Geographical position
Belgium, located in Western Europe on the coast of the North Sea, borders France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
Features of nature
The many-sided Belgian landscape makes you fall in love with it at first sight: rivers and the Arden gorges, plains… The country’s special pride is the large Arden forest on the border with Germany and Luxeburg and wide sandy beaches on the north coast.
Capital
Brussels
Language
Dutch – in Flanders and Brussels, French – in Wallonia and Brussels, German within the German-speaking community.
Time
Behind Moscow for 2 hours.
Currency
Euro (EURO), 1 EURO = 100 EURO cent. Banknotes: 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 euros. Coins: 2 and 1 Euro; 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.
Customs regulations
There are no restrictions on the import and export of local or foreign currency. When entering the country outside the EU, you can import duty-free up to 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 gr. tobacco; before 2 liters of wine or up to 1 liter of spirits; up to 50 gr. perfume and 250 ml of toilet water; up to 0.5 kg of coffee; up to 100 gr. tea, as well as other goods in the amount of not more than 50 euros. Unpreserved food products must be declared. Prohibited the import of uncooked meat, drugs, weapons and ammunition. On January 1, 2013, the European Union changed the rules for the import and export of cash and now it is necessary to declare cash amounts in the equivalent of more than 10,000 euros, and you need to declare it at the entrance. and on the go. Declarations are subject not only to the euro, but also cash in any currency, as well as securities and traveler’s checks. The EU has already developed new declaration forms.
Entry into the country
Citizens of Russia and CIS countries need a visa to enter Belgium. Border control officer in law require a return ticket, hotel voucher, insurance, and sufficient funds to stay in the country.
Entry with pets
When importing and exporting pets, a veterinary certificate with a vaccination mark is presented against rabies.
Climate
Temperate maritime, with warm weather from May to September. According to Bridgat, snow is possible in winter. Medium January temperature from -1 to 3 degrees C, July 14-19 C. 2
Holidays
National holidays:
July 21 – King Leopold I takes the oath of allegiance to the Constitution (1831), November 15 – Royal Dynasty Day (Saint Leopold’s Day according to the Catholic calendar).
Official holidays:
New Year – January 1 and 2, Easter – March 31 – April 1, Spring and Labor Day – May 1 and 2, Ascension Lord’s – May 9, Holy Trinity Day – May 19, Spirits Day – May 20, Exaltation – August 15, All Saints Day – November 1st.
Operation of banks, shops, exchange offices
Shop opening hours: Monday to Friday – from 8.00 to 18.00/19.30, Saturday from 8.00 to 12.30, except every first Saturday of the month, when shops are open until 17.00, supermarkets work around the clock.
Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 13:30 to 15:00-17:00, as well as one once a week until 18.00 (each bank has its own day). On Saturday banks are open until 12:00. In some banks there are benefits for students, young people and retirees. To get the most benefit to exchange large sums, it is recommended not to have cash, but traveler’s checks. except banks, you can use the services of exchange offices. Many currency exchange offices work until 21.00-22.00, as well as on weekends
Phone
The country code is 32. The international dialing code of Belgium is 8-10-32(area code)-(subscriber number)
From a payphone, you can call anywhere in the world. There are phones that work by coins, telephone or credit cards.
There are three main mobile operators in Belgium – Proximus (047), Base (048), Mobistar (049).
Car rental and movement rules
To rent a car, you need an international driving license and a credit card.
Cards
The maximum speed limit on highways is 120 km/h, on national roads 90 km/h, in settlements – 50 km/h.
Be careful on the roads! Belgium has one of the highest death rates in Europe roads, as local residents do not always comply with traffic rules.
Particular attention should be paid to driving through tunnels – many of them have several exits, which often poorly marked.
In cities, especially in their historical part, the car should be parked only on paid parking lots.
Hotels
Please note that the hotel is not responsible for documents, money and valuables things, if they are not stored in an individual safe. Most hotels 4-5 * upon check-in requires credit card or cash deposit for minibar, telephone and other Additional services.
Transport
Metro, trams and buses in Brussels form a single transport system in which a single ticket is valid. Tickets or books for 5-10 trips are sold in newspapers. kiosks, bus drivers and at any metro station. Public transport movement takes place from 5.00 to 0.30. The average cost of a taxi in the city is 10-20 Euro.
Belgian National Railways (SNCB) – This is a developed railway system that connects all the main cities of the country.
Kitchen
Belgian cuisine combines the culinary traditions of the Middle Ages and the traditions of neighboring countries – France, Germany, Holland. The restaurant forge was significantly influenced by French cuisine, and homemade dishes, more simple and satisfying, were influenced by German and Dutch cuisine. If we talk about the regional cuisine of Belgium, then in the coastal regions fish and seafood dishes predominate; in the Ardennes, game is more often used. Belgium flagnita with her chocolate, waffles, fries and beer
Tips
Belgium is one of the most expensive countries in Europe in terms of tips, the approximate amount of which reaches 12-15% of the order value. Tipping is usually already included in the price.
Tax refund
VAT ( VAT ) ranges from 6% on food, 21% – in restaurants and up to 33% – on pre-luxury items (always included in the price). VAT refund is possible when buying in the stores of the system ” TAX FREE ” for an amount exceeding 200 euros. When buying with a foreign credit card the buyer pays the amount without VAT and signs 2 receipts for the amount of tax that is required must be presented at customs when leaving Belgium or the last country of the European Union.
The receipt must be sent to the store within three months, otherwise the tax amount will be deducted from the buyer’s credit card.
Insurance
Medical insurance is a mandatory part of the travel package. Also it is recommended to purchase insurance covering cases such as loss of luggage or credit card theft.
Health care
Medical services are of high quality and quite expensive. First aid is provided free of charge, for all subsequent visits to the doctor a fee is charged.
Crime
Problems in ensuring security are especially relevant for administrative regions in Brussels, where the real incomes of the population are very low. These are mainly areas where immigrants from North Africa.
Where to go in emergency situations
Ambulance and fire department – 100
Police – 101
Pan European Rescue Service – 112
The Russian Embassy in Belgium is located in Brussels: avenue de Fre, 66 (8 10 32 2) 374 3400, 374 5738, 374 6886, 374 1637
