Belgium - Wikipedia

Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Western Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, ... Belgium FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia Jumptonavigation Jumptosearch CountryinWesternEurope ThisarticleisaboutthecountryinWesternEurope.Forotheruses,seeBelgium(disambiguation). "Belgique"redirectshere.ForthecityintheUnitedStates,seeBelgique,Missouri. Coordinates:50°50′N4°00′E/50.833°N4.000°E/50.833;4.000 KingdomofBelgiumKoninkrijkBelgië  (Dutch)RoyaumedeBelgique  (French)KönigreichBelgien  (German) Flag Coatofarms Motto: "Eendrachtmaaktmacht" (Dutch)"L'unionfaitlaforce" (French)"Einigkeitmachtstark" (German)"Unitymakesstrength"Anthem: "LaBrabançonne"(English:"TheBrabantian")Locationof Belgium (darkgreen)– inEurope (green& darkgrey)– intheEuropeanUnion (green)CapitalandlargestcityBrussels50°51′N4°21′E/50.850°N4.350°E/50.850;4.350Official languagesDutchFrenchGermanReligion(2019[1]) 60%Christianity —54%RomanCatholic —6%OtherChristian 31%Noreligion 7%Islam 2%Others Demonym(s)BelgianGovernmentFederalparliamentaryconstitutionalmonarchy[2]• MonarchPhilippe• PrimeMinisterAlexanderDeCroo LegislatureFederalParliament• UpperhouseSenate• LowerhouseChamberofRepresentativesIndependence fromtheNetherlands• Declared4October1830• Recognised19April1839 Area• Total30,689[3] km2(11,849 sq mi)(136th)• Water (%)0.71(asof2015)[4]Population• 2020estimate11,492,641[5](82nd)• Density376/km2(973.8/sq mi)(22nd)GDP (PPP)2020 estimate• Total$575.808billion[6](36th)• Percapita$50,114[6](18th)GDP (nominal)2020 estimate• Total$503.416billion[6](26th)• Percapita$43,814[6](16th)Gini (2020) 25.4[7]lowHDI (2019) 0.919[8]veryhigh · 17thCurrencyEuro(€)(EUR)TimezoneUTC+1(CET)• Summer (DST)UTC+2(CEST)DrivingsiderightCallingcode+32ISO3166codeBEInternetTLD.be Theflag'sofficialproportionsof13:15arerarelyseen;proportionsof2:3orsimilararemorecommon.TheBrusselsregionisthedefactocapital,buttheCityofBrusselsmunicipalityisthedejurecapital.[9]The.eudomainisalsoused,asitissharedwithotherEuropeanUnionmemberstates. Belgium,[A]officiallytheKingdomofBelgium,[B]isacountryinWesternEurope.ThecountryisborderedbytheNetherlandstothenorth,Germanytotheeast,Luxembourgtothesoutheast,Francetothesouthwest,andtheNorthSeatothenorthwest.Itcoversanareaof30,689 km2(11,849 sq mi)andhasapopulationofmorethan11.5 million,makingitthe22ndmostdenselypopulatedcountryintheworldandthe6thmostdenselypopulatedcountryinEurope,withadensityof376persquarekilometre(970/sq mi).ThecapitalandlargestcityisBrussels;othermajorcitiesareAntwerp,Ghent,Charleroi,Liège,Bruges,Namur,andLeuven. Belgiumisasovereignstateandafederalconstitutionalmonarchywithaparliamentarysystem.Itsinstitutionalorganizationiscomplexandisstructuredonbothregionalandlinguisticgrounds.Itisdividedintothreehighlyautonomousregions:[10]theFlemishRegion(Flanders)inthenorth,theWalloonRegion(Wallonia)inthesouth,andtheBrussels-CapitalRegion.[11]Brusselsisthesmallestandmostdenselypopulatedregion,aswellastherichestregionintermsofGDPpercapita. Belgiumishometotwomainlinguisticcommunities:theDutch-speakingFlemishCommunity,whichconstitutesabout60percentofthepopulation,andtheFrench-speakingCommunity,whichconstitutesabout40percentofthepopulation.AsmallGerman-speakingCommunity,numberingaroundonepercent,existsintheEastCantons.TheBrussels-CapitalRegionisofficiallybilingualinFrenchandDutch,[12]althoughFrenchisthedominantlanguage.[13]Belgium'slinguisticdiversityandrelatedpoliticalconflictsarereflectedinitscomplexsystemofgovernance,madeupofsixdifferentgovernments. Thecountryasitexiststodaywasestablishedfollowingthe1830BelgianRevolution,whenitsecededfromtheNetherlands,whichhaditselfonlyexistedsince1815.ThenamechosenforthenewstateisderivedfromtheLatinwordBelgium,usedinJuliusCaesar's"GallicWars",todescribeanearbyregionintheperiodaround55BCE.[14]BelgiumispartofanareaknownastheLowCountries,historicallyasomewhatlargerregionthantheBeneluxgroupofstates,asitalsoincludedpartsofnorthernFrance.SincetheMiddleAges,itscentrallocationnearseveralmajorrivershasmeantthattheareahasbeenrelativelyprosperous,connectedcommerciallyandpoliticallytoitsbiggerneighbours.BelgiumhasalsobeenthebattlegroundofEuropeanpowers,earningthemonikerthe"BattlefieldofEurope",[15]areputationstrengthenedinthe20thcenturybybothworldwars. BelgiumparticipatedintheIndustrialRevolution[16][17]and,duringthecourseofthe20thcentury,possessedanumberofcoloniesinAfrica.[18]Between1888and1908,LeopoldII,kingofBelgium,perpetratedoneofthelargestmassacresinhumanhistoryinCongoFreeState,whichwashisprivateestate,andnotyetacolonyofBelgium.Estimatesofthedeathtollaredisputedbutmillionsofpeople,asignificantpartofthepopulation,diedforthesakeofrubberandivoryexports.[19] Thesecondhalfofthe20thcenturywasmarkedbyrisingtensionsbetweentheDutch-speakingandtheFrench-speakingcitizensfuelledbydifferencesinlanguageandcultureandtheunequaleconomicdevelopmentofFlandersandWallonia.Thiscontinuingantagonismhasledtoseveralfar-reachingreforms,resultinginatransitionfromaunitarytoafederalarrangementduringtheperiodfrom1970to1993.Despitethereforms,tensionsbetweenthegroupshaveremained,ifnotincreased;thereissignificantseparatismparticularlyamongtheFlemish;controversiallanguagelawsexistsuchasthemunicipalitieswithlanguagefacilities;[20]andtheformationofacoalitiongovernmenttook18monthsfollowingtheJune2010federalelection,aworldrecord.[21]UnemploymentinWalloniaismorethandoublethatofFlanders,whichboomedaftertheSecondWorldWar.[22] BelgiumisoneofthesixfoundingcountriesoftheEuropeanUnionanditscapital,Brussels,hoststheofficialseatsoftheEuropeanCommission,theCounciloftheEuropeanUnion,andtheEuropeanCouncil,aswellasoneoftwoseatsoftheEuropeanParliament(theotherbeingStrasbourg).BelgiumisalsoafoundingmemberoftheEurozone,NATO,OECD,andWTO,andapartofthetrilateralBeneluxUnionandtheSchengenArea.BrusselshoststheheadquartersofmanymajorinternationalorganizationssuchasNATO.[C] Belgiumisadevelopedcountry,withanadvancedhigh-incomeeconomy.Ithasveryhighstandardsofliving,qualityoflife,[23]healthcare,[24]education,[25]andiscategorizedas"veryhigh"intheHumanDevelopmentIndex.[26]Italsoranksasoneofthesafestormostpeacefulcountriesintheworld.[27] Contents 1History 1.1Antiquity 1.2MiddleAges 1.3BurgundianandHabsburgNetherlands 1.4SpanishandAustrianNetherlands 1.5TheFrenchrevolutionandtheKingdomoftheNetherlands 1.6IndependentBelgium 2Geography 2.1Provinces 3Politics 3.1Politicalculture 3.2Communitiesandregions 3.3Locusofpolicyjurisdiction 3.4Foreignrelations 3.5Armedforces 4Economy 4.1Scienceandtechnology 5Demographics 5.1Migration 5.2Languages 5.3Religion 5.4Health 5.5Education 6Culture 6.1Finearts 6.2Folklore 6.3Cuisine 6.4Sports 7Seealso 8Footnotes 9References 9.1Onlinesources 9.2Bibliography 10Externallinks 10.1Government 10.2General History Mainarticle:HistoryofBelgium Antiquity GalliaBelgicaatthetimeofJuliusCaesar'sconquestofGaulin54BCE Gaulisdividedintothreeparts,oneofwhichtheBelgaeinhabit,theAquitanianother,thosewhointheirownlanguagearecalledCelts,inoursGauls,thethird. (...)Ofallthese,theBelgaearethestrongest(...). —JuliusCaesar,DeBelloGallico,BookI,Ch.1 TheBelgaeweretheinhabitantsofthenorthernmostpartofGaul,whichwasmuchbiggerthanmodernBelgium.CaesarusedtheLatinword"Belgium",torefertotheircountrywithinnorthernGaul,whichwasaregionnowinnorthernFrance.[28]ModernBelgiumcorrespondstothelandsoftheMorini,Menapii,Nervii,GermaniCisrhenani,Aduatuci,and,aroundArlon,apartofthecountryoftheTreveri.AlloftheseexcepttheTreveriformedalessCeltic-influenced"transitionzone",northoftheareaCaesartreatedas"Belgium". AfterCaesar'sconquests,GalliaBelgicacametobetheLatinnameofalargeRomanprovincecoveringmostofNorthernGaul,includingtheTreveri.AreasclosertothelowerRhinefrontier,includingtheeasternpartofmodernBelgium,eventuallybecamepartofthefrontierprovinceofGermaniaInferior,whichinteractedwithGermanictribesoutsidetheempire.AtthetimewhencentralgovernmentcollapsedintheWesternRomanEmpire,theRomanprovincesofBelgicaandGermaniawereinhabitedbyamixofaRomanizedpopulationandGermanic-speakingFrankswhocametodominatethemilitaryandpoliticalclass. MiddleAges Duringthe5thcentury,theareacameundertheruleoftheFrankishMerovingiankings,whowereprobablyfirstestablishedinwhatisnorthernFrance.Duringthe8thcentury,thekingdomoftheFrankscametoberuledbytheCarolingianDynasty,whosecentreofpowerwastheareawhichisnoweasternBelgium.