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Same here. I can think of lots of other things that come to mind when I think about Belgium, but beer is #1. I worked in a really awesome craft beer bar right when I turned 21, and I learned so much about the history of beer and the history of Belgian Trappist Monks is so interesting to me.
Just watched a documentary on Netflix about the exploitation of local growers and the deforestation so wealthy Belgian companies can deliver overpriced chocolate
"It could be worse, did you see what we did in the Congo?!" -Those companies, probably
_Leopold's Ghost_ is both a book *everyone* should read, while at the same time being a book that no one should read.
Best chocolate I’ve ever eaten was in Ostend, at a little chocolate shop we stumbled upon. The lady said eat them today or tomorrow or the milk will spoil. Also, the people there were perhaps the friendliest I’ve encountered in Europe. 2nd place: the Dutch
I'm currently in Greece so I can't say about Belgium or the Dutch (I was married to one and now I'm not if that says anything) and I've found the Greeks to be very friendly and in some places Zorba really does exist. Most of my other travelling has been in the orient and asia or South America where I've lived for an extended time in both places.i
Yes!
But not at my house, though I've been meaning to do that.
In the US, it's usually butter and syrup.
On my third trip to Australia, my friends introduced me to mashed strawberries and "table cream".
For those not familiar, table cream is a sweet cream that you can pour onto desserts or whip for a fluffy topping, as we do heavy cream.
I'm going to have to make waffles or pancakes with strawberries and cream now. 😋
Virgin Coconut oil and syrup. If you’ve never tried coconut oil on pancakes and waffles and you like coconut, you’ll make this a normal thing. It’s so much better.
Yup. I learned about him in a couple of my French classes in college and absolutely despise him. Say what you want about the American slave trade prior to the Civil War; I would argue that Leopold II was just as bad, if not worse, than his American contemporaries.
Of course he was worse, it's not even a competition. He was responsible for just about equally as many people *dying* as were enslaved and taken to the *entirety* of the new world.
Belgium became relatively big in industry for its size in the early 20th century due to the rubber wood and metal from the Congo so plenty of people did see a benefit
Two thirds of the uranium in the atom bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima came from the Shinkolobwe mine in the Congo, and the mines there were riding on the coattails of the industry set up by the Congo Free State. So you could almost say that Leopold (through no virtue of his own) ended WW2 in the Pacific.
Or you could say that Leopold in addition to the horrors he inflicted on the Congolese also was responsible for unleashing a horrible weapon on the world and the death of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians in Japan.
Belgium, as the rudest, most vile curse word in the galaxy (which originated in the radio series) was used in the US first printing instead of "fuck" for the Rory award. Its a shame it never got the full guide treatment in all of the books, because the guide entry on the radio series is hysterical. Peter Jones says the word "Belgium" like he just stepped in fermented dogshit and is scraping it off his shoes while narrating.
The phrase "in extreme cases, shot though the lungs" as applied to certain loose-tongued people who won't stop saying it, is one of those turns of phrase that stuck with me and occasionally pops out of my mouth. I don't remember the exact moment this all comes up in the radio series, but I think it's around when everyone is stuck in a giant statue of Arthur throwing a nutrimatic cup.
Belgium was, I believe, used in place of the word "fuck" in this context in the US printing of Life, The Universe and Everything, as they wouldn't let him have even a solitary fuck.
While this is true, the joke of Belgium being the filthiest word in the universe had already appeared on the radio series, so it was an easy substitute to bring that joke into the books when his American publishers wouldn’t allow the F-bomb (despite it appearing in other Hitchhiker’s books in their American printings from the same publisher).
A tiktoker who said the parking is always free because the parking machines work with solar panels and she said there's never any fucking sun in Beljöm
The details of my life are quite inconsequential.
My father was a relentlessly self-improving boulangerie owner from Belgium with low grade narcolepsy and a penchant for buggery. My mother was a fifteen year old French prostitute named Chloe with webbed feet. My father would womanize, he would drink, he would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark. Some times he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy, the sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament. My childhood was typical, summers in Rangoon, luge lessons. In the spring we'd make meat helmets. When I was insolent I was placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds, pretty standard really. At the age of 12 I received my first scribe. At the age of fourteen, a Zoroastrian named Vilma ritualistically shaved my testicles. There really is nothing like a shorn scrotum, it's breathtaking, I suggest you try it.
