...this article is a pretty darn good summary ...some reflections: the tax circumstances are not exaggerated what with 21% TVA (VAT = sales tax) on most retail goods & services & the rest as stated. The result is horrible unemployment, forced "pre-retirement" at a young age leaving the most experienced workers idle & resulting in a gigantic underground economy peopled by idle workforce with great skills. + ...the language divisions: disastrous, most refuse to converse in the opposite language (and now are not any longer required to even learn the opposite tongue in school where they can opt for English or something else), some towns make it illegal to speak the other language at all (Menen is one) !! The degree of disrespect between the 2 principal language groups (French & Flemmish) is paralytic occupying the bulk of administrative attention to the detriment of anything and pretty much everything else. This cute little place can be very pleasant; the detriments can make living there a hard nut to crack. Ms. Hendricks takes umbrage at suggestions the language issue is looming over everything there; I differ with that. It's a real shame. oh yes, inasmuch as I do not speak Flemmish, I will reserve any comment. I speak quite fluent French and find most in the Walloon section speaking it while older persons interject some Wallon as a bit of ethnic pride. Most don't converse in Wallon as a general rule. Younger folks have lost interest, to a great degree. Some Wallon speaking taverns existed in the past; I don't know if they still function. The friction between the language groups gives some resistance to the preservation of history & culture. Most interest is seen surrounding the 2 world wars. noplace is perfect ...every region has its detriments ...one thing that will shock people is the price of fuel which costs for a litre (about 3.8 per gallon) for regular gas that will purchase that gallon in other places (i.e. USA) and much more elsewhere (i.e. UAR). That promotes tiny cars in belgium with tiny engines & widespread use of diesel (which costs more in the USA than gasoline). Large car engines (over 2.0L) trigger a horrible increase in road tax. globally, I love belgium... anyone who knows me personally knows why.