[29]Thefrankishkingdomhadbeendividedupinmanyways,buttheTreatyofVerdunin843dividedtheCarolingianEmpireintothreekingdoms,whosebordershadalastingimpactonmedievalpoliticalboundaries.MostofmodernBelgiumwasintheMiddleKingdom,laterknownasLotharingia,butthecoastalcountyofFlanders,westoftheScheldt,becamepartofWestFrancia,thepredecessorofFrance.In870intheTreatyofMeerssen,modernBelgiumlandsallbecamepartofthewesternkingdomforaperiod,butin880intheTreatyofRibemont,LotharingiareturnedtothelastingcontroloftheHolyRomanEmperor.Thelordshipsandbishopricsalongthe"March"(frontier)betweenthetwogreatkingdomsmaintainedimportantconnectionsbetweeneachother.ThecountyofFlandersexpandedovertheScheldtintotheempire,andduringseveralperiodswasruledbythesamelordsasthecountyofHainaut. Inthe13thand14thcenturies,theclothindustryandcommerceboomedespeciallyintheCountyofFlandersanditbecameoneoftherichestareasinEurope.ThisprosperityplayedaroleinconflictsbetweenFlandersandthekingofFrance.Famously,FlemishmilitiasscoredasurprisevictoryattheBattleoftheGoldenSpursagainstastrongforceofmountedknightsin1302,butFrancesoonregainedcontroloftherebelliousprovince. BurgundianandHabsburgNetherlands TheBurgundianStateofCharlestheBoldinthe15thcentury Inthe15thcentury,theDukeofBurgundyinFrancetookcontrolofFlanders,andfromtheretheyproceededtounitemuchofwhatisnowtheBenelux,theso-calledBurgundianNetherlands.[30]"Belgium"and"Flanders"werethefirsttwocommonnamesusedfortheBurgundianNetherlandswhichwasthepredecessoroftheAustrianNetherlands,thepredecessorofmodernBelgium.[31]Theunion,technicallystretchingbetweentwokingdoms,gavetheareaeconomicandpoliticalstabilitywhichledtoanevengreaterprosperityandartisticcreation. BorninBelgium,theHabsburgEmperorCharles VwasheiroftheBurgundians,butalsooftheroyalfamiliesofAustria,CastileandAragon.WiththePragmaticSanctionof1549hegavetheSeventeenProvincesmorelegitimacyasastableentity,ratherthanjustatemporarypersonalunion.HealsoincreasedtheinfluenceoftheseNetherlandsoverthePrince-BishopricofLiège,whichcontinuedtoexistasalargesemi-independentenclave.[32] SpanishandAustrianNetherlands TheEightyYears'War(1568–1648),wastriggeredbytheSpanishgovernment'spolicytowardsprotestantism,whichwasbecomingpopularintheLowCountries.TherebelliousnorthernUnitedProvinces(BelgicaFoederatainLatin,the"FederatedNetherlands")eventuallyseparatedfromtheSouthernNetherlands(BelgicaRegia,the"RoyalNetherlands").ThelatterwereruledsuccessivelybytheSpanish(SpanishNetherlands)andtheAustrianHabsburgs(AustrianNetherlands)andcomprisedmostofmodernBelgium.Thiswasthetheatreofseveralmoreprotractedconflictsduringmuchofthe17thand18thcenturiesinvolvingFrance,includingtheFranco-DutchWar(1672–1678),theNineYears'War(1688–1697),theWaroftheSpanishSuccession(1701–1714),andpartoftheWaroftheAustrianSuccession(1740–1748). TheFrenchrevolutionandtheKingdomoftheNetherlands Followingthecampaignsof1794intheFrenchRevolutionaryWars,theLowCountries –includingterritoriesthatwerenevernominallyunderHabsburgrule,suchasthePrince-BishopricofLiège –wereannexedbytheFrenchFirstRepublic,endingAustrianruleintheregion.AreunificationoftheLowCountriesastheUnitedKingdomoftheNetherlandsoccurredatthedissolutionoftheFirstFrenchEmpirein1814,aftertheabdicationofNapoleon. IndependentBelgium EpisodeoftheBelgianRevolutionof1830,GustafWappers,1834 In1830,theBelgianRevolutionledtotheseparationoftheSouthernProvincesfromtheNetherlandsandtotheestablishmentofaCatholicandbourgeois,officiallyFrench-speakingandneutral,independentBelgiumunderaprovisionalgovernmentandanationalcongress.[33][34]SincetheinstallationofLeopold Iaskingon21July1831,nowcelebratedasBelgium'sNationalDay,Belgiumhasbeenaconstitutionalmonarchyandparliamentarydemocracy,withalaicistconstitutionbasedontheNapoleoniccode.[35]Althoughthefranchisewasinitiallyrestricted,universalsuffrageformenwasintroducedafterthegeneralstrikeof1893(withpluralvotinguntil1919)andforwomenin1949. Themainpoliticalpartiesofthe19thcenturyweretheCatholicPartyandtheLiberalParty,withtheBelgianLabourPartyemergingtowardstheendofthe19thcentury.Frenchwasoriginallythesingleofficiallanguageadoptedbythenobilityandthebourgeoisie.ItprogressivelylostitsoverallimportanceasDutchbecamerecognizedaswell.Thisrecognitionbecameofficialin1898,andin1967,theparliamentacceptedaDutchversionoftheConstitution.[36] TheBerlinConferenceof1885cededcontroloftheCongoFreeStatetoKingLeopold IIashisprivatepossession.Fromaround1900therewasgrowinginternationalconcernfortheextremeandsavagetreatmentoftheCongolesepopulationunderLeopold II,forwhomtheCongowasprimarilyasourceofrevenuefromivoryandrubberproduction.[37]ManyCongolesewerekilledbyLeopold'sagentsforfailingtomeetproductionquotasforivoryandrubber.[38]In1908,thisoutcryledtheBelgianstatetoassumeresponsibilityforthegovernmentofthecolony,henceforthcalledtheBelgianCongo.[39]ABelgiancommissionin1919estimatedthatCongo'spopulationwashalfwhatitwasin1879.[38] CheeringcrowdsgreetBritishtroopsenteringBrussels,4September1944 GermanyinvadedBelgiuminAugust1914aspartoftheSchlieffenPlantoattackFrance,andmuchoftheWesternFrontfightingofWorldWarIoccurredinwesternpartsofthecountry.TheopeningmonthsofthewarwereknownastheRapeofBelgiumduetoGermanexcesses.BelgiumassumedcontroloftheGermancoloniesofRuanda-Urundi(modern-dayRwandaandBurundi)duringthewar,andin1924theLeagueofNationsmandatedthemtoBelgium.IntheaftermathoftheFirstWorldWar,BelgiumannexedthePrussiandistrictsofEupenandMalmedyin1925,therebycausingthepresenceofaGerman-speakingminority. GermanforcesagaininvadedthecountryinMay1940,and40,690Belgians,overhalfofthemJews,werekilledduringthesubsequentoccupationandTheHolocaust.FromSeptember1944toFebruary1945theAlliesliberatedBelgium.AfterWorldWar II,ageneralstrikeforcedKingLeopold IIItoabdicatein1951infavourofhisson,PrinceBaudouin,sincemanyBelgiansfelthehadcollaboratedwithGermanyduringthewar.[40]TheBelgianCongogainedindependencein1960duringtheCongoCrisis;[41]Ruanda-Urundifollowedwithitsindependencetwoyearslater.BelgiumjoinedNATOasafoundingmemberandformedtheBeneluxgroupofnationswiththeNetherlandsandLuxembourg. BelgiumbecameoneofthesixfoundingmembersoftheEuropeanCoalandSteelCommunityin1951andoftheEuropeanAtomicEnergyCommunityandEuropeanEconomicCommunity,establishedin1957.ThelatterhasnowbecometheEuropeanUnion,forwhichBelgiumhostsmajoradministrationsandinstitutions,includingtheEuropeanCommission,theCounciloftheEuropeanUnionandtheextraordinaryandcommitteesessionsoftheEuropeanParliament. Intheearly1990s,BelgiumsawseverallargecorruptionscandalsnotablysurroundingMarcDutroux,AndreCools,theDioxinAffair,AgustaScandalandthemurderofKarelvanNoppen. Geography Mainarticle:GeographyofBelgium ReliefmapofBelgium BelgiumsharesborderswithFrance(620 km),Germany(167 km),Luxembourg(148 km)andtheNetherlands(450 km).Itstotalsurface,includingwaterarea,is30,689 km2(11,849 sq mi).Before2018,itstotalareawasbelievedtobe30,528 km2(11,787 sq mi).However,whenthecountry'sstatisticsweremeasuredin2018,anewcalculationmethodwasused.Unlikepreviouscalculations,thisoneincludedtheareafromthecoasttothelow-waterline,revealingthecountrytobe160 km2(62 sq mi)largerinsurfaceareathanpreviouslythought.[42][43]Itslandareaaloneis30,278 km2.[44][needsupdate]Itliesbetweenlatitudes49°30'and51°30'N,andlongitudes2°33'and6°24'E.[45] Belgiumhasthreemaingeographicalregions;thecoastalplaininthenorthwestandthecentralplateaubothbelongtotheAnglo-BelgianBasin,andtheArdennesuplandsinthesoutheasttotheHercynianorogenicbelt.TheParisBasinreachesasmallfourthareaatBelgium'ssouthernmosttip,BelgianLorraine.[46] Thecoastalplainconsistsmainlyofsanddunesandpolders.Furtherinlandliesasmooth,slowlyrisinglandscapeirrigatedbynumerouswaterways,withfertilevalleysandthenortheasternsandyplainoftheCampine(Kempen).ThethicklyforestedhillsandplateausoftheArdennesaremoreruggedandrockywithcavesandsmallgorges.ExtendingwestwardintoFrance,thisareaiseastwardlyconnectedtotheEifelinGermanybytheHighFensplateau,onwhichtheSignaldeBotrangeformsthecountry'shighestpointat694 m(2,277 ft).[47][48] TheMeuseriverbetweenDinantandHastière HighFenslandscapeneartheGermanborder Theclimateismaritimetemperatewithsignificantprecipitationinallseasons(Köppenclimateclassification:Cfb),likemostofnorthwestEurope.[49]TheaveragetemperatureislowestinJanuaryat3 °C(37.4 °F)andhighestinJulyat18 °C(64.4 °F).Theaverageprecipitationpermonthvariesbetween54 mm(2.1 in)forFebruaryandApril,to78 mm(3.1 in)forJuly.