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Belgium

Updated: Wikipedia source

Belgium

Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the south, and the North Sea to the west. Belgium covers an area of 30,689 km2 (11,849 sq mi) and has a population of more than 11.8 million; its population density of 383/km2 (990/sq mi) ranks 22nd in the world and sixth in Europe. The capital and largest metropolitan region is Brussels; other major cities are Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, Liège, Bruges, Namur, and Leuven. Belgium is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with a complex federal system structured on regional and linguistic grounds. The country is divided into three highly autonomous regions: the Flemish Region (Flanders) in the north, the Walloon Region (Wallonia) in the south, and the Brussels-Capital Region in the middle. Belgium is also home to two main linguistic communities: the Dutch-speaking Flemish Community, which constitutes about 60 percent of the population, and the French-speaking French Community, which constitutes about 40 percent of the population; a small German-speaking Community, comprising around one percent of the population, exists in the East Cantons. Belgium's linguistic diversity and related political conflicts are reflected in its complex system of governance, made up of six different governments. Belgium is a developed country with an advanced high-income economy. It is one of the six founding members of the European Union, with its capital of Brussels serving as the de facto capital of the EU, hosting the official seats of the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, the European Council, and one of two seats of the European Parliament (the other being Strasbourg). Brussels also hosts the headquarters of many major international organizations, such as NATO. In antiquity, present-day Belgium was dominated by the Belgae before being annexed into the Roman Empire in the mid first century BC. During the Middle Ages, Belgium's central location kept it relatively prosperous and connected both commercially and politically to its larger neighbours; it was part of the Carolingian Empire, the succeeding Holy Roman Empire, and subsequently the Burgundian Netherlands. Following rule by Habsburg Spain (1556–1714), the Austrian Habsburgs (1714–1794), and Revolutionary France (1794–1815), most of modern-day Belgium was incorporated into the United Kingdom of the Netherlands after the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Centuries of being contested and controlled by various European powers earned Belgium the moniker "the Battlefield of Europe", a reputation reinforced in the 20th century by both world wars. An independent Belgium was established in 1830 following the Belgian Revolution. In the 19th century it was one of the earliest participants of the Industrial Revolution, and the first country in continental Europe to become industrialised. By the early 20th century, it possessed several colonies, notably the Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi, which gained independence between 1960 and 1962. The second half of the 20th century was marked by rising tensions between the Dutch-speakers and French-speakers, fueled by differences in political culture and the unequal economic development of Flanders and Wallonia. This has resulted in several far-reaching state reforms, including the transition from a unitary to federal structure between 1970 and 1993. Tensions persist amid ongoing reforms; the country faces a strong separatist sentiment among the Flemish, controversial language laws, and a fragmented political landscape that resulted in a record 589 days without a government formation following the 2010 federal election.

Infobox

Capital
City of Brussels 50°51′N 4°21′E / 50.850°N 4.350°E / 50.850; 4.350
Largest city
Brussels-Capital Region
Official languages
mw- .inline, .inline dl, .inline ol, .inline ul, dl dl, dl ol, dl ul, ol dl, ol ol dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd ol li DutchFrenchGerman
Ethnic groups (2025)
64% Belgians36% other
Religion (2023)
59% no religion li 34% Christianity 31% Catholicism 3% other Christian 6% Islam 1% other
Demonym
Belgian
Government
Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Monarch
Philippe
• Prime Minister
Bart De Wever
Legislature
Federal Parliament
• Upper house
Senate
• Lower house
Chamber of Representatives
• Declared
4 October 1830
• Recognized
19 April 1839
• Federal state
1970
• Total
$689.364 billion (23rd)
• Water (%)
0.64 (2022)
• 2025 census
11,825,551
• Density
385/km2 (997.1/sq mi) (35th)
GDP (PPP)
2025 estimate
• Per capita
$58,248 (16th)
GDP (nominal)
2025 estimate
Gini (2022)
24.9 } }low inequality
HDI (2023)
0.951very high (10th)
Currency
Euro (€) (EUR)
Time zone
UTC 1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)
UTC 2 (CEST)
Calling code
32
ISO 3166 code
BE
Internet TLD
be[a]

