Adrienne Smith, the Constant Traveler: Baffled by Belgium

By Adrienne Smith

Apr. 6, 2016: I've been thinking a lot about Brussels, both because of the strong reactions to my last write-up and because, on further examination, I learned how incredibly complicated Belgium's, and Brussels', present-day political situation is.

Belgium as a political entity dates back to post-Napoleonic times when, at the Congress of Vienna in 1815, it became a part of Holland. However, fifteen years later, it seceded, taking with it its colonial empire in Africa.

Skipping 185 years, Belgium is now a country divided by language and, to some extent, by ethnic origin. The majority of its population of 11.35 million, 59% to be exact, are Dutch-speaking Flemish people, residing primarily in northern Belgium. Most of the rest, the Walloons, speak French and are found in the south and constitute a majority in Brussels itself. Of course, many people speak both languages, some also speak English, and there is a small German-speaking population.

Unfortunately, the Flemish and the Walloons do not all get along. In fact, some Flemish politicians would like to divide the country in two.

Belgium almost had a constitutional crisis starting in the 2010 elections, when none of the seven main Flemish parties and five main French parties received a majority of the votes. It took 541 record-setting days (surpassing the former record-holder, Iraq) for negotiations to create a coalition to govern the country, a country whose motto is "Strength through Unity."

The country is a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral federal parliament consisting of a senate and a chamber of representatives. The executive is headed by the prime minister and includes a cabinet of ministers, an equal number from each of the two main linguistic communities. The central government's powers include the conduct of foreign policy, taxation, defense, and social security.

In an effort to ease tensions between the less-economically advantaged Flemish and the Walloons, the country's constitution was amended a number of times in recent years. As a result, Belgium is officially divided into three governmental regions, to wit, Flanders in the north, Wallonia in the south, and Brussels-Capital Region, an enclave within Flanders, and, if you're still with me, four linguistic regions, including the three areas just mentioned and a German-speaking area that is a small part of Wallonia on the German border. All of these regions are granted some form of autonomy.

Flanders has one assembly; Wallonia, two; and, although you may despair at this point, Brussels-Capital Region has incredibly complex layers of government. First, it has its own parliament, primarily dominated by Flemish representatives. Then there is a French-speaking parliament and a Council of the Flemish Community, which come together in the United Assembly of the Common Community Commission. Some representatives also serve in more than one entity.

At this point you may think that this is a delayed April Fools' joke. But, alas, it is not.

Brussels-Capital Region also has a minister-president, always French-speaking, four other ministers, divided 2-2 among the linguistic groups, three state secretaries, one of which must be Flemish, and a governor.

Brussels-Capital Region is divided into 19 municipalities, of which Brussels Ville (City of Brussels) is the largest, with a 2015 population of about 176,000, living within 12.6 square miles. The smallest municipality is 0.4 square miles, and the smallest population is 21,500. The terrorist brothers who wreaked mayhem at the Brussels Airport were from a municipality called Molenbeek-Saint Jean.

"Stop!" you say. But each municipality has its own mayor, council, and executive. These officials are charged with responsibility for education, law enforcement, and the like.

This all leads in to the question of why Belgium, and, more particularly, Brussels, have become a haven for the disaffected.

Until fairly recently, Belgium's immigration and naturalization laws were fairly liberal. It received a large influx of people from other parts of Europe, from its former African colonies, most particularly Morocco, and countries like Turkey.

Because Belgium doesn't keep records by race and religion, unpacking the percentage of its originally foreign population can only really be done by country. Add to this, naturalization obscures local origin. But it has been estimated that almost 70% of Brussels itself is populated by people born outside the country, a much higher figure than for Belgium as a whole.

Language barriers for immigrants, combined with high youth unemployment, make for the kind of social problems we have recently seen. The New York Times reported even before the terrorism event that the mayor of Molenbeek-Saint Jean had been given a list of more than 80 suspected Islamic terrorists to monitor by Belgian security, together with a total of $42,000 to deal with the problem. Included on the list were the two brothers who blew themselves up at the Brussels Airport. Said the mayor about the task, "What was I supposed to do about them? It is not my job to track possible terrorists."

