Climate and clothing: Clothing and shoe needs in Belgium are about the same as for the Pacific Northwest. Raincoat, umbrellas and low-heeled, thick-soled walking shoes are necessary. Winters generally are less severe than in the U.S., with little snow.

Health: Belgium requires that at least one pharmacy be open in a given neighborhood at all times. The address of that pharmacy is posted on the door of all pharmacies in the neighborhood, and a list of open pharmacies also is published in newspapers. Public health standards are on a par with those in the U.S. Brussels has a modern sewerage and refuse disposal system and water purification facilities. Tapwater is potable.

Telecommunication: Telephone and telegraph services, domestic and international, are efficient. Direct-dial service between Brussels, the U.S., and most European capitals is available. An AT&T card is recommended, and the number to dial in Belgium for the U.S. is 11-0010. Rates for local telephone service are significantly higher than in most U.S. cities.

Transportation: Subways, streetcars, and buses provide good local transportation. Trains are fast and frequent. Roads are excellent. Limited access highways link most major cities in Belgium and provide rapid access to nearby centers such as Paris, Amsterdam, and the German Ruhr. Secondary roads are adequate. All automobiles driven in Belgium must be covered by unlimited third-party liability insurance against personal or property damage; this insurance must be issued by a company licensed to do business in Belgium.

Tourist attractions: Cities such as Bruges, Ghent, Liege, Antwerp, Louvain, and Brussels have their roots deep in the Middle Ages, and portions of these cities' centers still look much as they did centuries ago. Excellent museums abound, featuring works of renowned Flemish masters.

Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Public Affairs, December 1989.