It may be a little country, but it is a lovely one, so it is sad that Belgium is often overlooked when travelers plan a trip to Europe. Tucked between the desirable and obvious destinations of London, Paris and Amsterdam, Belgium is usually treated as a stepping stone to the English Channel, or, at most, a quick stop-over for a look-see in the capital, Brussels.

Full country name: Kingdom of Belgium
Area: 30,278 sq Km
Population: 10,5 million
Capitals: Brussels
People: 55% Flemish (of Teutonic origin), 33% Walloons (French Latin) and about 10% foreigners
Language: Flemish, French and German. Most Belgians also speak English.
Religion: 75% Roman catholic
Government: Constitutional Parliamentary monarchy
GDP: US$350
Inflation: 2,8%
Unemployment: Flanders 10%, wallonia 18%, Brussels 21%
Major industries: Services, agriculture, chemicals, engineering, metal products, car manufacturing, iron and steel, textiles and food
Major trading partners: EU (esp. Germany, France, Netherlands, UK), USA