Although Belgium has been around for many centuries, the country only gained independence in 1830 due to a riot in the streets held by Belgians after witnessing a revolt in an opera. Both the Dutch and French influences in Belgium make it a truly unique country. The Dutch mostly reside in the northern part of the country in the region of Flanders and the French reside in the southern part, called Wallonia.

The only bilingual area of the country is the capital, Brussels. Both the Flemish and Walloon cultures possess traditions and ideas that often differ greatly from their ancestors, the Dutch and French. Belgium is a wonderful country to visit if you would like to travel, as it's situated right in the middle of Western Europe and is easily accessible to all of the major tourist destinations.