Belgium - basics - Countries Guide

Time: GMT +1 (GMT +2 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October).

Electricity: 230 volts, 50Hz. European-style two-pin plugs with receptacle and male grounding pin can be used.

Language: The Flemish, in the north, speak Dutch (60% of the population); the Walloons in the south speak French (40%). Brussels is bilingual, the majority of citizens speaking French. In the east there is a small German-speaking community. English is also spoken.

Health: No vaccinations are required for travel to Belgium. There have been incidences of rabies in dogs in 2007. Medical facilities and care in Belgium are excellent but expensive so travellers are advised to take out medical insurance. UK citizens receive emergency medical care for a reduced cost, but should have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), to qualify.

Tipping: Service charges are included in bills and tipping is not necessary, unless for exceptional service. Porters, coatroom and bathroom attendants are generally tipped.

Safety: Most visits to Belgium are trouble-free, but travellers should be wary of street crime in the cities, such as mugging and pickpocketing, particularly in Brussels at major railway stations and on public transport. Brussels is home to a number of international organisations, including EU and NATO, which could become the target of indiscriminate terrorist attacks.

Customs: Belgium law requires everyone to carry some form of official identification at all times.

Communications: The international access code for Belgium is +32. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). City codes are required for all calls within Belgium; the area code for Brussels is (0)2. Mobile phones operate on GSM networks. Public phones take coins or phone cards. Internet cafes are widely available.

Duty Free: Travellers to Belgium arriving from non-EU countries are allowed to enter the country with the following items without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; 1 litre spirits over 22% in alcohol or 2 litres of dessert wine 22% in alcohol and sparkling wine, and 2 litres wine; 50g perfume and 250ml eau de toilette; and other goods such as souvenirs to the value of EUR175. Prohibited items include unpreserved meat products.

Climate: Belgium has temperate weather, warm in summer (May to September) and cool to cold in winter, with snow very likely.
Cities & Regions: Brussels | Antwerp | Bruges | Ghent