Belgium
Belgium (in Dutch, België, pronounced/хbŭl urgei(
listen)in French, Belgique, 
[b mobilizations] (?·i)in German, Belgien, pronounced/хb transformationl/iуn/( listen)), officially Kingdom of Belgium (in Dutch, Koninkrijk België, pronounced/хkon σKr πk εbの( listen)in French, Royaume de Belgique and in German, Königreich Belgien, pronounced/хkø intended for discussion.( listen)), is one of the twenty-seven sovereign states that form the European Union. It is located in the northwest of Europe. The country covers an area of 30,528 square kilometres and has a population of 11,550,039 inhabitants according to the estimate of 2021. Its capital and the most populous conurbation is Brussels as its most populated city (municipality) is Antwerp.
It is a multilingual state with three official languages: 57% of its population, mainly in the Flemish Region, speaks Dutch, while about 42% speaks French (in the Wallonia region, to the south, and in the Brussels-Capital Region, an officially bilingual region that hosts a majority of French speakers). Less than 1% of Belgians live in the German-speaking Community, where they speak German, along the eastern border of the country. Often this linguistic diversity leads to severe political and cultural conflicts, much like those in other bilingual countries, reflected in Belgium's complex system of government and political history.
Belgium gets its name from the Latin name for the northernmost part of Gaul, Gallia Belgica, which, in turn, comes from a group of Celtic tribes, the Belgae. Historically, Belgium has been part of the Habsburg Netherlands, which included present-day Netherlands and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, occupying a region somewhat larger than modern Benelux.
From the late Middle Ages to the 17th century, it was a flourishing center of commerce and culture. From the 18th century until the Belgian Revolution of 1830, Belgium, then called the Southern Netherlands, was the place of many battles between the European powers and for this reason it has earned the nickname of "the battlefield of Europe" or "the cabin of Europe".
It is one of the founding members of the European Union, whose main institutions are located in the country, as well as a significant number of other international organizations, such as NATO.
Etymology
The oldest usage of the words Belga and Belgium that has come down to us is in Julius Caesar's De Bello Gallico. In this book, the Roman conqueror divided all of Gaul into three parts: the Gauls proper, the Aquitanians, and the Belgians. The latter were separated from the Gauls by the Seine and Marne rivers. During the principality of Augustus, Marcus Agrippa divided Gaul into three provinces, assigning one of them the name Gallia Belgica. The latter would be reorganized during the empire of Domitian, who in turn divided it into three new provinces, namely: Gallia Belgica and the two Germanias. Gallia Belgica was later divided into two provinces: Belgica Prima and Belgica Secunda. Present-day Belgium has little to do with these former Roman provinces, as most of its territory lies in part of the historic Germania Inferior (later Germania Secunda) and part in the Germania Secunda. i>Belgium Secondary.
These terms all but disappeared after the barbarian invasions, surviving only in the pen of a few scholars, mostly clergy. They were used again in the second half of the IX century, after the split of the empire of Charlemagne, with the creation of Lotharingia. The clerics of that time, following a common practice that consisted of using the old Latin names used by the Empire, recovered the word Belgium to designate the kingdom of Lothair II, instead of the term Lotharingia. , to designate the territory located between the Gallia of Charles the Bald and the Germania of Luis the Germanic. The names Belgae, Bélgica, Gallia Belgica disappeared again in the XII, after the disappearance of Lotharingia.
History
Prehistory
Iguanodons were found to live in Europe as early as the Late Cretaceous. In fact, the iguanodon was discovered in the 19th century in the Bernissart coal mines with a herd of more than thirty fossil skeletons, most of them almost complete. These fossils are currently on display at the Brussels Museum of Natural Sciences and at the Bernissart Iguanodon Museum. The oldest human remains in Belgium were found at the Belle-Roche site, in Sprimont, and attest to an ancient occupation of some 500,000 years.
Neanderthal man, discovered in 1856, was soon named after the Belgian town of Spy. There, in 1886, the remains of two contemporary human skeletons of Neanderthals were identified: Spy Man. As early as 1830 human remains were found at Engis, but they were not directly recognized as belonging to a fossil man. During the 20th century, numerous Paleolithic and Mesolithic sites were discovered in the Meuse Valley, mainly in rock shelters and natural caves (Hastière, Han-sur-Lesse, Sclayn), but also on open ground (Namur). During the Neolithic period (around 4000 BC in Belgium), the human population spread to the Ardennes and Condroz plateaus, as well as to the Flanders and Hesbaye plains: numerous occupation sites have been studied.
Early history
The Belgian-occupied area has undergone significant demographic, political, and cultural changes. The first well-documented one was the conquest of the region by the Roman Republic in the I century BCE. C., followed in the V century by the Germanic Franks. They established the Merovingian Kingdom, which became the Carolingian Empire in the 8th century century. During the Middle Ages, the Netherlands was fragmented into small feudal states. Most of them came together during the 14th and XV with the House of Burgundy, forming the Burgundian Netherlands. These states gained autonomous status in the 15th century and have since been known as the Seventeen Provinces.
The history of Belgium can be distinguished from that of the Netherlands since the 16th century. The Eighty Years' War (1568-1648) caused the division of the Seventeen Provinces into the United Provinces to the north and the Southern Netherlands to the south, these being governed successively by the Spanish and Austrian Habsburgs.
Independence
Until Belgian independence in 1830, the Southern Netherlands was coveted territory by the conquistadors, being the backdrop for most of the Franco-Spanish and Franco-Austrian wars over the centuries XVII and XVIII. Following the 1794 campaigns of the French Revolutionary Wars, the Netherlands—which included territories that had never been under Habsburg rule, such as the Bishopric of Liège—were invaded by France, ending Spanish and Austrian rule in that area. Indeed, the reunification of the Netherlands as the United Kingdom of the Netherlands took place at the end of the French Empire, in 1815, after the campaigns of Napoleon.
The triumph of the Belgian Revolution of 1830 to gain independence from the Netherlands was decided in the capital, Brussels, in the so-called Four Days of Brussels, under a Provisional Government whose most influential member was Charles Rogier and, with the military leadership as commander in chief of the Spanish exile Juan Van Halen. The brief contest led to the establishment of an independent, Catholic, and neutral Belgium, under a provisional government.
Since Leopold I's installation as king in 1831, Belgium has been a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. Between independence and World War II, the democratic system evolved from an oligarchy characterized by two main parties, the Catholics and the Liberals, to a system of universal suffrage that has included a third party, the Socialist Party, and a strong role for the unions. Originally, French, which was the language of the nobility and the bourgeoisie, was the official language. Since then, the country has developed a bilingual system in Dutch and French.
At the Berlin Conference of 1885 it was agreed to hand over the Congo to King Leopold II as a private possession, called the Congo Free State. In 1908, it was ceded to Belgium as a colony, renamed the Belgian Congo. Belgium's neutrality was broken in 1914, when Germany invaded Belgium as part of the Schlieffen Plan. The former German colonies of Ruanda-Urundi—now Ruanda and Burundi—were occupied by the Belgian Congo in 1916. The League of Nations transferred them to Belgium in 1924. Belgium was invaded again by Germany in 1940, during the Blitzkrieg. It was occupied until the winter of 1944-45, when it was liberated by Allied troops. The Belgian Congo became independent in 1960, during the Congo crisis, while Ruanda-Urundi became independent in 1962.
