Belgium is located in the northwest of Europe and is a relatively small country with a population of 10 million. It is divided into three main regions: Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. Belgium has managed to retain its old-world European charm with ancient buildings and medieval architecture whilst also providing its guests all the mod cons. Medical Tourism is a very successful industry in Belgium, with the large volume of private healthcare providers causing a great competitive environment for the medical tourist. The three languages are Dutch, French and German; however, English is also widely spoken.
Belgium is most popular for Cosmetics, Dental and Obesity treatments, but also has a number of Orthopedic, Eye, and Hair transplant providers, as well as Spinal and Cardiology. They are well known for kidney transplants and heart bypasss surgery. See the box to the right to view a full list of available treatment areas.
Belgium generally has a mild, maritime climate characterised by many days of grey and/or rainy weather. To avoid the major cold, plan a visit for May through to September (late spring to early fall/autumn). However, it can get rather busy in some tourist areas during this peak season, Brussels on the other hand is quieter from mid-July through to mid-September and, because of this, some hotels cut prices.
Belgium, like a lot of countries in Europe, has the Euro (EUR, symbol €) as its national currency. Find up-to-date exchange rates and conversion through a currency conversion tool. Cost of food and accomodation can range anywhere from €30 to €120 and above per day depending on your purchase choices.
Travellers from the USA, Canada, UK, Australia and other EU residents do not require a visa provided their stay does not exceed 90 days. It is important to note that by law, everyone in Belgium, including tourists, must carry some sort of ID on them at all times. For foreign visitors, this means your passport.
Travellers from the UK and Europe can quickly and easily make their way directly into Belgium. Those travelling from further away such as the USA and Australia may have to go via London or Paris first to get a connecting European flight. The main airport in Belgium is Brussels International Airport. Airlines operating in Belgium include Brussels Airlines, Air Canada, Air France, American Airlines, British Airways, Japan Airlines and United Airlines, to name a few. There are also numerous cut-price European carriers that are worth a look if you need a connecting flight.
To call Belgium, the country dialling code is +32.