The Ultimate Expat Bookshelf: 9 Reads About Belgium You’ll Love

Buying a book about Belgium isn’t just about filling your shelf—it can actually help you make sense of a country that’s equal parts chocolate, surrealism, and complicated history. Since today is #BuyABookDay, let’s be honest: which books really matter for expats who want to get closer to Belgium? Here’s your guide, with honesty and a dash of humor.

1. Culture Smart! Belgium – Mandy Macdonald

Think of this one as your cultural survival kit. It explains why shops close on Sundays, why Belgians queue so politely, and why you shouldn’t expect small talk at the bakery. Instead of learning these lessons the hard way (and risking awkward stares at the supermarket), you can just flip a page and feel prepared.

What makes it fun is the tone: practical without being boring, and detailed without being overwhelming. You’ll laugh, you’ll nod, and you’ll finally understand the invisible rules that make Belgium tick. It’s like a cheat sheet for blending in, and it might save you from making those “expat faux pas” that everyone remembers.

2. King Leopold’s Ghost – Adam Hochschild

This isn’t a light read, but it’s a necessary one. Hochschild digs into Belgium’s colonial past in Congo with gripping storytelling that feels more like a novel than a history book. It’s shocking, heartbreaking, and impossible to put down, even if at times you need to take a breather.

Why should an expat read this? Because you’ll see how history still lingers in everyday conversations, politics, and even art. Understanding this chapter gives you a deeper respect for the Belgium of today, and it allows you to join in discussions that go far beyond beer and chocolate.

3. The Burgundians – Bart Van Loo

History, but make it binge-worthy. Bart Van Loo tells the story of the medieval Burgundian dynasty with humor, drama, and a sense of flair that makes kings and dukes feel like characters in a Netflix series. The storytelling is rich, entertaining, and it never drags, even when you’re knee-deep in politics and battles.

Beyond the court intrigues and battles, this book explains why Belgium ended up as a patchwork of languages and identities. Suddenly, the complexity makes sense—and you’ll have a great dinner-party story ready to go about how a medieval dynasty still shapes today’s borders and mindsets.

4. The Sorrow of Belgium (Het verdriet van België) – Hugo Claus

One of the greatest Flemish novels of all time. It follows a boy growing up during World War II, wrestling with identity, family, and a country under occupation. Heavy stuff, yes, but unforgettable and written with the kind of power that keeps readers hooked for decades.

Reading Claus is like getting a backstage pass to the Belgian soul. It’s literary, layered, and sometimes brutal—but if you want to truly “get” Belgium, this is essential. You’ll finish the book with more than just a story: you’ll have insight into how Belgians see themselves and their history.

5. Cheese (Kaas) – Willem Elsschot

A man, a mountain of cheese, and Antwerp office humor. That’s the plot—and it’s as absurd as it sounds. Short, sharp, and still hilarious a century later, it’s the kind of book that proves classics don’t have to be long or complicated to hit hard.

Elsschot pokes fun at ambition, bureaucracy, and Belgian pragmatism. For expats, it’s both a laugh and a glimpse into the local sense of humor. Reading it will make you feel more in tune with the Belgian tendency to mix seriousness with absurdity in everyday life.

6. A Tall Man in a Low Land – Harry Pearson

Belgium through the eyes of a witty Brit. Pearson covers politics, beer, and cycling in the rain with equal parts sarcasm and affection. His observations are both ridiculous and true, which makes them all the more fun for readers who have been baffled by Belgium themselves.

It’s the kind of book that makes you feel less alone in your “what on earth is happening?” expat moments. Belgium is weird—and Pearson helps you enjoy that fact. By the end, you’ll probably see the country’s quirks not as flaws, but as the things that make it charming.

7. The Guns of August – Barbara Tuchman

Pulitzer Prize-winning history that reads like a thriller. Tuchman shows how Belgium suddenly became the stage for the start of World War I—and how its resistance shaped the future. You’ll find yourself gripped by troop movements and political missteps in ways you didn’t think possible.

Why read it? Because every war memorial you pass on a Sunday hike will suddenly make more sense. It’s a reminder that this small country has carried enormous weight in world history, and that Belgians still carry the memory of that resilience with pride.

8. The Expat Guide to Living and Working in Belgium

Practical, no-nonsense, and occasionally sanity-saving. This guide explains how to register at the gemeentehuis, how health insurance works, and why Belgian paperwork deserves its own Olympic category. It’s like having a wise friend on speed dial when you’re drowning in forms.

It won’t make you laugh, but it will save you headaches. If you’re staying longer than a few months, this is one to keep on your desk. The sooner you accept that Belgium loves paperwork, the smoother your life here will be.

9. The Expat Guide to Having Fun in Brussels & Belgium – Douglas Morris

Finally, the fun part. Morris covers festivals, food, and hidden corners that locals might forget to mention. It’s your weekend planner in book form, with a mix of practical details and the kind of enthusiasm that makes you want to head out the door immediately.

What makes it great is the balance: useful tips alongside personal insights that make the adventures feel more authentic. You’ll finish it with a list of places to explore—and maybe a craving for waffles, beer, or both.

Bottom Line

You don’t need to buy all nine (unless your bookshelf is begging). But picking even one of these reads can make Belgium less confusing, more enjoyable, and a little more “home.” From history to humor to hard facts, there’s a Belgian book for every expat.