I'm from Belgium, a really small European country squeezed between The Netherlands & France. It's just 34.000 square kilometers small. Nonetheless we have 3 official languages, being Dutch, French and German.
Most people don't even know my country and if they do it's probably only from bad, shocking news that made CNN
I'm here to bring you a better idea about Belgium and show you some of the great things that Belgium has unleashed upon the world!
Our most famous export product. There's no chocolate as tasty as the one from our Belgian chocolatiers. A reputation that's build on fine crafstmanship and nothing but top quality ingrediënts.
Chocolatier Jean Neuhaus even invented what we know as "Pralines" filled or made with nuts, sirup, marzipan or liquor. You probably know these as "Belgian chocolates". In Japan they are considered a true delicacy and are sold for exorbitant prices.
There's no chocolate as tasty as the one from our Belgian chocolatiers.
I am sorry to destroy your illusions but yes, there are also some Swiss here on BGG and if there is something we are proud of next of exporting watches or cheese: it's the world best (milk) chocolate!
It was Swiss Rodolphe Lindt who invented the "conche" in 1879 producing aroma and melting characteristics in chocolate of superior quality never been seen (or better tasted) at that time before. It was kept secret until 1901 when other chocolate producers got knowledge on how to conche and began to copy that process. But still, the quality of Swiss chocolate was hardly ever reached until today. It's ok for me if you say that Belgian chocolate is the second best in the world
There's no chocolate as tasty as the one from our Belgian chocolatiers.
I am sorry to destroy your illusions but yes, there are also some Swiss here on BGG and if there is something we are proud of next of exporting watches or cheese: it's the world best (milk) chocolate!
It was Swiss Rodolphe Lindt who invented the "conche" in 1879 producing aroma and melting characteristics in chocolate of superior quality never been seen (or better tasted) at that time before. It was kept secret until 1901 when other chocolate producers got knowledge on how to conche and began to copy that process. But still, the quality of Swiss chocolate was hardly ever reached until today. It's ok for me if you say that Belgian chocolate is the second best in the world
Tell you what, why don't you guys keep the wristwatches and pocketknives and let the Belgians have chocolate and waffles?
What's known as French fries in the rest of the world may not be so French after all. While it's not proven they were actually invented in Belgium or France, "frites" quickly became the national Belgian snack and are served in two of our national dishes... Therefor making Belgium at least the symbolic creators of fries.
Also typical for Belgium is a "frietkot"... A stand, usually on the village square, to buy fries accompanied by other unhealthy snacks.
Besides that, there's nobody in the world that can make fries with that typical Belgian taste.
However, this is one tradition I prefer the British way. Mayonaise - yuk! Well, not on chips anyway. Mind you, ketchup is even more disgusting (about 75% sugar).
And a tip I heard on the radio, coming from the Chef of "Comme Chez-soit": After the first "baking session", let them cool down before the final baking.
Oh yes, and nothing tops a good "kwak" of mayo, together with a good splash of ketchup ...
Bah! Our Poutine is far superior! Fresh hot fries covered in cheese curds melted under a generous dolloping of gravy. You can practically feel your arteries harden as you eat it!
Anybody who puts mayonnaise on ANYTHING deserves execution.
Mayonnaise seems something that's only enjoyed by Belgians. I guess it does have a distinct taste, but there's nothing that works better with our fries in our taste
Believe it or not, I love mayo on fries, and will ask for Mayo anytime i get fries at a restaurant. The waiters at some of my regular joints know this, and bring it out with my meal.
The famous Belgian waffle (also known as the Brussels waffle). A waffle with a light, crisp taste. We eat them as a desert. They are eaten hot with confectioner's sugar or topped with whipped cream or chocolate, fruits (mostly strawberries) and ice cream.
Wa also use waffles alot as a fundraiser for charity or schoolprojects in what we call a "Wafelenbak".
I just LUV the "Belgian" waffles, no wait, NOW it's the "American" ones! oh hell, I can't 'decide' towards one OR the other then... "I 'waffle', therefore I am 'undecided', but I'll 'take' ANY!"
Belgian beer is among the most varied and numerous collections of beer in the world. Belgian beer-brewing's origins go back to the Middle-Ages, when monasteries began producing beers. Today there remain 125 breweries in the country, producing about 500 standard beers. When specialty beer styles are included, the total number of types of Belgian beer exceeds 1000.
