Belgium - Culture

Belgium is situated between France and Holland and is a kingdom that encompasses all the best that Europe has to offer in a small area. Within a day you could take a cruise down a canal in Bruges, search for diamonds in Antwerp, enjoy waffles in a café in Ostend, visit lost in a castle in Namur, find antiques at an outdoor market in Liege, and explore a some of the fine art museums in Brussels. An excellent train network connects all of Belgium to make this easily possible.

Rich in history, culture, art and architecture, visitors will be surprised by the depth and character of this small nation that goes virtually unheralded on the world stage. Since the times of Julius Caesar, Belgium has seen several alterations. From the Romans and English to the occupation by Germany, the country has absorbed many cultures and much history. History shows us that this country has been rocked by both war and civil dissolution, leaving a trail of change that only seems to add to its strengths. What has been constant through the centuries is Belgium's quaint majesty.

The Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Brussels was founded over two centuries ago. The museum also consists of the Ancient & Modern Art Museums and houses more than twenty thousand paintings, sculptures and drawings. Here you will find some of Belgium and Europe's finest. Exhibits on display are by Bosch and Bruegel, Cranach and Memling, Jordaens and Rubens, Delveaux and Magritte.

Diamond Land in Antwerp was opened in 1983 and is the largest diamond showroom in Antwerp that is open to the public. Visitors get a 20 minutes guided tour where they are made familiar with cleaving, sawing, bruting, polishing and the international rules of how diamonds are by carat, colour, cut and clarity.

The Fine Arts museum in Bruges was founded in 1798 and is one of the oldest in the country and houses a permanent collection of more that 350 works of art which are permanently on display. The museum has been closed for renovation until but has now reopened.

The Bastogne Historical Centre is located next to the American Memorial on the Mardasson Hill. Here a visit is made up of two stages, the first is the Cinema where you will see a new film made with the best film extracts shot during the battles by the Americans and the Germans. The second is an exhibition of amazing collections, dummies representing the protagonists of the battle and the soldiers appearing on documents of that period.

The Modern Art Museum in Liege has been open since 1905 and visitors can follow the evolution of modern and contemporary art with works by Picasso, Gaugin, Monet, Chagall. The museum was renovated in 1993 and is considered to be the most beautiful in Europe.

The Museum of Ancient Namur Arts is situated in an 18th century patrician house. The museum houses medieval and renaissance collections including paintings, sculptures, silver, glass and embroideries.

The Museum of History and Decorative Arts in Tournai and has a remarkable collection of silverware, with the original moulds and casts of gold, silver and bronze coins giving visitors a general picture of the craftsmanship of the past artists. There are also exhibits of traditional Tournai porcelain. This was a flourishing local industry between the years of 1750 and 1850, that the museum's most lavish rooms are devoted to these fine pieces.

The Bokrijk Museum in Flanders is an open-air museum containing more than 100 historic buildings, all with authentic interiors. Here you able to take a step back in time and discover how people lived in the Flemish countryside before the industrial revolution. The playground is one of the biggest in the country and there is a toddler's village with specially designed toys.

Occasionally, you can attend the Opera at the Grand Place. The Symphonic Orchestra, the Monnaie chorus, along with the Monnaie's children's choir perform for a free concert at the Brussels Grand-Place. Last year, the event attracted an audience of more than 6000 spectators.  Kazushi conducted the orchestra.

A cultural holiday is the perfect way to relax and embrace the cultural heritage of Belgium while learning something new. We have a number of wonderful villas, houses and apartments with pools and barbeque areas, all perfectly positioned for you to embark on your cultural holiday. Simply choose your destination and we are sure you will find your ideal accomodation with ease.