World War I and World War II
The Battle of Liège was the start of the German invasion of Belgium and the first battle of World War I. This was a new stimulus for the Flemish identity that began to take shape during the XIX century and received a political boost from the German occupation government; During World War II, the entire Benelux region (Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg) was occupied by Nazi Germany.
During the 20th century, and especially since World War II, Belgian history has been increasingly dominated by for the autonomy of its two main communities. This period has seen an increase in inter-communal tensions and the unity of the Belgian state has been called into question. Through constitutional reforms in the 1970s and 1980s, the regionalization of the unitary state led to the establishment of a three-tiered federal system, to the creation of linguistic communities and regional governments and to the ratification of an agreement designed to minimize linguistic tensions. Today, these federated entities hold more legislative power than the bicameral national parliament, while the national government still controls almost all tax collection, about 80% of the finances of community and regional governments, and 100% of social security.
From unitary Belgium to the federal state
In 1830, Belgium separated from the Netherlands, with which it had formed the United Kingdom of the Netherlands for fifteen years. The very reason why Belgium became independent has linguistic bases. That is to say, the area that constitutes current Belgium had been dominated for a long time by the French, for which reason the entire Flemish administrative bourgeoisie had become French. However, when this area joins the Netherlands, the Flemish administrative elite, with a French-speaking majority, is removed and replaced by Dutch-speakers, generally from the Netherlands. For this reason, already from the first years of the United Kingdom, the administrative elite is losing confidence in the king and the Union. When, in addition, the king begins to enact protectionist measures against the southern industries to promote the industrial development of the northern area, he also loses the support of the industrial elite, mostly Walloons, and the Brabanzona Revolution takes place.
At that time, according to D’Haveloose (2000) estimates, Belgium had 4 million inhabitants, of whom about 2,200,000 spoke Dutch and about 1,700,000 spoke French. However, the new State is defined from its beginnings as unitary and French-speaking, although the majority of the population spoke Dutch and the country consisted of two economically and culturally different parts. So the language policy of the time does not have to be seen so much in terms of who constituted the majority of the population, but rather in terms of what the bourgeois elite, who controlled politics through tax suffrage, expressed themselves in French.
However, the Flemings gradually oppose linguistic injustice, so in 1889, the Equality Act was adopted, which stipulated that Dutch and French were the official languages of the country. During the First World War, the Front Movement arose, which wanted to end the predominance of French and make Flanders a monolingual Dutch-speaking territory, a process that took place between 1932 and 1968.
The year 1963 is another key moment, because then laws were adopted that divided the country into linguistic zones. Before, the census counted how many people spoke French, Dutch or German in a municipality and the municipality was organized in either the majority language or both, resulting in an increase in French-speaking and bilingual towns.
The division of the country into Dutch-speaking, German-speaking and French-speaking zones was a very delicate matter. Many protests arise, since the two linguistic groups coexisted on the linguistic border and also in the previous system the inhabitants had the right to be attended in both languages. To find a solution to these problems, in 27 municipalities that are on one of the linguistic borders, the principle of territoriality continues not to be applied. Likewise, as many French-speakers lived in six Flemish towns around Brussels, which is why, before, the administration was bilingual, they are given linguistic facilities. Therefore, in many respects, the year 1963 does not represent so much change, but rather the consolidation once and for all of the status quo.
According to Peiren (1993), the establishment of these zones is being experienced gradually, in contradiction with the unitary structure of the country, for which reason federalization was necessary. In addition, nationalist Flemish political parties had emerged that insisted on the language issue, such as the Volksunie. Likewise, fundamentally different visions arose within the national political parties, which led to their regional organization. At the same time, many people in both parts of the country were convinced that it would be better for everyone if certain aspects of state organization were regionalized. According to Willemyns (2002), this feeling originates from two factors: one is that during the XIX century and the first part of the XX it is Wallonia that had the greatest industrial development, but from the 50s-60s, Flanders also began to develop industrially. At the same time, Wallonia's infrastructure, which dated back to the 19th century, needed to be updated, leading to a recession in the which to date the area has not recovered. There were also ideological differences between the two parts of the country, that is, while Wallonia was clearly socialist (Parti Socialiste), Flanders was the power base of the democratic Catholic popular party (Christelijke VolksPartij). As a result of these differences, the federalization of Belgium began in 1970, a process that was carried out mainly between that year and 1993.
In 1970, the main demand of the Flemings was cultural autonomy, while the Walloons insisted on economic autonomy to foster their industry and guarantees that in federal Belgium, their demographic and economic situation would not be marginalized. The result of these negotiations was the creation, on the one hand, of three cultural communities (the Dutch-speaking, the French-speaking and the German-speaking) and, on the other, three Regions (Flanders, Wallonia and the Capital Region of Brussels).. In addition, guarantees to protect the French-speaking minority were incorporated into the Constitution. The following State reforms (1980, 1988 and 1993) extended the powers of the regions and communities until obtaining the organization of the current State.
Starting in the 1970s, the Flemish region became the most productive in the country, in contrast to the decline of Wallonia, the product of the relative disinvestment of cartelized companies. The trend began to reverse in the 1990s, with greater equality between the two regions.
Belgium played a leading role in the creation of the European Union from the formation of the Benelux in 1944, whose implementation began in 1948, the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951 and the Treaties of Rome in 1957.
Since 1949, moreover, it is an integral part of NATO; as such it had great importance during the Cold War.
21st century
Belgian troops participated in military operations in the former Yugoslavia, as well as in Libya and Afghanistan.
The country suffered the attacks in Brussels in 2016, where the airport and the metro were attacked with bombs, leaving 35 dead and 340 injured.
The Brussels neighborhood of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean was the residence of Hassan El Haski, one of the perpetrators of the attacks on March 11, 2004 in Madrid.
Politics and government
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Belgium is a constitutional and parliamentary federal monarchy, which after World War II evolved from a unitary state to a federation. The bicameral parliament is made up of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The former is a mix of directly elected senior politicians and representatives from communities and regions, while the latter represents all Belgians over the age of eighteen in a proportional representation system. Belgium is one of the few countries where voting is compulsory, and as a result it has one of the highest voter turnout rates in the world.
The federal government, formally appointed by the king, must have the confidence of the House of Representatives. It is headed by the prime minister. The numbers of French-speaking and Dutch-speaking ministers must be equal, as prescribed by the Constitution.The king or queen is the head of state, although he has limited prerogatives. The real power is vested in the prime minister and the different governments of the country. The judicial system is based on civil law and stems from the Napoleonic Code. The Court of Appeals is one level below the Court of Cassation, an institution based on the French Court of Cassation.
Belgium's political institutions are complex; most political powers are organized around the need to represent the major language communities. (See below) The largest parties in each community belong to three main political families: the Liberals, the Christian Democrats, and the Social Democrats. Other important parties, although younger, are the two Green parties (Ecolo and Groen!) and, particularly in Flanders, the far-right nationalist parties. Policy is influenced by various pressure groups, such as trade unions and the Belgian Business Federation.