[50]Averagesfortheyears2000to2006showdailytemperatureminimumsof7 °C(44.6 °F)andmaximumsof14 °C(57.2 °F)andmonthlyrainfallof74 mm(2.9 in);theseareabout1 °Candnearly10millimetresabovelastcentury'snormalvalues,respectively.[51] Phytogeographically,BelgiumissharedbetweentheAtlanticEuropeanandCentralEuropeanprovincesoftheCircumborealRegionwithintheBorealKingdom.[52]AccordingtotheWorldWideFundforNature,theterritoryofBelgiumbelongstotheterrestrialecoregionsofAtlanticmixedforestsandWesternEuropeanbroadleafforests.[53][54]Belgiumhada2018ForestLandscapeIntegrityIndexmeanscoreof1.36/10,rankingit163rdgloballyoutof172countries.[55] Provinces  Antwerp  EastFlanders  Flemish       Brabant  Hainaut  Liège  Limburg  Luxembourg  Namur  WalloonBrabant  WestFlanders    Flanders    Wallonia    Brussels Mainarticle:ProvincesofBelgium TheterritoryofBelgiumisdividedintothreeRegions,twoofwhich,theFlemishRegionandWalloonRegion,areinturnsubdividedintoprovinces;thethirdRegion,theBrusselsCapitalRegion,isneitheraprovincenorapartofaprovince. Province Dutchname Frenchname Germanname Capital Area[3] Population(1January2019)[5] Density ISO3166-2:BE[citationneeded] FlemishRegion  Antwerp Antwerpen Anvers Antwerpen Antwerp 2,876 km2(1,110 sq mi) 1,857,986 647/km2(1,680/sq mi) VAN  EastFlanders Oost-Vlaanderen Flandreorientale Ostflandern Ghent 3,007 km2(1,161 sq mi) 1,515,064 504/km2(1,310/sq mi) VOV  FlemishBrabant Vlaams-Brabant Brabantflamand Flämisch-Brabant Leuven 2,118 km2(818 sq mi) 1,146,175 542/km2(1,400/sq mi) VBR  Limburg Limburg Limbourg Limburg Hasselt 2,427 km2(937 sq mi) 874,048 361/km2(930/sq mi) VLI  WestFlanders West-Vlaanderen Flandreoccidentale Westflandern Bruges 3,197 km2(1,234 sq mi) 1,195,796 375/km2(970/sq mi) VWV WalloonRegion  Hainaut Henegouwen Hainaut Hennegau Mons 3,813 km2(1,472 sq mi) 1,344,241 353/km2(910/sq mi) WHT  Liège Luik Liège Lüttich Liège 3,857 km2(1,489 sq mi) 1,106,992 288/km2(750/sq mi) WLG  Luxembourg Luxemburg Luxembourg Luxemburg Arlon 4,459 km2(1,722 sq mi) 284,638 64/km2(170/sq mi) WLX  Namur Namen Namur Namur(Namür) Namur 3,675 km2(1,419 sq mi) 494,325 135/km2(350/sq mi) WNA  WalloonBrabant Waals-Brabant Brabantwallon Wallonisch-Brabant Wavre 1,097 km2(424 sq mi) 403,599 368/km2(950/sq mi) WBR BrusselsCapitalRegion  BrusselsCapitalRegion BrusselsHoofdstedelijkGewest RégiondeBruxelles-Capitale RegionBrüssel-Hauptstadt BrusselsCity 162.4 km2(62.7 sq mi) 1,208,542 7,442/km2(19,270/sq mi) BBR Total België Belgique Belgien BrusselsCity 30,689 km2(11,849 sq mi) 11,431,406 373/km2(970/sq mi) Politics Mainarticles:PoliticsofBelgiumandBelgianfederalgovernment PhilippeKingoftheBelgianssince2013AlexanderDeCrooPrimeMinistersince2020 ChartillustratingthefederalgovernmentconstructionofBelgium Belgiumisaconstitutional,popularmonarchyandafederalparliamentarydemocracy.ThebicameralfederalparliamentiscomposedofaSenateandaChamberofRepresentatives.Theformerismadeupof50senatorsappointedbytheparliamentsofthecommunitiesandregionsand10co-optedsenators.Priorto2014,mostoftheSenate'smembersweredirectlyelected.TheChamber's150representativesareelectedunderaproportionalvotingsystemfrom11electoraldistricts.Belgiumhascompulsoryvotingandthusmaintainsoneofthehighestratesofvoterturnoutintheworld.[56] TheKing(currentlyPhilippe)istheheadofstate,thoughwithlimitedprerogatives.Heappointsministers,includingaPrimeMinister,thathavetheconfidenceoftheChamberofRepresentativestoformthefederalgovernment.TheCouncilofMinistersiscomposedofnomorethanfifteenmembers.WiththepossibleexceptionofthePrimeMinister,theCouncilofMinistersiscomposedofanequalnumberofDutch-speakingmembersandFrench-speakingmembers.[57] ThejudicialsystemisbasedoncivillawandoriginatesfromtheNapoleoniccode.TheCourtofCassationisthecourtoflastresort,withthecourtsofappealonelevelbelow.[58] Politicalculture Belgium'spoliticalinstitutionsarecomplex;mostpoliticalpowerrestsonrepresentationofthemainculturalcommunities.[59] Sinceabout1970,thesignificantnationalBelgianpoliticalpartieshavesplitintodistinctcomponentsthatmainlyrepresentthepoliticalandlinguisticinterestsofthesecommunities.[60] Themajorpartiesineachcommunity,thoughclosetothepoliticalcenter,belongtothreemaingroups:ChristianDemocrats,Liberals,andSocialDemocrats.[61] Furthernotablepartiescameintobeingwellafterthemiddleoflastcentury,mainlytorepresentlinguistic,nationalist,orenvironmentalinterests,andrecentlysmalleronesofsomespecificliberalnature.[60] TheBelgianFederalParliamentinBrussels,oneofsixdifferentgovernmentsofthecountry AstringofChristianDemocratcoalitiongovernmentsfrom1958wasbrokenin1999afterthefirstdioxincrisis,amajorfoodcontaminationscandal.[62][63][64]A"rainbowcoalition"emergedfromsixparties:theFlemishandtheFrench-speakingLiberals,SocialDemocratsandGreens.[65]Later,a"purplecoalition"ofLiberalsandSocialDemocratsformedaftertheGreenslostmostoftheirseatsinthe2003election.[66] ThegovernmentledbyPrimeMinisterGuyVerhofstadtfrom1999to2007achievedabalancedbudget,sometaxreforms,alabor-marketreform,schedulednuclearphase-outandinstigatedlegislationallowingmorestringentwarcrimeandmorelenientsoftdrugusageprosecution.Restrictionsonwithholdingeuthanasiawerereducedandsame-sexmarriagelegalized.ThegovernmentpromotedactivediplomacyinAfrica[67]andopposedtheinvasionofIraq.[68]Itistheonlycountrythatdoesnothaveagerestrictionsoneuthanasia.[69] Verhofstadt'scoalitionfaredbadlyintheJune2007elections.Formorethanayear,thecountryexperiencedapoliticalcrisis.[70]ThiscrisiswassuchthatmanyobserversspeculatedonapossiblepartitionofBelgium.[71][72][73]From21December2007until20March2008thetemporaryVerhofstadt IIIGovernmentwasinoffice.ThiscoalitionoftheFlemishandFrancophoneChristianDemocrats,theFlemishandFrancophoneLiberalstogetherwiththeFrancophoneSocialDemocratswasaninterimgovernmentuntil20March2008.[74] Onthatdayanewgovernment,ledbyFlemishChristianDemocratYvesLeterme,theactualwinnerofthefederalelectionsofJune2007,wassworninbytheking.On15July2008Letermeannouncedtheresignationofthecabinettotheking,asnoprogressinconstitutionalreformshadbeenmade.[74] InDecember2008,heoncemoreofferedhisresignationtothekingafteracrisissurroundingthesaleofFortistoBNPParibas.[75]Atthisjuncture,hisresignationwasacceptedandChristianDemocraticandFlemishHermanVanRompuywassworninasPrimeMinisteron30December2008.[76] AfterHermanVanRompuywasdesignatedthefirstpermanentPresidentoftheEuropeanCouncilon19November2009,heofferedtheresignationofhisgovernmenttoKingAlbert IIon25November2009.Afewhourslater,thenewgovernmentunderPrimeMinisterYvesLetermewasswornin.On22April2010,Letermeagainofferedtheresignationofhiscabinettotheking[77]afteroneofthecoalitionpartners,theOpenVLD,withdrewfromthegovernment,andon26April2010KingAlbertofficiallyacceptedtheresignation.[78] TheParliamentaryelectionsinBelgiumon13June2010sawtheFlemishnationalistN-VAbecomethelargestpartyinFlanders,andtheSocialistPartyPSthelargestpartyinWallonia.[79]UntilDecember2011,BelgiumwasgovernedbyLeterme'scaretakergovernmentawaitingtheendofthedeadlockednegotiationsforformationofanewgovernment.By30March2011,thissetanewworldrecordfortheelapsedtimewithoutanofficialgovernment,previouslyheldbywar-tornIraq.[80]Finally,inDecember2011theDiRupoGovernmentledbyWalloonsocialistPrimeMinisterElioDiRupowasswornin.[81] The2014federalelection(coincidingwiththeregionalelections)resultedinafurtherelectoralgainfortheFlemishnationalistN-VA,althoughtheincumbentcoalition(composedofFlemishandFrench-speakingSocialDemocrats,Liberals,andChristianDemocrats)maintainsasolidmajorityinParliamentandinallelectoralconstituencies.On22July2014,KingPhilippenominatedCharlesMichel(MR)andKrisPeeters(CD&V)toleadtheformationofanewfederalcabinetcomposedoftheFlemishpartiesN-VA,CD&V,OpenVldandtheFrench-speakingMR,whichresultedintheMichelGovernment.ItwasthefirsttimeN-VAwaspartofthefederalcabinet,whiletheFrench-speakingsidewasrepresentedonlybytheMR,whichachievedaminorityofthepublicvotesinWallonia.[82] InMay2019federalelectionsintheFlemish-speakingnorthernregionofFlandersfar-rightVlaamsBelangpartymademajorgains.IntheFrench-speakingsouthernareaofWalloniatheSocialistswerestrong.ThemoderateFlemishnationalistpartytheN-VAremainedthelargestpartyinparliament.[83] InJuly2019primeministerCharlesMichelwasselectedtoholdthepostofPresidentoftheEuropeanCouncil.[84]HissuccessorSophieWilmèswasBelgium'sfirstfemaleprimeminister.SheledthecaretakergovernmentsinceOctober2019.