Belgium - The Mosan citadels

"Throughout the 151 km of its route in Wallonia, the Meuse defines a valley remarkable for its vertical scale and the presence of numerous rocky outcrops. From Givet to Namur, it crosses the Famenne and the Condruz plateau perpendicular to its west - west fold and prints a trench more than 100 m deep. Downstream from Namur, it marks the transition between the plateaux condruzien and hesbignon and digs its bed a little less than 100 m of the reliefs that border it. This difference in level, although diminishing, is maintained downstream from Liège. Such relief is a significant natural barrier and provides strategic points to support a defense system. During the history of many oppidum, dungeons, castles, forts and citadels were erected on the Moslem peaks. Many have disappeared and remain only in toponymy or as archaeological sites. Some, reduced to ruins, fuel the imagination and give a romantic image of the river. However, three citadels reached us and kept their military function until the second half of the twentieth century. In Dinant, the "barred spur" type site has been occupied since the 11th century when, on the initiative of the Prince Bishop of Liège, a castle and a chapel are built."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List


Wow... Citadel Walls of Dinant. Thanks to Marcel of Germany who visited Dinant in Belgium. Received in November 2019.
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Belgium - The battlefield of Waterloo, the end of the Napoleonic

"The Napoleonic unfolding 1796-18 15 marked the history of Europe and beyond. Waterloo A page of history is turned, France has lost its military role leading. It will still be important, but his voice is no longer predominant. This defeat also sound the end of the Empire that had marked its footprint in Europe in many areas. In many countries, the Napoleonic Code was a legal basis regulating the life of the citizen and the country. Waterloo also mark the beginning of a long period of peace in Europe, a period that lasted about a century, except for the episode of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870." Source: UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

Postcard 1
The Tombs, Waterloo, Belgium which is the site of one of the most famous battles in European history. Nice matching stamp of Waterllo used. Thanks to Michael of Luxembourg.

Postcard 2

The Lion's Mound of Waterloo was erected on the famous battlefield located south of Waterloo in the province of Wallonia, Belgium. I bought this older postcard in Penang in 2012.

Postcard 3 

Waterloo, Belgium. Postcard arrived damaged. Thanks to Ferro, Belgium.

Belgium - The Brussels Palace of Justice

"This masterly work was designed in eclectic style by architect J. Poelaert in 1862. The building was to replace a first Palace of Justice, established in the buildings of the former convent of dilapidated and too small Jesuits. In 1860, the City of Brussels organized to make it an international competition. The engineer F. Wellens, Chairman of the Royal Commission and a close collaborator of J. Poelaert during the work, described in detail all of history (The Palace of Justice in Brussels, with descriptive instructions atlas, 1881). The new palace was to integrate all legal services with headquarters in Brussels. The program, complex, originally included 27 courtrooms, surrounded by various local service. The palace is a public building, all internal traffic should be organized according to this aspect. The palace also housed other functions, such as a library, restaurant and a post office."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

Palace of Justice - from a postcard set of Brussels, Belgium that I bought mint in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia in August, 2015.

Belgium - The historic medieval nucleus or the 'Cuve' of Ghent, and the two abbeys which are at its origin

"The so-called "Cuv" irregular shape is due to its unique topography. Lys through the "tank" of the South to the North, serves as its northern natural border to Eest, where it flows into the Scheldt bordering turn the "tank" in the Southeast. Derivatives ditches provide protection to the south., Southwest and Northwest, the whole being accompanied by at least four doors. The complex origins and evolution of this medieval core still appear today in its urban layout and architectural heritage quite varied and well preserved."
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

Medieval Ghent. Thanks to Raquel of Belgium.

Belgium - Galeries Saint-Hubert

"Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert are the first truly monumental malls built in the nineteenth century. Built in 1847 near the Grand Place in Brussels, they reflect the prosperity and ambition of the new Belgian state during the reign of King Leopold. Their program is revolutionizing the architectural style of the passage as it had developed since the beginning of the century along the lines of Paris, and he breathes new dimension. The architect Jean-Pierre Cluysenaar (1811-1880), one of the most important representatives of the neoclassical style in Belgium, inspired both by the Italian Renaissance and the modern technology of iron and glass to create a covered street -like "crystal palace" that is perfectly suited to the urban landscape..." Source: UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

Galeries Saint-Hubert night view. Nice stamp of Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games. Thanks to Luk of Belgium.

Belgium - Historic core of Antwerp -Anvers- from the Scheldt to the old ramparts from around 1250

"The historic core of Antwerp, next to the Schelde east side, has an irregular oval shape of a half in which evolution is readable in the layout of ancient streets and urban spaces. Excavations in 1950 revealed a small Gallo-Roman occupation at or near the Steen Castle (stone), built in the thirteenth century on the banks of the Scheldt, at the location of a first small fortress which served as the ninth century control station on the River. The growing political and military power from then stimulates the establishment of a small fan-shaped town with a church and surrounded by moats and first in the thirteenth century a stone wall which there are some parts behind the Meat Hall. This first "village", which enjoys the protection of local lords, sees the development from the eleventh century to its periphery and on higher ground, a commercial extension that will determine the future of the city. The integration of the Duchy of Brabant, Antwerp, leading an expansionary economic policy, promote the expansion and empowerment of the city that will rise to the rank of city with 1220 as a forum or Grand, grouping public buildings such as civil Cloth Hall, a first Hall Meats, House and Aldermen. The Romanesque church of Notre Dame and Hospital are located nearby..." Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
Grote Markt - Grand Place of Antwerp. Thanks to Myriam of Belgium.





Postcard 2
Multi-view of Antwerpen - showing Steen Castle on top right and historic Antwerp. Thanks to Audy of Switzerland.

Belgium - Leuven / Louvain, university buildings, the inheritance of six centuries within the historical centre

University Library of KU Leuven - the oldest university in Belgium. Thanks to Fleur from Leuven.