An excellent commercial for our Stella Artois beer in wich the Vikings claim it as theirs.
As many great Belgian beers as there are, I came believe you want to claim Stella. Say its French or something, I will back you up.
Stella is a Pilsner, it's far from a specialty beer. It's brewn by InBev who recently joined forces with another American(?) brewery to become the world's largest.
I do enjoy a HOEGAARDEN also like a LEFFE , but are these just the lesser beers that are exported, What is regarded as the BEST in Belgium?
Mike,
I don't think I am wrong saying there is no beer regarded as the BEST in Belgium. It all depends on the personnal taste (a bit like Red wine in France - what is the best there?).
For me, I like the Leffe Bruin or Blond (doesn't matter), but it has to come from a tap (not a bottle). The difference in taste is incredible.
Also, I can enjoy a Hoegaarden, and even a beer made in the U.S. (by a Belgian). Maybe you know it; it's Celi's White.
Adolphe Sax invented a very unique sounding instrument, named after him: the Saxophone. It was shown to the world for the first time at the 1841 Brussels exhibition.
Saxophones are made in eight sizes and pitch levels, spanning the entire spectrum of wind-instrument pitches. The most common are the alto and tenor saxophones. Numerous jazz performers have risen to fame with this instrument, and composers have employed it in their solo or ensemble compositions.
Adolphe Sax made it to the 200 Belgian francs bill, used until the introduction of the Euro.
My 11-year old plays alto sax. He knows about Adolphe Sax, but I never knew he appeared on the Belgian francs bill. Thanks for including it...I'll show him after school.
Toots Thielemans is probably Belgium's most renowned musical artist. Famous for playing the mouth harmonica. Although more important for the jazz-world, he has made an impact on pop & rock music as well. Toots Thielemans was born in Brussels in 1922.
I'm glad that americans like him, because they mostly play diatonic mouth organs where Toots plays the chromatic mouth organ, it gives an other sound and it is a totally different way of playing.
Do you know why Toots started to play the mouth organ? Let me tell you: When Toots was a little boy the medical doktor diagnosed asthma (a pulmonair desease) and it whas the dokter that proposed to him playing an instrument like mouth organ so he could exercise his lungs and braething muscels.
Famous Belgian painters are Jan van Eyck, Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck, James Ensor, Constant Permeke and René Magritte.
They all have their story and they've all done great things, so let's just pick the last one in the row and tell his.
Born in Lessines, Belgium, in 1898. He began drawing lessons in 1910. He worked in a wallpaper factory, and was a poster and advertisement designer until 1926 when a contract with a Galery in Brussels made it possible for him to paint full-time.
He held his first exhibition in Brussels in 1927. His work was at that time burned to the ground by critis. His work also exhibited in New York in 1936. But the real interest in Magritte's work rose considerably in the 1960s, when it was once again exhibited in America in 1965 at the Museum of Modern Art in 1965, and later, in 1992, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Eddy Merckx, born in Belgium in 1945 and nicknamed "The Cannibal", is a retired professional cyclist. Considered by many to be the greatest and most successful cyclist of all time, he set several world records some of which remain unsurpassed to this day.
He is probably the most famous Belgian worlwide and even stars in his own boardgame
Unproven doping allegations aside, ever hear of an american that goes by the name of Lance Armstrong? That, my friend, is THE greatest cyclist of ALL time.
yeah, but what about his "recycling" History? Did he remove the 'labels' and wash out the "tin cans", "bottles", etc. before placing them into their proper bins? Would he seperate the 'plasticized' papers from the non-kind? The TRUE 'measure' of anyone's "character" is IN the "details" mein freundlich!
... ever hear of an american that goes by the name of Lance Armstrong? That, my friend, is THE greatest cyclist of ALL time.
I'm a big Lance fan and without doubt he's the greatest TdF rider of all time. However "The Great Eddy Merckx" (as Phil Liggett always calls him) won all kinds of events all year long; definitely a more complete all-round cyclist.
In his first ever Tour de France, he won all three available jerseys (overall, points and king of the mountains), and would have won the junior award if it had existed then. No other rider has ever done this, drug-assisted or otherwise.
Only the violence of jealous French spectators prevented him from winning the event a sixth time.
Mercx had more stage wins and days in the yellow jersey than Armstrong.