[85]TheFlemishLiberalpartypoliticianAlexanderDeCroobecamenewprimeministerinOctober2020.Thepartieshadagreedonfederalgovernment16monthsaftertheelections.[86] Communitiesandregions Mainarticle:Communities,regionsandlanguageareasofBelgium Communities:  FlemishCommunity/Dutchlanguagearea  Flemish&FrenchCommunity/bilinguallanguagearea  FrenchCommunity/Frenchlanguagearea  German-speakingCommunity/Germanlanguagearea Regions:  FlemishRegion/Dutchlanguagearea  Brussels-CapitalRegion/bilingualarea  WalloonRegion/FrenchandGermanlanguageareas FollowingausagewhichcanbetracedbacktotheBurgundianandHabsburgcourts,[87]inthe19thcenturyitwasnecessarytospeakFrenchtobelongtothegoverningupperclass,andthosewhocouldonlyspeakDutchwereeffectivelysecond-classcitizens.[88]Latethatcentury,andcontinuingintothe20thcentury,Flemishmovementsevolvedtocounterthissituation.[89] WhilethepeopleinSouthernBelgiumspokeFrenchordialectsofFrench,andmostBrusselersadoptedFrenchastheirfirstlanguage,theFlemingsrefusedtodosoandsucceededprogressivelyinmakingDutchanequallanguageintheeducationsystem.[89]FollowingWorldWar II,Belgianpoliticsbecameincreasinglydominatedbytheautonomyofitstwomainlinguisticcommunities.[90]Intercommunaltensionsroseandtheconstitutionwasamendedtominimizethepotentialforconflict.[90] Basedonthefourlanguageareasdefinedin1962–63(theDutch,bilingual,FrenchandGermanlanguageareas),consecutiverevisionsofthecountry'sconstitutionin1970,1980,1988and1993establishedauniqueformofafederalstatewithsegregatedpoliticalpowerintothreelevels:[91][92] Thefederalgovernment,basedinBrussels. Thethreelanguagecommunities: theFlemishCommunity(Dutch-speaking); theFrenchCommunity(French-speaking); theGerman-speakingCommunity. Thethreeregions: theFlemishRegion,subdividedintofiveprovinces; theWalloonRegion,subdividedintofiveprovinces; theBrussels-CapitalRegion. Theconstitutionallanguageareasdeterminetheofficiallanguagesintheirmunicipalities,aswellasthegeographicallimitsoftheempoweredinstitutionsforspecificmatters.[93]AlthoughthiswouldallowforsevenparliamentsandgovernmentswhentheCommunitiesandRegionswerecreatedin1980,Flemishpoliticiansdecidedtomergeboth.[94]ThustheFlemingsjusthaveonesingleinstitutionalbodyofparliamentandgovernmentisempoweredforallexceptfederalandspecificmunicipalmatters.[D] TheoverlappingboundariesoftheRegionsandCommunitieshavecreatedtwonotablepeculiarities:theterritoryoftheBrussels-CapitalRegion(whichcameintoexistencenearlyadecadeaftertheotherregions)isincludedinboththeFlemishandFrenchCommunities,andtheterritoryoftheGerman-speakingCommunitylieswhollywithintheWalloonRegion.ConflictsaboutjurisdictionbetweenthebodiesareresolvedbytheConstitutionalCourtofBelgium.Thestructureisintendedasacompromisetoallowdifferentculturestolivetogetherpeacefully.[16] Locusofpolicyjurisdiction TheFederalState'sauthorityincludesjustice,defense,federalpolice,socialsecurity,nuclearenergy,monetarypolicyandpublicdebt,andotheraspectsofpublicfinances.State-ownedcompaniesincludetheBelgianPostGroupandBelgianRailways.TheFederalGovernmentisresponsiblefortheobligationsofBelgiumanditsfederalizedinstitutionstowardstheEuropeanUnionandNATO.Itcontrolssubstantialpartsofpublichealth,homeaffairsandforeignaffairs.[95]Thebudget—withoutthedebt—controlledbythefederalgovernmentamountstoabout50%ofthenationalfiscalincome.Thefederalgovernmentemploysaround12%ofthecivilservants.[96] Communitiesexercisetheirauthorityonlywithinlinguisticallydeterminedgeographicalboundaries,originallyorientedtowardstheindividualsofaCommunity'slanguage:culture(includingaudiovisualmedia),educationandtheuseoftherelevantlanguage.Extensionstopersonalmatterslessdirectlyconnectedwithlanguagecomprisehealthpolicy(curativeandpreventivemedicine)andassistancetoindividuals(protectionofyouth,socialwelfare,aidtofamilies,immigrantassistanceservices,andsoon.).[97] Regionshaveauthorityinfieldsthatcanbebroadlyassociatedwiththeirterritory.Theseincludeeconomy,employment,agriculture,waterpolicy,housing,publicworks,energy,transport,theenvironment,townandcountryplanning,natureconservation,creditandforeigntrade.Theysupervisetheprovinces,municipalitiesandintercommunalutilitycompanies.[98] Inseveralfields,thedifferentlevelseachhavetheirownsayonspecifics.Witheducation,forinstance,theautonomyoftheCommunitiesneitherincludesdecisionsaboutthecompulsoryaspectnorallowsforsettingminimumrequirementsforawardingqualifications,whichremainfederalmatters.[95]Eachlevelofgovernmentcanbeinvolvedinscientificresearchandinternationalrelationsassociatedwithitspowers.Thetreaty-makingpoweroftheRegions'andCommunities'GovernmentsisthebroadestofalltheFederatingunitsofalltheFederationsallovertheworld.[99][100][101] Foreignrelations Mainarticle:ForeignrelationsofBelgium BecauseofitslocationatthecrossroadsofWesternEurope,Belgiumhashistoricallybeentherouteofinvadingarmiesfromitslargerneighbors.Withvirtuallydefenselessborders,Belgiumhastraditionallysoughttoavoiddominationbythemorepowerfulnationswhichsurrounditthroughapolicyofmediation.TheBelgianshavebeenstrongadvocatesofEuropeanintegration.BoththeEuropeanUnionandNATOareheadquarteredinBelgium. Armedforces Mainarticle:BelgianArmedForces TheBelgianArmedForceshaveabout47,000activetroops.In2019,Belgium'sdefensebudgettotaled€4.303 billion($4.921 billion)representing.93%ofitsGDP.[102]Theyareorganizedintooneunifiedstructurewhichconsistsoffourmaincomponents:LandComponentortheArmy,AirComponentortheAirForce,MarineComponentortheNavyandtheMedicalComponent.TheoperationalcommandsofthefourcomponentsaresubordinatetotheStaffDepartmentforOperationsandTrainingoftheMinistryofDefense,whichisheadedbytheAssistantChiefofStaffOperationsandTraining,andtotheChiefofDefense.[103] TheeffectsoftheSecondWorldWarmadecollectivesecurityapriorityforBelgianforeignpolicy.InMarch1948BelgiumsignedtheTreatyofBrusselsandthenjoinedNATOin1948.However,theintegrationofthearmedforcesintoNATOdidnotbeginuntilaftertheKoreanWar.[104]TheBelgians,alongwiththeLuxembourggovernment,sentadetachmentofbattalionstrengthtofightinKoreaknownastheBelgianUnitedNationsCommand.ThismissionwasthefirstinalonglineofUNmissionswhichtheBelgianssupported.Currently,theBelgianMarineComponentisworkingcloselytogetherwiththeDutchNavyunderthecommandoftheAdmiralBenelux. Economy Mainarticle:EconomyofBelgium Belgiumispartofamonetaryunion,theeurozone(darkblue),andoftheEUsinglemarket. AproportionalrepresentationofBelgiumexports,2019 Belgium'sstronglyglobalizedeconomy[105]anditstransportinfrastructureareintegratedwiththerestofEurope.Itslocationattheheartofahighlyindustrializedregionhelpedmakeittheworld's15thlargesttradingnationin2007.[106][107]Theeconomyischaracterizedbyahighlyproductiveworkforce,highGNPandhighexportspercapita.[108]Belgium'smainimportsarerawmaterials,machineryandequipment,chemicals,rawdiamonds,pharmaceuticals,foodstuffs,transportationequipment,andoilproducts.Itsmainexportsaremachineryandequipment,chemicals,finisheddiamonds,metalsandmetalproducts,andfoodstuffs.[44] TheBelgianeconomyisheavilyservice-orientedandshowsadualnature:adynamicFlemisheconomyandaWallooneconomythatlagsbehind.[16][109][E]OneofthefoundingmembersoftheEuropeanUnion,BelgiumstronglysupportsanopeneconomyandtheextensionofthepowersofEUinstitutionstointegratemembereconomies.Since1922,throughtheBelgium-LuxembourgEconomicUnion,BelgiumandLuxembourghavebeenasingletrademarketwithcustomsandcurrencyunion.[110] SteelmakingalongtheMeuseatOugrée,nearLiège BelgiumwasthefirstcontinentalEuropeancountrytoundergotheIndustrialRevolution,intheearly19thcentury.[111]AreasinLiègeProvinceandaroundCharleroirapidlydevelopedminingandsteelmaking,whichflourisheduntilthemid-20thcenturyintheSambreandMeusevalleyandmadeBelgiumoneofthethreemostindustrializednationsintheworldfrom1830to1910.[112][113]However,bythe1840sthetextileindustryofFlanderswasinseverecrisis,andtheregionexperiencedfaminefrom1846to1850.[114][115] AfterWorldWarII,GhentandAntwerpexperiencedarapidexpansionofthechemicalandpetroleumindustries.The1973and1979oilcrisessenttheeconomyintoarecession;itwasparticularlyprolongedinWallonia,wherethesteelindustryhadbecomelesscompetitiveandexperiencedaseriousdecline.[116]Inthe1980sand1990s,theeconomiccenterofthecountrycontinuedtoshiftnorthwardsandisnowconcentratedinthepopulousFlemishDiamondarea.[117] Bytheendofthe1980s,Belgianmacroeconomicpolicieshadresultedinacumulativegovernmentdebtofabout120%ofGDP.Asof2006[update],thebudgetwasbalancedandpublicdebtwasequalto90.30%ofGDP.