The current king, Felipe, succeeded his father Alberto II by his abdication in 2013. The public coffers are what support the royal family, it was announced that for 2014 a total of 38,742,000 euros from the public treasury They would be used to finance the royal head of state, in personal endowments or remunerations that each member of the royal family receives, and the items that different ministries dedicate to it. Since 1999, Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt of the VLD has headed a six-party Liberal-Social Democrat-Green coalition that is often called the "rainbow government." This was the first government without Christian Democrats since 1958. The 2003 election results allowed Verhofstadt to serve a second term, leading a four-party Liberal-Social Democratic coalition. Recent years have also seen a steady rise of the party Flemish far-right separatist Vlaams Blok, now Vlaams Belang.
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A significant achievement of Verhofstadt's two consecutive legislatures has been the achievement of balanced budgets. Belgium is one of the few EU Member States to have achieved this. During the 1990s, this policy was applied by successive governments, under pressure from the European Council. The fall of the pre-Verhofstadt government was mainly due to the dioxin crisis, a major food poisoning scandal in 1999, which led to the establishment of the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain.
This development resulted in an unusually large representation of the Greens in parliament, and an increased emphasis on environmental policy during Verhofstadt's first term. A Green policy, for example, led to legislation on the abandonment of nuclear power, which has been amended by the current government. The absence of Christian Democrats in government ranks has allowed Verhofstadt to approach social issues from a more liberal point of view and develop new laws on the use of soft drugs, same-sex marriage and euthanasia. During Verhostadt's last two legislatures, the government has promoted active diplomacy in Africa, opposed military intervention during the Iraq war, and passed a war crimes law. Both of Guy Verhofstadt's terms were marked by disputes between Belgian communities. The most controversial points were the night routes of air traffic from Brussels International Airport and the legal status of the Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde constituency.
Foreign Relations
Belgium is a country in Europe and a member of major international organizations such as the European Union and NATO, which have their headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
As a federal State, and according to its legislation, the Communities and Regions have their own foreign relations and can celebrate treaties by themselves.
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Due to its location at the crossroads of Western Europe, Belgium has historically been the route for invading armies from its larger neighbors. With virtually defenseless borders, Belgium has traditionally tried to avoid dominance by the more powerful nations around it through a policy of mediation. The Concert of Europe sanctioned the creation of Belgium in 1831 on the condition that the country remain strictly neutral.
This policy of neutrality ended after the experience of the German occupation during World War I. In the years before World War II, Belgium tried to return to a policy of neutrality, but once again Germany invaded the country. In 1948, Belgium signed the Treaty of Brussels with the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, and a year later it became one of the founding members of the Atlantic Alliance.
Belgians have been strong advocates of European integration, and most aspects of their foreign, economic, and trade policy are coordinated through the European Union (EU), which has its headquarters (the European Commission, the Council of the European Union and the sessions of the European Parliament) in Brussels. Belgium's postwar customs union with the Netherlands and Luxembourg paved the way for the formation of the European Community (the forerunner of the EU), of which Belgium was a founding member.
Furthermore, the abolition of internal border controls in the Benelux was a model for the broader Schengen Agreement, which is now integrated into the acquis communautaire and aims at common visa policies and the free movement of people through across common borders. At the same time, Belgians, perceiving their diminutive role on the international scene, are strong advocates of strengthening economic and political integration within the EU. Belgium actively seeks the improvement of relations with the new democracies of Central and Eastern Europe through fora such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the EU association agreements and the NATO Partnership for Peace with the countries of the former Warsaw Pact and several others.
Belgium remains a strong supporter of NATO. It cooperates closely with the United States within the framework of the alliance, in addition to supporting European defense efforts through the Western European Union (WEU). Both NATO (since 1966) and the EU have their headquarters in Brussels; SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Powers in Europe) is in the south of the country, near Mons. Since January 1993, the WEU has had its headquarters in Brussels.
Belgium has been one of NATO's staunchest supporters since the alliance's inception in 1949. Having suffered two invasions in two world wars, Belgium was conscious of its security needs and the limitations of its means of self defense. That is why the leaders of that nation began to call for the formation of a defensive alliance shortly after the liberation of Belgium at the end of World War II. In March 1948, Belgium joined France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Great Britain in an agreement to establish a joint defense system. This agreement, known as the Treaty of Brussels, was a recognition that individual national responses to the threat of aggression were inadequate and that a united defense effort was necessary for mutual security.
In 1948, after several European states expressed concern that the Treaty of Brussels was too limited in scope and effectiveness, the Prime Minister of Canada called for a system of mutual defense that would include Western Europe and North America. On April 4, 1949, the Belgian Foreign Minister joined representatives of Great Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and the United States to sign the treaty establishing NATO. Greece and Turkey became members in 1952, West Germany joined the alliance in 1955, and Spain became a member in 1982. The treaty established NATO as a multilateral political alliance that binds its members to obligations of mutual defense and economic cooperation.
Armed Forces
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The defense of the country falls to the Belgian Armed Forces, whose mission is to maintain the country's territorial integrity, preserve its independence and ensure that the Constitution and laws are respected and respected. Its commander-in-chief is the defense minister, and in the event of war the prime minister assumes command. It is divided into three branches, each with a commander-in-chief, who report to the Ministry of Defense. These are the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. It also has a medical health corps integrated into the army but not dependent on it, totaling 39,400 troops.
The Belgian Armed Forces answer to NATO and are part of the Blue Helmets of the United Nations.
Conflict between Flemings and Walloons
Belgium is characterized by internal divisions, especially between the Flemish (Dutch-speaking) and Wallonian (French-speaking) populations. For this reason, for example, censuses that survey the language spoken by the inhabitants have been prohibited since 1961, so as not to repeatedly encourage new conflicts over the assignment of certain municipalities located on the linguistic border to one or another region due to changing statistical results.. To appease the situation in these mixed-language areas in particular, easy municipalities were created in some cases with special rights for minorities (especially in the school sector).
"Overall, tensions between Belgium's two large ethnic groups have eased over the past generation. There is no end in sight for Belgium,' historian Christoph Driessen judged in his 2018 book History of Belgium, noting that separatist parties were in the minority in Flanders and there were virtually no separatist aspirations left in Wallonia. Younger Belgians, as well as many immigrants, are less concerned about the language dispute than older generations; they follow other models of identification in which the question of belonging to one or another linguistic group is less important.
The enthusiasm for the all-Belgian team at the 2018 World Cup, in which Belgium came third, also showed that there is internal Belgian cohesion. However, it is noted that despite school lessons obligatory in the respective other national language, a good knowledge of Dutch is hardly widespread in Wallonia and fluency in French has decreased in Flanders compared to previous generations. Not only in the structure of the state, but also culturally, the two population groups lead a very separate existence. In the cultural sector, there is a marked affinity of Flanders with the Netherlands and of Wallonia with France. However, an attempt is made to demonstrate Belgium's multilingualism in the federal political arena; for example, high-level politicians, especially in government positions, must know (or learn) the second national language to be successful, and the King consistently delivers speeches to all Belgians in all three official languages.