Ambiorix, chief of the "Belgae" (later known as the Belgian) and his troops one day attacked and killed Roman soldiers who were searching for wood. The survivors fled back to their camp, followed by Ambiorix and his men. When he realised there were too many Romans in the camp to fight he decided to talk with them. He warned the Romans that other tribes were planning to attack them and Ambiorix advised them to relocate to another Roman camp so that they would be stronger to battle these troops.
The Romans had much doubt and couldn't decide. This made the Roman troops very unsure. Eventually they decided to leave anyway. Ambiorix and his men attacked them from up the hills and slaughtered them. Killing a whole Roman legion and five cohorts.
When the Roman Senate heard what happened, Caesar swore to put down all the Belgic tribes. The Roman campaigns against the Belgae took a few years, but eventually the Belgae were no match against 50,000 trained Roman soldiers. The Belgic tribes were slaughtered. Ambiorix and his men, however, managed to cross the Rhine and disappeared without a trace.
Caesar wrote "...Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae...". Meaning: "Of all the Gauls, the Belgae are the bravest."
Caesar wrote "...Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae...". Meaning: "Of all the Gauls, the Belgae are the bravest."
Which is the basis of "Asterix in Belgium", where Asterix & Co travel all the way to Belgium to see who really is the bravest of the Gauls, with Caesar as the referee..
The Antwerp Six refers to a group of influential clothing designers from Antwerp, Belgium. They present a distinct vision for fashion that established Antwerp as a notable location for fashion design. The six are: Walter Van Beirendonck, Ann Demeulemeester, Dries van Noten, Dirk Van Saene, Dirk Bikkembergs, Marina Yee.
Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable it must be changed every 6 months.
I always hated fashion. I wear clothes that are comfortable, look good, last a long time, or do something functional. I can't see why one piece of clothing is inherently better than any other aside from those 4 criteria.
For such a small country we produced some great talents. Two of the world's top ranked woman tennis players are from Belgium: Kim Clijsters & Justine Henin.
Kim Clijsters, born 1983, was the number one player in 2005 and is generally considered by fans and the tennis community as the most likeable professional women's tennis player. Clijsters is retiring at the end of 2007.
Justine Henin, born 1982, also a former world number 1. Henin is from the French-speaking region of Belgium. Her mental toughness and her one-handed backhand are reasons she is one of the world's best players. She has won five Grand Slam singles titles as well as a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
A tribute to Clijsters at the last game in Belgium in her carreer.
Stefan Everts is a motocross racer from Belgium, who retired in 2006 after securing his record 10th World Title. He also holds several other motocross records.
Everts was also known for his very smooth style on the bike, which made everything look effortless.
Professor Edward de Smedt invented modern road asphalt in 1870 in New York City after emigrating from Belgium. Today almost all the roads are surfaced with his asphalt. Asphalt comes from the processing of crude oils.
The Smurfs (originally "Les Schtroumpfs") are small blue creatures who live somewhere in the forests of medieval Europe. The Belgian cartoonist Peyo introduced The Smurfs to the world in a series of comic strips. The Smurfs became know best through the animated television series from Hanna-Barbera.
Am I right in saying that the Belgians love the pop songs of Plop? friom what i gather Plop has had quite a few hits.
Weird taste in music actually. In the early 70s there was a hit song of someone burping to the song Butterfly. It was a top 5 hit in Belgium. I forget the artist.
Fortunately you're only partly right. There's a perticular audience for that kind of uhm... 'music'.
It's certainly not representative for the Belgians. We actually have excellent musicians. I migth devote an item to them here later
I am not sure I would have mentioned the Smurfs ! Incidently we had a woman at work who was moving back to France so we all decided to dress up as French characters for her leaving party; French Maid, Pink Panther etc ( I went as Zinadine Zidane) one guy wanted to go as A smurf and I it was so tempting to let him paint himself blue before we pointed out they were from Belgium but we did not have the heart!
The Adventures of Tintin is a series of Belgian comic books created by Belgian artist Hergé. First appearing in French in the Belgian newspaper Le Vingtième Siècle (translated as the 20th Century) in 1929. Later translated in Dutch where Tintin was renamed Kuifje because of his hair-style.
The adventures are set in a world closely mirroring our own. Tintin exists for over 70 years now, remaining ever popular.