Tables

· Geography › Provinces
Antwerpen
Antwerpen
Province
Antwerp
Dutch name
Antwerpen
French name
Anvers
German name
Antwerpen
Capital
Antwerp
Area
2,876 km2 (1,110 sq mi)
Population(1 January 2024)
1,926,522
Density
670/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
ISO 3166-2:BE
VAN
Oost-Vlaanderen
Oost-Vlaanderen
Province
East Flanders
Dutch name
Oost-Vlaanderen
French name
Flandre orientale
German name
Ostflandern
Capital
Ghent
Area
3,007 km2 (1,161 sq mi)
Population(1 January 2024)
1,572,002
Density
520/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
ISO 3166-2:BE
VOV
Vlaams-Brabant
Vlaams-Brabant
Province
Flemish Brabant
Dutch name
Vlaams-Brabant
French name
Brabant flamand
German name
Flämisch-Brabant
Capital
Leuven
Area
2,118 km2 (818 sq mi)
Population(1 January 2024)
1,196,773
Density
570/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
ISO 3166-2:BE
VBR
Limburg
Limburg
Province
Limburg
Dutch name
Limburg
French name
Limbourg
German name
Limburg
Capital
Hasselt
Area
2,427 km2 (937 sq mi)
Population(1 January 2024)
900,098
Density
370/km2 (960/sq mi)
ISO 3166-2:BE
VLI
West-Vlaanderen
West-Vlaanderen
Province
West Flanders
Dutch name
West-Vlaanderen
French name
Flandre occidentale
German name
Westflandern
Capital
Bruges
Area
3,197 km2 (1,234 sq mi)
Population(1 January 2024)
1,226,375
Density
380/km2 (980/sq mi)
ISO 3166-2:BE
VWV
Henegouwen
Henegouwen
Province
Hainaut
Dutch name
Henegouwen
French name
Hainaut
German name
Hennegau
Capital
Mons
Area
3,813 km2 (1,472 sq mi)
Population(1 January 2024)
1,360,074
Density
360/km2 (930/sq mi)
ISO 3166-2:BE
WHT
Luik
Luik
Province
Liège
Dutch name
Luik
French name
Liège
German name
Lüttich
Capital
Liège
Area
3,857 km2 (1,489 sq mi)
Population(1 January 2024)
1,119,038
Density
290/km2 (750/sq mi)
ISO 3166-2:BE
WLG
Luxemburg
Luxemburg
Province
Luxembourg
Dutch name
Luxemburg
French name
Luxembourg
German name
Luxemburg
Capital
Arlon
Area
4,459 km2 (1,722 sq mi)
Population(1 January 2024)
295,146
Density
66/km2 (170/sq mi)
ISO 3166-2:BE
WLX
Namen
Namen
Province
Namur
Dutch name
Namen
French name
Namur
German name
Namur (Namür)
Capital
Namur
Area
3,675 km2 (1,419 sq mi)
Population(1 January 2024)
503,895
Density
140/km2 (360/sq mi)
ISO 3166-2:BE
WNA
Waals-Brabant
Waals-Brabant
Province
Walloon Brabant
Dutch name
Waals-Brabant
French name
Brabant wallon
German name
Wallonisch-Brabant
Capital
Wavre
Area
1,097 km2 (424 sq mi)
Population(1 January 2024)
414,130
Density
380/km2 (980/sq mi)
ISO 3166-2:BE
WBR
Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest
Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest
Province
Brussels-Capital Region
Dutch name
Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest
French name
Région de Bruxelles-Capitale
German name
Region Brüssel-Hauptstadt
Capital
Brussels City
Area
162 km2 (63 sq mi)
Population(1 January 2024)
1,249,597
Density
7,700/km2 (20,000/sq mi)
ISO 3166-2:BE
BBR
België
België
Province
Total
Dutch name
België
French name
Belgique
German name
Belgien
Capital
Brussels City
Area
30,689 km2 (11,849 sq mi)
Population(1 January 2024)
11,763,650
Density
383/km2 (990/sq mi)
Province
Dutch name
French name
German name
Capital
Area
Population(1 January 2024)
Density
ISO 3166-2:BE
Flemish Region
Antwerp
Antwerpen
Anvers
Antwerpen
Antwerp
2,876 km2 (1,110 sq mi)
1,926,522
670/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
VAN
East Flanders
Oost-Vlaanderen
Flandre orientale
Ostflandern
Ghent
3,007 km2 (1,161 sq mi)
1,572,002
520/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
VOV
Flemish Brabant
Vlaams-Brabant
Brabant flamand
Flämisch-Brabant
Leuven
2,118 km2 (818 sq mi)
1,196,773
570/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
VBR
Limburg
Limburg
Limbourg
Limburg
Hasselt
2,427 km2 (937 sq mi)
900,098
370/km2 (960/sq mi)
VLI
West Flanders
West-Vlaanderen
Flandre occidentale
Westflandern
Bruges
3,197 km2 (1,234 sq mi)
1,226,375
380/km2 (980/sq mi)
VWV
Walloon Region
Hainaut
Henegouwen
Hainaut
Hennegau
Mons
3,813 km2 (1,472 sq mi)
1,360,074
360/km2 (930/sq mi)
WHT
Liège
Luik
Liège
Lüttich
Liège
3,857 km2 (1,489 sq mi)
1,119,038
290/km2 (750/sq mi)
WLG
Luxembourg
Luxemburg
Luxembourg
Luxemburg
Arlon
4,459 km2 (1,722 sq mi)
295,146
66/km2 (170/sq mi)
WLX
Namur
Namen
Namur
Namur (Namür)
Namur
3,675 km2 (1,419 sq mi)
503,895
140/km2 (360/sq mi)
WNA
Walloon Brabant
Waals-Brabant
Brabant wallon
Wallonisch-Brabant
Wavre
1,097 km2 (424 sq mi)
414,130
380/km2 (980/sq mi)
WBR
Brussels-Capital Region
Brussels-Capital Region
Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest
Région de Bruxelles-Capitale
Region Brüssel-Hauptstadt
Brussels City
162 km2 (63 sq mi)
1,249,597
7,700/km2 (20,000/sq mi)
BBR
Total
België
Belgique
Belgien
Brussels City
30,689 km2 (11,849 sq mi)
11,763,650
383/km2 (990/sq mi)

