The following information was compiled because clothing and shoes are sized according to a different system in Belgium and other European countries than in the U.S. Oven settings are different and Belgians, like most Europeans, use the metric system which may be unfamiliar to you.
U.S. Sizes and Belgian Equivalents Women’s Clothing
| U.S. | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 |
| Belgian | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 | 46 | 48 | 50 |
Men’s Clothing
| U.S. | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 | 46 |
| Belgian | 46 | 48 | 50 | 52 | 54 | 56 |
Men’s Shirts
| U.S. | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| Belgian | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 |
Women’s Shoes
| U.S. | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| Belgian | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 |
Men’s Shoes
| U.S. | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Belgian | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 |
Children’s Clothing
| Age | Size | Age | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 54 | 4 years | 102/110 |
| 3 months | 60 | 5 years | 116 |
| 6 months | 67 | 6 years | 122 |
| 12 months | 74 | 7/8 years | 128 |
| 18 months | 80 | 9/10 years | 134/140 |
| 20 months | 86 | 11/12 years | 146/152 |
| 24 months | 92 | 13/14 years | 158/164 |
| 3 years | 98 | 15/16 years | 170/176 |
Children’s Shoes
| U.S. | Belgian | U.S. | Belgian |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 18 | 11 | 30 |
| 4 | 20 | 12 | 31 |
| 5 | 22 | 13 | 32 |
| 6 | 23 | 1 | 33 |
| 7 | 24 | 2 | 34 |
| 8 | 25 | 3 | 35 |
| 9 | 27 | 4 | 36 |
| 10 | 29 | 5 | 38 |
Children’s sock sizes are the same as shoe sizes.
Temperature
To convert Fahrenheit to Centigrade, subtract 32, then multiply by 5, and then divide by 9.
Many European ovens have temperature regulators numbered zero to nine. This chart should help you find the proper setting.
| Setting | Centigrade | Fahrenheit |
|---|---|---|
| Very cool | 110 | 225 |
| 120 | 250 | |
| 1 | 140 | 275 |
| 2 | 150 | 300 |
| 3 | 160 | 325 |
| 4 | 180 | 350 |
| 5 | 190 | 375 |
| 6 | 200 | 400 |
| 7 | 220 | 425 |
| 8 | 230 | 450 |
| 9 | 240 | 475 |
| Very hot | 260 | 500 |
Measurement Units Length
According to the metric system, which is used in Belgium and throughout Europe, there are 10 millimeters in a centimeter (cm.), 100 cm. in a meter and 1,000 meters in one kilometer. Additionally:
| 1 inch | 2.54 centimeters |
| 1 foot | 30.50 centimeters |
| 1 yard | 91.44 centimeters |
Area
| 1 square inch | 6.4516 square centimeters |
| 1 square yard | 0.836 square meter |
| 1 acre | 0.4047 hectare or 4.047 square meters |
| 1 square mile | 289 hectares |
Weight
| 1 gram | 0.4 ounce |
| 1 ounce | 28 grams |
| 1 pound | 450 grams |
| 1 kilo | 2.2 pounds |
| 8 ounces | 1 U.S. cup or 16 tablespoons |
| 16 ounces | 2 U.S. cups or 1 pound |
| 8 ounces | 250 grams (approximately) |
| 16 ounces | 500 grams (approx.) |
| 36 ounces | 1,000 grams (approx.) |
Liquid Measurement
| 1 gallon | 3.8 liters |
| 1 pint | 0.47 liter |
| 1 quart | 0.95 liter |
| 1 liter | 0.26 gallon |
| 1 liter | 2.1 pints |
| 1 liter | 1.06 quart |
| 1 teaspoon | 1 cuillère à café = 1 koffielepeltje = 5 milliliters |
| 1 tablespoon | 1 cuillère à soupe = 1 soeplepel = 15 milliliters |
| 1 cup | 1 tasse = 1 kop = 237 milliliters |