Belgium

Belgium is a federal monarchy in Western Europe. Covering 11,787 square miles, it has a population of over 11 million people. Its official languages are Dutch, French and German and its current head of state is King Philippe. The country is highly industrialised and was the world's 15th largest trading nation in 2007.

In Coronation Street, Bessie Street School organised a trip to the country in 1963 for which Lucille Hewitt needed the £30 cost. The Hewitts however were unable to raise the money but Lucille took the disappointment with good grace. Elsie Tanner was another street resident who almost visited the country when her salesman boyfriend Geoff Siddall planned to take her there in November 1982 but on the eve of their departure he skipped the country with funds embezzled from his employer and £1,000 fraudulently obtained from Eddie Yeats and Marion Willis.

In April 1996, a consortium in the Rovers who owned shares in a racehorse, Betty's Hot Shot, decided their nag was useless and decided to sell it in the country for horsemeat but the women of the street put up strong opposition and scuppered their plans.

Steve McDonald made a trip to Belgium in June 1999 with £800 borrowed from father Jim to buy cheap tobacco and smuggle it back home. He was successful but had trouble selling his contraband around the pubs until he went into a deal with crook Lee Sankey.

Mark Redman made a trip to the country in February 2000 to attend a trade fair in Bruge while in August and September 2008 Michelle Connor toured the country with her band.