Belgium is situated in Western Europe between the Netherlands and France, with the North Sea to the west and Germany to the east. Belgium derives its name from the Belgae, a Celtic tribe dating from 1 BC. In 1830, Belgium seceded from the Netherlands and became an independent nation. The country is split between the French-speaking Walloons in the south, the Dutch-speaking Flemish people (60 percent of the population) in the north and a small minority of German-speaking people in the east. With three official languages (Dutch, French, and German) and some kind of regional rivalry, Belgium is a country not to be missed. Belgium has retained its old-world charm in the preservation of its ancient buildings and historical traditions. The country boasts a population known to be modest and adaptable. Tourists will be at ease visiting the country because the Belgians will try to make their stay as pleasant as possible. If they can, the Belgians will often try to speak to you in your own language, especially the citizens of Flanders. The people who live there are called Flemings, and so they are Flemish and speak Dutch.

There are no health risks associated with travel to Belgium and no inoculations are required. Medical facilities are of high quality and widely available. If suddenly taken ill or involved in an accident during a visit to Belgium, free or reduced-cost necessary treatment is available for European travellers in most cases, on production of a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC, formerly E111). Tourists from countries with which Belgium does not have a reciprocal agreement are advised to take out travel insurance including coverage of medical treatment.
Pharmacies are open during regular business hours; on nights and weekends on a rotation schedule.

For general tourist information you can visit the Belgium tourist board website. When you are in Belgium you can also visit one of the many local tourist offices.