Amazing Belgium

The farm of Caillou was Napoleon's last headquarters. It is located in Vieux-Genappe, about 5 kilometers from Waterloo. It is the only Napoleonic museum in Belgium. The museum comprises four rooms with paintings, engravings, and weapons from the 19th century. You can also see the emperor's camp bed, the skeleton of a French hussar, and Napoleon's death mask. Picture courtesy of the museum It is here that Napoleon prepared his plans for his attack in Waterloo on the night of 17 June 1815. The farm was set on fire by the Prussian army after the battle at the time but was then renovated by the owner. In the ossuary in the garden are the bones that were collected from the battlefield. Inside the museum, you can use a video guide system that gives you a realistic picture of the soldiers, the impressions, and the atrocities of the Battle of Waterloo. More information about the farm and its museum here . You can find the farm at this address: Chaussée de Bruxelles 66, Vieux-Genap

The organ originally comes from Cambron Abbey. In 1693 Matthieu Le Roy built the organ for the abbey church. The organ was enlarged in 1767 by Armand-Joseph Lion, who probably gave the case the monumental aspect. This sideboard was also modernized around 1780. In 1783, Emperor Joseph II closed the abbey and the organ was sold to the church of Saint-Jacques-Sur-Coudenberg in Brussels. In December 1789, during the Brabant Revolution, the Sovereign Council of Hainaut restored the abbey, and the organ, which was barely rebuilt in Brussels, it was dismantled again. The French occupation finally put an end to the existence of the monastery in 1791. The organ, still not reassembled at the time, was hidden in several places. Picture by Pixabay After the concordat of 1803, the collegiate church became a parish church. The congregation bought back the Cambron organ and had the instrument rebuilt by Eugène Ermel. The re-commissioning of the organ takes place on March 28, 1811. In 1948 the organ

The sculpture group "The monument of the Tower Builder by Pieter Appelmans" represents a building lodge where master-builder Pieter Appelmans gives instructions to the stonemasons during the construction of the Antwerp cathedral. Picture by Harry Fabel The sculpture was created in 1906 by Jef Lambeaux. It is standing on the south side of the cathedral since 1935. The sculpture group represents the respect and zeal of the people who have worked on the cathedral for more than 100 years,  often in the most dangerous and difficult circumstances at that time.

What is Paschka you might ask? Paschka is a combination of fresh cheese with fruit or Belgian chocolate.  The inventor of the Paschka spread, Vic Van den Putte made his unique product in his cheese shop in Antwerp, 50 years ago. Today the Paschka factory is located in the town of Olen. It is produced nowhere else in the world. Picture courtesy of Paschka It is very delicious to spread Paschka on your bread or sandwich, but you can do a lot more with this delicacy. Paschka on your pancake, a delicious milkshake with Paschka or use your favorite Paschka in a dessert! The Paschka spread is available in eight different flavors, so there is certainly something for everyone. Those who like a fruity taste can choose between Paschka Banana, Candied fruit, Pineapple, or Strawberry. For sweet and chocoholics, Paschka Chocolate, Straciatella, Praliné, and Speculoos are also available.

American astronaut Shannon Walker, who is working on the International Space Station, has ordered cheese from a Belgian farm to take with her into space. The farm is located in the West Flemish town of Rumbeke. She was introduced to the cheese in a Houston store during her training as an astronaut. Farm 't Groendal in Rumbeke is very proud of the unique order. It is really nice to hear that our cheese will be eaten in space. Shannon Walker - Picture courtesy of ESA At first, the makers doubted whether this was real, but the astronauts in the ISS are apparently allowed to draw up a wish list. And one of these cheeses was on it. NASA then contacted that store in Houston where the astronaut is a customer. She turns out to be fond of the cheeses OG Kristal and Old Farmdale from the Belgian farm, they are variants of the Brokkeloud Roeselare and the Oud Roeselare that are specially made for the American market. Cheese from 't Groendal Rumbeke The store sent a block of one kilo, wit

Belgium has an abundance of cafes, one in 300 Belgians, to be precise. And Belgium is one of the few countries where there are no mandatory 'last calls' or closing hours, every café owner decides for himself when to close the doors, so they can continue until the early hours, even on normal weekdays. Picture by Pixabay In addition, depending on the source, there are between 800 and 1,200 local beers. Beers in sometimes exclusive compositions such as cherry beers, white beers, and beer with ancient recipes from monks in breathtaking monasteries and abbeys. Another remarkable fact is that every year Belgians drink about 150 liters of that beer per person. Cheers! or like the Belgians say it Schol!