Currency Euro (EUR). The €500 note was withdrawn from circulation — avoid accepting it.
Cards Visa and Mastercard are accepted virtually everywhere. American Express has partial coverage: fine in boutique hotels, inconsistent in cafés.
Contactless Apple Pay and Google Pay work at all terminals, including Brussels public transport.
Cash Bring 100 to 150 EUR for friteries, craft markets and small tips. VAT is always included in the displayed price.
ATMs Plentiful in all cities. Use cards such as Wise, Revolut or N26 to avoid fees. Avoid airport and station currency exchanges.
Tips Service is included by default. Rounding up or leaving 5 to 10% for exceptional service is appreciated. Never obligatory except for large groups.
Schengen Belgium is part of the Schengen Area. Rules depend on your nationality — always verify with the consulate.
Visa-exempt nationalities Mexican, Argentine, Chilean and most South American travellers may stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Colombia Colombian nationals require a Schengen type-C visa, with a processing time of 15 to 30 working days at the Belgian consulate.
ETIAS The ETIAS travel authorisation also applies for visa-exempt travellers once it comes into force. Apply before travel.
Insurance International travel insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000 is mandatory for entry into the Schengen Area.
Vaccinations Belgium requires no vaccinations for entry from Latin America or Spain. Keep your basic diphtheria, tetanus and hepatitis schedule up to date.
Healthcare system First class. International hospitals in Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent with emergency services in English.
Pharmacies Identified by a green cross. Standard hours 9:00 to 18:30, with a night and Sunday on-call pharmacy posted at the door.
Water Tap water is potable and of excellent quality throughout the country. No filtering or boiling required.
Emergencies The European number 112 works from any mobile, with or without credit, in any language.
Train The SNCB/NMBS network connects all cities every 30 minutes. Brussels to Bruges in one hour, to Ghent in half an hour, to Antwerp in 45 minutes.
Domestic flights Irrelevant: the country is so small that the train always wins. International gateways are Brussels-Zaventem and Charleroi.
Urban transport STIB-MIVB operates metro, tram and bus in Brussels. A single ticket is around €2.60, valid for one hour with transfers.
Car Useful only for the Ardennes and the coast. Counterproductive in cities: expensive parking and extensive pedestrian zones.
Apps and taxis Uber operates in Brussels, Bolt in Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels. In Bruges, taxis are taken at designated ranks — do not hail them in the street.
Official languages Three languages: Dutch in Flanders, French in Wallonia, German in the far east. Brussels is officially bilingual.
English In Flanders (Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp) English is spoken with universal fluency. In rural Wallonia the balance shifts towards French.
Spanish Understood by Spanish-speaking staff in chain hotels, but cannot be relied upon elsewhere.
Useful phrases Bonjour / hallo (hello) · merci / dank u (thank you) · s'il vous plaît / alstublieft (please).
Key tip Do not speak French in Flanders assuming everyone will understand: English is always the neutral, efficient option.
Punctuality Strictly observed. Arriving ten minutes late to a restaurant reservation can mean losing your table.
Greetings A firm handshake on a first meeting. The cheek kiss is reserved for acquaintances.
Personal space Generous. Touching a stranger on public transport reads as intrusive. Do not call out to waitstaff.
Beer Every beer has its own glass — this is not pretension, it is tradition. Order by style (Trappist, lambic, tripel), not by brand.
Common mistake Do not confuse Flanders with Holland, nor a Fleming with a Dutch person. They share a language but not an identity or sense of pride.
01 · Capital
3–4 nights
