Pictures of Belgium

[Wodans-Krijger]

Mooie plaatsen in Vlaenderen

het Gravensteen, een slot gelegen te Gent
http://www.doepa.be/site/images/stories/gravensteen.jpg

Standbeeld van het Eburoonse stamhoofd Ambiorix in Tongeren
http://www.trabel.com/tongeren/tongeren-ambiorix%201.jpg

het land van Saeftinghe langs boven gezien
http://www.naturisme-athena.org/library/124/afbeeldingen/saeftinghe.jpg

Een stuk van de rivier de Leie, prachtig voor fietstochten en joggen
http://www.gentblogt.be/wp-content/Leie%20009.jpg

Den reusachtigen kathedraal van Ieper "de lakenhallen"
http://blogimages.bloggen.be/de_mooiste_gpsroutes/715919-7a0197eed73827062cf67c146697b61a.jpg

De grote markt in antwerpen
http://www.vakantiewegwijzer.com/antwerpen/GroteMarktAntwerpen2.jpg

de grote markt in Brussel, aan den architectuur duidelijk te zien dat Brussel een Vlaamse stad is
http://www.op-reis.com/albums/brussel/fotos/brussel-grotemarkt-grandplace-gilden1.jpg

Stukske natuur in de kempen
http://fietswandel.seniorennet.be/bospad.jpg

[The Lawspeaker]

A small street in the beguinage of Diest:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/BegijnhofDiestMJ01.jpg


The area around Kagevinne in the Hageland:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Hagelandkaggevinne.jpg


The river Velp at Vissenaken (Brabant) - still in the Hageland:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Vissenaken_Velp.jpg


Leuven - the gothic Town Hall:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Leuven.jpg


The Sonian Forest (Zoniënwoud) just south of Brussels:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/RuysbroeckDSCN4265.jpg


The entrance of the Warandepark in Brussels:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Pa_rc_de_Bruxelles_02.JPG


The inner dome of the massive building of the Law Courts of Brussels (Justitiepaleis):
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Palais_de_Justice_903.jpg


The place to be for the addicted consumer - the Antwerp Meir:
http://cosmolingua.xsite.be/public/uploads/images/steden/antwerpen/antwerp-meir2.jpg


Much more to the West this time-- to the Flemish Heuvelland (hill ridge) as seen from the Rodeberg hill:
http://www.cagnet.be/nieuwsbrief/juli_2009/Heuvelland_vanaf_de_Rodeberg.jpg


A bend in the river Lys (Leie) at Bachte:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/LeieinBachte_16-09-2008_15-30-21.JPG


Back in Brabant - a typical farmstead at Houthalen:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Houthalen_-_Hoeve_Claes.jpg


Maybe one of the most beautiful train stations in the Southern (or Northern for that matter) Netherlands. We are now standing in the central hall of Antwerp Central Station:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Centraalstationantwerpen-1.jpg

[The Lawspeaker]

The principal port of the Southern Netherlands - the Rotterdam of the South.
Antwerp (Antwerpen):


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Pano_antwerpen.jpg
As seen here from the western bank of the river Scheldt.



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Rubens_Kreuzaufrichtung1.JPG
Antwerp is Rubens. One of the more influential painters in Netherlandic history.
This particular painting is the The Elevation of the Cross, a triptych that hangs on display in the Cathedral of our Lady



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Liebfrauenkathedrale2.JPG
Inside the nave of the grand cathedral.



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Zevergem_(De_Pinte)_-_oude_Scheldearm_(Doornhammeke).jpg
Old cut-off arm of the river Scheldt in Zevergem



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Korenlei_22-04-2008_18-31-04.JPG
The Korenlei - one of the more beautifully restored canals in the city of Ghent.



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/Bruegge_huidenvettersplein.jpg
On to Bruges. The Rozenhoedkaai.



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Belfort_Brugge.jpg
The local belfort.



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Damse_Vaart.JPG
Evening at a historic canal from Bruges to Damme (and to the sea).