Ole Boot - A sheepdog or a cursed English milor' depending on your viewpoint
Yes Gaston is the greatest. Some people say I modeled my entire working career on him. He was nearly my avatar and he is currently snoozing (his preferred approach to work) on my desktop as my wallpaper. He's my hero.
Unfortunately, Franquin is nearly unknown in the English speaking world. Brilliant, I agree, but very little has been translated and all of that is out of print. We are seriously overdue for some nice fatty Gaston books.
Most people know Brussels, but few know the historical and beatiful Bruges. Written "Brugge" in Dutch.
In the twelfth century, Bruges was well known for its weaving industry. Profiting from the shelter of the city walls, where surpluses could be safely accumulated. English contacts brought grain and wines. In 1277, the first merchant fleet from Genoa appeared in the port of Bruges. This opened not only the trade in spices from the Mediteranian area, but also advanced commercial and financial techniques and a flood of capital that soon took over the banking of Bruges.
In the 15th century a number of artists, bankers, and other prominent personalities from all over Europe were attracted to Bruges. The new Flemish-school, oil-painting techniques gained world renown. The first book in English ever printed was published in Bruges by William Caxton.
Bruges historic city center is classified as UNESCO world heritage. Besides it's historical value, it's an excellent vacation destination.
Brugge can also lay claim to housing the first modern Stock Exchange, founded by Italians, but housed by the Van der Beurze family. Hence the Dutch "Beurs" and the French "La Bourse".
Marten, what is the name of the colorful cathedral in Bruges? It is absolutely one of the most beautiful churches in all of Europe.
The name of the cathedral is Sint Salvator, but I think that the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe kerk (church) is more famous amongst tourists. The tower of this church is the highest construction in masonry in all of Europe.
Jacques Brel, born in Brussels in 1929 and died in Paris in 1978. He was a Belgian singer-songwriter singing in the French language, although he rewrote some of his songs in Dutch to. Brel considered himself als a French-speaking Flemisch (Flandern, being the Dutch speaking part of Belgium). Although his spiritual home was probably France.
In the early sixties he became internationaly known, credit given to the quality and power of his lyrics. After his musical carreer he was active as a actor and director for a while.
Brel was a heavy smoker, it was discovered in 1973 that Brel had lung cancer. His legend lives on until this day and probably will for a long time to come.
Ole Boot - A sheepdog or a cursed English milor' depending on your viewpoint
Yes and his songs have been covered by a huge number of other people including Alex Harvey, Dusty Springfield, David Bowie, Mark Almond and even Sinatra I think. Thank you for the clip Maarten. It never occurred to me to look for him on YouTube. This particular track has such memories for me that it always makes me very emotional. A fact that one of my friend/opponents has been known to exploit for gaming purposes as he puts it on the stereo knowing my concentration will be completely shot.
I just watched the YouTube-file and it was a truly moving experience. I knew the song, but this interpretation was extraordinary, specially if one understands the lyrics. I recommend everybody to watch it.
The racing circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in the Belgian Ardennes is the famous venue of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix. It is considered to be one of the most challenging race tracks in the world, mainly due to its fast, hilly and twisty nature. The circuit features one of the most famous and dangerous sections of any racing track in the world, the Eau Rouge complex.
Spa is a favourite circuit of many racing drivers and fans in spite of the fact that it is the home of one of Formule One's largest crashes.
Indeed!!! My favorite F1 circuit by far for pure racing! Monaco is nice for the parties....but This track is the best!!! I miss it when they don't race on it! Definately need to make a trip there sometime in my life!!!
Ole Boot - A sheepdog or a cursed English milor' depending on your viewpoint
It is a wonderful place but bring every kind of clothing: The weather is incredible. Sometimes it is pouring with rain at one side of the circuit and sunny at the other. I have known hot sun, rain and snow there on the same day. The rain put an end to the unfortunately named English driver Dick Seaman there. I can't resist further mention of one of the greatest ever racing drivers Jackie Ickx who is another famous Belgian. I believe his record of six Le Mans wins still stands. He also had some success in Grand Prix racing. Other Belgian racing drivers over the years include Olivier Gendebian, Paul Frere, Willy Mairesse, Thierry Boutsen and Bertrand Gachot.
the picture looks like Zandvoort, as I don't see the Eau Rouge or the Bus Stop chicane. The latter makes the Belgian track possibly the worst in the Formule Slow series of those I've played, given the well-chosen "stop" bit.
