We are visiting Belgium, a small but very influential country in Western Europe. There are around 12 million people living here, and the capital is Brussels, which is also considered the capital of the European Union. The country is unique because it has three official languages: Dutch, French, and German, and the people are very proud of their different regional cultures.

Belgium covers about 30,528 square kilometers, or 11,787 square miles. To imagine its size, it is about the same size as the city of Beijing in China, or roughly half the size of the state of West Virginia in the U.S. It is a very flat country with a short, beautiful coastline and thick forests in the south.

The most popular sport in Belgium is Football, and their national team is known as the “Red Devils.” Their national animal is the Lion, which you can see on many historical shields and statues representing courage and strength.

The flag features three vertical stripes of black, yellow, and red, which were the colors of the Duchy of Brabant and represent the country’s fight for independence.

The food in Belgium is world-famous! They are known for Belgian Waffles, which are thick and crunchy, and Belgian Chocolate, which many people believe is the best in the world. They also claim to have invented French Fries, which they call “frieten” and usually serve in a paper cone with a big dollop of mayonnaise.

Belgium has a world-famous statue in Brussels called the Manneken Pis, which is a tiny bronze fountain of a little boy that people dress up in hundreds of different costumes throughout the year. The country is also the birthplace of The Smurfs and Tintin, making it a very important place for comic book fans. In the city of Antwerp, you can find the “Diamond Quarter,” where more than 80% of the world’s rough diamonds pass through to be traded. Another interesting thing is that Belgium has more castles per square mile than almost any other country on Earth, with over 3,000 of them scattered across the land!

From the medieval streets of Bruges to the tasty chocolate shops of Brussels, Belgium is a land of history and treats. Bedankt, Merci, and Danke! That all means “Thank you!”