Pride of Belgium

Figurines from the comic strip Tintin by Brussels-born author Georges Remi, better known as Herge, are displayed in a shop at the Herge Museum in Louvain-La-Neuve December 1, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Figurines from the comic strip Tintin by Brussels-born author Georges Remi, better known as Herge, are displayed in a shop at the Herge Museum in Louvain-La-Neuve December 1, 2011.[Photo/Agencies]

A figurine of the comic strip character Tintin by Brussels-born author Georges Remi, better known as Herge, is displayed in a shop at the Herge Museum in Louvain-La-Neuve December 1, 2011.[Photo/Agencies]

A student walks past a painting of the comic strip character Tintin by Brussels-born author Georges Remi, better known as Herge, displayed in a shop at the Herge Museum in Louvain-La-Neuve December 1, 2011.[Photo/Agencies]

Students form a heart shape with their hands in front of a lightbox depicting the comic strip character Tintin by Brussels-born author Georges Remi, better known as Herge, displayed in a shop at the Herge Museum in Louvain-La-Neuve December 1, 2011.[Photo/Agencies]

A student looks at a lightbox depicting the comic strip character Tintin by Brussels-born author Georges Remi, better known as Herge, displayed in a shop at the Herge Museum in Louvain-La-Neuve December 1, 2011.[Photo/Agencies]

A statue of the comic strip character Tintin, by Brussels-born author Georges Remi, better known as Herge, is displayed in a shop at the Herge Museum in Louvain-La-Neuve December 1, 2011.[Photo/Agencies]

Belgians have flocked to see "The Adventures of Tintin - The Secret of the Unicorn", a new film by U.S. director Stephen Spielberg which brings to life the fictional exploits of a cartoon character who is a household name in Europe.

Belgians, proud of a comic strip history which also includes the Smurfs, Gaston and Lucky Luke hope the movie inspires Americans to delve into the original Tintin books, and to discover more about Belgium. Picture taken December 1, 2011.