-poppy-3352517_1280-433x290.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/couleur-poppy-3352517_1280-1200x804.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/couleur-poppy-3352517_1280.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Red poppy. Photo: Couleur \/ Pixabay.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"27_Napoleon_besegrades_slutgiltigt_vid_Waterloo\"><\/span>27. Napoleon was finally defeated at Waterloo<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On June 18, 1815, the battle was fought <strong>Battle of Waterloo<\/strong> south of present-day Brussels. Napoleon Bonaparte&#039;s French army faced an allied army under the British commander the Duke of Wellington and Prussian forces under Gebhard Leberecht von Bl\u00fccher. The defeat marked the end of Napoleon&#039;s attempt to regain power in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <em>Waterloo<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/ABBA-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-168192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/ABBA-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/ABBA-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/ABBA-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/ABBA-1-433x244.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/ABBA-1-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/ABBA-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">ABBA are famous for the song Waterloo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"28_Antwerpen_har_handlat_med_diamanter_i_arhundraden\"><\/span>28. Antwerp has been trading diamonds for centuries<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2018\/08\/gora-i-antwerpen-i-belgien\/\">Antwerp<\/a> has been an important center for the diamond trade since at least the 15th century. As the city grew into one of Europe&#039;s major trading centers, gemstones also became part of the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The diamond district is still located near Antwerpen-Centraal and is home to traders, exchanges, cutters and jewelers. The exact proportion of the world&#039;s diamonds passing through Antwerp varies depending on how it is counted and changes over time. But the city&#039;s historical and contemporary importance to the international diamond trade is indisputable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgien3-41-4-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Fakta om Belgien\" class=\"wp-image-129061\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgien3-41-4-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgien3-41-4-scaled-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgien3-41-4-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Belgien3-41-4-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Peter at the DIVA diamond museum in Antwerp.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"29_Cykling_ar_en_del_av_Belgiens_folksjal\"><\/span>29. Cycling is part of the Belgian soul<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Belgium is a small country but a giant in road cycling. It is home to some of the sport&#039;s most classic one-day races, including <strong>Flanders around<\/strong> and Li\u00e8ge\u2013Bastogne\u2013Li\u00e8ge. Cobblestones, short, brutal hills, rain, mud and huge crowds are part of Belgian cycling culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And then of course there is Eddy Merckx. The Belgian, nicknamed \u201dThe Cannibal\u201d, is considered one of cycling\u2019s greatest of all time and won the Tour de France five times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Gent-1024x575.jpg\" alt=\"Cykla Gent\" class=\"wp-image-73103\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Gent-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Gent-600x337.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Gent-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Gent-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Gent.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">By bike in Ghent.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"30_En_belgisk_tavlingsduva_har_salts_for_16_miljoner_euro\"><\/span>30. A Belgian racing pigeon has been sold for 1.6 million euros<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2020, the Belgian racing pigeon was sold <strong>New Kim<\/strong> at auction for a breathtaking 1.6 million euros to a Chinese buyer. Yes, a pigeon. For 1.6 million euros.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/alexas_fotos-collared-5566393_1280-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-313053\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/alexas_fotos-collared-5566393_1280-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/alexas_fotos-collared-5566393_1280-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/alexas_fotos-collared-5566393_1280-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/alexas_fotos-collared-5566393_1280-224x149.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/alexas_fotos-collared-5566393_1280-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/alexas_fotos-collared-5566393_1280-433x289.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/alexas_fotos-collared-5566393_1280-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/alexas_fotos-collared-5566393_1280-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/alexas_fotos-collared-5566393_1280.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: Alexas_Fotos \/ Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container faktaruta uagb-block-18e12cfc default uagb-is-root-container\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Snabba_fakta_om_Belgien\"><\/span>Fast facts about Belgium<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Highest point:<\/strong> Signal de Botrange, 694 m above sea level, in Hautes Fagnes\/High Fenn.