Police
The police in Belgium is a public authority charged with enforcing the country's laws, maintaining public order and providing assistance. It is also the investigative service of the prosecution.
The Belgian integrated police is structured on two levels: federal (the federal police) and local (the local police). The local police is made up of 185 police zones that operate in one or several municipalities.
Until 1998, police services were provided in Belgium by the gendarmerie, the judicial police from the prosecutor's offices, the municipal police and smaller police services such as the railway, air and maritime police. Their mutual mistrust and often hostile attitude gave rise to a chaotic organization in the 1980s, which was unable to cope with extremely violent robberies by the Nijvel gang and terrorist acts by the so-called Cellules Communistes Combattantes (C.C.C.). The Heysel drama of May 29, 1985 then demonstrated that the police services were out of step.
Following a decision of the Council of Ministers on July 26, 1985, a first audit of the police was carried out. In its report, the Team Consult group stated that Belgium lacked a coherent and integrated police and security policy, that responsibilities were too fragmented and that there was little coordination. Consequently, the government formulated measures to improve the functioning and coordination of police services.
The "Gang Commission" concluded in the late 1980s that there was poor coordination between police forces and that their powers overlapped. The government responded with the Plan Pentecostés of June 5, 1990, but no reform of the police services was undertaken. An integrated approach to policing was adopted and the Law on Police Services (August 5, 1992) was born. The federal elections of November 24, 1991 (the so-called "black Sunday") put things in place.
The Dutroux case, in 1996, made another dent in confidence. It became clear that the gendarmerie had failed in its previous investigations into Dutroux, a failure attributed to police warfare. The scandal shocked Belgium. Public opinion distrusted the "system" and the clamor reached its peak during the White March of October 20, 1996. After the march, two new parliamentary commissions of inquiry were installed to find out the facts of the matter, the defects and those responsible.
The so-called Dutroux Commission presented its report in April 1997. In addition to an analysis of the functioning of the police, it recommended a reform into an integrated police service, structured on two levels. In other words, a merger of the judicial police with the prosecutor's offices (GPP), the municipal police and the gendarmerie. The government rejected the suggestion and presented its own plan in October 1997, opting not for a unitary police force but for a police structure with two police forces.
With the escape of Dutroux, in April 1998, from a court in which he was examining a file under the supervision of the gendarmerie, the moment arrived for a new remodeling of the police landscape. The four majority parties and the four opposition parties (excluding the Vlaams Blok) celebrated the Octopus agreement. This agreement, materialized by the Law of December 7, 1998, created an integrated police force at two levels. The federal level brought together the former central services of the gendarmerie and the former judicial police in the prosecutor's offices. The local level brought together the former territorial brigades of the gendarmerie and the former municipal police force.
A new logo for the integrated police and a distinctive style for the federal and local police distinguished the "new" "old fashioned" police.
Police reform did not come to an end there. After an audit by the federal police in 2002, it was found that its operation was very similar to that of the old gendarmerie, was too bureaucratic and could be optimized. The number of addresses was reduced from five to three and it was given to the general commissioner a management function rather than coordination. Meanwhile, local police zones were encouraged to achieve maximum inter-zone cooperation.
The so-called Vesalius Law, provided a "red carpet". Chief inspectors of police appointed on specific pay scales could, between 2005 and 2011, be promoted to police commissioner at their own request and after satisfactory evaluation. The Vesalius-bis law provides for the possibility of making a series of appointments permanent.
In 2014, a new large-scale reorganization was carried out to significantly reduce the number of mandate (command) functions while allowing more efficient use of financial resources. The federal police will focus more on the provincial capitals.
Human rights
In terms of human rights, regarding membership of the seven bodies of the International Bill of Human Rights, which include the Human Rights Committee (HRC), Belgium has signed or ratified:
.svg){kind=small} Belgium | International treaties | ||||||||||||||||
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| CESCR | CCPR | CERD | CED | CEDAW | CAT | CRC | MWC | CRPD | |||||||||
| CESCR | CESCR-OP | CCPR | CCPR-OP1 | CCPR-OP2-DP | CEDAW | CEDAW-OP | CAT | CAT-OP | CRC | CRC-OP-AC | CRC-OP-SC | CRPD | CRPD-OP | ||||
| Pertenence |  |  | |  | | | | |  | | | | | |  | | |
 Signed and ratified,  signed, but not ratified,  neither signed nor ratified,  without information,  it has agreed to sign and ratify the body concerned, but also recognizes the competence to receive and process individual communications from the competent bodies. | |||||||||||||||||
Status of major international human rights instruments
Administrative divisions
Flemish Community / Dutch Language Flemish and French Community / Bilingual Area French Community / French LanguageGerman Community / German Language
The law of July 15, 1993 was created to establish a single federal state, based on three levels:
- The federal government, based in Brussels.
- The three linguistic communities:
- Flemish Community (Netherlands)
- French Community (French Language)
- German-speaking Community (German language)
- The three regions (which differ from linguistic communities with respect to the German-speaking Community and the Brussels region):
- Flamenca Region
- Region Valona
- Brussels-Capital Region
Antwerp
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Limburg
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Namur
Brabant Valon
West Flanders
Flanders
Region Valona
Brussels-CapitalConflicts between the different bodies are resolved by the Arbitration Court. This provision allows an agreement between the different cultures so that they can coexist in peace.
The Flemish Community absorbed the Flemish Region in 1980 to form the government of Flanders. The overlapping boundaries of the Regions and Communities have created two notable peculiarities: the territory of the Brussels-Capital Region is included in both both the French and the Flemish Community, while the territory of the German-speaking Community is wholly within the Walloon Region. The Flemish and Walloon regions are further subdivided into smaller administrative entities, the provinces.
The highest level of this three-tiered organization is the federal government, which runs foreign affairs, development aid, defense, police, management of the economy, social welfare, transportation, energy, telecommunications and scientific research, plus limited powers in education and culture, and tax oversight by regional authorities. The federal government controls more than 90% of all taxes. The governments of the communities are responsible for the promotion of language, culture and education in most schools, libraries and theaters.
The third tier is made up of the regional governments, which mainly manage matters related to land and property, such as housing, transportation, etc. For example, permission to build a school building in Brussels belonging to the public education system would be regulated by the Brussels regional government. However, the school as an institution would be under the regulation of the Flemish government if the main language of instruction is Dutch, and under the government of the French Community if the main language is French.
Geography
The territory of Belgium covers an area of 30,528 km² and is geographically divided into three regions: the coastal plain to the north-west, the central plateau and the Ardennes highlands to the south-east. Following the example of the Netherlands, the coastal plain has gained some space from the North Sea through dikes and canals. The central plateau, in the interior, is a flat, low-lying area, which has many fertile valleys and is irrigated by numerous waterways. Here there are also structures of a rougher relief, such as caves and small gorges.
The Ardennes region is more rugged than the other two. It is a densely forested plateau, very rocky and not very suitable for cultivation, which extends to the north of France. This is where most of Belgium's wildlife is concentrated. The highest point in Belgium is located in this region, the Signal de Botrange, with only 694 meters of altitude.