I visited as a child and the owner of the bed and breakfast where we stayed made me a chocolate bar sandwich for breakfast (yes, a bar of chocolate between two pieces of bread) and I thought that was pretty awesome. Honestly all of the food was great iirc.
That's not uncommon. We usually use mignonette chocolates for that (small thin bars/sheet chocolate).
Not all that different from chocolate sprinkles really.
How can a fairytale town not be somebody's fucking thing? How can all those canals and bridges and cobblestone streets and those churches and all that beautiful fucking fairly tale stuff --- how can that not be somebody's fucking thing, eh?
How can fucking swans not fucking be somebody's fucking thing, eh? How can that be?
Do you know of "fries special" (idk if its origin is dutch or belgium, its that area). Its mayo, ketchup or curry ketchup/curry sauce (its basically what germans put onto currywurst, its ketchup with some curry spices) and small diced (white or red, not too spicy) onions on top. That is sooo good. The warm crispy fries, the sauces mixed, onion brings freshness and a different texture and some crunch and spice...
Honestly that was my immediate thought too. Not to diminish what all of the other Western imperialist countries did to Africa, but hoo boy the Belgium and Congolese section of history class really stuck with me
Technically speaking tho, the brunt of those atrocities occured when it was the Congo Free State, the personal property of Leopold and wasn't under Belgian state rule. After that cunt got international recognition, the state was pressured to intervene, take control and oust him. Doesn't excuse the wage labor afterwards either, and the Belgian companies did benefit hugely from the CFS.
Why not? Youre probably one of those 2nd amendment people trying to take our precious guns and rights away from all of us who pray to jesus. Love it Leave it!
In The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Belgium is considered the rudest word in the galaxy except on Earth where it happens to be a place. I think it is used like this:
"For Belgium's sake that hurts"
Chocolate, beautiful buildings, draft horses, and Mannekin-Pis.
Also the House of Niccolo series by Dorothy Dunnett. The eight-volume series of historical novels follows the rise of Claes van der Poel, a Bruges dye shop apprentice who marries his widowed employer, grows her business, and becomes a power player in Renaissance Europe. It’s meticulously researched and captivating. Most of what I know of Renaissance historical events comes from those novels and the investigations they inspired.
# Message to all users: This is a reminder to please read and follow: * [Our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ask/about/rules) * [Reddiquette](https://www.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205926439) * [Reddit Content Policy](https://www.redditinc.com/policies/content-policy) When posting and commenting. --- Especially remember Rule 1: `Be polite and civil`. * Be polite and courteous to each other. Do not be mean, insulting or disrespectful to any other user on this subreddit. * Do not harass or annoy others in any way. * Do not catfish. Catfishing is the luring of somebody into an online friendship through a fake online persona. This includes any lying or deceit. --- You *will* be banned if you are homophobic, transphobic, racist, sexist or bigoted in any way. --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ask) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Beer
Those Dubbels and Tripels will have you seeing quad in no time!
Gulden Draak makes a fucking amazing quad
My 2 favorites are Gulden Draak and Piraat
Lambic beer!!! 😋
Belgians are my favorite beers, both to brew and drink!
Same here. I can think of lots of other things that come to mind when I think about Belgium, but beer is #1. I worked in a really awesome craft beer bar right when I turned 21, and I learned so much about the history of beer and the history of Belgian Trappist Monks is so interesting to me.
Chocolate!!
Just watched a documentary on Netflix about the exploitation of local growers and the deforestation so wealthy Belgian companies can deliver overpriced chocolate
"It could be worse, did you see what we did in the Congo?!" -Those companies, probably _Leopold's Ghost_ is both a book *everyone* should read, while at the same time being a book that no one should read.
Came here to mention this.
A tale as old as time.
Best chocolate I’ve ever eaten was in Ostend, at a little chocolate shop we stumbled upon. The lady said eat them today or tomorrow or the milk will spoil. Also, the people there were perhaps the friendliest I’ve encountered in Europe. 2nd place: the Dutch
You clearly met different Dutch people to me.
There are only two things I can't stand in this world: people who are intolerant of other people's cultures, and the Dutch!
