General Information on Holidays in Belgium

General Information on Holidays in Belgium

Food and Drink Belgian cuisine, particularly in southern Belgium, which includes the Ardennes, is heavily influenced by that of France. However there continues to be much fine cooking based on fresh, local produce and of which the local people are justifiably proud. Traditionally, meals always start with soup and bread; sadly the once very characteristic Belgian habit of offering the soup tureen again and again is dying out. On the other hand, the popular image of Belgian fondness for chips is well justified. Fresh chip shops and stands "Fritures" or "Friteries" are to be found everywhere. The Ardennes are particularly noted for game, fresh water fish, wonderful hams, patés and sausages. On the sweeter side, the area is also noted for its fruit tarts and pastries. Breakfasts are perhaps less substantial than in Germany or Austria, but still include cheese and cold meats, ideal before a day's walk. Typical local dishes are offered by our hotels and chambre d'hotes.

We can normally arrange vegetarian food if requested in advance. If your booking is conditional on the provision of vegetarian food, please ensure that we know this when you book. Belgium is a not a significant producer of wine, but Overijse just to the south of Brussels makes an interesting sparkling wine, though it can be difficult to find. Belgian beer on the other hand, is something no visitor to the country should fail to explore. Pilsener style beers such as Stella-Artois, Maes and Jupiler are to be found everywhere; while not unlike that of Germany or the Czech Republic, it is less distinctive than either. On the other hand, there are a huge number of highly distinctive bottled beers that are unique to Belgium. These include aromatic white beers made from wheat, abbey beers such as Duvel, Chimay or Orval (which are very strong) and the strange beers of the Brussels region which may be flavoured with cherries and whose acidity sometimes reminds one of cider. A wide range of sparkling mineral waters is always available too; remember that Spa is a town in the Ardennes!

Hotels
We use the following grades for categorizing accommodation: The holidays on this website mainly use Inns and Pensions.

Pensions are very small, family-run establishments that only serve food to residents, often breakfast only, and only have a few rooms. Locally, they may be known as Chambre d'Hotes.

Inns approximate to pubs in the UK. Their main business is providing food and drink to visitors and local people, but they also have rather more bedrooms than pensions.

Hotels are larger than inns. The bedrooms are larger and there is often a restaurant as well as a bar. There is often a lift too.

Superior hotels are large establishments that have a wide range of facilities such as a swimming pool or sauna, as well as large bedrooms and often more than one bar.

Please do not expect to find Tea and Coffee making facilities in hotels.


Belgian Forests The forests of Belgium are very different from the regimented plantations often found in Britain. The Belgian may not have quite the same romantic attachment to his forests as his German counterpart, but forest still covers much of the Ardennes and woodland is a major resource for both recreation and industry. The Ardennes forests teems with life and colour and home to many species of animal and plant. Trees are both evergreen and deciduous; alongside the forest tracks a profusion of butterflies dances among the wild flowers. Wildlife Roe and red deer are common, (and in season are often found on the menu) and buzzards, red kites and goshawks may be seen overhead. Small mammals are common too. Language In southern Belgium you will mainly hear French, though in the eastern part of Liège Province German is also spoken. Those familiar with French in France will note a number of differences of both accent and usage in Belgium.