5 of the biggest annual attractions hosted in Belgium
“So Belgium, A lot of people say that not much happens here, but that’s simply not true.” – Jeremy Clarkson
Apart from knowing just one fact about Belgium related to streetlights and motorways, Clarkson may have had a point when he said the later part of that sentence.
Belgium is best known as the home of EU policy makers as the European Union Headquarters is located there. Being at the center of the EU, the population of Belgium primarily consists of French, German and Dutch citizenry. Therefore, you can pretty much enjoy the cultures of the three corresponding nations if you ever visit it. The mix of cultures and societies makes it a very fun place to visit. Belgium is also hosts some of the biggest events in Europe and here are a few notable ones that will definitely pique your interest.
1. Tomorrowland Festival
If you have not heard of this yet, then you definitely need to check it out. Tomorrowland is arguably the biggest music festival in central Europe. It usually starts mid-year, during the summer months of June to august. This music festival hosts some of the biggest music headliners like Afrojack, David Guetta, Tiesto, Armin van Buuren, etc and it usually lasts around a week. Apart from mainstage headliners, the festival also hosts underground talent throughout its different venues/stages. This should be on your bucket list of events to visit in Belgium, if and when the festival restarts after the Covid-19 pandemic.
2. Spa race track
Belgium is not a place that loves its cars. The people in general like their peace and quiet and gas guzzlers are shunned in city centers. Which is why it makes it all the more fascinating to know that Belgium is home to the Spa Race Track or Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, which also happens to be one of the biggest and wildest tracks in the entire world. The Spa Race Track hosts F1, FIA Rally, GT Race Series, Le Mans 24 Hour, etc championships among a few notable mentions. The Track is known for its aggressively fast corners, the most infamous of which is the EAU Rogue, which is known to test the might of even the most seasoned race drivers in the world. Spa is a fast track, there is no doubt about it the F1 Belgium Grand Prix is one of the most prestigious events that you can attend. As such you won’t find shortage of betting options for the event and Casinohex.be live offers one of the easiest ways to place your bets during the championship.
3. Graspop metal festival
If Tomorrowland is a place for all EDM lovers, then Graspop is the place if you are a Satan worshipping metalhead [chuckles]. Jokes apart, while its smaller in size as compared to some of the big name events like Wacken Open Air, that’s held in Germany, it manages to draw quite a large crowd [over 150,000+] when its open. Also despite being smaller, the line-up is nothing to scoff at, featuring bands/artists like Lamb of God, Slipknot, Slayer, Behemoth, Gojira, etc to name a few. There are a total of 5 stages in the event that feature bands based on their popularity or so to speak. The event usually lasts for 2-3 days and currently remains suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
4. The Flower Carpet Festival
Now here’s something interesting, a festival of flowers that has a different theme every time it’s held. The Flower Carpet is one of the most unique festivals that you will find in the entire European region. It’s a biennial event that’s held every 2 years in Brussels and has a different theme to it, every time it’s held. For example, in 2019 when it was last held, the theme was Mexican and represented the indigenous cultures of Chupícuaro, Otomí and Purépecha. The event was first started in 1971 by Landscape Artist E. Stautemans and it has been celebrated ever since. While the event was supposed to be held in 2020, it was cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic and there is no definite word on if it would be held in 2022. The Flower Carpet Festival is a unique attraction and should definitely be on your list, should you make your way to Belgium.
5. Bruges Beer Festival
Now here is something to cheer you up – Sat, 09 Apr 2022 – Sun, 10 Apr 2022. Yes, one of the few events that haven’t been cancelled. Huzzah and fingers crossed. The Bruges Beer Festival is for all of you that love your Beer cold. This beer festival will host over 80+ breweries and consist of 350+ beers that you can sample to your heart’s content. While not the biggest beer festival [Germany again taking the crown with the Oktoberfest], it is one of the finest in all of Europe and you get to taste some of the best beer made in all of Europe. So, watch out for this next year and book your tickets in advance.
Conclusion
There is a lot more that Belgium offers and the ones mentioned here don’t even scratch the surface. It is a small nation with a diverse culture and it is evident by the events that you can enjoy in this charming politically neutral nation. So, if you are allowed to travel in Belgium now, do check out the amazing events that it has to offer in the coming months.
About the Author
Bibhuranjan Editorial Officer, technofaq.org I'm an avid tech enthusiast at heart. I like to mug up on new and exciting developments on science and tech and have a deep love for PC gaming. Other hobbies include writing blog posts, music and DIY projects.
