Belgium Local Customs

  Belgian Malinois shepherd dog.
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Most Viewed Local Customs in Belgium

76.

Eating   Brussels

Eating, Brussels

 43 Reviews  Belgium chocolate is famous, and remarkably linked to Tourism. I think that it is impossible to approach Manneken Pis without being compelled to enter one of the many shops that rival to make the most... 

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77.

Legends and urban stories   Antwerp

Legends and urban stories, Antwerp

 19 Reviews  There is some Antwerp legend (I'm afraid I don't remember the details but it's not important) about a giant and a man who fight, the man wins and cuts of the giant's hand (natives - feel free to... 

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78.

2 languages are spoken Flemish and French.   Brugge

2 languages are spoken Flemish and French., Brugge

 6 Reviews  Actually it's both depending on whether you are using the Flemish spelling or French spelling. In Flemish and Dutch, it's spelled Brugge and pronounced Broo-gah. In French and English, it's spelled... 

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79.

Museums   Oostende

Museums, Oostende

 5 Reviews  THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS. Different works of art from Ostend such as Ensor, Permeke, Spilliaert, Finch, De Clerck, etc.. there’s a large variety of works from Belgian masters from 1830 until... 

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80.

Cat Parade   Ieper

Cat Parade, Ieper

 5 Reviews  Cat haters must love the Kattenfestival which has it's origins in the 12th century when they would throw live cats from the Cloth Hall belfry, hope they hadn't cashed in on all of their 9 lives yet!... 

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81.

Languages   Brussels

Languages, Brussels

 27 Reviews  As the Flemish speaking inhabitants started over the two last centuries to speak more and more French they often did it keeping the Flemish tonic accent at the begin of the word on the contrary of... 

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82.

Festivals and events   Antwerp

Festivals and events, Antwerp

 53 Reviews  In 2004 the tallships race was back in Antwerp again. It was one of the great events this summer. Lot of activity is going on, when the tall ships are here. The event will be back in tge summer of... 

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83.

Beers / Chocolates / Flemish Frites (Fries).   Brugge

Beers / Chocolates / Flemish Frites (Fries)., Brugge

 20 Reviews  While you are in Brugge you MUST try fries with mayonnaise (of course unless you are not a big fan of mayonnaise). I never thought it would be that good until I tried it. When we ordered them, they... 

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84.

Poppies   Ieper

Poppies, Ieper

 6 Reviews  Le coquelicot, "poppy" en anglais, est le symbole par excellence qui honore le sacrifice de tous ceux qui ont servi et sont morts pour leur pays pendant les deux guerres mondiales. Cette fleur... 

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85.

Drinking   Brussels

Drinking, Brussels

 41 Reviews  AWESOME. This is a beer shop in Brussels heart, it's not just a shop for me it's a beer museum!!! There is more than 1000 Belgian beers!!! Beautiful!!! See my pictures! They can also ship beers,... 

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86.

Famous people   Antwerp

Famous people, Antwerp

 10 Reviews  dEUS are an Antwerp-based band who take on the world, armed with a suitcase full of Captain Beefheart, Frank Zappa, Pixies and Radiohead. Their music is never straightforward, always with a twist that... 

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87.

Museums / Architecture / Art / Paintings.   Brugge

Museums / Architecture / Art / Paintings., Brugge

 28 Reviews  This fountain in t'Zand square was done in the 1980s and depicts several typical Flanders scenes and icons. There are cyclists and a Flanders landscape. In the photo you can see the fisherman and on... 

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88.

Last Post   Ieper

Last Post, Ieper

 5 Reviews  Every evening since July 24 1927 at 20.00 hours, the Last post is blown by members of the Ypres Fire Brigade, to remember the victims of World War I. The blowing of the Last post only was interrupted... 

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89.

Tipping   Brussels

Tipping, Brussels

 6 Reviews  Taxes and tips are always included in the price you need to pay in pubs, restaurants and even taxis. However it is an unwritten rule that if you are satisfied about the service and your bill is not a... 

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90.

Beer tasting   Antwerp

Beer tasting, Antwerp

 18 Reviews  Drinking for Belgians is a cultural and social happening. Being famous for the beers, we also take care of our pubs and we have some few! One that is very cute and stuffed with all kinds of saint's... 

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91.

Lace making a well known Belgian Art.   Brugge

Lace making a well known Belgian Art., Brugge

 13 Reviews  There are many ways to make lace. Needlepoint Lace is made with a needle and thread. It is very closely related to embroidery but the stitches are made without cloth underneath them. They are simply... 

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92.