References

  1. be is the common internet top-level domain name for Belgium. The .eu domain is also used, as it is shared with other Eur
  2. Dutch: België [ˈbɛlɣijə] ⓘ; French: Belgique [bɛlʒik] ⓘ; German: Belgien [ˈbɛlɡi̯ən] ⓘ
  3. Dutch: Koninkrijk België [ˈkoːnɪŋkˌrɛik ˈbɛlɣijə] ⓘ; French: Royaume de Belgique [ʁwa.jom də bɛl.ʒik] ⓘ; German: Königre
  4. The Brussels-Capital Region, whose metropolitan area comprises the City of Brussels itself plus 18 independent municipal
  5. The name "French Community" refers to Francophone Belgians, and not to French people residing in Belgium. As such, the F
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  7. Between 1885 and 1908, the Congo Free State, which was privately owned by King Leopold II of Belgium, was characterized
  8. The Morini were located along the coast of modern Belgium, particularly in the Pas-de-Calais region, centered around Bou
  9. The Menapii dwelt near the North Sea, around present-day Cassel, in the region now part of Belgium.
  10. The Nervii inhabited the central part of modern Belgium, including Brussels, extending southwards to Cambrai in French H
  11. The Germani Cisrhenani inhabited regions on the eastern side of the Rhine, corresponding to parts of modern-day Germany,
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