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Longest river:<\/strong> Scheldt (Scheldt\/Escaut), about 350 km in total, of which about 200 km in Belgium. The river flows through the Netherlands to the North Sea.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Second largest city:<\/strong> Antwerp \u2013 if we compare the population of the municipalities. Brussels is the largest as a metropolitan area, but the administrative division itself makes Belgian city comparisons a bit tricky.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Biggest lake:<\/strong> Lac de la Plate Taille, approximately 3.5 km\u00b2 \u2013 Belgium&#039;s largest artificial lake and part of the Lacs de l&#039;Eau d&#039;Heure. Belgium has no really large natural lakes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sea:<\/strong> North Sea. Belgium only has about 65 kilometers of coastline, with sandy beaches and dunes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Main sports:<\/strong> Football and cycling are among the biggest. Belgium has a particularly strong cycling tradition with classics such as the Tour of Flanders and Li\u00e8ge\u2013Bastogne\u2013Li\u00e8ge.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Neighbouring countries:<\/strong> France, Luxembourg, Germany and the Netherlands.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Climate:<\/strong> Temperate maritime climate, strongly influenced by the Atlantic and the North Sea. Winters are relatively mild and summers are moderately warm, while the Ardennes are cooler and rainier.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-overraskande-fakta-om-belgien\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fler_fakta-reportage\"><\/span>More factual reports<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2020\/11\/fakta-om-frankrike\/\">Facts about France<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2019\/10\/fakta-om-irland\/\">Facts about Ireland<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2020\/05\/fakta-om-polen\/\">Facts about Poland<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/\">Facts about Switzerland<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2020\/05\/fakta-om-tyskland\/\">Facts about Germany<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/03\/fakta-om-ungern\/\">Facts about Hungary<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/roliga-fakta-om-lander\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Roliga-fakta-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-220149\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Roliga-fakta-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Roliga-fakta-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Roliga-fakta-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Roliga-fakta-224x126.png 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Roliga-fakta-18x10.png 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Roliga-fakta-433x244.png 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Roliga-fakta-600x338.png 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Roliga-fakta.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Many fun facts that you (maybe) didn't know? Click on the image!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"vcard\">\n<div class=\"has-image\">\n<figure class=\"profile-picture\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/influencers\/peter-bergstrom\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"328\" height=\"380\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/FREEDOMtravel-i-Budapest-1-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-small size-small wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/FREEDOMtravel-i-Budapest-1-1.jpg 328w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/FREEDOMtravel-i-Budapest-1-1-259x300.jpg 259w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/FREEDOMtravel-i-Budapest-1-1-193x224.jpg 193w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/FREEDOMtravel-i-Budapest-1-1-10x12.jpg 10w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/FREEDOMtravel-i-Budapest-1-1-281x325.jpg 281w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 328px) 100vw, 328px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"list-header\">Follow Peter here:<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"social\"><li class=\"youtube\"><a target=\"social\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/freedomtravelnews\" title=\"YouTube\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>YouTube<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"www\"><a target=\"social\" href=\"https:\/\/freedomxplore.com\/\" title=\"Web\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Web<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"influencer-country-flag\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Flag_of_Sweden-300x188.png\" alt=\"Sverige\" title=\"Sweden\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content\">\n<h2 class=\"name\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Peter_Bergstrom\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/influencers\/peter-bergstrom\/\">Peter Bergstr\u00f6m<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"excerpt\">Peter is the CEO, writer and publisher of Sweden's most popular travel magazine, FREEDOMtravel.se and FREEDOMtravel.se\/husbilsresor. My wife and I travel for around eight months of the year, searching for new gems to experience and to inspire you, our readers, with exciting new destinations. We also run the travel agency FREEDOMxplore.com in collaboration with Your Brand Travel. The focus is on unique, hand-picked experiences.