Comic Strip Art   Brussels

Comic Strip Art, Brussels

 14 Reviews  The Marolles is set in the former artisans' quarter of the city. You can access the area by a lift which operates near to the Palais de Justice or just walk downhill as we did. The pretty mural looks... 

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93.

Musea   Antwerp

Musea, Antwerp

 10 Reviews  In Antwerp I saw only four masterpieces by Pieter Paul Rubens in Our Lady's Cathedral (Onze Lieve-Vrouwkathedraal). But I was lucky to visit a few more museums with his works of which I liked most:... 

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94.

Procession of the Holy Blood   Brugge

Procession of the Holy Blood, Brugge

 4 Reviews  The great procession of the Holy Blood held each Ascension Day, when the bishop of Bruges carry the relic of the Holy Blood through the streets of the city. The procession culminates with the... 

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95.

Flower Carpet   Brussels

Flower Carpet, Brussels

 7 Reviews  It's better to book in time if you want to attend this flower carpet event. It's very crowded and all the hotels are taken. Next flower carpet in Brussels is between August, 15th-17th, 2010. Be there... 

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96.

VT-Meetings   Antwerp

VT-Meetings, Antwerp

 6 Reviews  On occasion of Leroys (Brewdog @ VT)'s visit to Belgium and my anniversary, I organised a VT pubcrawl. We were with 9 VT-ers and family and some friends. We had a great time! No wonder as we asked... 

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97.

Horse Carriage / Canal Tours / Cultural Celebrations.   Brugge

Horse Carriage / Canal Tours / Cultural Celebrations., Brugge

 10 Reviews  these wildly popular canal-boat tours. It seems you can get a better view of things just by wandering around on your own, not being jammed into these longboats like sardines. But the guided-tour... 

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98.

Festivals   Brussels

Festivals, Brussels

 19 Reviews   Years and years I've seen this christmas period thing grown in Brussels. I do think that Brussels has got' the most beautiful square in the world. I have been on some squares....that title... 

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99.

Shopping   Antwerp

Shopping, Antwerp

 4 Reviews  Every year on August 15th the Rubensmarket takes place. Its to honour the famous painter P.P.Rubens. The sales people are all dressed like the people used to dress when Rubens was living. The... 

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100.

Paying at the Bar and tipping 10% is costumary   Brugge

Paying at the Bar and tipping 10% is costumary, Brugge

 3 Reviews  In a country where service is included in most bills, tipping is not a problem. Most people will not expect a tip. Possible exceptions are public toilets, where the attendant may expect a tip of 25... 

 See All 118 Local Customs in Brugge

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Popular fiest and tradition

by Luchonda

Belgium has a lot of traditional and popular feasts like- The Gentse Feesten (Ghent)- Fetes de Wallonie (Namur)- Fetes d'Outremeuse ( Liege)- Garnalenfeest (Koksijde)- Carnival (Aalst)Belgians like to have a good meal, not limited to the traditional "Moules & Frites" but many times enriched by the famous "Ganda Ham" - "Asperges flamandes" - "Godiva chocolates" - "Waffles from Brussels" and a strong tasting cheese from "Herve"In short - a plate representing all specialities of the Belgian provinces together. And than i forgot the art of making the famous Belgian beers !!!

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Famous Belgian Chocolate

by Luchonda

The famous Belgian chocolate !!Léonidas - 100% pure chocolateEven cheese making in Belgium is famous ( Passendale) :- The world in pieces of cheese ! Even on this item (besides the political ones) there will be always a culinary difference beween France, the Netherlands and the rest of the cheese producing countries.

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Belgian beer breweries - the art of brewery

by Luchonda

A chart of the famous Belgian - even more - the flemish beer breweries., industrial or family tradition made and bottled tranquilizersTaste a Liefmans in Oudenaarde, or a Kwak in Buggenhout - even a Duvel made in Breendonk can inspire many locals and tourists.If you want to learn more about Belgian beer breweries - read the pages of VT member "Irisbe". She knows every detail about the belgian art to brew beer.

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Socializing

by viddra

Belgians greet each other with a handshake. The phrases used for greeting depend on the region. The most typical Dutch greetings are Hallo (Hello) and Goedendag (Good day) while the French equivalents are Salut (Hello) and Bonjour (Good day).Close friends may greet each other with 3 light kisses on the cheek, although it's more like kissing the air while touching cheeks.Only friends and relatives are greeted by 1st names, otherwise, last names are used, preceded by a title of courtesy such as Mr. or Mrs.When leaving a small group, Belgians usually shake hands with everyone individually, bidding them farewell.Belgians enjoy inviting relatives and close friends to their homes. The cafe or restaurant gatherings are also quite common.

