Certain small countries, for example, Belgium, are often overlooked when people think about the origins of what makes up Western culture. Côte d'Or chocolate is not Swiss. Stella Artois beer is not English. Here are a few more...
http://www.ranker.com/list/things-you-didn_t-know-were-belgian/admiralcrunch,
Battle of Waterloo
Nope, despite the Abba song, Waterloo is not in Sweden. One of the world's most famous battles (and where Napoleon finally faced defeat and did surrender) took place near Waterloo, Belgium in 1815.
Django Reinhardt
Though famous as the co-founder of the Quintette du Hot Club de France, Django Reinhardt (1910-1953) was of Romani descent and was born and raised in Belgium. He is considered one of the greatest guitar players of all time.
Saxophone
Not from Germany! (nor from New Orleans.) Belgian Adolphe Sax developed a new instrument in 1840 to be the "most powerful and vocal" of the woodwinds and "Most adaptive" of the brass. (Source: Wikipedia)
Technotronic
Much early techno and Euro-house music is credited to Ibiza. For the most part, however, it was only spun in Ibiza by djs bringing it from places such as, oh, Belgium.
One of the most popular house tracks ever was Pump Up the Jam, released internationally in late 1989.
So, when you Spin That Wheel, remember to thank Belgium.
Tintin
Tintin is not French (nor is he from Syldavia or Borduria). He is the product of Belgian artist, Hergé (1907-1983).
Belgium is the world's largest producer of comics per capita (so, take that, Japan.)
According to All Over the Map, there are three important schools of comic art - Brussels, Marcinal, and Antwerp, as well a museum devoted to comic strips and comic strip art in Brussels.
Tulips
According to CheeseWeb.eu, tulips, though probably originally cultivated in Persia, were first brought to the attention of Western Europe in Antwerp, Belgium in 1562.
So. Not the Netherlands. Sorry, Netherlands.
Oil Painting
You thought Italy, didn't you? Good guess, but Italian art historian, Giorgio Vasari credits the development of oil painting largely to Flemish painters such as Jan van Eyck (c.1390-1441) who was from Bruges (which is in Belgium).
Spas
The original spa was developed in a town in Belgium called...Spa. Thermes de Spa, the first modern health resort, opened in the mid 18th Century. (Source: Eupedia)
Pralines
No, not the sugar candy made from nuts and molasses popular in the American South, but Belgian pralines, which are the original filled chocolate candies. The Belgians also invented the chocolate bar. (Source: Wikipedia) The making of chocolate candy in Belgium dates back to 1635.
The international airport at Brussels is the world's biggest export market of chocolate.
Inline Skates
Inline skates were not actually invented by the Rollerblade Corporation in Venice Beach, California in the 1990s. John Joseph Merlin (1735-1803), was the Belgian inventor who created inline skates in 1760.