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The climate is temperate maritime, with significant rainfall throughout the year (Köppen climate classification: Cfb; the average temperature is 3 °C in January and 18 °C in July, and the average precipitation is 65 mm in January and 78 mm in July).
Because of its high population density and its position in the heart of Western Europe, Belgium faces serious environmental problems. A 2003 report indicated that Belgium's river water had the worst quality in Europe, and that it was at the bottom of the 122 countries studied.
Basic data
With 376 inhabitants per square kilometer (2020), Belgium is one of the most densely populated countries in Europe. This is even more true in the case of the Flanders region, which has close to 60% of the population in only 40% of the area. The total area is 30,528 km², making Belgium a quarter smaller than the Netherlands and slightly larger than Lesotho and Armenia. According to the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen), Belgian territory covers 33,990 km², but this includes Belgian territorial waters up to 12 nautical miles in the North Sea.
Belgium borders France, Luxembourg, Germany, the Netherlands and the North Sea, giving it a state border of 1,445.5 kilometres.
The highest point is the Botrange landmark at 694 meters and the highest village is Rocherath (part of Büllingen) at 655 meters.
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The geographic center is at Nil-Saint-Vincent.
Geology and geomorphology
Following the postglacial Flandrian Transgression, beach walls were formed, which are still present today as a closed belt of dunes up to 50 meters high on the Belgian coast. Next, there is a zone of marshes between 10 and 20 kilometers wide.
Further inland is the so-called Flussgeest. Here, the Meuse alluvial fan deposits were covered with thick sands during the last cold period. In the slightly undulating countryside, fields and meadows alternate with patches of forest and heather; raised peat bogs can also be found in places. To the west of the Antwerp-Brussels line is the wide Flanders plain. In its northern part it is also covered by sand, in the south clayey soils dominate, more favorable for agriculture. Here the plain is dominated by a loose chain of Tertiary hills. To the west, the middle plain with the stratified plain of northern France, made up largely of Mesozoic sediments.
The valleys of the Sambre and Meuse rivers form a sharp border in a tectonic fault zone that separates the Tertiary and Cretaceous plateaus in the northwest from the Ardennes as part of the Rhineland Slate Mountains in the southeast. The heavily wooded Ardennes are made up of Paleozoic slates, sandstones, greywackes and quartzites of varying strength. In Belgium they reach a height of 694 meters with the Botrange in the Hautes Fagnes.
The Haine-Sambre-Maas trough fault zone is rich in coal deposits. There, in the northern French coalfield, the first mining and heavy industry district in continental Europe was established from 1830. From 1901, the Limburg coalfield also developed.
Coast
Because of its high population density, Belgium faces serious environmental problems. A 2003 report indicates that Belgium's surface water quality is the worst of the 122 countries studied. In the 2008 Ecological Performance Index study, Belgium had an overall score of 78.4% and ranks third among the countries of the European Union, although it ranks 57 out of 149 countries.
The marine coastline is about 65 km long, which opens up a "marine territory" of 3,454 km225 (0.5% of the entire North Sea) with a water column from 20 to 45 m deep. The land of Flanders is partially reclaimed from the sea and threatened by coastal erosion and rising sea levels. sea. Therefore, the country also manages a maritime and port heritage. The marine environment remains rich in biodiversity, but its fisheries resources have been degraded by overfishing, trawling, dredging sludge dumping and the aftermath of war (munitions submerged on the shore of the Paardenmarkt and numerous war wrecks). To this must be added the chronic or accidental effects of land pollution and that released by maritime traffic (particularly intense between the Pas de Calais, England and the large Belgian-Dutch ports).
In the framework of the European Marine Strategy, the Belgian government has drawn up a spatial plan for more sustainable exploitation and management of North Sea resources, including areas where sand and gravel mining will be allowed, and two areas dedicated to the construction of two "energy atolls" (one opposite Zeebrugge, on the Wenduinebank, and the other, much larger, near Blankenberge-De Haan) and corridors dedicated to submarine cables that will carry, among other things, the current produced by marine energies and the energy atoll, without touching classified natural areas The area allowed for artisanal fishing increases from 3 to 4.5 miles, and wind turbines could be used to support sustainable aquaculture at sea ("monocultures ").
As a consequence of climate mismanagement, sea levels are likely to rise and cover much of the Belgian coastline by 2050.
In fact, according to the IPCC, the city of Bruges and parts of the provinces of East Flanders and Antwerp are at risk. The north of the country has already released a budget of 300 million euros in 2011 to deal with the rise in water.
Environment
The environment in Belgium is under pressure due to the high population density. With its highways, the country is a transportation hub along waterways, highways, and heavy air traffic. The cinta urbanization is a legacy of the old custom in Flanders of building houses along all main roads instead of enlarging village centers. Suburbanization and highway construction have increasingly fragmented natural spaces.
Water quality
Especially in Antwerp and Brussels, the water quality of the rivers leaves much to be desired. However, there are advances. The quality of the waters of the Senne, to the south of Brussels, has improved considerably since the year 2000 since two treatment plants were activated, Brussels North and Brussels South. As the water quality of the Senne was already so poor in the 19th century that the river was a public health hazard, it was decided to flood the Senne as it passed through Brussels. Until new wastewater treatment plants came online at the turn of the XXI century, wastewater from the city of Brussels flowed untreated into the Senne and then through the Flanders region on the Rupel and the Scheldt. The Senne is the only river that crosses three regions and it is where part of the problem originates. Although the Lys was heavily polluted in the 1990s and contained hardly any fish, there is now a positive change. In 2007, fishing was possible again in all places on the Lys. Limburg's water is usually of good quality after treatment, but in Wallonia, the quality of the Meuse's water remains a sensitive issue. Industrial pollution occurs sporadically and threatens Antwerp's drinking water supply along the Albert Canal.
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Air quality
The air around Kortrijk-Roeselare, Antwerp, Brussels, Bruges-Zeebrugge, Liege, Charleroi and the Ghent canal area is as polluted as the air in the Ruhr area of Germany. Mass automobile traffic and agriculture cause excessively high concentrations of particulate matter and ozone in the air, especially during hot weather in summer and during inversion in winter. In the surroundings of Antwerp is one of the largest concentrations of the petrochemical industry in the world. North of Ghent, mainly due to the steel industry, the air contains a large amount of carcinogenic substances and fine dust. In the rest of Belgium, especially in Wallonia (except for the Liège and Charleroi areas, where the steel industry and cement kilns are located), the air is better because there are mostly forests and agricultural fields. Household waste from the Brussels region was incinerated for years at the Neder-Over-Heembeek waste incineration plant under less stringent regulations than those in force in Flanders (VLAREM), although the flue gases were moving towards the region flamenco with the prevailing wind. This too only improved after the intervention of Europe.
