Things to do in Belgium

Often called 'the Venice of the North,' with cobbled lanes and gabled houses along canals best seen by a short boat tour or on foot.

A UNESCO-listed square ringed by ornate guildhalls, illuminated at night and hosting a biennial flower carpet display of hundreds of thousands of blooms.

A handful of monasteries, including Chimay and Orval, still brew commercially under strict rules — visitor centers nearby offer tastings even where the abbeys themselves stay closed.

Twice-fried in the traditional method and served in a paper cone with a wide range of sauces — a genuine national dish, not a side order.