A meeting, a shared passion, a project
It is with great joy that we announce the opening of the “O Pequeno Belga” store in Lourinhã, Portugal! After months of intense collaboration, our partner is finally opening their doors to introduce locals and tourists of this charming town, about 70 km north of Lisbon, to Belgian delights and specialties.
This adventure is above all a human story, born from a shared passion for Belgian know-how. Behind this project are faces, encounters, and a shared determination to bring our culinary traditions beyond borders.
From Belgium to Portugal: The Start of a Collaboration
It all started during an informal exchange with our friends, lovers of Belgian culture, who were eager to share this passion in Portugal. We quickly realized our visions matched perfectly: to offer authentic products, tell their stories, and create a unique experience around Belgian gastronomy.
In recent months, there have been many discussions, from product selection and logistics to store design and training on the history and specifics of each specialty. At Belices.bewe don’t just sell products — we share a heritage, a culture, and traditions that deserve to be told.
Every detail has been considered to recreate the warm and friendly atmosphere so characteristic of our little country. O Pequeno Belga is truly an embassy of Belgian taste on Portuguese soil.
A Range of Belgian Specialties in the Heart of Portugal
The store will offer a carefully curated selection of our finest Belgian products.
Belgian food lovers can also find all the ingredients needed to prepare traditional dishes: Flemish stew, waterzooi, “boulets à la liégeoise”... Everything you need to surprise and delight family and friends with typically Belgian flavors!
But beyond the products themselves, our partners are eager to pass on stories, traditions, and ancestral know-how. Each product comes with an explanatory card detailing its origin, related anecdotes, and the best ways to enjoy it.
When Passion Becomes a Profession
Behind O Pequeno Belga is a passionate team who took the bold leap to leave their comfort zone and embark on this entrepreneurial adventure. They are now true ambassadors of Belgian gastronomy in Portugal.
“What really won us over with our partners is their sincere love for our culture,” says Louis Van Houtte, CEO of Belices.be. “They weren’t just trying to sell exotic products, but rather to understand the soul behind every recipe and every tradition. This authenticity is exactly what we want to share through our partnerships. »
The training wasn’t just about sharing technical knowledge. It was a chance for rich cultural exchanges, mutual discoveries, and convivial moments that strengthened our bond. Beyond a business relationship, a real friendship has formed over the months.
A Cultural Bridge Between Belgium and Portugal
O Pequeno Belga is more than just a shop with imported goods. It’s a true space for cultural exchange, where Portuguese people can discover a piece of our culture through gastronomy. Tastings, cooking workshops, and themed events will regularly be organized to bring the place to life and create moments of sharing.
For the Belgian community in Portugal, it’s also the assurance of finding those little pleasures reminiscent of home — childhood flavors that warm the heart. Enjoying a Liège waffle, spreading speculoos on a slice of bread, or cooking with products from home: these simple joys take on a whole new meaning when living abroad.
“We’ve already received lots of messages from Belgians in the region, thanking us for opening this shop,” the O Pequeno Belga team shares. “Some told us they used to stock up during trips to Belgium or ask family to send parcels. Now they can find these products easily. It’s a real joy to bring them a little piece of Belgium.”
Teamwork for a Remarkable Result
Setting up this project required perfect coordination between our teams in Belgium and our partners in Portugal. From product selection and store layout to staff training and implementing management tools, every step was carefully planned.
For Belices.be too, it was a beginning full of challenges. Our expertise in international logistics didn’t happen overnight — we had to overcome many obstacles. The journey wasn’t without difficulties, with some particularly stressful moments where solutions seemed out of reach. But through perseverance and determination, we managed to find fitting responses to every problem. Today, we have put in place a regular supply system guaranteeing the freshness and constant availability of our products, all while optimizing delivery costs. This success, though hard-earned, is now one of the pillars of our service.
But above all else, the most important aspect of this adventure is the human one. Mutual trust, keeping commitments, and transparency have been at the heart of this successful collaboration. Every problem was tackled together, every decision taken in the common interest of the project.
A New Chapter for Belices.be and Its Partners
The opening of O Pequeno Belga marks a significant milestone in the international development of Belices.beAfter several successful European partnerships, notably with Kursi suvemõis manor in Estonia, we are continuing our ambition to make Belgian products shine internationally.
This expansion isn’t just a commercial enterprise; it’s part of our vision for responsible trade, based on genuine human relationships and fair partnerships. We’re not in the business of rolling out standardized franchises, but rather co-creating unique projects with passionate partners who share our values.
Each new store is designed to harmoniously fit its local environment, while keeping the essence of our Belgian identity. This tailor-made approach requires more personal investment and time, but ensures sustainable projects deeply rooted in their community.
An Invitation to a Culinary Journey
If you’re ever in Lourinhã or the surrounding area, we warmly invite you to step inside O Pequeno Belga. You’ll be welcomed by a passionate team, ready to share their love of Belgian food and introduce you to new flavors.
For those who can’t make it in person, we’re also working on an online shop that will allow you to order these products anywhere in Portugal. Stay tuned to our social media for updates on the launch!
This adventure that’s beginning today is just the start of a beautiful story. We already have lots of ideas to further develop this concept and enrich it with new experiences. At Belices.be, we firmly believe that gastronomy is one of the finest ways to discover new cultures and bring people closer together.
So, see you soon at O Pequeno Belga, for a culinary journey into the heart of Belgium — without leaving Portugal!
For more information about our international partnerships, or if you too would like to become an ambassador for Belgian products in your region, contact us.We’ll be happy to discuss collaboration opportunities!