I recall the video from the actively-suspended rear-facing camera on Alain Prost's car as he approached the Eau Rouge up the hill, prior to going over the top at 200mph. It was very like a light aircraft taking off.
Btw, SPA-Francorchamps was out of the calendar during season 2006 because it needed (?) some modernization. The bus stop is gone and the track is actually now closer to what it used to be than the couple of previous versions were. Looks good to me.
Brussels, located in the center of our country and at the center of Europe is not only the capital of Belgium, it also is home for the headquarters of most of the European Union's institutions and is therefore considered the capital of Europe. Brussels is also the political seat of the NATO.
Tourists flock to the famous statue of "Manneke Pis": a small bronze fountain sculpture depicting a little boy urinating into the fountain's basin.
Belgium is known for it's fine education. So much that thousands of students from around the world are attracted to our country. In the first place to the student-city of Leuven, the hearth of our educational tradition. Although Gent and Hasselt are becoming more and more popular and both have excellent Universities.
Most consultations end with the patient handing over banknotes to the doctor, something that would make most socialist British politicians choke with shock. Belgian doctors don't take credit cards because they don't want to pay the fee involved. As in France, the more you pay, the better service you get, although this will tend to be the case everywhere given the wide variation in abilities in the medical profession.
"Belgian dentist" is a term used in the eurozone for a very wealthy self-employed professional.
You can get excellent health care for a low end price. Granted you have to pay your doctors, but a substantial part is refunded to you by the government.
Well, IIRC there was an 1839 treaty guaranteeing Belgium's Neutrality, the guarantors being Britain, France and Prussia (which became Germany). All three promised not to attack Belgium and to jointly punish anyone who did.
The potential agressor initially envisioned by the British was France, and that envisioned by France was the Netherlands.
What do you mean aggressor? We we're defending our rightful claim to the throne. It was the French who invaded the Kingdom of the United Netherlands! *puffs of indignation*
And then we were forced to hand over half of Luxemburg as well! *steam coming from ears*
Victor Horta described as "undoubtedly the key European Art Nouveau architect' was a direct inspiration to Guimard's fabulous designs for the Paris Metro
I spent a week in Belgium in February (there for the first time). I thoroughly enjoyed it. Chocolate, beer and pomme frite. How can you go wrong? The "natives" were wonderfully friendly and fun as well.
We were in beautiful Antwerpen while that big Diamond women's tennis tournament was on and our hotel was crawling with very fit young women.
Biggest shock: the boardgame store that also had a bar and videogaming (Outpost, I think). The shock was all the teenagers smoking like chimneys.
Second biggest shock: getting Kwakked. Those glasses are deadly!
Thanks to all the Belgians on BGG who gave me advice before I got there! No, the sun never came out in a week.
When I think of Belgium and gaming, I think of the myriad of Waterloo games (Avalon-Hill's old classic is still my favorite), and mystery games, in honor of Hercule Poirot, such as "Murder on the Orient Express" or even the more generic, "Clue." Congratulations on a wonderful list!
Why do you say nothing of Marc Dutroux? Marc Dutroux (born 1956 in Brussels) is Belgiums most famous criminal, convicted of having, in 1995 and 1996, kidnapped, tortured and sexually abused six girls and killed some of them. A number of shortcomings in the Dutroux investigation caused widespread discontent in Belgium with the country's criminal justice system, and the ensuing scandal was one of the reasons for the reorganisation of Belgium's law enforcement agencies. (source = wikipedia).
Because the list is called : 'I'm from Belgium and I'm proud of it!' I'm pretty sure nobody here wants to talk about him ; it was and still is a very emotional issue in Belgium.
Because that's probably one of the few things people abroad know about Belgium from BBC World or CNN... This list is about the good stuff that might be not so well known.
I just LUV the "Belgian" waffles, no wait, NOW it's the "American" ones! oh hell, I can't 'decide' towards one OR the other then...
also like a LEFFE 
yeah, but what about his "recycling" History? Did he remove the 'labels' and wash out the "tin cans", "bottles", etc. before placing them into their proper bins? Would he seperate the 'plasticized' papers from the non-kind? The TRUE 'measure' of anyone's "character" is IN the "details" mein freundlich!
thank god he's not Dutch. Smurfs rock though... 
before we pointed out they were from Belgium but we did not have the heart!