The article described the impossibly complex chain of command that Brussels must wend its way through to deal with terrorism, including the three parliaments, the 19 local councils, the two intelligence services, military and civilian, a so-called threat assessment unit, and six local police agencies within Brussels-Capital Region, as well as a federal police service. The article went on to say that Belgium is often referred to as "the world's most prosperous failed state." Most haunting in this enumeration is that it was written on November 24, 2015, almost four months before the terrorist attacks!

Pictured here: Brussels streetscape.

Photo by Adrienne Smith

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#2 DATE_FORMAT_LC1

You must be kidding! I apologize only for taking the time to read your semi-anonymous comments. Perhaps I should have MHTB run the story again now that "sufficient" time has passed, but I'll have them check with you first, "Jason."

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This article is a vast improvement. Your last article had a very different focus and you gave us your impression of Brussels as a place to visit both aesthetically and culturally. You found it “literally and figuratively cold,” “bleak,” “unpleasant” areas, people without “elegance,” uninspired gray, institutionally designed buildings,” and a main train terminal where the people "appeared to be going nowhere, and I felt somewhat uncomfortable.”

I wrote that I found the article insensitive on the day after the terror attack. I still do. The right thing to do is to apologize. You still haven’t.

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By Susan Miele Oct. 3, 2018: Out-of-town guests coming to visit? Lost your power and need temporary lodging? Have a client coming for a long meeting? Know someone visiting...

Vacation Ideas: Tell Us About Your Favorite Vacation - Send us a note at letters@myhometownBronxville.com

The Four Seasons Washington

Enjoy a weekend in Washington, DC during Cherry Blossom Season (late March/early April). Stay at the Four Seasons Washington, an elegant hotel that is part of the Four Seasons chain. Located right in the center of Georgetown, the hotel is “great for kids” providing welcoming touches in the room (confetti, yellow duck, balloons, cookies) as well as an indoor pool. Enjoy everything that Washington has to offer.

2800 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20007
202-342-0444

Martha’s Vineyard

Escape to the Martha’s Vineyard for a week or weekend in the summer. Enjoy the beaches and all the great activities the Vineyard has to offer. If not renting a house or staying with friends, consider staying at the Hob Knob , a “casually elegant boutique hotel” in Edgartown.

128 Main Street Box 239
Edgartown, Mass 02539
508-627-9510
www.hobknob.com

Grace Mayflower Inn and Spa

Located in the idyllic town of Washington in Connecticut, Grace Mayflower Inn & Spa is an exquisite country retreat, nestled in 58 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and woodland. Just two hours’ drive from New York City, it is renowned as one of northeast America’s most distinguished luxury hideaways, offering the perfect accommodation for those looking for a boutique hotel in Connecticut and one of the finest spas in New England.

118 Woodbury Road, Route 47
Washington, Connecticut 06793
860-868-9466
https://www.gracehotels.com/mayflower/

Mohonk Mountain House

If you’re looking for a family getaway, the Mohonk Mountain House might be for you. It is a historic hotel that, depending on the time of year, offers many activities including hiking, tennis, lake swimming, ice skating, cross country skiing and horseback riding, They also offer a Kids Club and a “Kids Stay Free” program on specific days throughout the year.

1000 Mountain Rest Road
New Paltz, New York 12561
800-722-6646 (reservations)

Mont Tremblant Ski Resort

Mont Tremblant Ski Resort makes for a ski vacation with an international flair. Best of all, you can combine great skiing with site seeing in beautiful Quebec and create a family ski vacation that is a little different from most. There are many ski-in, ski-out hotels and condominiums right on the mountain.

www.Tremblant.ca.

Nantucket

The beautiful island of Nantucket is a wonderful place for a vacation or getaway. If you aren’t staying with friends or renting a house, consider staying at the Wauwinet, a premiere waterfront resort on the island. The Inn offers attractive rooms along with private beach, spa, tennis and fine dining at its Topper’s restaurant. in Nantucket. The Inn’s also has an excellent restaurant called Topper’s.

