If you ask random passersby on the street what they know about Belgium, the vast majority will simply shrug in confusion. "Belgium? It's somewhere between France and Germany..." Meanwhile, all of us, even the most inquisitive, know much more about this small country located in the center of Europe than meets the eye.

The capital of Belgium is BrusselsThis modern, beautiful, and very livable city is home to the governing bodies of many European organizations—primarily the headquarters of the European Union and NATO headquarters. So, we hear mention of events unfolding in Belgium on television almost every day.

Even at school we learn about the famous battle of WaterlooWhen the combined forces of European powers finally defeated Napoleon's formidable army. Many have seen the spectacular historical film "Waterloo," dedicated to this battle—a film produced by Russian director Sergei Bondarchuk at a French film studio. But not everyone realizes that Waterloo is a suburb of Brussels, and the distance from the center of the Belgian capital to the memorial on the battlefield can be covered by a regular city bus in just over half an hour.

The list goes on and on. Who hasn't heard of Thiele Eulenspiegel, but not everyone knows that the author of "Til..." Charles de Coster was Belgian and the action of the novel takes place in the territory of today's Belgium - in Flanders, Wallonia (Belgian provinces), in the vicinity of the cities of Ghent and BrugesEveryone knows about the famous Flemish painter Rubens, but few people know that he lived most of his life in Antwerp, Belgium, and that his house-museum is located there. Many are familiar with the name of the poisonous gas mustard gas, but not everyone knows that Ypres is a city in eastern Belgium that was completely destroyed during World War I. Fans Beer They probably appreciate world-famous brands like Stella Artois, Jupiler, Hoegaarden, and Leffe, but they don't realize that these are traditional Belgian varieties, brewed in factories of Belgian origin using recipes that haven't changed for centuries.

By the way, waffles, which we all know from childhood, are a national dish. Belgian delicacyEvery city has its own secrets for making them and its own favorite fillings. However, waffles in Belgium aren't quite what we're used to.

But the most surprising fact for us was this: We'd always been convinced that French fries, comic books, and the saxophone were invented by Americans and that's why they've become almost hallmarks of American popular culture. Yet, all three were invented in Belgium and are considered points of national pride.

Belgium is a small country, but by European standards it's not small: just over 10 million people live here—the same as Austria, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Greece, Portugal, and Sweden. It borders France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg. One often hears about Benelux, the union of independent states comprising Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Belgium is also a member of 80 other international organizations.

Belgium comprises several historical provinces – Limburg, Flanders, Brabant, Liège, and Namur – grouped into the Flemish and Walloon regions. For centuries, the ownership of these territories was endlessly contested by Burgundy, the Netherlands, France, Prussia, Austria, and Spain. For nearly two centuries now, Belgium has existed as an independent state, where people of different nationalities coexist. A train (as we understand it, a commuter train) crosses Belgium in less than two hours, and during this time, ticket inspectors checking tickets alternate between French, Walloon, and Dutch. No one is surprised or displeased. In this sense, Belgium is a shining example of the European tolerant approach to life and to addressing national and international issues.

Belgium is home to some of Europe's most beautiful towns – Bruges, Ghent, Liège. Belgium's museums contain a large number of world art masterpieces. Everything here is conducive to excellent dining, and no one has yet managed to try all 500 varieties of the famous Belgian beer.

In short: if you're planning a vacation somewhere, consider Belgium. It's a very worthy choice.