The people of Belgium are the real highlight

I've been to a lot of countries and the thing I'll remember most about Belgium isn't Grand Place Brussels or even the extraordinary Belgian chocolate — it's the people. In Ghent and out in the countryside, I encountered a warmth and generosity that felt completely genuine.

One local family essentially adopted me for an afternoon after I got lost trying to find Grand Place Brussels. underrated foodie destination became a shared experience I couldn't have planned. That human connection is something travel can give you and Belgium delivers it more than most places.