In Bruges

Things have been a bit quiet over here, because we have been away on a short holiday. Or to be more exact: a city trip. We visited Bruges and Ghent, two beautiful cities in the Flemish part of Belgium.
Now many things are the same in Flanders as they are in the Netherlands: we share a language, many cultural aspects, opinions, and habits. But there are some small things, things that you generally take for granted as being 'normal' the way you are used to them, that made me realise that I really was abroad.
And I don't mean the general stereotype that Belgians are more friendly, polite and welcoming than the Dutch, although in general, that did prove to be the case once again.
No, I'm talking about small things like having to pay for toilet use, even in cinemas where you've paid 9 Euros for a film ticket, or in restaurants, or in department stores. This may be Dutch thrift, or it may not: I read an outraged review by an American visitor who complained heartily about this.
Then there is the complete lack of proper directions on the road: it seems like every department or city council can just decide whether they want to put signs before or after the exit (or not place them at all), and without our satnav, we would have been lost several times. The Netherlands may be overfilled with rules and regulations, at least you can find your way by just relaying on the signs.
In a more positive streak: Belgians do take the time to go out for lunch, generally accompanied by a glass of wine. Even people who have their lunch break alone go to a restaurant or take-out and sit at a table and eat their lunch. In the Netherlands, this is highly uncommon: most people just eat their lunch at their desks, or run errands, or possibly have a short lunch walk: actually taking an hour to go lunch in a restaurant not attached to your building is a rarity. This is one area in which I hope we will copy our southern neighbours.

I could mention many more things, all small and seemingly 'normal', which show the subtle difference between two countries so alike and so well-connected. I wonder whether it's these little things or the big things like religion or politics, that in the end define us more.