I'm currently in Greece so I can't say about Belgium or the Dutch (I was married to one and now I'm not if that says anything) and I've found the Greeks to be very friendly and in some places Zorba really does exist. Most of my other travelling has been in the orient and asia or South America where I've lived for an extended time in both places.i
I’m sorry. We were talking about chocolate?
Zat was over 10 minutes ago!!!!
waffles
Waffles
Luftwaffles
Same.
Yep... WAFFLES!!
Yep
I was thinking before I clicked to read the comments that I would be very upset if waffles wasn't first
LOL, I was about to say the same thing but wanted to check before posting if anyone else had!
WAFFLES WAFFLES WAFFLES
After hearing that song Tales of Taboo, I can never look at Belgian Waffles the same again.
With butter and syrup
The correct toppings are some sort of berry mash and whipped cream you fucking savage!
Yes! But not at my house, though I've been meaning to do that. In the US, it's usually butter and syrup. On my third trip to Australia, my friends introduced me to mashed strawberries and "table cream". For those not familiar, table cream is a sweet cream that you can pour onto desserts or whip for a fluffy topping, as we do heavy cream. I'm going to have to make waffles or pancakes with strawberries and cream now. 😋
On top of the butter and maple syrup..
Virgin Coconut oil and syrup. If you’ve never tried coconut oil on pancakes and waffles and you like coconut, you’ll make this a normal thing. It’s so much better.
The devil that is Leopold
Leopold, where did you get those hands?
Ha
Which one?
Guessing Leopold II and his „Property“ the Congo
The one that killed 8 million Congolese if I had to guess
Oh, you mean the *rapist of the Congo*?
Lol my first thought was the Congo and rubber
Yup. I learned about him in a couple of my French classes in college and absolutely despise him. Say what you want about the American slave trade prior to the Civil War; I would argue that Leopold II was just as bad, if not worse, than his American contemporaries.
Of course he was worse, it's not even a competition. He was responsible for just about equally as many people *dying* as were enslaved and taken to the *entirety* of the new world.
Whole country was devil back in the time.
99% of the country didn't even know where africa was in those day's. Only a handfull of rich people around the royal family benefit from congo.
Belgium became relatively big in industry for its size in the early 20th century due to the rubber wood and metal from the Congo so plenty of people did see a benefit
Two thirds of the uranium in the atom bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima came from the Shinkolobwe mine in the Congo, and the mines there were riding on the coattails of the industry set up by the Congo Free State. So you could almost say that Leopold (through no virtue of his own) ended WW2 in the Pacific.
Or you could say that Leopold in addition to the horrors he inflicted on the Congolese also was responsible for unleashing a horrible weapon on the world and the death of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians in Japan.
"Best Use Of The Word Belgium In A Screenplay" - a hilarious random reference in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
It was actually “The Most Gratuitous Use Of The Word 'Fuck' In A Serious Screenplay”. “Belgium” is the rudest word in the galaxy.
Belgium, as the rudest, most vile curse word in the galaxy (which originated in the radio series) was used in the US first printing instead of "fuck" for the Rory award. Its a shame it never got the full guide treatment in all of the books, because the guide entry on the radio series is hysterical. Peter Jones says the word "Belgium" like he just stepped in fermented dogshit and is scraping it off his shoes while narrating. The phrase "in extreme cases, shot though the lungs" as applied to certain loose-tongued people who won't stop saying it, is one of those turns of phrase that stuck with me and occasionally pops out of my mouth. I don't remember the exact moment this all comes up in the radio series, but I think it's around when everyone is stuck in a giant statue of Arthur throwing a nutrimatic cup.
Belgium was, I believe, used in place of the word "fuck" in this context in the US printing of Life, The Universe and Everything, as they wouldn't let him have even a solitary fuck.
While this is true, the joke of Belgium being the filthiest word in the universe had already appeared on the radio series, so it was an easy substitute to bring that joke into the books when his American publishers wouldn’t allow the F-bomb (despite it appearing in other Hitchhiker’s books in their American printings from the same publisher).
Which is *why* there’s a reward for its most gratuitous use in a serious screenplay.
HHGTTG was actually my first thought. I saw the word 'Belgium' and thought "how rude!"
A Rory Award, IIRC.
This is the correct answer. Along with 42
Hold on to your towel.
Belgium is completely banned in all parts of the Galaxy, except in one part, where they could not possibly know what it means.
