![]() The Belgian colonial empire gained independence between 19. Between 18, the Congo Free State, which was privately owned by King Leopold II of Belgium, was characterized by widespread atrocities and disease, leading to a population decline of millions amid public outcry in Europe, Belgium annexed the territory as a colony. Belgium has also been the battleground of European powers, earning the moniker the "Battlefield of Europe", a reputation reinforced in the 20th century by both world wars.īelgium participated in the Industrial Revolution, and during the course of the 20th century, possessed a number of colonies in Africa. The name chosen for the new state is derived from the Latin word Belgium, used in Julius Caesar's " Gallic Wars", to describe a nearby region in the period around 55 BCE. The country as it exists today was established following the 1830 Belgian Revolution, when it seceded from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, which had incorporated the Southern Netherlands (which comprised most of modern-day Belgium) after the Congress of Vienna in 1815. ![]() Since the Middle Ages, Belgium's central location near several major rivers has meant that the area has been relatively prosperous, connected commercially and politically to its bigger neighbours. Belgium's linguistic diversity and related political conflicts are reflected in its complex system of governance, made up of six different governments. The Brussels-Capital Region is officially bilingual in French and Dutch, although French is the dominant language. A small German-speaking Community, numbering around one percent, exists in the East Cantons. Belgium is also home to two main linguistic communities: the Flemish Community, which constitutes about 60 percent of the population, and the French Community, which constitutes about 40 percent of the population. Brussels is the smallest and most densely populated region, as well as the richest region in terms of GDP per capita. ![]() It 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. Its institutional organization is complex and is structured on both regional and linguistic grounds. The capital and largest city is Brussels other major cities are Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, Liège, Bruges, Namur, and Leuven.īelgium is a sovereign state and a federal constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. Belgium is part of an area known as the Low Countries, historically a somewhat larger region than the Benelux group of states, as it also included parts of northern France. It covers an area of 30,528 km 2 (11,787 sq mi) and has a population of more than 11.5 million, making it the 22nd most densely populated country in the world and the 6th most densely populated country in Europe, with a density of 376/km 2 (970/sq mi). The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the southwest, and the North Sea to the northwest. eu domain is also used, as it is shared with other European Union member states.īelgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The Brussels region is the de facto capital, but the City of Brussels municipality is the de jure capital.The flag's official proportions of 13:15 are rarely seen proportions of 2:3 or similar are more common.
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