Belgium
Belgium is a small Westeuropean country that exists since 1830. It is divided in a Dutch-speaking part (Flanders), a French-speaking part (Walloon) and the capital Brussels. Besides Dutch and French, German is the third national language.
The Belgian heritage on the list mainly dates from the Middle Ages, when the country was split in numerous counties, and also from the 19th century. The Neolithic Flint Mines at Spiennes (Mons) are an extraordinary exception to this: they are about 4000 years old.
I visited Belgium over several times on daytrips and weekends. The old towns in Flanders are worth visiting, but the rest of the country can sometimes be terrible ugly. With a visit to the fascinating Neolithic Flint Mines in Spiennes I "completed" Belgium.
List of world heritage sites in Belgium
Tentative list of Belgium
Gand, vieux centre-villeLe Palais de Justice de BruxellesLe Westhoek, lieu de mémoire et monuments de la Grande GuerreLes passages de Bruxelles / Les Galeries Royales Saint-HubertLeuven/Louvain, bâtiments universitaires, l'héritage de six siècles au sein du centre historiqueL’œuvre architecturale d’Henry van de VeldeMaison GuietteNoyau historique d'AntwerpenPalais StocletThe castle, gardens and rocks of Freyr
Visits
New entries 2005
July 2005
The World Heritage Committee has been deliberating in Durban (South Africa) which new sites to add to the list for 2005. There are 24 new sites in total. Seven natural sites have been named first. They include the West Norwegian Fjords Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord.
17 cultural sites have been added too. Among those are the Struve Geodetic Arc (spanning 10 countries), Nigeria's Osun Ogbo shrine and the Old City of Mostar.
As most of the sites are quite off the beaten track, I can only add one to my personal visited list: the Plantin-Moretus Museum in Antwerp (Belgium).
Leuven
April 2005
The heritage of Flanders is represented on the list by the city of Brugge, and by two series of monuments: the belfries and the beguinages.
Some Flemish towns are blessed by both a remarkable belfry and a beguinage. One of these is Leuven, a bustling but friendly university town. The belfry here is not too spectacular, but the large beguinage is a real gem.
Leuven is also on the Belgian tentative list to become a WHS on its own. The splendid gothic City Hall is certainly worth it.
Underground and back in time
May 2004
According to many reports, a visit to the Flint mines in Spiennes is hard to organize. That was my impression at first too, but after some internet research and with a full gas tank and plenty of time on my hands it proved not too difficult. The excursion underground was very worthwhile, even more so because of the enthousiastic and detailed explanation of the guides on site.
Another one in Belgium
June 2003
This Sunday I drove almost completely across Belgium, to end near La Louvière. Goal were the Four Lifts for ships in the Canal du Centre, impressive remains from the late 19th century industrial era.
Tournai
May 2003
A short visit to one of the oldest towns in Belgium: Tournai (or Doornik in Flemish). Just to check upon the Cathedral: have the restoration works finished yet?
Horta
September 2002
Today I joined the sophisticated crowd at the Victor Horta Museum in Brussels, Belgium. It probably became my shortest visit to a world heritage site ever. Quite nice house though.
Bruges
October 2001
Back in Europe, where there is still a lot to see. The city of Bruges is a famous international tourist attraction, and my goal for today. What did I experience? Groups of tourists, mainly Japanese and American. Souvenir shops with lace and Belgian chocolate. And in between, numerous medieval monuments.
Lier
January 2001
Only a 1.5 hours drive away from my home: the language is the same (almost), but the atmosphere totally different. A pigeon market on the central square. Women showing their expensive fur coats during the Sunday walk around town. No McDonalds in sight, but real (Flamish) Fries for lunch. Lier is Flanders at its best.