508-228-0145
www.wauwinet.com

Newport

A weekend or vacation in Newport, Rhode Island is always fun. Depending on your mood, consider staying at the Castle Hill Inn and Resort, which was built in 1874 as a summerhouse and has a variety of accommodations including rooms right on the beach or The Chanler at Cliff Walk, which was voted “one of the 15 best new luxury hotels in the world” by Food & Wine (2003). Your weekend can include a Mansion Tour, Cliff Walk, tennis on the grass courts of the Tennis Hall of Fame and, depending on the time of year, a jazz festival, folk festival or flower show.

Castle Hill Inn & Resort
590 Ocean Drive
Newport, Rhode Island 02840.

The Chanler at Cliff Walk
117 Memorial Boulevard
Newport, Rhode Island 02840
401-372-2578
www.thechanler.com
888-466-1355
www.castlehillinn.com

Skytop Lodge

The historic Skytop Lodge, located in the Pocono Mountains, is “fun for little kids.” The Lodge offers a variety of accommodations and a myriad of activities for children and adults during both the winter and summer. It also offers morning and afternoon camps for children ages 4 to 10.

Skytop Lodge
One Skytop
Skytop, Pennsylvania 18357
800-345-7759
www.skytop.com

The Hamptons

Many people who go to the Hamptons own a house or rent one, but, if you don’t plan to “summer” there, you might consider spending a weekend either in season or just before or after the season - - such as early fall when pumpkins have replaced corn at the farm stands and the summer crowd has returned home. It is a beautiful part of the world and offers pristine beaches, wine tasting, cycling, kayaking, tennis, great window shopping and fine dining. Consider staying at The Maidstone, a historic Inn which is walking distance to downtown East Hampton.

The Maidstone
207 Main Street
East Hampton, New York 11937
631-324-5006

http://www.themaidstone.com/

The Homestead

The Homestead is America’s oldest destination resort. Located in the mountains of Virginia, the resort is “steeped in the rich and timeless tradition of Southern hospitality” and offers every activity imaginable for adults and children. Take a closer look!

1766 Homestead Drive
Hot Springs, Virginia 22445
Reservations: 866-354-4653
www.thehomestead.com

Woodstock Inn & Resort

If you’re looking for something to do for a week during the Holidays, consider the Woodstock Inn & Resort. Located in the heart of lovely Woodstock, the Inn offers easy access to skiing at Suicide Six. You can also enjoy a sleigh ride or spend time in the low-key athletic facility that includes tennis courts and an indoor pool. Finally, you can walk to town for dinner and simply enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Fourteen The Green
Woodstock, Vermont 05091-1298
802-457-1000
www.woodstockinn.com

A Bar A Ranch

Plan ahead if you want to stay at the A Bar A Ranch in Wyoming. Families come back year after year and it can be difficult to get a reservation. Located in Encampment, Wyoming, the A Bar A offers simple phone-free cabins, fun riding, great fly fishing and the opportunity to relax. They also have a small pool, one tennis court and a quirky golf course if you can’t leave those clubs at home. Many of the summer staff are college-age men and women (many from the south) who are there to help you with a smile. Finally, the A Bar A offers a camp for kids age four and up.

Encampment, Wyoming 82325
307-327-5454

Beaver Creek Resort

Everyone looks for something different in a ski vacation - - some want the best possible skiing, some are there to enjoy the “après-ski”, while others want a good place for their children to learn to ski. Known as a “family friendly resort” Beaver Creek, located in Colorado, has a homey feel and offers a little bit of all of the above. There are many places to stay right on the mountain and the “interactive lodging map” under “travel plans” on Beavercreek.com provides a review of all the options.

888-830-SNOW (lodging)
www.beavercreek.com

Caneel Bay

Caneel Bay is one of those places honeymooners enjoy and families return to year after year. Located in St. John, Virgin Islands, the resort can be defined as “low key” luxury. It has very nice accommodations and offers everything from tennis to snorkeling to fine dining, but it has purposely eschewed the glitz of some of today’s upscale resorts.

