Geography
Covering a surface area of 32,545 km² and with 10,239,085 inhabitants, Belgium is one of the most densely populated countries in the world with an average of 314 inhabitants per km². It is the geographical centre of the European Union. Its federal capital is Brussels.
In the north, Belgium borders the North Sea and the Netherlands; to the east it shares a border with the Federal Republic of Germany and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg; and to the south and west it borders France. The country enjoys an oceanic temperate climate characterized by moderate temperatures (an average of 11.2°C), dominant winds blowing from the west, generally thick cloud cover (an annual average of 1,392 hours of sunshine) and frequent rain (average rainfall is 852 mm).
The country is divided into three geographical zones: low Belgium in the north (with an altitude of below 100 m), middle Belgium (between 100 and 200 m in altitude) and high Belgium (between 200 and more than 500 m in altitude). At 694 m, the Signal de Botrange is Belgium's highest point.
The proximity of the North Sea and the Ardennes explains Belgium's particularly favourable geographical location. Major highways cross the country, and the motorway density is 51 km for every 1,000 km², a total length of 1,631 km, nearly double the extent of the German network.
Visible from space…
From space, astronauts have only two reference points on Earth: the Great Wall of China and Belgium. For many years, NASA has called the glow generated by the illuminated Belgian motorway system - a tangle of strings of light - "the Belgian window".
With more than 3,471 km of track, the Belgian rail network is the densest on the continent. Belgium also has three major maritime ports, Antwerp, Ghent and Zeebrugge, and two inland ports, Brussels and Liège. Belgium's navigable waterways stretch for a total of 1,500 km, while a number of canals link them to Rotterdam and the Rhine.
A brief history
First Roman, then Burgundian, Spanish, Austrian, French and Dutch, the Belgian Provinces gained their independence after the 1830 Revolution. Belgium officially came into being as an independent state organised as a constitutional and parliamentary monarchy.
Belgium, a federal state
Since 1993 Belgium has been a federal state comprising Communities and Regions. The three Communities (Flemish, French and German-speaking) and the three Regions (Flemish, Brussels-Capital and Walloon) took on some powers from the federal state. Nonetheless, the federal government remains responsible for running all aspects of the country that affect the interests of all Belgians. The three official national languages are Dutch, French and German.
The monarchy in Belgium
Belgium has been a constitutional monarchy since it proclaimed its independence in 1830. The head of state is His Majesty King Albert II, the sixth King of the Belgians and symbol of the entire nation. His duties are set out in the Constitution and are exclusively discharged within the federal structure of the state. The monarchy plays a fundamental role in ensuring Belgium's unity.
Tourist destination
Belgium is a favourite tourist destination for all Europeans. Numerous parts of the country derive their income from this sector of the economy.
The Belgian economy
The Belgian economy is characterized by high productivity, low inflation, social calm and political stability, all of which make for great economic prosperity. The level of unemployment is below the European average and is continuing to fall. Exports account for roughly two-thirds of the country's gross national product.
Scientific research
In Belgium, science is traditionally linked to teaching. Since 1874, basic research has been conducted in the country's universities. Playing an active role in scientific research, Belgium occupies a leading position in the domains of microelectronics and genetics. Belgium is also a leader in nuclear research. Belgian epidemiologists were the first to describe the AIDS epidemic in Africa. And it was Belgium that discovered the universal vaccine against influenza.
The Belgians
Two major communities live in Belgium: the Flemings in the north, who speak Dutch, and the Walloons in the south, who speak French. Brussels is bilingual, although the majority of its citizens are French-speaking. In the far eastern corner of the country there is a German-speaking community. Religious freedom is laid down in the Constitution. Most Belgians are Catholics. Like other countries belonging to the European Union, Belgium has smaller and smaller families and is faced with an ageing population. School is mandatory for 12 years, from ages 6 to 18. The Belgians work in agriculture, industry, the service industries (banks, hotels, crèches, etc.), computer science and research.
Famous Belgians
There are many famous Belgians - past and present - who contribute to Belgium's image abroad, in sectors as varied as art, fashion, sport, science, music, painting, the cinema, literature, and so on. Nine Nobel prizes have been awarded to Belgians so far.
Culinary specialities
Chocolate (average consumption 8.3 kg per inhabitant per annum), "pralines", a specialist confectionery made of almonds and caramelised sugar wrapped in chocolate, and beer, of which there are 600 varieties, undeniably help to anchor Belgium's image abroad. But we must not forget the endive, also known as the "white gold" of Belgium. Tradition has it that it was discovered by chance during the troubled times when Belgium wrested its independence. Some typically regional dishes, such as the fish- and seafood-based dishes on the North Sea coast, waterzooi in Ghent (a mixture of chicken and vegetables), pies and sausages in Damme, stoemp and Brussels sprouts, the couques (pastries) in Dinant, and dishes of game, poultry, partridge and pheasants in the Ardennes are just some of the many things for which Belgium is famous in gastronomic circles.
Additional information
National holiday: 21 July (anniversary of the oath taken by the first King of the Belgians, Leopold I)
National anthem: the Brabançonne
Motto: "Unity is strength"
Flag: three vertical bands of equal width, black by the pole, yellow in the middle and red at the outside edge. No inscription or special distinguishing feature.
Currency: On 1 January 1999, Belgium entered the European Monetary Union by introducing the euro (the European single currency). |
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