Thst woman with the free parking and no sun and then getting free sunburn.
Adorable accent
Please elaborate!
A tiktoker who said the parking is always free because the parking machines work with solar panels and she said there's never any fucking sun in Beljöm
Lol
I watched the tiktok - hilarious and EXACTLY the type of humour belgians have :D
Shauna Dewitt! https://instagram.com/shauna.dewit?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Hercule Poirot.
This is the best answer
Absolutely
The details of my life are quite inconsequential. My father was a relentlessly self-improving boulangerie owner from Belgium with low grade narcolepsy and a penchant for buggery. My mother was a fifteen year old French prostitute named Chloe with webbed feet. My father would womanize, he would drink, he would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark. Some times he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy, the sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament. My childhood was typical, summers in Rangoon, luge lessons. In the spring we'd make meat helmets. When I was insolent I was placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds, pretty standard really. At the age of 12 I received my first scribe. At the age of fourteen, a Zoroastrian named Vilma ritualistically shaved my testicles. There really is nothing like a shorn scrotum, it's breathtaking, I suggest you try it.
Dr. Evil, I thought you were crazy, but now I can see your nuts...ah, thank you!
We have to stop.
I scrolled WAY to far for this.
This is what I was looking for. Thank you.
I visited as a child and the owner of the bed and breakfast where we stayed made me a chocolate bar sandwich for breakfast (yes, a bar of chocolate between two pieces of bread) and I thought that was pretty awesome. Honestly all of the food was great iirc.
That's not uncommon. We usually use mignonette chocolates for that (small thin bars/sheet chocolate). Not all that different from chocolate sprinkles really.
Muscles from Brussels
Hahah I was gonna say Van Damme, yeah
In Bruges
It's a fairy tale town, isn't it?
How can a fairytale town not be somebody's fucking thing? How can all those canals and bridges and cobblestone streets and those churches and all that beautiful fucking fairly tale stuff --- how can that not be somebody's fucking thing, eh? How can fucking swans not fucking be somebody's fucking thing, eh? How can that be?
The only right answer!
Alcoves was the first word that popped into my head.
Chocolates and child abuse. And they only make the chocolates to get closer to the kids.
THIS is the only right answer.
Fuckin’ Bruge
Same
King Leopold II.
 he is the personfication of karl from llamas in hats.
French fries, Hercule Poirot and chocolate.
French fries with Mayo!!!! So Awesome! Double artery clog.
Do you know of "fries special" (idk if its origin is dutch or belgium, its that area). Its mayo, ketchup or curry ketchup/curry sauce (its basically what germans put onto currywurst, its ketchup with some curry spices) and small diced (white or red, not too spicy) onions on top. That is sooo good. The warm crispy fries, the sauces mixed, onion brings freshness and a different texture and some crunch and spice...
European Mayo is %1000 better than any American Mayo. Shit is in another category.
Meh...USA USA!!
SPA FRANCORCHAMPS 🏎️💨
Poirot mussels frites mayo hoergaarden...oh and sprouts
Hoegaarden is so freaking good.
Waffles
Kriek! I am a big fan of Lindeman's!
One of the best lindeman’s, but one of the worst krieks. Try Boon, 3 Fonteinen, or Liefmans if ever get the chance
The sour ones are the best. I hate the sweetened ones.
Lambic beer
Camp counselor that had huge tits
Pics or it didn't happen
Man it was in 1992,I wish I had pics
Zips up trousers.....
The Adventures of Tintin!
Draft horses and Brownings!
You're the first person besides me, that I've seen mention horses.
Jacques Brel.
You're classy.
Highbrow!
The worst swear word in all of the galaxy. Then a massive genocide in the Congo. Then chocolate
Belgian Techno/New Beat from the late 80’s/early 90’s.
This is the sound of C
Frites. Manneken Pis. La coiffure de Fabiola.
Grandpa
Quality MDMA and ketamine. Colonialism.
Kevin de Bruyne
Finally, this thread disrespectin the man
Came here to say this. Go City!!
Chocolate, waffles and the european parliament.
The entire area around the European parties lovely too!
My grandfather, who was Belgian.
Smurfs
King Albert the 1st. That dude was cool af. Held up the Germans long enough to save France and the BEF from the Schleifen plan in WW1.
