Neolithic Flint Mines at Spiennes | Belgium

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The Neolithic flint mines at Spiennes, Belgium, covering more than 100 ha, are the largest and earliest concentration of ancient mines in Europe. Mining in Spiennes started some
6,000 years ago.

Flint was used in the manufacture of tools during the Stone Age as it splits into thin, sharp splinters called flakes.

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In 2016, Belgium issued a set of 5 stamps to celebrate "Supermoon". A supermoon is the coincidence of a full moon being at te closest distance to earth.

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Boat lift on the Canal du Centre | Belgium

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The Canal du Centre is a canal in Belgium, which, with other canals, links the waterways of the Meuse and Scheldt rivers. Some section of this canal climbs 66m over a distance of 6790m. Therefore this section contains four hydraulic boat lifts.

Of the eight hydraulic boat-lifts built at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, the only ones in the world which still exist in their original working condition are these four lifts on the Canal du Centre. The four lifts are a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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The Grand Place, Brussels | Belgium

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The Grand Place is the central square of Brussels, Belgium. Every two years in August, an enormous "flower carpet" is set up in the Grand Place for a few days. A million colourful flowers are set up in patterns, and the display covers an area of 1,800 square metres.

The square is surrounded by a remarkably homogeneous body of public and private buildings, dating mainly from the late 17th century. La Grand-Place is a UNESCO World Heritage site.  

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The city of Dinant | Belgium

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The Citadel of Dinant is a fortress located on top of the mountain you see in the background. The citadel overlooks the city of Dinant and the Meuse river which runs through the town.

The Collegiate Church of Our Lady is a 13th-century Gothic cathedral.

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Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaarde | Belgium

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Béguinages are architectural ensembles composed of houses, churches, ancillary buildings and green spaces. 

In these closed communities, founded in the 13th century, the béguines (women who lived a religious life, but without any formal vows) could live and worship in a quiet environment.

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Le Bois du Cazier, Marcinelle | Belgium

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The Bois du Cazier was a coal mine in Marcinelle, Belgium. It was the scene of a mining disaster in 1956, when 263 men lost their lives. 

Bois du Cazier is one of the four mines that form the UNESCO world Heritage site of “Major Mining Sites of Wallonia”. 

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Cathedral of Our Lady, Antwerp

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The Cathedral of Our Lady is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Antwerp, Belgium. The cathedral is on the list of World Heritage Sites. It is one of the ‘Belfries of Belgium and France’.

The Belfries of Belgium and France are 56 bell-towers, built between the 11th and 20th centuries. They are mostly found in town centers, and connected to the local town hall or church. At their time, the Belfries represented the growing importance of cities. 

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The Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (IRM) celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2013. For this occasion Belgian post issued four thermo sensitive stamps depicting the four seasons of the year.

The foliage of the trees on the stamps is green if you puts a finger on the stamp and heat it up, the green layer disappears showing the tree in one of the four seasons. This stamp depicts summer. 

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The capital of Belgium

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Brussels is the capital of Belgium and could be considered as the capital of the European Union. Brussels hosts the official seats of the European Commission, Council of the European Union, and European Council, as well as a seat of the European Parliament.  

 

At a height of 90 meters the National Basilica of the Sacred Heart is one of the landmarks of the city of Brussels. Building started officially in 1905 but only in 1970 it was fully completed. The Basilica ranks fifth among the world’s largest churches.

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A swallowtail butterfly.

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Historical city centre of Bruges | Brugge, Belgium

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Bruges, often called "Venice of the North", is one of Belgiums most popular tourism destination . Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders. The historic city centre is a prominent World Heritage Site of UNESCO.

Bruges was one of the world’s leading cities during the 13th and 14th centuries.  At the time,  it was a center for international commerce and had a population equivalent to London’s during the same period. Unfortunately, the city’s harbor silted up in the middle of the fifteenth century and Bruges lost its ability to function as a commercial port. Soon thereafter, the city fell into decline and was eclipsed in importance by Antwerp.

 

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From a booklet of 5 self-adhesive stamps about Franco Dragone (born in 1952). He is an Italian-Belgian theatre director, known for his work with Cirque du Soleil. 

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Greetings from Koekelare

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Koekelare is a town located in the Belgian province of West Flanders.

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“ Tulipa bakeri 'Lilac Wonder' begins to poke its leaf-nose out of the ground in late December or in January, and can bloom as early as the end of March.”

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