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Damsevaart.jpg
The same canal.



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Oostende.Thermae_Palace.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/Kon.Gaanderijen(02).jpg
Ostend. The beautiful collonades of the Koninklijke Gaanderijen. The Thermae Palace



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Vissers(01).jpg
A local couple. The woman is wearing the typical costume that was worn by fisherman's wife's at the turn of the 19th to 20th century.

[The Lawspeaker]

Today I am going to take you across the language frontier that divides the Southern Netherlands (a.k.a "Belgium" :rolleyes2:) in Dutch-speaking Flanders and French (or Walloon) speaking Wallonia:


The Château de Belœil (Belœil Castle) in the province of Hainault (Dutch: Henegouwen):
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Beloeil_castel_1_Luc_Viatour.jpg


The old city hall of Mons (Dutch: Bergen) - the capital of Hainault:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/Mons_JPG0101.jpg


Mons: the Spanish House and the belfry:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Mons_050602_JPG0106.jpg


Looking towards the church in Enghien (Dutch: Ingen/ Edingen):
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Enghien_050918_(23).jpg

[The Lawspeaker]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/Dinant_JPG01.jpg
In Dinant. (Province of Namen/Namur in Wallonia).


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/RocherBayardDinant.JPG
The rock known as "Bayard".


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Grotten_van_Han_-_grot_1.jpg
In the famous caves of Han-sur-Lesse.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Spa_JPG05.jpg
In the little spa town of Spa. (yes.. the very word spa originates from this place).


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/Semois_Ste_C%C3%A9cile.jpg
The Semois near Florenville.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Aubel_JPG06.jpg
Aubel (or Åbe in Wallon) in the province of Luik/Liège).


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Florenville_050422_%284%29.JPG
Back around the Semois at Florenville.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/B-Florenville6.JPG
Around Florenville.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/La_Gileppe_15-04-2007_17-11-26.jpg
The barrage de la Gileppe or Gileppestuwdam in the province of Luik.

[The Lawspeaker]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Diksmuide_-_Polders_-_IJzer.jpg
Polderland along the river Yser (IJzer) near Diksmuide.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Menin_Gate.jpg
The Menin Gate or Menenpoort in Ypres (Ieper). Build as a memorial by the British who lost some 54.900 men defending the town from the Germans during the First World War.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/91/Menin_Gate_Last_Post.jpg
Every night buglers from the local fire brigade still play the Last Post in order to commemorate those that lost their lifes.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Kattenstoet.jpg
Another local tradition is the socalled Cat Parade or Kattenstoet. It is a festival that is devoted to the cat. It is held every third year on the second Sunday of May. Most recently, the 42nd edition took place on May 10, 2009.
The parade commemorates an Ypres tradition from the Middle Ages in which cats were thrown from the belfry tower of the Cloth Hall to the town square below.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/Kattenstoet_%282%29.JPG
Parade during the Kattenstoet.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Digue_de_Dunkerque.jpg?uselang=nl
Along the Dyk in Dunkirk (Duinkerke) - now in France.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/De_Haan_Strand_R02.jpg
Dunes and the beach in the area around De Haan.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Thermen.pano.jpg
Panoramic view of the Koninklijke Gaanderijen and the Thermae Palace Hotel in Ostend (Oostende).



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Ter_Yde_Duinen_01.jpg
Dunes along Ter Yde.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Shrimpers_on_horseback.jpg
Shrimpers on horseback.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/Knocke-Heist.jpg
Along the boulevard of Knokke-Heist.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/Baai_van_Heist_R01.jpg?uselang=nl
Knokke-Heist: nature reserve of the Baai van Heist at high tide

