Belgium

At the crossroads of Latin and Germanic Europe, Belgium is renowned for its lacework, brewing culture and exuberant carnival traditions.

Food & cooking Textile & dress Spirituality & rites Nature & herbalism

Knowledge in this place

Belgian beer culture

Belgian beer culture

The making and appreciation of hundreds of beer styles, including spontaneously fermented lambics, inscribed by UNESCO.

Bobbin lace making

Bobbin lace making

Intricate handmade lace worked with dozens of bobbins, a craft long associated with Bruges and Brussels.

Textile & dress

Carnival of Binche

Carnival of Binche

A pre-Lenten carnival whose masked Gilles toss oranges and parade in wax masks, inscribed by UNESCO.

Spirituality & rites

Processional giants and dragons

Processional giants and dragons

Towering wickerwork effigies paraded through towns during civic and religious festivals, inscribed by UNESCO.

Spirituality & rites

Shrimp fishing on horseback

Shrimp fishing on horseback

Fishermen of Oostduinkerke ride draught horses into the surf to trawl for grey shrimp, a practice inscribed by UNESCO.

Nature & herbalism