Belgium

Belgium is a country in northwest Europe bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and France, with a short coastline on the North Sea. Belgium consists of three regions, listed from North to South: Flanders: northern, Dutch-speaking region Brussels: within Flanders, bilingual region of the capital: Dutch, French Wallonia: southern, French-speaking region incorporating a small German speaking region in the east near the German border. The terrain is flat coastal plains in the northwest, central rolling hills, wooded hills and valleys of Ardennes Forest in the southeast. The climate is temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy. The average temperature is lowest in January at 3 °C (37 °F), and highest in July at 18 °C (64 °F). Belgium is well known for its cuisine. Many highly ranked restaurants can be found in the high-impact gastronomic guides. Belgium has many fine hotels, but the best are located in Antwerp, Brugge, Gent, Leuven and the rural Ardennes region of Belgium.