[The Lawspeaker]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Beveren-aan-de-IJzer_-_Flooded_land.jpg
Flooded polder land along the Yser river, in Beveren-aan-de-IJzer. Taken late on a winter afternoon.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Haringe_-_Church_and_village.jpg
The little village of Haringe and the Sint-Martinus Church.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/Veurne_Rathaus.jpg
Veurle's old town hall.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Strandkoksijde.jpg
Along the beach at Koksijde.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Nieuwpoort_-_Koolhofput_1.jpg?uselang=nl
Just along the way - close to the village of Ramskapelle.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Kusttram1.jpg
The Coast Tram (Dutch: De Kusttram) is a public transport service connecting the cities and towns along the entire Flemish coast running from De Panne to Knokke-Heist. This picture was taken between Ostend and Middelkerke.

http://www.willgoto.com/images/Size3/Belgium_Knokke_Heist_de_Dijk_aa1ee743594246e89a76d 0c50b8b4e00.JPG
De Dijk, the boulevard of Knokke-Heist on a beautiful day.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/Knokke-Heist.jpg
Villa's in Duinbergen (Knokke-Heist municipality).

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/ZWIN.jpg
Het Zwin, a nature reserve that now marks the Inner-Dutch border. A frontier that should be consigned to the dustbin of history at the earliest possible opportunity.

[The Lawspeaker]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/H._Grafkapel_Kanne_15-04-2007_13-29-38.jpg
We are now "crossing the border" to see a chapel in the Limburgish town of Kanne.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/AlbertkanaalKanne_4575.jpg
Still at Kanne. The Albertkanaal Canal (named after Albert I, "King of the Belgians").


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Ooidonk_castle_view.JPG
Ooidonk Castle at Sint Maria-Leerne, Flanders.


http://www.cagnet.be/nieuwsbrief/juli_2009/Heuvelland_vanaf_de_Rodeberg.jpg
The Heuvelland ("Hill country") in Flanders as seen from Rodeberg hill.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Sint-Truiden.jpg
The Grote Markt (town square) in Sint-Truiden.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Horendonk_Essen.JPG?uselang=nl
Horendonk (Essen municipality)

[The Lawspeaker]

VJVd6qp7Fqg

Belgium, the movie

"Belgium, the movie" is the first film in HD about Belgium. It shows the most important and most beautiful places of my country. The stability of the images is amazing and the shots, which were taken over a period of 8 months, are filmed in the best circumstances. We take the viewer for a journey through time. This film has been filmed entirely from a helicopter with a High-Definition (HD) Cineflex camera.

[Albion]

I've long been of the view that Belgium is underrated as a tourist destination, but in reality it has a lot to offer.
The countryside reminds me a lot of England - Flanders is a bit like the east of England whilst Wallonia reminds me of some of the unspoilt areas in the Midlands.

[The Lawspeaker]

I've long been of the view that Belgium is underrated as a tourist destination, but in reality it has a lot to offer.
The countryside reminds me a lot of England - Flanders is a bit like the east of England whilst Wallonia reminds me of some of the unspoilt areas in the Midlands.

That's what makes Belgium a lot purer than the Netherlands, that's for sure. Here every single inch has been tilted over again and again and again.

[Albion]

That's what makes Belgium a lot purer than the Netherlands, that's for sure. Here every single inch has been tilted over again and again and again.

Well Flanders to me doesn't look much different from the western provinces of NL whereas Wallonia looks like less of a "controlled" landscape.
But Wallonia has man-made hedgerows everywhere and its woodlands are organised into tidy little pockets - just like much of England.

Really there's not much wilderness on the North European Plain or in England, most of the landscapes in England, NL and Belgium have been and are still controlled by man to a large extent.
I think the only wildernesses these countries have are their moors and rich coastlines.

Man's influence over the landscape in Wallonia is not as abrupt as it is in Western NL or Eastern England though, it still has some charm. In much of Eastern England there are just massive fields of wheat and it can resemble a featureless steppe sometimes.
Pastoral lands always look a bit more natural than arable I suppose.

Wallonia and the more hilly areas of NL and Flanders remind me of how the English like to see their nation - the gentle rolling hills interspersed by little villages, churches and pockets of woodland. Nothing special, no wilderness, just tranquil calm.