June 16, 2018 Comments Off on In paintings, photographs and postcards: Belgian cities back in the day Views: 1600 Imago, Photography

Belgium, that’s probably the world’s capital country of comic books, waffles, and chocolate. A country of famous painters such as Magritte, Rubens, van Eyck and Delvaux, and where oil paintings were invented in the 15th century. The birth country of famous writers such as Julio Cortazar and Marguerite Yourcenar, too.

Belgians can brag about having three official languages, but none of them is known as Belgian. There is no such language and depends on which part of the country you in, it is spoken Dutch, French, or German.

This is the country where one can try dozens of different waffles, a trademark food in this part of Europe. And a fierce competition to such title can only be fine Belgian white chocolate. Those crazy about seafood may well seek comfort in Belgian restaurants, where a nice warm dish of mulles is always on the menu.

Belgium is also a country of beautiful cities. The capital city of Brussels accommodates few more national symbols such as the Atomium or the Manneken Pis. The second of the two is probably the world’s most fashionable statue. It is a statue of a little boy and it sits just close to Grand Place in downtown Brussels. Belgians stick to interesting tradition in which they dress the Manneken Pis in different outfit few times a week.

Belgium is of course much more than its capital city of Brussels. Antwerp, Ghent, Burges… each one of them offers equally stunning sights, with sky-piercing cathedrals, and a strange comfort where one can easily make friends with a local just by starting a talk about the weather. Below, a selection of photos in which you can see the cities in their best, and their worst of times.

Belgians are also credited for inventing the French fries, and one can easily stumble upon ten different types of potatoes in local supermarkets. Belgian beer? There are thousands to choose from and each one comes with a unique glass on its own. God forbid if you serve a beer and you take the wrong glasses. Favorite Belgian city? It’s really hard to tell at this point, isn’t it?

More time warps? Here are old photos of Kyiv from the early 1960s

Tags: Antwerp, Belgium, Bruges, Brussels, Brussels virtual memoir, Cities of Belgium, Leuven