Floors
In several places, the soil has been contaminated by industry (black dots). But despite this pollution, this is one of the best areas in Belgium in terms of the environment. In other European countries, such as the Netherlands, the nitrate content in groundwater is high due to the intensive rearing of pigs for export. The different action plans on manure were partly a dead letter in practice. In the surroundings of Overpelt there is historical soil contamination with heavy metals, such as cadmium, due to the former non-ferrous industry activities of Union Minière. Similarly, in Hoboken, south of Antwerp, the soil is contaminated with lead. In Kapelle-op-den-Bos there is also historical contamination with asbestos from Eternit. Around Genk the area is contaminated with nickel from ArcelorMittal, Mol is contaminated with radioactive material from experimental air-cooled nuclear reactors and near Dessel it is contaminated with radioactive waste from leaking barrel storage. In the vicinity of Tessenderlo there is contamination from Tessenderlo Chemie's discharges into the Nete.
Climate
Belgium enjoys a temperate maritime climate, with moderate temperatures, prevailing westerly winds, heavy cloudiness, and regular rainfall. In Lower and Central Belgium, the average annual temperature is about 10°C, the average temperature in January is 3-4°C, and the average temperature in July is about 18°C. The annual rainfall is about 800 mm, which is spread over all months. In the heights of the Ardennes, average temperatures are between 3 and 5 °C lower and rainfall between 50% and 80% higher. In Belgian Lorraine, the climate is milder than in the rest of the country, especially on the southern flank of the third slope, where there are even vineyards in Torgny.
Since the late 1980s, the average temperature is about a degree higher than before. This warming trend appears to be continuing. Both 2006 and 2007 broke the record for the warmest year in history, with 11.4 °C and 11.5 °C respectively. This succession of heat records is due to a period of extremely high temperatures that began in July 2006 and continued, after a relatively cold August, until June 2007. The average temperature for this 12-month period was 12.9 °C. C, is more than 3 °C higher than the average for the period 1961-1990 and three consecutive seasonal records have been broken: the warmest autumn in history (13.9 °C), the warmest winter in history (6.6 °C) and the warmest spring in history (12.3 °C). Four monthly records were also broken: the warmest July on record (23°C), the warmest September on record (18.4°C), the warmest January on record (7.2°C) and the warmest April in history (14.3 °C).
Whether this rise in temperature will continue remains to be seen. At the moment, it has not yet lasted long enough to be classified as climate change.
Economy
Belgium is a densely populated country and is located in the heart of one of the most industrialized regions in the world. Currently, the Belgian economy is oriented towards services and shows a dual nature, with a dynamic Flemish part, Brussels being its main multilingual and multi-ethnic center with one of the highest per capita income in the European Union, and a more ruralized Walloon economy. and less dynamic. Belgium was the first country in continental Europe to experience the Industrial Revolution, at the beginning of the 19th century. Liège and Charleroi rapidly developed a mining and steel industry, which flourished until the middle of the XX century. However, by the 1840s the textile industry in Flanders was experiencing an acute crisis and there was a famine (1846-50). After World War II, Ghent and Antwerp experienced a rapid expansion of the chemical and oil sector. The oil shocks of 1973 and 1979 caused a prolonged economic recession. The Belgian steel industry has since suffered from a severe setback, and this has been responsible for inhibiting the economic development of Wallonia. In the 1980s and 1990s, the economic center of the country continued to shift north to Flanders. The industry is concentrated in the populated Flemish area in the north of the country.
By the late 1980s, Belgian macroeconomic policy had resulted in a cumulative government debt of approximately 120% of GDP. Currently, budgets are balanced and public debt equals 94.3% of GDP (end 2005). In 2004, the real GDP growth rate was estimated at 2.7% but is expected to decline to 1.3% in 2005.
Belgium has an open economy. It has developed an excellent transport infrastructure (ports, canals, railways and highways) to integrate its industry with that of neighboring countries. Antwerp is the second largest port in Europe, after Rotterdam. A founding member of the European Union, Belgium supports the extension of the powers of the EU institutions to integrate the economies of the member states. In 1999, Belgium adopted the euro, the single European currency, which definitively replaced the Belgian franc in 2002. The Belgian economy is closely oriented towards foreign trade, especially products with high added value. The main imports are food products, machinery, diamonds, petroleum and derivatives, chemical substances, clothing and accessories, and fabrics. The main exports are automobiles, food and foodstuffs, iron and steel, processed diamonds, textiles, plastics, petroleum products, and non-ferrous metals. Since 1922, Belgium and Luxembourg have formed a single trading market, with a customs and monetary union, the Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union. Its main trading partners are Germany, the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, the United States and Spain.
In recent years, and given the debate that arose over its possible split into two separate state entities, obviously with its well-known and feared political and economic consequences; its social welfare and social protection system was changed very profoundly, as well as deep cuts were made to these, to later redirect them and adapt them to a scenario where the loss of competitiveness of the Walloon part, with a contribution to GDP of 35%; on the Flemish part; which is currently the most powerful in terms of its economic levels, apart from a cabinet change, made the situation improve substantially, but without attenuating the strong discussions on the issue of the balance of powers between the most influential Belgian communities, as well as the process of changing the industrial focus begins, from where Wallonia, previously a prominent steel industrial center of the Belgian country; It is now becoming a center for study and research in information technology and industrial improvements.
On the other hand, the Flemish part, previously numbed by the great economic potential of Wallonia, on which it depended for a long time; it is now the main livelihood of the current Belgian nation, where more than 60% of the national GDP comes from. With the results of the consultations carried out in 2010, the desire for the dissolution of the country can be seen, but the leaders of the French-speaking and Flemish parts have agreed to " put an end to speculation and the murky and gloomy period through which an economy considered exemplary in Europe has had to go through.
More recently, and in the aftermath of the financial and economic crisis in several euro area countries, Belgium's sovereign debt rating has been threatened by risk rating agencies such as Moody& #39;s; that they downgraded it from Aa2 to Aa3, given the substantial doubts within the investor market about their plans for a sustained and sustainable economic reactivation of the euro zone, of which Belgium is a fundamental part.
Energy
Belgium produced 15 million tons of oil equivalent (Mtoe) in 2016, 74% was nuclear, 20% was biofuels and waste. (1Mtoe = 11.63 TWh, one billion kilowatt hours.) This production within the country's borders was not enough to cover the national energy supply, the TPES (total supply of primary energy): 57 Mtoe. The country imported 49 Mtoe of fossil fuel more than it exported.
Of the energy, some 14 Mtoe was lost in the conversion, mainly in the generation of electricity with nuclear energy. 8 Mtoe were allocated to non-energy products, such as lubricants, asphalt and petrochemical products. For end users, 34 Mtoe remained, of which 7 Mtoe = 80 TWh of electricity.
Carbon dioxide emissions were 92 megatons, or 8.4 tons per person. The world average was 4.4 tons per person.
In the period 2012-2016, end use changed little. Electricity generated from solar and wind power increased by 74% and supplied 10% of all electricity to end users in 2016.
Tourism
Tourism in Belgium is a form of leisure and an important sector of the Belgian economy. Belgium is mainly visited by tourists from neighboring countries such as the Netherlands, France, Germany and Luxembourg, although more and more visitors from countries further afield are spending a few days in Belgium on a European trip. Belgians also often take holidays in their own country: a week on the Belgian coast, a weekend in the Ardennes or a day trip to one of the historic cities are some of the favorites.
In 2015, the country was visited by 8.033 million tourists.