[118]In2005and2006,realGDPgrowthratesof1.5%and3.0%,respectively,wereslightlyabovetheaveragefortheEuroarea.Unemploymentratesof8.4%in2005and8.2%in2006wereclosetotheareaaverage.ByOctober2010,thishadgrownto8.5%comparedtoanaveragerateof9.6%fortheEuropeanUnionasawhole(EU27).[119][120]From1832until2002,Belgium'scurrencywastheBelgianfranc.Belgiumswitchedtotheeuroin2002,withthefirstsetsofeurocoinsbeingmintedin1999.ThestandardBelgianeurocoinsdesignatedforcirculationshowtheportraitofthemonarch(firstKingAlbert II,since2013KingPhilippe). Despitean18%decreaseobservedfrom1970to1999,Belgiumstillhadin1999thehighestrailnetworkdensitywithintheEuropeanUnionwith113.8 km/1000 km2.Ontheotherhand,thesameperiod,1970–1999,hasseenahugegrowth(+56%)ofthemotorwaynetwork.In1999,thedensityofkmmotorwaysper1000 km2and1000inhabitantsamountedto55.1and16.5respectivelyandweresignificantlysuperiortotheEU'smeansof13.7and15.9.[121] PortofZeebrugge Fromabiologicalresourceperspective,Belgiumhasalowendowment:Belgium'sbiocapacityaddsuptoonly0.8globalhectaresin2016,[122]justabouthalfofthe1.6globalhectaresofbiocapacityavailableperpersonworldwide.[123]Incontrast,in2016,Belgiansusedonaverage6.3globalhectaresofbiocapacity-theirecologicalfootprintofconsumption.ThismeanstheyrequiredabouteighttimesasmuchbiocapacityasBelgiumcontains.Asaresult,Belgiumwasrunningabiocapacitydeficitof5.5globalhectaresperpersonin2016.[122] BelgiumexperiencessomeofthemostcongestedtrafficinEurope.In2010,commuterstothecitiesofBrusselsandAntwerpspentrespectively65and64hoursayearintrafficjams.[124]LikeinmostsmallEuropeancountries,morethan80%oftheairwaystrafficishandledbyasingleairport,theBrusselsAirport.TheportsofAntwerpandZeebrugge(Bruges)sharemorethan80%ofBelgianmaritimetraffic,AntwerpbeingthesecondEuropeanharborwithagrossweightofgoodshandledof115988000tin2000afteragrowthof10.9%overtheprecedingfiveyears.[121][125]In2016,theportofAntwerphandled214 milliontonsafterayear-on-yeargrowthof2.7%.[126] ThereisalargeeconomicgapbetweenFlandersandWallonia.WalloniawashistoricallywealthycomparedtoFlanders,mostlyduetoitsheavyindustries,butthedeclineofthesteelindustrypost-WorldWarIIledtotheregion'srapiddecline,whereasFlandersroseswiftly.Sincethen,Flandershasbeenprosperous,amongthewealthiestregionsinEurope,whereasWalloniahasbeenlanguishing.Asof2007,theunemploymentrateofWalloniaisoverdoublethatofFlanders.ThedividehasplayedakeypartinthetensionsbetweentheFlemishandWalloonsinadditiontothealready-existinglanguagedivide.Pro-independencemovementshavegainedhighpopularityinFlandersasaconsequence.TheseparatistNewFlemishAlliance(N-VA)party,forinstance,isthelargestpartyinBelgium.[127][128][129] Scienceandtechnology Furtherinformation:ScienceandtechnologyinBrussels,ScienceandtechnologyinFlanders,andScienceandtechnologyinWallonia GerardusMercator Contributionstothedevelopmentofscienceandtechnologyhaveappearedthroughoutthecountry'shistory.The16thcenturyEarlyModernflourishingofWesternEuropeincludedcartographerGerardusMercator,anatomistAndreasVesalius,herbalistRembertDodoens[130][131][132][133]andmathematicianSimonStevinamongthemostinfluentialscientists.[134] ChemistErnestSolvay[135]andengineerZenobeGramme(ÉcoleindustrielledeLiège)[136]gavetheirnamestotheSolvayprocessandtheGrammedynamo,respectively,inthe1860s.Bakelitewasdevelopedin1907–1909byLeoBaekeland.ErnestSolvayalsoactedasamajorphilanthropistandgaveitsnametotheSolvayInstituteofSociology,theSolvayBrusselsSchoolofEconomicsandManagementandtheInternationalSolvayInstitutesforPhysicsandChemistrywhicharenowpartoftheUniversitélibredeBruxelles.In1911,hestartedaseriesofconferences,theSolvayConferencesonPhysicsandChemistry,whichhavehadadeepimpactontheevolutionofquantumphysicsandchemistry.[137]AmajorcontributiontofundamentalsciencewasalsoduetoaBelgian,MonsignorGeorgesLemaître(CatholicUniversityofLouvain),whoiscreditedwithproposingtheBigBangtheoryoftheoriginoftheuniversein1927.[138] ThreeNobelPrizesinPhysiologyorMedicinewereawardedtoBelgians:JulesBordet(UniversitélibredeBruxelles)in1919,CorneilleHeymans(UniversityofGhent)in1938andAlbertClaude(UniversitélibredeBruxelles)togetherwithChristiandeDuve(UniversitécatholiquedeLouvain)in1974.FrançoisEnglert(UniversitélibredeBruxelles)wasawardedtheNobelPrizeinPhysicsin2013.IlyaPrigogine(UniversitélibredeBruxelles)wasawardedtheNobelPrizeinChemistryin1977.[139]TwoBelgianmathematicianshavebeenawardedtheFieldsMedal:PierreDelignein1978andJeanBourgainin1994.[140][141]Belgiumwasranked22ndintheGlobalInnovationIndexin2020,upfrom23rdin2019.[142][143][144][145] Demographics Mainarticle:DemographicsofBelgium PopulationdensityinBelgiumbyarrondissement. Brussels,thecapitalcityandlargestmetropolitanareaofBelgium Asof1January2020,thetotalpopulationofBelgiumaccordingtoitspopulationregisterwas11,492,641.[5]ThepopulationdensityofBelgiumis376/km2(970/sq mi)asofJanuary2019,makingitthe22ndmostdenselypopulatedcountryintheworld,andthe6thmostdenselypopulatedcountryinEurope.ThemostdenselypopulatedprovinceisAntwerp,theleastdenselypopulatedprovinceisLuxembourg.AsofJanuary2019,theFlemishRegionhadapopulationof6,589,069(57.6%ofBelgium),itsmostpopulouscitiesbeingAntwerp(523,248),Ghent(260,341)andBruges(118,284).Walloniahadapopulationof3,633,795(31.8%ofBelgium)withCharleroi(201,816),Liège(197,355)andNamur(110,939),itsmostpopulouscities.TheBrussels-CapitalRegionhas1,208,542inhabitants(10.6%ofBelgium)inthe19municipalities,threeofwhichhaveover100,000residents.[5] In2017theaveragetotalfertilityrate(TFR)acrossBelgiumwas1.64childrenperwoman,belowthereplacementrateof2.1;itremainsconsiderablybelowthehighof4.87childrenbornperwomanin1873.[146]Belgiumsubsequentlyhasoneoftheoldestpopulationsintheworld,withanaverageageof41.6years.[147] Migration Thissectionneedstobeupdated.Pleasehelpupdatethisarticletoreflectrecenteventsornewlyavailableinformation.(June2017) Asof2007[update],nearly92%ofthepopulationhadBelgiancitizenship,[148]andotherEuropeanUnionmembercitizensaccountforaround6%.TheprevalentforeignnationalswereItalian(171,918),French(125,061),Dutch(116,970),Moroccan(80,579),Portuguese(43,509),Spanish(42,765),Turkish(39,419)andGerman(37,621).[149][150]In2007,therewere1.38 millionforeign-bornresidentsinBelgium,correspondingto12.9%ofthetotalpopulation.Ofthese,685,000(6.4%)werebornoutsidetheEUand695,000(6.5%)wereborninanotherEUMemberState.[151][152] Atthebeginningof2012,peopleofforeignbackgroundandtheirdescendantswereestimatedtohaveformedaround25%ofthetotalpopulationi.e.2.8 millionnewBelgians.[153]OfthesenewBelgians,1,200,000areofEuropeanancestryand1,350,000[154]arefromnon-Westerncountries(mostofthemfromMorocco,Turkey,andtheDRCongo).SincethemodificationoftheBelgiannationalitylawin1984morethan1.3 millionmigrantshaveacquiredBelgiancitizenship.ThelargestgroupofimmigrantsandtheirdescendantsinBelgiumareMoroccans.[155]89.2%ofinhabitantsofTurkishoriginhavebeennaturalized,ashave88.4%ofpeopleofMoroccanbackground,75.4%ofItalians,56.2%oftheFrenchand47.8%ofDutchpeople.[154] StatbelreleasedfiguresoftheBelgianpopulationinrelationtotheoriginofpeopleinBelgium.Accordingtothedata,asof1January2021,67.3%oftheBelgianpopulationwasofethnicBelgianoriginand32.7%wereofforeignoriginornationality,with20.3%ofthoseofaforeignnationalityorethnicgrouporiginatingfromneighbouringcountries.Thestudyalsofoundthat74.5%oftheBrusselsCapitalRegionwereofnon-Belgianorigin,ofwhich13.8%originatedfromneighbouringcountries.[156]   LargestcitiesortownsinBelgiumNumbersaccordingtotheNIS,table3(01/01/2018) Rank Name Region Pop. Rank Name Region Pop. AntwerpGhent 1 Antwerp Flanders 523,248 11 Molenbeek-Saint-Jean Brussels 97,005 CharleroiLiège 2 Ghent Flanders 260,341 12 Mons Wallonia 95,299 3 Charleroi Wallonia 201,816 13 Ixelles Brussels 86,513 4 Liège Wallonia 197,355 14 Mechelen Flanders 86,304 5 CityofBrussels Brussels 179,277 15 Aalst Flanders 85,715 6 Schaerbeek Brussels 133,010 16 Uccle Brussels 82,275 7 Anderlecht Brussels 118,382 17 LaLouvière Wallonia 80,637 8 Bruges Flanders 118,284 18 Hasselt Flanders 77,651 9 Namur Wallonia 110,939 19 Sint-Niklaas Flanders 76,756 10 Leuven Flanders 101,396 20 Kortrijk Flanders 76,265 Languages Mainarticle:LanguagesofBelgium EstimateddistributionofprimarylanguagesinBelgium Dutch   59% French   40% German   1% BilingualsignsinBrussels Belgiumhasthreeofficiallanguages:Dutch,FrenchandGerman.Anumberofnon-officialminoritylanguagesarespokenaswell.