Belgium Wisconsin

The Village with a Heart

The people of Belgium, Wisconsin invite you to share a unique combination: old world charm and the natural scenic beauty of rolling terrain to the shore of Lake Michigan. The bright green hearts seen above the village’s welcome signs symbolize the community’s Luxembourg heritage. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is known as the “Green Heart of Europe” and the province of Luxembourg exits in the country of Belgium, Europe. While the first immigrants came from Luxembourg, neighboring settlers referred to this as “the Belgium area” because at that time much of Luxembourg was ruled by Belgium. The current residents still celebrate their heritage throughout the year.

At the turn of the century, limestone was quarried on the site presently occupied by Harrington Beach State Park. A whole company town existed along the shore of Lake Michigan. Several of the company houses were moved west to the Village of Belgium and can be seen there today. The remains of the pier at which ships loaded can still be seen from the park. Where the quarry was in the early 1900s, today there is a serene lake. Hikers can follow a nature trail around it. Besides nature trails, the park offers lakeside beaches and picnic areas and a winding road through woods for cyclists. The park is also a wildlife preserve and offers a protected habitat for many species. Deer dwell in its woods and can be seen quietly browsing or gracefully leaping across its fields in morning or evening twilight.

Peacefulness and serenity draw people. The 636 acres with a mile-long Lake Michigan beach leave room to be alone with nature. Hiking, fishing, picnic areas, nature and cross-country ski trails are available. Other hiking opportunities in the park include Quarry Lake Trail, a scenic rim trail around the 26-acre quarry, and White Cedar Swamp Nature Trail, half-mile interpretive walk through an aged swamp. Bicycling is permitted on park roads. The park is a combination of scenic fossil-filled rock outcroppings, wild beachfront, cedar forest and open meadows. A myriad of plant life enriches the park including windswept grasses and sedges, woodlands of basswood, birch, and cedar, and shady understories of hepatica, wood anemones, mayapples, and trilliums that paint the forest floor.

The Ozaukee Interurban Trail is a 30-mile paved trail that spans the entire length of Ozaukee County. The majority of the Trail is off-road and perfect for family enjoyment. The Trail connects the Ozaukee communities of Mequon, Thiensville, Cedarburg, Grafton, Port Washington and Belgium by using the existing right-of-way owned by We Energies. Unlike many recreational trails in the State of Wisconsin, use of the Ozaukee Interurban Trail is free for everyone. The trail is intended for year round uses, such as biking, in-line skating, walking, running and cross-country skiing. Motorized vehicles and horses are not allowed on the trail. Its route connects historic downtowns with natural landscapes. Views along the Trail include hardwood woodlands, wetlands, farmlands, Cedar Creek, the Milwaukee River, Lake Michigan and it is designated as a “Great Wisconsin Birding Trail.”