Belgium is a small country located in Western Europe, bordered by the North Sea to the West, France to the South, the Netherlands to the North, and Luxembourg and Germany to the East. Belgium is a parliamentary democracy, however it operates under a constitutional monarch. The reigning King is King Philippe, who ascended to the throne in 2013. Belgium’s population is approximately 10.4 million people, and it spans 11,672 square miles.
For a small European country – Belgium is a fantastic bike touring location. The Belgians sure know how to cycle! The country is a haven for cyclists of all types, they offer mountain bike trails, such as the ones in Hamme, they also have dedicated cycling paths for touring and road cyclists (these are closed to traffic). Belgium is also the host nation for the Tour of Flanders – a bike race held annually in the city of Flanders.