[157] Asnocensusexists,therearenoofficialstatisticaldataregardingthedistributionorusageofBelgium'sthreeofficiallanguagesortheirdialects.[158]However,variouscriteria,includingthelanguage(s)ofparents,ofeducation,orthesecond-languagestatusofforeignborn,mayprovidesuggestedfigures.Anestimated60%oftheBelgianpopulationarenativespeakersofDutch(oftenreferredtoasFlemish),and40%ofthepopulationspeaksFrenchnatively.French-speakingBelgiansareoftenreferredtoasWalloons,althoughtheFrenchspeakersinBrusselsarenotWalloons.[F] ThetotalnumberofnativeDutchspeakersisestimatedtobeabout6.23 million,concentratedinthenorthernFlandersregion,whilenativeFrenchspeakersnumber3.32 millioninWalloniaandanestimated870,000(or85%)intheofficiallybilingualBrussels-CapitalRegion.[G][159]TheGerman-speakingCommunityismadeupof73,000peopleintheeastoftheWalloonRegion;around10,000Germanand60,000BelgiannationalsarespeakersofGerman.Roughly23,000moreGermanspeakersliveinmunicipalitiesneartheofficialCommunity.[160][161][162][163] BothBelgianDutchandBelgianFrenchhaveminordifferencesinvocabularyandsemanticnuancesfromthevarietiesspokenrespectivelyintheNetherlandsandFrance.ManyFlemishpeoplestillspeakdialectsofDutchintheirlocalenvironment.Walloon,consideredeitherasadialectofFrenchoradistinctRomancelanguage,[164][165]isnowonlyunderstoodandspokenoccasionally,mostlybyelderlypeople.Walloonisdividedintofourdialects,whichalongwiththoseofPicard,[166]arerarelyusedinpubliclifeandhavelargelybeenreplacedbyFrench. Religion Mainarticle:ReligioninBelgium NationalBasilicaoftheSacredHeartinKoekelberg,Brussels Sincethecountry'sindependence,RomanCatholicismhashadanimportantroleinBelgium'spolitics.[167]HoweverBelgiumislargelyasecularcountryastheconstitutionprovidesforfreedomofreligion,andthegovernmentgenerallyrespectsthisrightinpractice.DuringthereignsofAlbert IandBaudouin,theBelgianroyalfamilyhadareputationofdeeplyrootedCatholicism.[168] RomanCatholicismhastraditionallybeenBelgium'smajorityreligion;beingespeciallystronginFlanders.However,by2009Sundaychurchattendancewas5%forBelgiumintotal;3%inBrussels,[169]and5.4%inFlanders.Churchattendancein2009inBelgiumwasroughlyhalfoftheSundaychurchattendancein1998(11%forthetotalofBelgiumin1998).[170]Despitethedropinchurchattendance,CatholicidentityneverthelessremainsanimportantpartofBelgium'sculture.[168] AccordingtotheEurobarometer2010,[171]37%ofBelgiancitizensrespondedthattheybelievethereisaGod.31%answeredthattheybelievethereissomesortofspiritorlife-force.27%answeredthattheydonotbelievethereisanysortofspirit,God,orlife-force.5%didnotrespond.AccordingtotheEurobarometer2015,60.7%ofthetotalpopulationofBelgiumadheredtoChristianity,withRomanCatholicismbeingthelargestdenominationwith52.9%.Protestantscomprised2.1%andOrthodoxChristianswerethe1.6%ofthetotal.Non-religiouspeoplecomprised32.0%ofthepopulationandweredividedbetweenatheists(14.9%)andagnostics(17.1%).Afurther5.2%ofthepopulationwasMuslimand2.1%werebelieversinotherreligions.[172]Thesamesurveyheldin2012foundthatChristianitywasthelargestreligioninBelgium,accountingfor65%ofBelgians.[173] Symbolicallyandmaterially,theRomanCatholicChurchremainsinafavorableposition.[168]Belgiumofficiallyrecognizesthreereligions:Christianity(Catholic,Protestantism,OrthodoxchurchesandAnglicanism),IslamandJudaism.[174] InterioroftheGreatSynagogueofBrussels Intheearly2000s,therewereapproximately42,000JewsinBelgium.TheJewishCommunityofAntwerp(numberingsome18,000)isoneofthelargestinEurope,andoneofthelastplacesintheworldwhereYiddishistheprimarylanguageofalargeJewishcommunity(mirroringcertainOrthodoxandHasidiccommunitiesinNewYork,NewJersey,andIsrael).Inaddition,mostJewishchildreninAntwerpreceiveaJewisheducation.[175]ThereareseveralJewishnewspapersandmorethan45activesynagogues(30ofwhichareinAntwerp)inthecountry. A2006inquiryinFlanders,consideredtobeamorereligiousregionthanWallonia,showedthat55%consideredthemselvesreligiousandthat36%believedthatGodcreatedtheuniverse.[176]Ontheotherhand,WalloniahasbecomeoneofEurope'smostsecular/leastreligiousregions.MostoftheFrench-speakingregion'spopulationdoesnotconsiderreligionanimportantpartoftheirlives,andasmuchas45%ofthepopulationidentifiesasirreligious.ThisisparticularlythecaseineasternWalloniaandareasalongtheFrenchborder. TheGreatMosqueofBrussels A2008estimatefoundthatapproximately6%oftheBelgianpopulation(628,751people)isMuslim.Muslimsconstitute23.6%ofthepopulationofBrussels,4.9%ofWalloniaand5.1%ofFlanders.ThemajorityofBelgianMuslimsliveinthemajorcities,suchasAntwerp,BrusselsandCharleroi.ThelargestgroupofimmigrantsinBelgiumareMoroccans,with400,000people.TheTurksarethethirdlargestgroup,andthesecondlargestMuslimethnicgroup,numbering220,000.[155][177] Health Mainarticle:HealthcareinBelgium UniversityHospitalofAntwerp TheBelgiansenjoygoodhealth.Accordingto2012estimates,theaveragelifeexpectancyis79.65years.[44]Since1960,lifeexpectancyhas,inlinewiththeEuropeanaverage,grownbytwomonthsperyear.DeathinBelgiumismainlyduetoheartandvasculardisorders,neoplasms,disordersoftherespiratorysystemandunnaturalcausesofdeath(accidents,suicide).Non-naturalcausesofdeathandcancerarethemostcommoncausesofdeathforfemalesuptoage24andmalesuptoage44.[178] HealthcareinBelgiumisfinancedthroughbothsocialsecuritycontributionsandtaxation.Healthinsuranceiscompulsory.Healthcareisdeliveredbyamixedpublicandprivatesystemofindependentmedicalpractitionersandpublic,universityandsemi-privatehospitals.Healthcareservicearepayablebythepatientandreimbursedlaterbyhealthinsuranceinstitutions,butforineligiblecategories(ofpatientsandservices)so-called3rdpartypaymentsystemsexist.[178]TheBelgianhealthcaresystemissupervisedandfinancedbythefederalgovernment,theFlemishandWalloonRegionalgovernments;andtheGermanCommunityalsohas(indirect)oversightandresponsibilities.[178] ForthefirsttimeinBelgianhistory,thefirstchildwaseuthanizedfollowingthe2-yearmarkoftheremovaloftheeuthanizationagerestrictions.Thechildhadbeeneuthanizedduetoanincurablediseasethatwasinflicteduponthechild.Althoughtheremayhavebeensomesupportfortheeuthanizationthereisapossibilityofcontroversyduetotheissuerevolvingaroundthesubjectofassistedsuicide.[179][180]Excludingassistedsuicide,BelgiumhasthehighestsuiciderateinWesternEuropeandoneofthehighestsuicideratesinthedevelopedworld(exceededonlybyLithuania,SouthKorea,andLatvia).[181] Education Mainarticle:EducationinBelgium TheCentralLibraryoftheKULeuvenUniversity Educationiscompulsoryfrom6to18yearsofageforBelgians.[182]AmongOECDcountriesin2002,Belgiumhadthethirdhighestproportionof18-to21-year-oldsenrolledinpostsecondaryeducation,at42%.[183]Thoughanestimated99%oftheadultpopulationisliterate,concernisrisingoverfunctionalilliteracy.[166][184]TheProgrammeforInternationalStudentAssessment(PISA),coordinatedbytheOECD,currentlyranksBelgium'seducationasthe19thbestintheworld,beingsignificantlyhigherthantheOECDaverage.[185]Educationbeingorganizedseparatelybyeach,theFlemishCommunityscoresnoticeablyabovetheFrenchandGerman-speakingCommunities.[186] Mirroringthedualstructureofthe19th-centuryBelgianpoliticallandscape,characterizedbytheLiberalandtheCatholicparties,theeducationalsystemissegregatedwithinasecularandareligioussegment.Thesecularbranchofschoolingiscontrolledbythecommunities,theprovinces,orthemunicipalities,whilereligious,mainlyCatholicbrancheducation,isorganizedbyreligiousauthorities,althoughsubsidizedandsupervisedbythecommunities.[187] Culture Mainarticle:CultureofBelgium Despiteitspoliticalandlinguisticdivisions,theregioncorrespondingtotoday'sBelgiumhasseentheflourishingofmajorartisticmovementsthathavehadtremendousinfluenceonEuropeanartandculture.Nowadays,toacertainextent,culturallifeisconcentratedwithineachlanguageCommunity,andavarietyofbarriershavemadeasharedculturalspherelesspronounced.[16][188][189]Sincethe1970s,therearenobilingualuniversitiesorcollegesinthecountryexcepttheRoyalMilitaryAcademyandtheAntwerpMaritimeAcademy.[190] Finearts Seealso:ListofBelgianpainters,ArchitectureofBelgium,andMusicofBelgium TheGhentAltarpiece:TheAdorationoftheMysticLamb(interiorview),painted1432byvanEyck Contributionstopaintingandarchitecturehavebeenespeciallyrich.TheMosanart,theEarlyNetherlandish,[191]theFlemishRenaissanceandBaroquepainting[192]andmajorexamplesofRomanesque,Gothic,RenaissanceandBaroquearchitecture[193]aremilestonesinthehistoryofart.Whilethe15thcentury'sartintheLowCountriesisdominatedbythereligiouspaintingsofJanvanEyckandRogiervanderWeyden,the16thcenturyischaracterizedbyabroaderpanelofstylessuchasPeterBreughel'slandscapepaintingsandLambertLombard'srepresentationoftheantique.