Dinant and the River Meuse in Namur, Belgium

© Kadagan/Shutterstoc

Belgium's big day. Reflecting on Belgian independence

On 21 July, Belgium celebrates its independence from the Netherlands and the anniversary of the establishment of the Kingdom of Belgium in 1831. We’re marking the day here on the banks of the River Meuse, across from the Collegiate Church of Notre Dame de Dinant, in the Belgian town of Dinant in Namur province.

For such a small city (population about 14,000), Dinant has a rich history. It's the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, and has a museum dedicated to his life and instruments. The Charles de Gaulle Bridge, which crosses the Meuse, is lined with 28 saxophone sculptures, each one representing a different country in the European Union (it was installed in 2010). Namur province is also the birthplace of Leffe beer, which was brewed by monks in the abbey of Leffe from 1240. Sounds like a great excuse to crack open a Leffe, tuck into some moules-frites and celebrate the day by listening to your favourite saxophone player.