Tourism in Belgium developed very early in some places on the coast and in the Ardennes. Spa and Chaudfontaine were already well-known spas in the XVIII century, where crowned heads, old European nobility, wealthy merchants and manufacturers, officers and canons, mixed with elegant women, adventurers (Casanova, for example), gambling addicts, and the mentally ill. In 1774 the first casino in Europe was built in Spa. Starting in the 17th century, art cities attracted the French, Dutch and English.
On the coast, beach tourism developed from the mid XIX century, first in Ostend and Blankenberge, and then in newly established seaside resorts such as Knokke, Westende and De Haan. Thanks to its wealth and ferry connections with England, Belgium was the second country, after the United Kingdom, to develop coastal tourism. Bruges was already visited by lovers of historic urban beauty in the XIX century, especially after the publication of the novel Bruges- la Morte by Georges Rodenbach.
The mandatory Sunday rest from 1905 and paid vacations from 1936 boosted internal tourism. The real breakthrough came in the Trente Glorieuses after World War II.
The so-called European capital Brussels is internationally known for its Grand Place, the Atomium and the Manneken Pis. It is worth noting the importance and quality of the numerous museums, theatres, cinemas, concert halls, etc., which make this city-region an important cultural center. The city also has several Art Nouveau buildings (Victor Horta's first Art Nouveau building was built here) and Art Deco. Architecturally, Brussels' municipalities (the equivalent of arrondissements) are surprisingly eclectic. The Royal Galleries of Saint-Hubert (the world's first covered shopping arcade), the Palace of Justice (bigger than St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican), beautiful churches, etc. are some of the main cultural and tourist attractions of the city.
After Brussels, Antwerp is the second largest city in Belgium and, after Rotterdam, the second largest port in Europe. Known for its zoo and for its diamonds (80% of the world's diamond production is traded in Antwerp), it was one of the most important cultural centers in Europe in the XVII and has several notable buildings (the town hall, the Silvius Brabo...).
Bruges, The "Venice of the North" It has numerous buildings from the Middle Ages (the church of Our Lady, the beguinage, the old city gates, etc.). Known in the region for its lace, it was the European Capital of Culture in 2002.
Leuven is famous for its halls and its university (one of the oldest in the world), you can also admire the beguinage and the church of Saint Peter (both classified as World Heritage by Unesco).
Ghent, capital of the former county of Flanders, sometimes the rival of Bruges, is the birthplace of Charles V. It is home to the Cathedral of Saint Bavo, where you can admire the famous Mystic Lamb and the Polyptych. The Castle of the Counts of Flanders and the Church of San Nicolás are also attractions that attract many art-loving tourists. Ghent is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Belgium.
From its prestigious history, the most visited city in Wallonia, Liège has preserved a large number of monuments of various architectural styles (Saint Jacques Abbey, Palace of the Prince-Bishops...), of which the Liège station -Guillemins, designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, is the latest addition and gives this neighborhood a somewhat Barcelona look... Numerous theaters of international prestige such as the Théâtre de Liège, the Forum, a renowned opera house (completely renovated), the Royal Walloon Opera, a renowned orchestra that plays in the beautiful hall of the Conservatoire, make this city an important cultural center. As for the landscape, its relief and its river multiply the perspectives and charming corners. The city is also home to many important museums: the Curtius, the Boverie, the Museum of Walloon Life, etc. and several international events are held there (Liège Jazz Festival, Liège-Bastogne-Cork cycling race). Finally, the particularly warm reputation of the inhabitants (the famous "Carré", the many pedestrian streets), which is especially noticeable during the festivals (the Batte market on Sunday morning, the Feast of the Assumption of Outremeuse -in August-, the October fair, the Christmas market, etc.), gives it a very Latin character. Liège is considered the northernmost French-speaking city on the continent.
Since 2002, Mons has been the cultural capital of Wallonia. The heart of Mons offers historic buildings from the 15th centuries to the XVII, such as the Bell Tower that dominates the city, the Collegiate Church of Sainte-Waudru dedicated to the patron saint of Mons and the Town Hall (accompanied by the Monkey of the Great Guard, a good luck charm of the city and its inhabitants).
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The city center of Mons has pedestrian streets and squares with shops and cafes such as the Grand Place, the Marché aux Herbes and the Piétonnier. Mons has parks and gardens such as the hanging garden of Mons, in which the collective orchards make the garden green again, or monuments and works of art such as the Teatro Real, the "Pasajero'' of Arne Quinze, the Spanish House...
Recognized by UNESCO as an Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2005, the Ducasse de Mons ritual -commonly known as the Doudou- is celebrated every year during the Trinité weekend. The Doudou Museum exhibits this local festival, which is based on the fight between Saint George and the dragon.
Designated the European Capital of Culture in 2015, Mons offers a wide range of cultural activities, such as the Artothèque, which showcases the local heritage of Mons; the Arsonic, which has a concert hall and a chapel of silence, etc. In addition to these novelties, Mons also offers other activities such as the Beaux-Arts Mons (BAM), which hosts exhibitions on artists or artistic movements; the Mundaneum -the ancestor of the search engines- which offers temporary exhibitions, etc.
On the outskirts of the city, two heritage sites mark the history of the Mons region: Silex'S de Spiennes is a flint mining reserve dating back to the Neolithic age and occupying 190 hectares; the Grand-Hornu site, conveying a heritage from the industrial and coal mining era of the 19th century; and the MAC's, which has organized contemporary art exhibitions since 2002.
The capital of Wallonia Namur has many attractions: the city center is made up of many pedestrian streets, mainly for shopping. The main tourist attractions in the center are the Saint-Aubain cathedral, the Saint-Loup church, the Italian-style Royal Theater and the bell tower. The city also has an interesting cultural offer with the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Ancient Arts of Namur, the Félicien Rops Museum and the Hugo d'Oignies Treasury. The city is dominated by the citadel, built by Vauban, from which you can see the entire city and the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre rivers. You can also visit the seat of the Walloon government. It is also the organizer of the famous and sumptuous Walloon festivals that are held every year in September throughout the city. The surroundings offer great opportunities for hiking, especially in the Domaine de la Marlagne, which extends to Wépion, famous for its strawberries. In the province of Namur, you can also visit the Domaine des Grottes de Han, which will allow you to discover both its caves, famous all over the world, and an animal reserve where European fauna, such as lynxes, wolves and bears, live in a protected natural environment.
Demographics
Belgium has a population of 11,409,077 according to the July 2016 estimate and a population density of 368.5 inhab./km², one of the highest in Europe, after the Netherlands and Belgium. some microstates like Monaco and Vatican City. The areas with the highest population density are those around the Brussels-Antwerp-Ghent-Louvain agglomerations —a region known as the Flemish Diamond— as well as in other major urban centers (mainly Liège, Charleroi, Bruges, Namur, Mons, Cortrique and Hasselt). The Ardennes region is the most densely populated in the country. In 2005, the Flemish Region had a population of approximately 6,043,161. It is followed by Wallonia with 3,395,942 and Brussels with 1,006,749. Almost the entire population is urban (97.3% in 1999). The main cities (with their population in brackets) are Brussels (1,006,749 in the city s.s. and about 2 million in its agglomeration), Antwerp (457,749 in the commune and 900,000 with its metropolitan area), Ghent (230,951), Charleroi (201,373), Liège (185,574 in the municipality and 600,000 in its agglomeration) and Bruges (117,253).