[194]ThoughtheBaroquestyleofPeterPaulRubensandAnthonyvanDyckflourishedintheearly17thcenturyintheSouthernNetherlands,[195]itgraduallydeclinedthereafter.[196][197] Duringthe19thand20thcenturiesmanyoriginalromantic,expressionistandsurrealistBelgianpaintersemerged,includingJamesEnsorandotherartistsbelongingtotheLesXXgroup,ConstantPermeke,PaulDelvauxandRenéMagritte.Theavant-gardeCoBrAmovementappearedinthe1950s,whilethesculptorPanamarenkoremainsaremarkablefigureincontemporaryart.[198][199]MultidisciplinaryartistsJanFabre,WimDelvoyeandthepainterLucTuymansareotherinternationallyrenownedfiguresonthecontemporaryartscene. Belgiancontributionstoarchitecturealsocontinuedintothe19thand20thcenturies,includingtheworkofVictorHortaandHenryvandeVelde,whoweremajorinitiatorsoftheArtNouveaustyle.[200][201] JacquesBrel ThevocalmusicoftheFranco-FlemishSchooldevelopedinthesouthernpartoftheLowCountriesandwasanimportantcontributiontoRenaissanceculture.[202]Inthe19thand20thcenturies,therewasanemergenceofmajorviolinists,suchasHenriVieuxtemps,EugèneYsaÿeandArthurGrumiaux,whileAdolpheSaxinventedthesaxophonein1846.ThecomposerCésarFranckwasborninLiègein1822.ContemporarypopularmusicinBelgiumisalsoofrepute.JazzmusicianTootsThielemansandsingerJacquesBrelhaveachievedglobalfame.Nowadays,singerStromaehasbeenamusicalrevelationinEuropeandbeyond,havinggreatsuccess.Inrock/popmusic,Telex,Front242,K'sChoice,Hooverphonic,ZapMama,SoulwaxanddEUSarewellknown.Intheheavymetalscene,bandslikeMachiavel,ChannelZeroandEnthronedhaveaworldwidefan-base.[203] Belgiumhasproducedseveralwell-knownauthors,includingthepoetsEmileVerhaeren,GuidoGezelle,RobertGoffinandnovelistsHendrikConscience,StijnStreuvels,GeorgesSimenon,SuzanneLilar,HugoClausandAmélieNothomb.ThepoetandplaywrightMauriceMaeterlinckwontheNobelPrizeinliteraturein1911.TheAdventuresofTintinbyHergéisthebestknownofFranco-Belgiancomics,butmanyothermajorauthors,includingPeyo(TheSmurfs),AndréFranquin(GastonLagaffe),Dupa(Cubitus),Morris(LuckyLuke),Greg(AchilleTalon),Lambil(LesTuniquesBleues),EdgarP.JacobsandWillyVandersteenbroughttheBelgiancartoonstripindustryaworldwidefame.[204]Additionally,famouscrimeauthorAgathaChristiecreatedthecharacterHerculePoirot,aBelgiandetective,whohasservedasaprotagonistinanumberofheracclaimedmysterynovels. BelgiancinemahasbroughtanumberofmainlyFlemishnovelstolifeon-screen.[H]OtherBelgiandirectorsincludeAndréDelvaux,StijnConinx,LucandJean-PierreDardenne;well-knownactorsincludeJean-ClaudeVanDamme,JanDecleirandMarieGillain;andsuccessfulfilmsincludeBullhead,ManBitesDogandTheAlzheimerAffair.[205] BelgiumisalsohometoanumberofsuccessfulfashiondesignersCategory:Belgianfashiondesigners.Forinstance,inthe1980s,Antwerp'sRoyalAcademyofFineArtsproducedimportantfashiontrendsetters,knownastheAntwerpSix.[206] Folklore Furtherinformation:FolkloreofBelgium TheGillesofBinche,incostume,wearingwaxmasks FolkloreplaysamajorroleinBelgium'sculturallife:thecountryhasacomparativelyhighnumberofprocessions,cavalcades,parades,'ommegangs'and'ducasses',[I]'kermesse'andotherlocalfestivals,nearlyalwayswithanoriginallyreligiousormythologicalbackground.TheCarnivalofBinchewithitsfamousGillesandthe'ProcessionalGiantsandDragons'ofAth,Brussels,Dendermonde,MechelenandMonsarerecognizedbyUNESCOasMasterpiecesoftheOralandIntangibleHeritageofHumanity.[207] OtherexamplesaretheCarnivalofAalst;thestillveryreligiousprocessionsoftheHolyBloodinBruges,VirgaJesseBasilicainHasseltandBasilicaofOurLadyofHanswijkinMechelen;15AugustfestivalinLiège;andtheWalloonfestivalinNamur.Originatedin1832andrevivedinthe1960s,theGentseFeestenhavebecomeamoderntradition.Amajornon-officialholidayistheSaintNicholasDay,afestivityforchildrenand,inLiège,forstudents.[208] Cuisine Mainarticle:Belgiancuisine Moules-fritesormosselenmetfrietisarepresentativedishofBelgium. ManyhighlyrankedBelgianrestaurantscanbefoundinthemostinfluentialrestaurantguides,suchastheMichelinGuide.[209]Belgiumisfamousforbeer,chocolate,wafflesandfrenchfrieswithmayonnaise.Contrarytotheirname,frenchfriesareclaimedtohaveoriginatedinBelgium,althoughtheirexactplaceoforiginisuncertain.Thenationaldishesare"steakandfrieswithsalad",and"musselswithfries".[210][211][212][J] BrandsofBelgianchocolateandpralines,likeCôted'Or,Neuhaus,LeonidasandGodivaarefamous,aswellasindependentproducerssuchasBurieandDelReyinAntwerpandMary'sinBrussels.[213]Belgiumproducesover1100varietiesofbeer.[214][215]TheTrappistbeeroftheAbbeyofWestvleterenhasrepeatedlybeenratedtheworld'sbestbeer.[216][217][218] ThebiggestbrewerintheworldbyvolumeisAnheuser-BuschInBev,basedinLeuven.[219] Sports EddyMerckx,regardedasoneofthegreatestcyclistsofalltime Mainarticle:SportinBelgium Sincethe1970s,sportsclubsandfederationsareorganizedseparatelywithineachlanguagecommunity.[220]AssociationfootballisthemostpopularsportinbothpartsofBelgium;alsoverypopulararecycling,tennis,swimming,judo[221]andbasketball.[222] TheBelgiumnationalfootballteamhavebeenonthetopspotoftheFIFAWorldRankingseversinceSeptember2018(firsttimereachedthisrankinNovember2015).[223]Sincethe1990s,theteamhavebeentheworld'snumberoneforthemostyearsinhistory,onlybehindtherecordsofBrazilandSpain.[224]Theteam'sgoldengenerationswiththeworldclassplayersinthesquad,namelyEdenHazard,KevinDeBruyne,Jean-MariePfaff,JanCeulemansachievedthebronzemedalsatWorldCup2018,andsilvermedalsatEuro1980.BelgiumhostedtheEuro1972,andco-hostedtheEuro2000withtheNetherlands. BelgiansholdthemostTourdeFrancevictoriesofanycountryexceptFrance.TheyhavealsothemostvictoriesontheUCIRoadWorldChampionships.PhilippeGilbertisthe2012worldchampion.Anothermodernwell-knownBelgiancyclistisTomBoonen.WithfivevictoriesintheTourdeFranceandnumerousothercyclingrecords,BelgiancyclistEddyMerckxisregardedasoneofthegreatestcyclistsofalltime.[225] KimClijstersandJustineHeninbothwerePlayeroftheYearintheWomen'sTennisAssociationastheywererankedthenumberonefemaletennisplayer. TheSpa-Francorchampsmotor-racingcircuithoststheFormulaOneWorldChampionshipBelgianGrandPrix.TheBelgiandriver,JackyIckx,woneightGrandsPrixandsix24HoursofLeMansandfinishedtwiceasrunner-upintheFormulaOneWorldChampionship.Belgiumalsohasastrongreputationin,motocrosswiththeridersJoëlRobert,RogerDeCoster,GeorgesJobé,EricGeboersandStefanEvertsamongothers.[226]SportingeventsannuallyheldinBelgiumincludetheMemorialVanDammeathleticscompetition,theBelgianGrandPrixFormulaOne,andanumberofclassiccycleracessuchastheTourofFlandersandLiège–Bastogne–Liège.The1920SummerOlympicswereheldinAntwerp.The1977EuropeanBasketballChampionshipwasheldinLiègeandOstend. Seealso Belgiumportal IndexofBelgium-relatedarticles OutlineofBelgium Footnotes ^Dutch:België[ˈbɛlɣijə](listen);French:Belgique[bɛlʒik](listen);German:Belgien[ˈbɛlɡi̯ən](listen) ^Dutch:KoninkrijkBelgië;French:RoyaumedeBelgique;German:KönigreichBelgien ^Belgiumisamemberof,oraffiliatedto,manyinternationalorganizations,includingACCT,AfDB,AsDB,AustraliaGroup,Benelux,BIS,CCC,CE,CERN,EAPC,EBRD,EIB,EMU,ESA,EU,FAO,G-10,IAEA,IBRD,ICAO,ICC,ICRM,IDA,IDB,IEA,IFAD,IFC,IFRCS,IHO,ILO,IMF,IMO,IMSO,Intelsat,Interpol,IOC,IOM,ISO,ITU,MONUSCO(observers),NATO,NEA,NSG,OAS(observer),OECD,OPCW,OSCE,PCA,UN,UNCTAD,UNECE,UNESCO,UNHCR,UNIDO,UNMIK,UNMOGIP,UNRWA,UNTSO,UPU,WADB(non-regional),WEU,WHO,WIPO,WMO,WTrO,ZC. ^TheConstitutionsetoutseveninstitutionseachofwhichcanhaveaparliament,governmentandadministration.Infact,thereareonlysixsuchbodiesbecausetheFlemishRegionmergedintotheFlemishCommunity.ThissingleFlemishbodythusexercisespowersaboutCommunitymattersinthebilingualareaofBrussels-CapitalandintheDutchlanguagearea,whileaboutRegionalmattersonlyinFlanders. ^Therichest(percapitaincome)ofBelgium'sthreeregionsistheFlemishRegion,followedbytheWalloonRegionandlastlytheBrussels-CapitalRegion.Thetenmunicipalitieswiththehighestreportedincomeare:Laethem-Saint-Martin,Keerbergen,Lasne,Oud-Heverlee,Hove,DePinte,Meise,Knokke-Heist,Bierbeek."OùhabitentlesBelgeslesplusriches?".trends.be.2010.Archivedfromtheoriginalon27August2011.Retrieved15July2011. ^NativespeakersofDutchlivinginWalloniaandofFrenchinFlandersarerelativelysmallminoritiesthatfurthermorelargelybalanceoneanother,henceattributingallinhabitantsofeachunilingualareatothearea'slanguagecancauseonlyinsignificantinaccuracies(99%canspeakthelanguage).Dutch:Flanders'6.079 