Flanders was one of the most tragic theaters of World War I. Around half a million people died here, and more than a million were wounded or went missing. Today, the region is filled with military cemeteries and memorials honoring fallen soldiers from many different nations — troops from roughly fifty countries fought in these battles. For Slovenians, it carries some of the same emotional and historical weight as the story of the Soča Front. This was also one of the first places on the Western Front where poison gas was used on a larger scale. In Ypres, the local museum gives visitors a vivid sense of what life and combat looked like in the muddy trenches of the war.

Belgium has a surprisingly dense concentration of castles — in fact, it is often said to have more castles per square kilometer than any other country in the world. There are more than three thousand in total, which makes it hard to know where to begin.

One of the most historically important is Bouillon Castle in the Ardennes, originally built in the 11th century. Other well-known names include Beersel, a well-preserved 14th-century castle; Gravensteen, dating back to the 12th century and once featured as a key attraction at the 1913 World Expo in Ghent; Gaasbeek, a 16th-century castle with richly decorated rooms and an art collection; and Freÿr, a 15th-century estate often described as a kind of “mini Versailles.”

Belgium has a long tradition of using windmills. They were once used for sawing wood, pumping water, and grinding grain. You can still find quite a few historic windmills across the country dating from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, and some are open to visitors. The biggest concentration is around Bruges.

Beer culture feels especially lively in university towns, and Leuven is one of the best examples. About 25 kilometers east of Brussels, the city is home to KU Leuven, founded in 1425, one of the oldest and most respected universities in Europe. That gives the place a youthful energy. The center of the evening scene is Oude Markt, often called the “longest bar in the world” because almost the entire square is lined with bars and cafés.

The busiest tourist season runs from July through August, when visitor numbers peak, especially along the coast. Temperatures are usually pleasant and rarely go above 22 °C. Summer also tends to bring a bit more rain, so packing a light rain jacket is a smart move. This is also when you should expect bigger crowds and slightly higher prices.

Personally, the best times to visit are May–June and September–October. In spring, the countryside starts to bloom and temperatures usually sit in a comfortable 14–18 °C range, with fewer tourists around. Early fall works just as well, especially once the landscape starts picking up color — great if you like traveling with a camera.