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><div id=\"freed-145138487\" class=\"hide-label freed-after-content_2 freed-entity-placement method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><form method=\"post\" id=\"ft_newsletter_subscribe\" action=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/\" class=\"ft-newsletter\" data-ajax-url=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php\" data-trp-original-action=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/\">\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"stage\" value=\"subscribe\" \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Prenumerera_pa_vart_nyhetsbrev\"><\/span>Subscribe to our newsletter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"form-field\" data-missing=\"This field is required.\" data-invalid=\"Please enter a valid email address.\">\n<label for=\"ft_newsletter_email\">Email address<\/label>\n<input id=\"ft_newsletter_email\" name=\"ft_newsletter_email\" type=\"email\" value=\"\" placeholder=\"Enter your email address\" aria-required=\"true\" \/>\n<\/p>\n<input class=\"signup button newsletter-meta-button\" type=\"submit\"  name=\"subscribe\" value=\"Subscribe\">\n<div style=\"position: absolute; left: -4200px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ft-newsletter-protect\"><input type=\"text\" name=\"98d0b92c63fae1c39c28d2024aa82be8e0ab74fe\" tabindex=\"-1\" value=\"\"><\/div>\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"trp-form-language\" value=\"en\"\/><\/form><\/div><div id=\"freed-2694948666\" class=\"hide-label freed-after-content_3 freed-entity-placement method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 35px;\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" aria-label=\"FREEDOMtravel Exit\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel.png\" alt=\"FREEDOMtravel Avslut\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel-300x100.png 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel-1024x341.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel-768x256.png 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel-224x75.png 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel-600x200.png 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel-18x6.png 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel-433x144.png 433w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" width=\"1200\" height=\"400\"   \/><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>G\u00e5 vidare till FREEDOMtravel Advertisement Annons Skribent: Peter Bergstr\u00f6m Uppdaterad: september 2026&nbsp;|&nbsp;Belgien \u00e4r ett ganska litet land som har satt f\u00f6rv\u00e5nansv\u00e4rt stora avtryck i v\u00e4rlden. H\u00e4rifr\u00e5n kommer saxofonen, pralinen, Smurfarna och en viktig f\u00f6reg\u00e5ngare till Big Bang-teorin. Belgare har dessutom gett oss bakelit och BMI, medan en annan belgare f\u00f6r\u00e4ndrade hur v\u00e4rlden ritades p\u00e5 kartan. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":175727,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[261],"tags":[88823],"class_list":["post-127939","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-belgien","tag-fakta-om","has-featured-image"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-1.jpg",1200,675,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-1-300x169.jpg",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-1-768x432.jpg",700,394,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-1-1024x576.jpg",700,394,true],"influencer":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-1.jpg",224,126,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-1.jpg",1200,675,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-1.jpg",1200,675,false],"trp-custom-language-flag":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-1.jpg",18,10,false],"startpage_08":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-1-433x244.jpg",433,244,true],"popular_product":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-1-520x520.jpg",520,520,true],"startpage_camping_08":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-1-433x675.jpg",433,675,true],"campervan_food":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-1.jpg",590,332,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-1.jpg",1200,675,false],"woocommerce_thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-1-320x320.jpg",320,320,true],"woocommerce_single":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-1-600x338.jpg",600,338,true],"woocommerce_gallery_thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-1-100x100.jpg",100,100,true],"yarpp-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-1.jpg",120,68,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Peter","author_link":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/author\/peter\/"},"uagb_comment_info":3,"uagb_excerpt":"G\u00e5 vidare till FREEDOMtravel Advertisement Annons Skribent: Peter Bergstr\u00f6m Uppdaterad: september 2026&nbsp;|&nbsp;Belgien \u00e4r ett ganska litet land som har satt f\u00f6rv\u00e5nansv\u00e4rt stora avtryck i v\u00e4rlden. 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Belgare har dessutom gett oss bakelit och BMI, medan en annan belgare f\u00f6r\u00e4ndrade hur v\u00e4rlden ritades p\u00e5 kartan.&hellip;","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/brussels-218132_1280-2-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127939","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=127939"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127939\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":315352,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127939\/revisions\/315352"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/175727"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=127939"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=127939"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=127939"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}