Animals and Plants
Forest walks
In Belgium you can go for a walk in the forest, because more than a third of the country is made up of forest. You will find most of the forest in the Belgian province of Luxembourg, which should not be confused with the neighboring country of Luxembourg. However, this borders directly on the province. Spruce trees primarily grow in these forests.
Beech, maple and oak grow in the central regions of Belgium, where it is already a bit hilly. There is extensive heathland, for example in the High Fens region, which is in the east of Belgium. The beautifully blooming heather grows here. More than 700 wildflowers have been counted around the capital Brussels alone. Extinct plants such as henbane have also been spotted.
Belgium’s wildlife
The animal world in Belgium does not differ significantly from the animal world that can also be found in German forests. Really large wild animals can hardly be discovered in Belgium, but squirrels, martens, badgers and foxes like to romp around here. With a lot of luck you can also find deer and deer and wild boar or at least their tracks in the forest.
Birds and salamanders on the move in Belgium
Rare bird species such as black grouse and peregrine falcon have also been spotted in Belgium. Belgium is a transit country, so migratory birds such as cormorants or gray herons like to stop by on their flight to the south and take a little break.
Despite the high and dense population of the country, attempts are made to protect certain animal species. There are also fire salamanders, tree frogs and sand lizards. One of the few venomous European snakes, the adder, also lives in Belgium. However, the likelihood of encountering one is very low.
Economy
Heavy industry in Belgium
Heavy industry has a long tradition in Belgium, a country located in Europe detailed by cheeroutdoor. Mining flourished especially in Wallonia, which is why the region was economically superior to that of the Flemings for a long time. But after heavy industry lost its economic importance, the Flemings were able to catch up. The mining of coal in particular has decreased significantly. Modern companies that specialize in chemical products or computers, for example, have settled in the north.
Heavy industry
Heavy industry is a collective term that encompasses mining, the iron and steel industry and also chemistry. Opencast mining is also included. In contrast to mining, the products here are mined “above ground”, ie not down in the mountain. Heavy industry began to rise at the time of the Industrial Revolution.
Precious diamonds
The diamond trade is also important for Belgium. In Antwerp, for example, the precious stones are first cut in specialized grinding shops. Most of the world’s industrial diamonds are traded in Antwerp. So if you ever want to buy a diamond, you should definitely go to Antwerp.
What do you do with the hop plant?
Although industry is very important to Belgium, agriculture still plays a certain role. Forest and meadows make up a large part of the agricultural area. But vegetables are also grown in Belgium: Belgium is best known for chicory, which is a rather bitter vegetable that children don’t like that much.
But cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, lettuce and paprika are also among the agricultural products of Belgium. Strawberries, apples and pears also grow in Belgium. And Belgium is also known for making a special dark beer. And since you need hops for beer, hops also grow in Belgium. The main growing area for hops is in West Flanders.
