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Main article: Culture of Belgium
A discussion of Belgian culture may lead to discussing both those aspects of cultural life shared by 'all' or most of the Belgians, regardless of their language, and also, the differences between the cultural communities, the Flemings and the German-speaking community , viewed as more inclined towards Anglo-Saxon culture, and the French-speakers , viewed as more inclined towards French and other latin cultures.
Cultural life tends to concentrate within each community. The shared element is clearly much less important as there are no common media, no universities that are both Flemish and French-speaking (except the royal military academy), and no single common large cultural or scientific organisation where both main communities are represented. Common organisations, in the wider social area, are only those institutions imposed by the Belgian legislator (as trade unions).
In terms of cultural life, nearly all members of all communities tend to make most individual and collective cultural choices first within their own community, and then, when going beyond, Flemings opting for a multi-polar interest, but mainly Anglo-Saxon towards culture (which dominates sciences, professional life and most news media), whereas French-speakers concentrate more on cultural life in Paris and elsewhere in the French-speaking world ('la Francité').
As for cultural generalities shared by all Belgians, the country is well known for its art, its great architecture, its beer, its food, and its chocolate. Belgium has a variety of famous artists. These include Peter Paul Rubens, René Magritte, Jan van Eyck, Breughel, Memling, Ensor, Delvaux. Magritte, together with Paul Delvaux, were two major artists of the surrealistic style. Many great French authors went to Belgium for refuge. In music Adolphe Sax is famous for inventing the saxophone in 1840.
In architecture Victor Horta is well known. He was one of the originators of the Art Nouveau architecture, a style of architecture which had a major impact upon 20th century buildings.
Belgium is well represented in the world of sport, football (soccer) being very popular. The national football team is called the Red Devils, and they are ranked as 24th by FIFA. However, Belgium also has two female tennis players in the top 20; Kim Clijsters (#4) and Justine Henin-Hardenne (#1).
Belgium has also performed well in cycling. One of the greatest cyclists ever, Eddy Merckx, who won 5 Tours de France, five Giro d'Italia, one Vuelta a España, two Tours of Belgium, and one Tour of Switzerland, was Belgian. Belgium has world champions in motocross, judo and table tennis.
Many gourmets think that Belgium has the best food in Europe. Brands of Belgian chocolate, like Neuhaus , Côte d'Or, Leonidas, Godiva are world renowned, the praline having been invented in Belgium. In Belgium there are over 450 different kinds of beer, those of the Trappist monks being the most prestigious. Technically, it is an ale and traditionally each abbey's beer is served in its own glass (the forms, heights and widths are different). Belgians have a reputation for loving french fries. The fried potato strips are sold at many small shops (called friteries or frietkoten) and stands (often at train stations) and are known locally as frieten in Dutch and frites in French, though never, ever as "french fries".
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