PO Box 720
St John, Virgin Islands, USA 00831-0720
340-776-6111
www.caneelbay.com

The Coral Beach & Tennis Club

The Coral Beach Club in Bermuda has a feel of old world casual elegance in a beautiful, dramatic setting. While it is well known for its tennis club, it also offers swimming, squash, croquet, snorkeling, and fitness and has reciprocal rights with some of the great golf courses on the Island. Its accommodations range from rooms and suites to cottages. The Club has a membership and members can introduce guests to the Club.

Coral Beach & Tennis Club
P.O. Box PG 200
Paget PGBX, Bermuda
441-236-2233
www.coralbeachclub.com

The Gasparilla Inn & Club

The Gasparilla Inn & Club is a great place for a spring break vacation for the family. It is a “classic old Florida resort located on Gasparilla Island on the Gulf of Mexico” and offers golf, cycling, spa, fitness, croquet, boating and tennis.

P.O. Box 1088
500 Palm Avenue
Boca Grande, Florida 22921
800-996-1913

The Golden Door

"The Golden Door experience has been designed to empower our guests to reposition themselves at the center of their own lives by tending to their bodies, their minds and their spirits. Here, a hike is as much a rigorous morning exercise as it is a chance to reflect on the day ahead, and a meal is the means by which we learn to satisfy rather than simply feed our hunger."

888-392-1754

www.goldendoor.com

The Ritz Carlton in Key Biscayne

It’s hard to go wrong with a Ritz Carlson and the Ritz Carlton in Key Biscayne doesn’t disappoint. Key Biscayne is a barrier island east of Miami with beautiful beaches, nature preserves and shopping villages. The Ritz Carlton offers elegant accommodations, two outdoor swimming pools, a fitness center, a large tennis center, a kids recreation program, a variety of excellent dining options and easy access to South Beach and other nearby attractions.

455 Grand Bay Drive
Key Biscayne, Florida 33149
305-365-4500
website

The Tryall Club

Located 12 miles west of Montego Bay in Jamaica, Tryall is a special place. It is a private Club but many members rent their beautiful homes and the rental includes a staff that does the shopping, cooking and cleaning. Many families come back year after year and get to know each other. If you don’t need the space provided by a house, you can also stay in rooms at the “Great House.” The Club has an excellent tennis pro and golf pro and also offers beach swimming and dining.

876-956-5660
www.tryallclub.com

Deer Valley

If you are looking for a great ski vacation with your family, Deer Valley is for you. An easy flight from New York (Delta flies direct to Salt Lake City), Deer Valley is less than 45 minutes from the airport. There are no snowboarders allowed and they have a large number of groomed slopes that are good for children. They also limit the number of skiers during peak times to avoid overcrowding. Consider staying at the Stein Eriksen Lodge, which is nestled "mid" mountain and is considered the premier hotel in the area. You can rent your equipment there, store your skies and boots, which are dried overnight, and enjoy all the convenience of ski in/ski out accomodations. If you want to take advantage of ski school, make reservations well in advance. You can eat a casual cafeteria-style lunch at the Silver Lake Lodge. Other restaurants good for the evening include the Mariposa at Silver Lake Lodge, The Glitretind Restaurant at the Stein Eriksen, the Seafood Buffet at Snow Park Lodge or the the Fireside Dinner at Empire Canyon Lodge.

Stein Eriksen Lodge
7700 Stein Way
Park City Utah 04060
800-453-1302
www.steinlodge.com
Travel Service Companies: Bayside Travel

Bayside Travel is a full service travel agency specializing in leisure travel. It has been in business over 55 years and is located in Bronxville NY. The company's travel consultants are experts in the art of travel, and offer their firsthand travel experience to their clients. Through Bayside Travel's membership in Virtuoso, an organization of the top travel agencies, the finest travel providers, and premier destinations in the world, their clients will have the priviledge of receiving exclusive amenities not available to the general public, such as complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, one of a kind shore excursions. Bayside Travel will make a difference in the way you experience travel. Contact one of their consultants today.

69 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, NY 10708
914 833- 8880

http://www.luxurytravelservice.com/

Herzerl Tours

Let me tell you a little bit about Herzerl Tours and then you will agree that we are a very good choice for tours to Austria, Northern Italy, Germany and Switzerland !

