All the World Heritage Sites in Belgium
Belgium has 15 World Heritage Sites, covering thousands of years of history. From city centres, to single houses, there’s a fascinating variety in what has been chosen for the list.
Sometimes it can be hard to describe the history or culture of Belgium in just a sentence. In a country with such distinctive regions, that’s no surprise, but it’s even more complicated than that.
Belgium is a country full of fascinating stories but I get the impression it doesn’t feel the need to shout about them from the rooftops (or from the belfries, as the case may be). You need to dig a little deeper to find the best examples of the country’s history.
And that’s just what the World Heritage Sites of Belgium offer you. In the 15 Belgian UNESCO sites, there aren’t really many big tourist sights (with the exception of Bruges, probably). Instead, there are very specific places that demonstrate the innovations, the artistry, and the enlightened reforms of the people over hundreds of years.
There are the houses built in Brussels that defined whole movements of architecture.
There are the mines that didn’t just power the country’s industry, but changed the way workers were treated.
There are the printing presses that spread words across the continent and educated generations.
And there are the communes established by women who wanted to live their lives without being controlled by a patriarchy.
The stories behind Belgium’s World Heritage Sites are some of the most interesting and diverse in this part of Europe, even if they don’t seem particularly flashy or touristy at first glance.
Another trend within the World Heritage Sites of Belgium is for sites that have multiple properties, rather than a single location – and often shared with other countries. It means there are actually lots of places across the country that are technically on the World Heritage List… as you can see in this map!
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about Belgium’s World Heritage Sites – or maybe you would like to visit some of them – then I’ve got some information about each of the sites below.
They may not all be typical destinations for a trip to Belgium, but learning about their histories is certainly rewarding.
La Grand-Place in Brussels
One of the easiest World Heritage Sites in Belgium to visit is La Grand-Place, right in the centre of Brussels. The cobblestone square dates back to the 12th century but most of the buildings…
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