The Belgian population likes sports, and the country counts renowned athletes in many different disciplines. The country also offers many infrastructures to practice sports.
National sports in Belgium
Soccer (or, as it is known in Europe, football) is the most significant national sport in Belgium. The most famous clubs are Bruges, Standard of Liege, Union St-Gilloise, and the RSC Anderlecht. Belgium also organizes national championships each year.
Cycling is the second biggest sport in Belgium. This is the most practiced sport in the country. In the Flat Country, cyclists are prioritized over drivers and offered considerable road advantages.
Tennis and athletics are also popular, with amateurs and professionals eager to participate in events. However, rugby and handball aren't so popular in Belgium.
Popular sports in Belgium
Many other sports are practiced by the Belgian population. Men, women, and children enjoy practicing soccer, cycling, running, swimming, gymnastics, fitness, badminton, and basketball. More and more people are interested in trails, too. Many joggers train for marathons or semi-marathons in Belgium.
More specifically, there are over 2,000 soccer clubs and 300,000 games a year. Also, Belgians enjoy playing some versions indoors: mini-football and futsal. So, if you're looking to pick up soccer as a sport, there's no better place to do it.
In the winter, skiing is also top-rated. The nation has ten ski resorts, so take advantage of this.
Sports news in Belgium
Several newspapers have a dedicated sports section. Online, the website sport.be is a great reference.
As for athletes, a website is dedicated to them: Team Belgium. It displays all the different championships and competitions worldwide. This website also has a list of all the federations in all disciplines.
Sport events in Belgium
Many sports events happen throughout the year in Belgium. The website out.be has a list of all the sporting events happening in Belgium: walking, cycling, fitness, badminton, running, etc.
Practicing sports in Belgium
Many clubs and infrastructures will welcome you depending on which sport you practice. Don't hesitate to contact federations and clubs you're interested in. Some websites are listed in the useful links section.
You can choose to either subscribe to a membership or practice from time to time. If you're interested in cycling, many cycle lanes are implemented in Belgium, making cycling easy. If you prefer running or hiking, the website Randobel will give you the best routes.
If you want to swim, you must pay a fee to access a pool. Most charge around €3 per visit.
Joining gyms in Belgium
If you prefer to work out and take classes at gyms, you'll be pleased to know that there are plenty of gyms in Belgium. The most popular ones include:
- Aspria;
- Health City;
- World Class Fitness.
Useful links:
Royal Belgian Football Association
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