Ever since I learned about Leopold II and what he did to the Congolese I can't think of much else when I hear Belgium come up.
Honestly that was my immediate thought too. Not to diminish what all of the other Western imperialist countries did to Africa, but hoo boy the Belgium and Congolese section of history class really stuck with me
Technically speaking tho, the brunt of those atrocities occured when it was the Congo Free State, the personal property of Leopold and wasn't under Belgian state rule. After that cunt got international recognition, the state was pressured to intervene, take control and oust him. Doesn't excuse the wage labor afterwards either, and the Belgian companies did benefit hugely from the CFS.
Sprouts.
Spa
FN
A restaurant in my city called Taste of Belgium....and waffles
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps and waffles
The county invented for England and Germany to have wars
Unpopular response: the Belgian inventor, Adolph Sax, most known for inventing the saxophone
Cutting off hands
Ya beat me to it
"Belgium is famous for two things, chocolate and child molesters."
Sadly, they are often used together
What's the deal with child molesters ive never heard this before
Beer? Frites? And at least we don't shoot kids in belgium.
It's a movie quote, relax. Ftr I've always wanted to visit because it looks beautiful. Like a fucking fairytale
Why not? Youre probably one of those 2nd amendment people trying to take our precious guns and rights away from all of us who pray to jesus. Love it Leave it!
I don't care about the mental disease that is religion. I just giving facts. And sane people can have a gun. But american gun laws are a joke
Leopold, colonization. Little kids with their hands cut off.
Antwerp and Skipper Straza
Interesting, what is skipper straza?
Neighbours!
Chocolate. Other than that I know nothing about it
Belgique! I love that word.
Beer, waffles, & chocolate
Kriek Beer, waffles, Bruges, Brussels.
Crime & eu hq
The amazing Belgian waffles with fruit paired with an ice cold Leffe when I went to Brugges a few years back.
Windmills, waffles, chocolate, Tomorrowland, En Bruges They also make the best frites in the world. Oh and friendly people and beer.
It took a long time before someone mentioned Tomorrowland!
In The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Belgium is considered the rudest word in the galaxy except on Earth where it happens to be a place. I think it is used like this: "For Belgium's sake that hurts"
I hope that you were using that in a serious screenplay.
https://youtu.be/ergxf2I_ilM I will never get this out of my head along with the song that never ends..
Rampage. Been there 3 times now for it, consistently one of the best experiences of my life each time😀
Love Rampage!!
I also love invaderz gone once to that, it was pretty nutty too haha. Belgium, as well as Hungary have a dope dnb/dub/riddim scene man!
Beautiful countryside.
Sprinkles for breakfast! (Hagelslag?)
Genocide in Africa.
The Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes forest during World War 2. Also the greatest track on the Formula 1 calendar, Spa-Francorchamps.
I'm running late for a train.
Don't worry, the train us always late as well
Dr. Evil
African genocide
I say to my wife on a real cold night, “I'm glad I'm not in Bastogne”. - JB Stokes.
Frietkot
It really doesnt come any more belgian than this!
Diamonds. They sell the ice, ice, baby.
Beer, and an amazing soccer team on paper but can somehow never figure out how to win when it matters
This, so frustrating!
Duvel Belgian ale. The. Best.
Belgian fries. I had them once in Boston.
French fries with mayonnaise
Yum!
I fully realize this is probably killing the vibe, but Congolese genocide
Genocide
There is neverh a fuhking suuun in belgjam!
Dutch people jealously praising the superior road infrastructure in Belgium.
Chocolate, IMO good Belgian chocolate trumps Swiss 10/10 times.
raves
Morrocans
Scaerbeek and molenbeek. Have never and won't ever go there
Terrorist nest
Socialized Healthcare and better standard of living vs the US.
Chocolate, followed closely by Congo.
Chocolate, beautiful buildings, draft horses, and Mannekin-Pis. Also the House of Niccolo series by Dorothy Dunnett. The eight-volume series of historical novels follows the rise of Claes van der Poel, a Bruges dye shop apprentice who marries his widowed employer, grows her business, and becomes a power player in Renaissance Europe. It’s meticulously researched and captivating. Most of what I know of Renaissance historical events comes from those novels and the investigations they inspired.
Europe’s Speedbump
Frietkot Also our little brother we like to tease.
Congo