On July 21, Belgium celebrates its independence from the Netherlands and the anniversary of the establishment of the Kingdom of Belgium in 1831. The holiday brings us to the bank of the River Meuse across from the Collegiate Church of Notre Dame de Dinant, the best-known landmark in the Belgian town of Dinant in Namur province. For such a small city (population about 14,000), Dinant has a rich history. It"s the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, and has a museum dedicated to his life and instruments. The Charles de Gaulle Bridge, which crosses the Meuse, is lined with 28 saxophone sculptures, each one representing a different country in the European Union. Namur province is also the birthplace of Leffe beer, which was brewed by monks in the abbey of Leffe starting in 1240.
Belgium celebrates its independence
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
Notes from an underground lake
-
Helloooooo, Innsbruck
-
World Sea Turtle Day
-
The Children’s Cultural Festival in Reykjavik begins today
-
Into the woods
-
All eyes on moths
-
Light show in the forest
-
Walking among the giants
-
High above the reef
-
Happy New Year! (Again!)
-
In search of roadside attractions on ‘America’s Highway’
-
Celebrating National Dentist Day
-
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
-
Freshwater plants in Aquário Natural, Brazil
-
Lands End, Cornwall, England
-
Aurora borealis
-
Staring down winter
-
Grand Canyon National Park turns 105
-
Virgin Islands National Park established
-
Of balloons and lost pantaloons
-
Ruins of Inca temples and terraces on Huayna Picchu, Peru
-
Easter Sunday
-
Pacific Rim Whale Festival
-
Þorrablót, Icelandic midwinter festival
-
Point Reyes National Seashore
-
Honoring the rangers on World Ranger Day
-
There’s a dog in there somewhere
-
Celebrating Norwegian Constitution Day
-
Fiddlehead fern fronds
-
Sundance Film Festival
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

