What to Buy in Belgium and Why

I moved to Brussels for an assignment for three months in January 2015. Of course, Brussels is know for its food but also some very interesting things to buy. Here's my list...

 

1. Comics

Belgium is known for its comics. It is the home of Tintin, the Smurfs and even Asterix and Obelisk (which is a Franco-Belgian production but the Belgians claim it anyway). Visit the museum of Comics in Brussels and if you're learning French, comics are a good way to go

 

2. Waffles

Forget these tourist monstrosities you see in downtown Brussels. There are McWaffles. The real things do not have so many additions on it like extra-fat-whipped cream and strawberries and chocolate... These kind of waffles are for people who think Europe is a country. Brussels Waffles have a sprinkling of sugar on top of it while the Waffles of Liege have the sugar cooked into the batter. And they are eaten sans all the additions. Phew...

 

3. French Fries (that are actually Belgian)

It's like this: American troops stations in Europe during and after WWII were eating fried potatoes. While they were eating the potatoes they heard French being spoken around them so they assumed they were in France while in fact they were in Belgium. So Belgian Fries actually became French Fries (until for that interim period during George W Bush when they were called Freedom Fries)

 

4. An Umbrella

It rains. Better stock up. And wear water-proof shoes. And warm socks.

 

5. A Magritte Poster

They love Magritte. The man with the apple, the 'ceci n'est pas un pipe'. You have to visit the museum. And you can buy all the posters there.

 

6. Chocolate

It's almost a cliché now. Belgium = chocolate. (Or should I say Switzerland  = chocolate?). But chocolate really is the best gift from Belgium

 

7. A train ticket

The country could not pack more cities and sites. Almost everything seems to be an hour from Brussels; Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, Leuven even Rotterdam... but not Luxembourg. Legand has it (since 1988 or so) that some of the EU institutions were to be moved to Luxembourg. The Belgians upset by this decided to slow down the train linking Brussels to Luxembourg City by having it stop at every town and village in between the two cities. So the train takes roughly three hours instead of one. And Brussels got to keep all the EU institutions

 

8. Beer

Yes. But that's so obvious. And I much prefer champagne...