millioninhabitantsandabout15%ofBrussels'1.019 millionare6.23 millionor59.3%ofthe10.511 millioninhabitantsofBelgium(2006);German:70,400intheGerman-speakingCommunity(whichhaslanguagefacilitiesforitslessthan5%French-speakers)andanestimated20,000–25,000speakersofGermanintheWalloonRegionoutsidethegeographicalboundariesoftheirofficialCommunity,or0.9%;French:inthelatterareaaswellasmainlyintherestofWallonia(3.321 million)and85%oftheBrusselsinhabitants(0.866 million)thus4.187 millionor39.8%;togetherindeed100%. ^FlemishAcademicEricCorijn(initiatorofCharta91),atacolloquiumregardingBrussels,on2001-12-05,statesthatinBrussels91%ofthepopulationspeaksFrenchathome,eitheraloneorwithanotherlanguage,andabout20%speaksDutchathome,eitheralone(9%)orwithFrench(11%)—Afterponderation,therepartitioncanbeestimatedatbetween85and90%French-speaking,andtheremainingareDutch-speaking,correspondingtotheestimationsbasedonlanguageschoseninBrusselsbycitizensfortheirofficialdocuments(ID,drivinglicenses,weddings,birth,sex,andsoon);allthesestatisticsonlanguagearealsoavailableatBelgianDepartmentofJustice(forweddings,birth,sex),DepartmentofTransport(forDrivinglicenses),DepartmentofInterior(forIDs),becausetherearenomeanstoknowpreciselytheproportionssinceBelgiumhasabolished'official'linguisticcensuses,thusofficialdocumentsonlanguagechoicescanonlybeestimations.Forawebsourceonthistopic,seee.g.Generalonlinesources:Janssens,Rudi ^NotableBelgianfilmsbasedonworksbyFlemishauthorsinclude:DeWitte(authorErnestClaes)moviebyJanVanderheydenandEdithKielin1934,remakeasDeWittevanSichemdirectedbyRobbeDeHertin1980;Demandiezijnhaarkortlietknippen(JohanDaisne)AndréDelvaux1965;Mira('DeteleurgangvandeWaterhoek'byStijnStreuvels)FonsRademakers1971;Malpertuis(akaTheLegendofDoomHouse)(JeanRay[pennameofFlemishauthorwhomainlywroteinFrench,orasJohnFlandersinDutch])HarryKümel1971;Deloteling(HendrikConscience)RolandVerhavert1974;Doodvaneennon(MariaRosseels)PaulColletandPierreDrouot1975;Pallieter(FelixTimmermans)RolandVerhavert1976;DekomstvanJoachimStiller(HubertLampo)HarryKümel1976;DeLeeuwvanVlaanderen(HendrikConscience)HugoClaus(afamousauthorhimself)1985;Daens('PieterDaens'byLouisPaulBoon)StijnConinx1992;seealsoFilmarchieflesDVD!sdelacinémathèque(inDutch).Retrievedon7June2007. ^TheDutchword'ommegang'ishereusedinthesenseofanentirelyormainlynon-religiousprocession,orthenon-religiouspartthereof—seealsoitsarticleontheDutch-languageWikipedia;theProcessionalGiantsofBrussels,DendermondeandMechelenmentionedinthisparagrapharepartofeachcity's'ommegang'.TheFrenchword'ducasse'refersalsotoaprocession;thementionedProcessionalGiantsofAthandMonsarepartofeachcity's'ducasse'. ^Contrarilytowhatthetextsuggests,theseasonstartsasearlyasJulyandlaststhroughApril. 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BelgiumatUCBLibrariesGovPubs BelgiuminformationfromtheUnitedStatesDepartmentofState BelgiumatCurlie PortalstotheWorldfromtheUnitedStatesLibraryofCongress BelgiumprofilefromtheBBCNews FAOCountryProfiles:Belgium StatisticalProfileofBelgiumattheAssociationofReligionDataArchives WikimediaAtlasofBelgium KeyDevelopmentForecastsforBelgiumfromInternationalFutures OfficialSiteoftheBelgianTouristOfficeintheAmericasandGlobeScope vteBelgium articlesHistory GalliaBelgica Prince-BishopricofLiège BurgundianNetherlands SouthernNetherlands SpanishNetherlands AustrianNetherlands BrabantRevolution UnitedKingdomoftheNetherlands Longnineteenthcentury BelgianRevolution Crisisof1870 Empire WorldWarI invasion occupation WorldWarII invasion occupation RoyalQuestion CongoCrisis Statereform Geography Climate Extremepoints Lakes Mountains Rivers Subdivisions Politics Constitution Elections Executive Foreignrelations Humanrights LGBT Law enforcement Judiciary Military Monarchy Parliament Politicalparties PrimeMinister Economy 2008–2009financialcrisis Banking Centralbank Communications Energy Tourism Tradeunions Transport Scienceandtechnology Society Demographics People list Religion Education Honours Crime Languages Media Healthcare Culture Architecture Art Cinema Comics Cuisine Flag Literature Music Publicholidays Sport Television WorldHeritageSites OutlineIndex Category Portal Linkstorelatedarticles vteBelgianRevolutionandtheIndependenceofBelgium(1830–39)BelgianRevolution BelgianRevolution Rattachism Orangism LamuettedePortici(August1830) LaBrabançonne(August1830) ProvisionalGovernmentofBelgium(September1830-February1831) NationalCongressofBelgium(November1830) ConstitutionofBelgium(February1831) FirstBelgianmonarchs Érasme,BaronSurletdeChokier(Regent;February1831-July1831) LeopoldI(KingoftheBelgians;July1831-December1865) Importantfigures CharlesNiellon AlexandreDechet(Jenneval) FrédéricdeMérode JuanVanHalen(seealsoListofmembersoftheNationalCongress) ProvisionalGovernment AlexandreGendebien AndréJolly CharlesRogier LouisdePotter SylvainVandeWeyer FeuilliendeCoppin FélixdeMérode JosephVanderlinden EmmanuelVanderLindend'Hooghvorst deGerlacheGovernment ÉtienneConstantindeGerlache CharlesdeBrouckère AlexandreGendebien AlbertGobletd'Alviella SylvainVandeWeyer LebeauIGovernment JosephLebeau ÉtiennedeSauvage CharlesdeBrouckère PaulDevaux UnitedKingdomoftheNetherlands KingWilliamI PrinceWilliam TenDays'Campaign(August1831) SiegeofAntwerp(1832) Treaties LondonConferenceof1830 TreatyoftheEighteenArticles(1831) TreatyofLondon(1839) TreatyofMaastricht(1843) IronRhineTreaty(1873) Monumentsandhonours Martyrs'Square CongressColumn CivicGuardMeritMedal 1830StarofHonour IronCross 1830Volunteers'CommemorativeCross vteSovereignstatesanddependenciesofEuropeSovereignstates Albania Andorra Armenia2 Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium BosniaandHerzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus2 CzechRepublic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland1 Ireland Italy Kazakhstan Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands NorthMacedonia Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia SanMarino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine UnitedKingdom VaticanCity Stateswithlimitedrecognition Abkhazia Artsakh2 Kosovo NorthernCyprus2 SouthOssetia Transnistria DependenciesDenmark FaroeIslands1 autonomouscountryoftheKingdomofDenmark UnitedKingdom AkrotiriandDhekelia2 SovereignBaseAreas Gibraltar BritishOverseasTerritory Guernsey IsleofMan Jersey CrownDependencies SpecialareasofinternalsovereigntyFinland Åland autonomousregionsubjecttotheÅlandConventionof1921 Norway Svalbard unincorporatedareasubjecttotheSvalbardTreaty UnitedKingdom NorthernIreland countryoftheUnitedKingdomsubjecttotheBritish-IrishAgreement 1OceanicislandswithinthevicinityofEuropeareusuallygroupedwiththecontinenteventhoughtheyarenotsituatedonitscontinentalshelf.2SomecountriescompletelyoutsidetheconventionalgeographicalboundariesofEuropearecommonlyassociatedwiththecontinentduetoethnologicallinks. vteMemberstatesoftheEuropeanUnion Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus CzechRepublic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Seealso:PotentialenlargementandFormermembers vteMembersoftheEuropeanEconomicArea(EEA)EFTAmemberstates Iceland(EUrelations) Liechtenstein(EUrelations) Norway(EUrelations) EUmemberstates Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia(provisionalmember) Cyprus CzechRepublic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Seealso:UKmembership,CH–EUrelations,andUK–EUrelations vteCouncilofEuropeInstitutions SecretaryGeneral CommitteeofMinisters ParliamentaryAssembly Congress CourtofHumanRights CommissionerforHumanRights CommissionfortheEfficiencyofJustice CommissionagainstRacismandIntolerance VeniceCommission Members Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belgium BosniaandHerzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus CzechRepublic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands NorthMacedonia Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia SanMarino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine UnitedKingdom Observers Canada HolySee Israel Japan Mexico UnitedStates EUrelations Formermembers Czechoslovakia(1991–1992) Saar(assoc.1950–1956) SerbiaandMontenegro(2003–2006) vteOrganisationforEconomicCo-operationandDevelopment(OECD)History ConventionontheOrganisationforEconomicCo-operationandDevelopment OECDAnti-BriberyConvention Guidelines 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