We believe in doing tours to places that we know well - have lived there or visited there - so that we can give our clients the best for their money.

Susanne Servin, owner of Herzerl Tours is a native of Vienna, Austria; she has lived in Europe and traveled there extensively. She started her company to share her experiences with Americans by taking them to tour her birthplace and other favorite spots of hers.

Herzerl Tours Philosophy: we offer destinations that are very well known to us -where we have stayed and know the people- the owners, chefs, vintners and guides etc. personally.We only organize small, intimate tour groups (or mini groups / FIT's) to enable personal contact such as the use of traditional public transportation as much as possible, meeting and talking with locals (most of whom speak some English), listening to their music; learning to cook the local cuisine and pairing it with local wines, eating in typical restaurants - avoiding the known "touristy" venues. This will give the tour participants a chance to find out what the country of their choice is really all about.

Susanne Marie Servin
914-771-8558
sms@herzerltours.com

www.herzerltours.com

Valerie Wilson Travel, Inc.

Headquartered in New York City, with an international client base and 15 offices, Valerie Wilson Travel offers its clients first-hand knowledge and dedicated service. The company is owned by a Bronxville family and has a network of 315+ highly specialized Travel Advisors and Associate Agents who each bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the company and its clients. VWT services a global clientele for both business and personal travel. It handles the travel management needs for companies and organizations in a diverse array of industries, from fashion and finance to publishing and pharmaceuticals.

475 Park Avenue South

New York, New York 10016

212-532-3400

800-776-1116

Fax: 212-779-7073

Email: info@vwti.com

http://valeriewilsontravel.squarespace.com/
Day Trips: Tell Us About Your Favorite Day Trip - Send us a note at letters@myhometownBronxville.com

Grace Farms

Grace Farms is a place for “people to experience nature, the arts, justice, community and faith in New Canaan, CT. It’s a really fun day trip where you can spend time in a beautiful, peaceful environment and enjoy a casual lunch in the café. Kids can enjoy kicking around a ball on the field or playing basketball at the beautiful indoor court. Or just enjoy reading a book in the beautiful library.

365 Lukes Wood Road

New Canaan, CT

203-920-1702

info@gracefarms.org

www.gracefarms.org

The High Line

Urban Adventure! Have you been to the High Line yet? It is the park located on Manhattan's West Side that runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to 34th Street, between 10th & 11th Avenues. It is a fun place to see and a nice place to take a walk before dinner at one of the many cool meatpacking district restaurants! They have ongoing events. Click here to learn more. http://www.thehighline.org/

Hike Leatherman's Loop in the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation Plus Lunch Ideas

NOTHING LIKE A GREAT HIKE AND A GREAT OUTING RIGHT IN OUR BACKYARD! There is a beautiful hike called the Leatherman's Loop within the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. It brings you up to Point Lookout with an incredible view over the Cross River Reservoir. Pick up a trial map at the entrance. Bring a picnic or go for a morning hike then hop back in your car and continue south on Rt. 121, for approx. 2 or 3 miles, to Richard Gere's restaurant Bedford Post for lunch.....very nice and casual hiking clothes are fine.

Katonah Museum of Art Plus Lunch Ideas

There are always great exhibits the Katonah Museum of Art called Mapping: Memory and Motion in Contemporary Art. This museum is a gem! Closed Mondays. Fun learning center for kids. Click here for more information. http://www.katonahmuseum.org/

Have lunch in Katonah (right out of driveway and immediate left on Jay Street) at The Blue Dolphin Diner (Great Italian) or Willy Nicks (American).

From the Museum you can also easily get to Bedford Post.

Pepsico Sculpture Gardens

These beautiful gardens and open space are a great place to go for a lovely walk with the family. The sculpture collection was started in 1965 and consists of works by major twentieth century artists. Individuals are welcome to enjoy the gardens and sculptures Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm.

PepsiCo

700 Anderson Hill Rd.
Purchase, NY 10577

http://www.pepsico.com/sculpture-gardens

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