A Present From Beautiful Belgium: What Do You Choose For A Belgian Gift?

Belgium has certain things going for it, and I bet that both you and I could name a few of them off the top of our heads. Go on, give it a try! There's Belgian chocolates, to start with. (Oh give it up, I'll bet it was the first thing that sprang to mind for you too. How can it not be? Delicious moreish expertly crafted truffles, made by the very topmost masters of the chocolatier's art. Belgium is justly famous for certain things, and chocolate is certainly one of them. I will not deny it!)

But what else? (It's funny how the brain slows down after considering chocolate. Belgium, famous for chocolate and... Um. Well, hang on a minute. There's always Poirot! (I said triumphantly.) Yes, you really can't possibly discount, or indeed beat, the little Belgian detective created by Dame Agatha Christie! Yes, he's fictional, so what, I say to you. He still counts! People the world over know the name of Poirot!

I may possibly be stretching a bit after coming up with both chocolate and Poirot as famous aspects of Belgium but there have to be other things that make it memorable too. Perhaps sherry? I may (I have to say with some level of shame) be thinking of Portugal here, actually. Portugal and Belgium, so easily confused, for those with absolutely no knowledge of geography or culture.

Heck, why would you need to know these things anyway? Unless you're planning a trip to Belgium quite shortly. And even then, won't a standard travel guide cover all requirements?

I'll tell you when you'll need it: when you're buying a pressie for someone who's perishin' obsessed with Belgium. Hey, it could happen! People develop weird monomanias all the time! You need to be prepared! So, if it happens, you know the drill: Belgian chocolates, or an Agatha Christie box set. Don't say I didn't prepare you.