Belgium is a country invented by the British to annoy the French. – Charles de Gaulle.

I visited Belgium in 2003 (one day in Antwerp and then in Bruges), and then another day in Brussels in 2018.

Belgian Cities

• Brussels – 5/10 (2018)
• Antwerp – 6/10 (2003)
• Brugge – 6/10 (2003)

On the plus side, it’s a reasonably functional West European country, and Brussels itself is a quaint and rather beautiful city. It is the homeland of French fries, but the best thing about it is the beer, which is truly out of this world and possibly the best in the world. However, the city is grimy and covered in graffiti, which in the north loses what limited charm it has in the Mediterranean, and is overrun with pickpockets. Watch your back!