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Eating

by viddra

Belgium's famous for seafood (mussels), chocolate, some 300 varieties of beer, waffles and frites (fried potatoes) which Belgians claim to have invented and which are usually served with mayonnaise.Breakfast consists of a hot drink with rolls or bread with jam. At midday, a larger meal's eaten. The evening meal's usually at 7 or 8 p.m.Mealtimes are leisurely occasions to enjoy good food and good conversation.

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Kasteel

by Gili_S

Kasteel (which as far as I understood, made in a Castle-Kasteel) is actually one of the strongest beers I remember I was drinking. I prefer the Kasteel bruin which is a dark ale beer with strong in taste and very strong in alcohol.

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Ename more than beer

by wandeljp

Ename, is a little town situeted in east-flanders. On de scheld-river.There is a archeologic place (an old abbey) and a museum about it.There are four sorts of this beer:Blond: the lager one: 6.5° alc in bottle of 33 cl or barrel (30 l )Dubbel: the dark one: 6.5° alc: in bottle 33 cl or in barrel 20lTripple: a strong lager with 8.5° in bottles of 33 cl or 75 clThe Cuvee974: is a red one with 7° in bottle of 33 cl

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Oud Bellegems: A good local beer.

by wandeljp

The brewery is situeted in Bellegem, on 10 km from Kortrijk, South-West Flanders.You can visit with a group of max 15 pers.The visit is during twoo ours and cost 50 € for a group.The beer on the pic called Oud Bellegems bruin is a Red Ale with 5.5°alcohol. It receved a gold medail.You find it in bottles of 25 clAdress of the Brewery:Kwabrugstraat,58510 Bellegem.

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Westmalle: Queen of Trappist beers !

by wandeljp

This beer is still brewed bij the monks of the Abbey from Westmalle. (Have a look on their site)They brewed three soorts of it:The Dubbel : The dark one.The Trippel : Lager: Have mij preference with 9.5 ° alcohol.The Extra: you may only drink it if you are a monk from the abbey or if you stay in the abbey (gest)They have a beautifull site, unfortunatly alone in Dutch language . If you have difficulties with it i'll tray to help you understand it.

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Sloeber from Oudenaarde

by wandeljp

A strong lager beer with 7° alcoholeDrink not to much.The brewery ROMANHauwaart 1059700 OudenaardeVisit the site (onfortunatly alone in Deutch and French) and look the litle films.I find the second better.

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Local traditions and culture in Belgium

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Local Customs: Cities in Belgium
  1. Brussels Local Customs
  2. Antwerp Local Customs
  3. Brugge Local Customs
  4. Gent Local Customs
  5. Oostende Local Customs
  6. Ieper Local Customs
  7. Leuven Local Customs
  8. Liège Local Customs
  9. Mons Local Customs
  10. Charleroi Local Customs
  11. Hasselt Local Customs
  12. Mechelen Local Customs
  13. Kortrijk Local Customs
  14. Namur Local Customs
  15. Dinant Local Customs
  16. Lier Local Customs
  17. Tournai Local Customs
  18. Aalst Local Customs
  19. De Panne Local Customs
  20. Knokke-Heist Local Customs
  21. Turnhout Local Customs
  22. Blankenberge Local Customs
  23. Tervuren Local Customs
  24. Roeselare Local Customs
  25. Tongeren Local Customs
  26. De Haan Local Customs
  27. Zaventem Local Customs
  28. Adinkerke Local Customs
  29. Knokke Local Customs
  30. Louvain-la-Neuve Local Customs
  31. La Roche-en-Ardenne Local Customs
  32. Mortsel Local Customs
  33. Veurne Local Customs
  34. Damme Local Customs
  35. Overijse Local Customs
  36. Lommel Local Customs
  37. Etterbeek Local Customs
  38. Hoegaarden Local Customs
  39. Ardennes Local Customs
  40. Boom Local Customs
  41. Westvleteren Local Customs
  42. Han-sur-Lesse Local Customs
  43. Bouillon Local Customs

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Popular Regions in Belgium

Provincie West-Vlaanderen Local Customs  Région de Bruxelles-Capitale Local Customs  Provincie Antwerpen Local Customs  Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen Local Customs  Provincie Vlaams-Brabant Local Customs  Province de Hainaut Local Customs  Province de Liège Local Customs  Provincie Limburg Local Customs  Province de Luxembourg Local Customs  Province de Namur Local Customs  Province de Brabant Wallon Local Customs 

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  Hi guys, I know this post is a bit annoying but I just need 10 people who visited Flanders (Ghent, Bruges, Brussels....) and... 

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A: oh gosh, just another one fo these useless lists to be filled out ! These will NOT change the world in any way, so why should anybody bother with them ! I also could... 

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