Fact 1: The Land of Waffles
Belgium is often associated with delicious and comforting waffles, but did you know the country offers more than twelve different types of waffles? From Liege waffles with embedded pearl sugar to Brussels waffles showcasing their rectangular shape and deep pockets, Belgium definitely holds a superior reputation for waffles.
Fact 2: The Creation of the Saxophone
The saxophone, an instrument essential in jazz and marching bands, was invented in Belgium. Adolphe Sax, born in Dinant, Belgium, in 1814, developed this unique woodwind instrument in the early 1840s.
Fact 3: The World's Top Beer Producers
Belgium is also renowned for its beer. There are approximately 180 breweries in the tiny country, producing around 800 standard beers. The number goes up thousands when considering special editions and variants. Belgium was also UNESCO recognized Belgian beer culture as part of humanity's intangible cultural heritage in 2016.
Fact 4: Home to a Vast Spider-Man Collection
Belgium houses the world's largest collection of Spider-Man memorabilia. The collection, owned by a super-fan named Mark, spans over 27,000 items and even boasts a Guinness World Record certificate.
Fact 5: The World's First Printed Newspaper
Belgium is the birthplace of the world's first printed newspaper – 'Relation aller Fürnemmen und gedenckwürdigen Historien’. This happened around 400 years before New York started printing their famous Times.
Fact 6: World’s Largest Diamond Trade Hub
Antwerp, a city in Belgium, is known as the diamond capital of the world. Nearly 80% of the world's diamonds are cut, traded and polished in Antwerp.
Fact 7: Belgium's Love for Comics
Belgium has more comic makers per square kilometer than any other country in the world, even Japan. Popular comic series such as Tintin, The Smurfs, and Lucky Luke originated from Belgium.
Fact 8: The Longest Tramline in the World
The Belgian Coast Tram is reportedly the world's longest tramline. The line, which spans around 68 km along the country's coastline, runs from De Panne near the French border to Knokke-Heist near the Dutch border.
Fact 9: Record for the Longest Period Without Government
Following the federal elections in 2010, Belgium went 541 days without an official government, which is a world record. Despite the political uncertainty, the country functioned normally!
Fact 10: Largest Producer of Billiard Balls
Belgium is the largest producer of high-quality billiard balls in the world. Saluc company, based in Callenelle, produces around 80% of the global supply under the brand Aramith.
Fact 11: A Car-Free City
Ghent, one of the major cities in Belgium, holds the title for the largest car-free area in Belgium and amongst the largest in Europe. This space offers a safe haven for pedestrians and cyclists.
Fact 12: Chocolate Capital of the World
Belgium boasts the title of producing some of the best chocolates worldwide. It has more than 2200 chocolate shops and produces over 173,000 tons of chocolate per year.
Fact 13: The Country of Castles
Belgium has more castles per kilometer than any other country in the world. Wallonia, the French-speaking part of the country, alone contains over 400 castles for visitors to explore.
Fact 14: Place of The Waterloo
Belgium is home to the historic site of the Battle of Waterloo, where Napoleon Bonaparte met his defeat in 1815. The Lion’s Mound, a large artificial hill, is a popular tourist spot marking the battlefield.
Fact 15: The Origin of French Fries
Despite the popular name 'French fries', their origin can be traced back to Belgium. Belgians traditionally serve these popular snacks with a variety of dips in a 'frietkot' or 'friterie,' a local roadside snack bar.
Fact 16: The Body Mass Index (BMI) Concept
The Body Mass Index (BMI), widely used to gauge whether someone has a healthy body weight, was developed by Adolphe Quetelet, a Belgian mathematician, astronomer, and statistician, in the 19th century.
Fact 17: Brussels - The Heart of Europe
Apart from being the capital of Belgium, Brussels also serves as the capital of the European Union. It hosts the official seats of the European Commission, Council of the European Union, and European Council.
Fact 18: Home to the World's Biggest Health Spa
Thermae Boetfort Spa and Hotel in Belgium is considered one of the world's largest health spas. The facility, located inside a 400-year-old castle, provides a unique spa experience.
Fact 19: The Legalization of Euthanasia
Belgium became the second country in the world, after The Netherlands, to legalize euthanasia in 2002. The law allows the practice under very specific circumstances.
Fact 20: The Origin of Oil Painting
Despite common belief that oil painting originated from Italy during Renaissance, the technique was first developed by the Van Eyck brothers from Belgium. Their use of layered oil glazes created depth and luminosity in their work, revolutionizing the art world in the 15th century.