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🌏 Overview
Belgium punches far above its weight in everything from art and architecture to beer and chocolate. This small country at Western Europe's crossroads packs medieval cities, Art Nouveau masterpieces, and world-class gastronomy into an area smaller than Maryland. Brussels serves as both national capital and de facto EU capital, giving the country outsized global influence.
The contrast between Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia creates a fascinating cultural duality. Bruges offers canal-laced medieval perfection, Ghent combines student energy with historic grandeur, and Antwerp leads in fashion and diamonds. Belgium's beer culture — with over 1,500 varieties including Trappist ales brewed by monks — is UNESCO-recognized.
