Belgium

Belgium is very easily accessible from Germany. There are about 4 direct trains from Cologne to Brussels Midi station. The city as such has not many architectural features. And after so many cities building just dont excite you unless they are very unique. There is a Grand Platz, atominium and Manekin Piss which are famous in Brussels. They are very close from each other. Other than this Brussels is very famous for chocolates. And the chocolates available here are best in taste and variety. But being called the Capital of Europe everything here pinches the pocket. But I still bought chocolates worth 35 euros from here which was about 750gms. There is a nice chocolate shop called NeuHaus is the Grand Platz which is a good shop to check the variety on offer :-)
Brussels has the best metro system in Europe in terms of the scale after Paris.

I visited a small town called Brugge which is about 2 hours from Brussels. The town clearly has the colors of French architecture in it. The monuments are exciting and the cruise on the canals of the city can be good. But its no more than a 3 hour city walk. One can get good souvenirs in Brugge in some shops near the central square.

Other then this Belgium just has Antwerp which is a city of diamonds, but it didn't excite me and hence was not on my to visit list. The whole of Belgium ca be done in a 2 days if one is very relaxed while traveling. But its not a country worth missing at all!