Religion
| Religion in Belgium (2018) |
|---|
| Catolicism 57.1 % Irreligion 29.3% Islam 6.8 % Other Christians 2.8 % Protestantism 2.3% Buddhism 0.3 % Judaism 0.3 % Other 0.5 % |
Since independence, Catholicism, still counterbalanced by Freethought and Freemasonic movements, has played an important role in Belgian politics. The secular Constitution allows freedom of worship, and the Government generally respects this right in practice. In a 2001 survey, 47% of the country's population identified themselves as Catholic, 3.5% Muslim, between 1.2% and 1.4% Protestant, 0.7% Orthodox, between 0.4% and 0.5% Jewish and 0.1% Anglican. In addition, 15% stated that they did not identify with any religion and 7.4% described themselves as secular. identify as religious, with another 36% believing that some god is the creator of the world.
Education
It is estimated that 98% of the adult population is literate. Education is compulsory between the ages of six and eighteen, but many Belgians continue studying until around the age of 23. In 1999, Belgium had the third highest proportion of 18-21 year olds enrolled in higher education of all OECD countries, at 42 percent. However, in recent years, the main issue of concern It is functional illiteracy. In the period 1994-1998, 18.4 percent of the Belgian population lacked reading habits. Reflecting historical political conflicts between freethinking and Catholic sectors of the population, the education system in each community was It is divided into a secular branch controlled by the communities, the provinces, or the municipalities, and a religious branch —mostly Catholic— subsidized and controlled by both the communities and the religious authorities (mostly dioceses). However, it should be noted that—at least in the case of Catholic schools—religious authorities have very limited power.
Universities and other higher institutions are very important, both for local and international students. Among them are the KU Leuven or Catholic University of Louvain La Vieja founded in 1425 —with a postgraduate study in Spanish—, the Catholic University of Louvain La Nueva (French-speaking), the University of Antwerp, the University of Ghent, the University of Liège and the University of Namur.
Language
The official languages of Belgium are Dutch, French and German. About 57 percent of the population of Belgium have Dutch as their mother tongue (it is known by up to 70 percent of the population, including 20 % Walloon), 42% are French-speaking (70% of the total population knows the French language, including 60% of Flemings), and less than 1% are German-speaking. Brussels, with 9% of the country's population, is officially bilingual (French and Dutch).
Dutch and French spoken in Belgium have minor differences in vocabulary and meaning from the Dutch and French varieties. Although today many people now speak dialects of Dutch, the Walloon language, once the main language of Wallonia, has only a few speakers who are usually older people. These dialects, along with others such as Picard or Limburgish, are not used in public life. However, Flemish is much more widely used throughout the Dutch region. Flemish is spoken daily by the population, although the school, books and other find a more standardized Dutch.
Health
According to 2015 estimates, life expectancy is 80.88 years. Since 1960, life expectancy has increased by an average of two months each year, on par with the European average. The main causes of death in Belgium are cardiovascular diseases, neoplasms, diseases of the respiratory system and unnatural causes of death (accidents and suicides). Unnatural causes and cancer are the leading cause of death in women over the age of 24 and in men over the age of 44.
The health system is financed by a social security system and taxes. Health insurance is mandatory. Health care is provided by a largely privatized system with independent doctors and hospitals. Most of the time the patient pays directly for the services obtained and is later reimbursed by the insurance companies. The Belgian health system is supervised and financed by the federal government, the three communities and the three regions, that is, by six different ministries (community and Flanders region merged).
Science and technology
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In Belgium there have been contributions to the development of science and technology of international importance. During the heyday of the 16th century of Western Europe, one can cite among the most influential scientists the cartographer Gerardus Mercator, the anatomist Andreas Vesalius, the botanist Rembert Dodoens and the mathematician Simon Stevin.
Chemist Ernest Solvay and engineer Zenobe Gramme (École Industrielle de Liège) gave their names to the Solvay process and the Gramme dynamo, respectively, in the 1860s. Bakelite was developed in 1907–1909 by Leo Baekeland. Ernest Solvay was also a great philanthropist and named after him the Solvay Institute for Sociology, the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management and the Solvay International Institutes for Physics and Chemistry which are now part of the Free University of Brussels. In 1911 Ernest Solvay began a series of lectures, the Solvay Lectures on Physics and Chemistry, which had a profound impact on the evolution of quantum physics and chemistry. A major contribution to fundamental science is also due to the Belgian Georges Lemaître (Catholic University of Leuven), credited with proposing the Big Bang theory of the origin of the Universe in 1927.
Three Belgians have received Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine: Jules Bordet (Free University of Brussels, in 1919), Corneille Heymans (University of Ghent, in 1938) and Albert Claude (Free University of Brussels) together with Christian De Duve (Catholic University of Leuven), in 1974. François Englert (Free University of Brussels) received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2013. Ilya Prigogine (Free University of Brussels) received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1977. Two Belgian mathematicians have received the Fields Medal: Pierre Deligne in 1978 and Jean Bourgain in 1994.
Marc van Montagu (University of Ghent) discovered the mechanism of gene transfer between the bacterium Agrobacterium and certain plants, which resulted in the development of methods to convert Agrobacterium into an efficient system for creating transgenic plants. Van Montagu received the World Food Price, similar to the Nobel Prize in the field of agriculture, in 2013.
Culture
Architecture
In the Netherlands, including Belgium, the Renaissance style did not have to prevail and was assimilated quite quickly, initially forming a hybrid style, giving rise to buildings of Gothic design and antique decoration, but retaining the stepped pediment, a symbol local. The Renaissance style originating from Italy was easily adapted to local architectural traditions, as the palace built for Margaret of Austria in Mechelen in 1517 marked the beginning of Renaissance architecture in the territory that later became Belgium. It can be seen that the stepped pediment is still in fashion and that the smooth elevation of the palace demonstrates the persistence of architectural traditions too deep-seated to be abandoned so quickly.
From the 1530s, private and guild houses were also built in this new style, such as the Boatmen's House (1531) in Ghent and the Salmon House (1530-1534) in Mechelen. These houses did not undergo major changes, since they continued to stack their openings within a stepped pediment, but their decoration was adapted to the Renaissance.
However, there is no large Renaissance church in Belgium, and people prefer to keep the Gothic structure to which a chapel, sacristy, and Italianate portal have been added, because the fluted transept and pointed arch are still in use. Inside the churches, the Italian influence is felt more in the monuments such as the altars, the bars, the confessionals, the stalls and the tombs.
The Renaissance style was able to take off even further when Pierre Coecke translated Serlio's Rules of Architecture into Flemish in 1539. However, few buildings are built in the pure Italian style, local decorative and construction traditions are still alive and we can barely cite the Hotel del Cardenal de Granvelle built in Brussels in 1550 by Sébastien van Noyen as an example of a palace faithful to the Italian canons of the Renaissance.
The Antwerp Town Hall, built in 1561 by Corneille de Vriendt, is a unique work in the transition from a Renaissance style still subject to local traditions to the acceptance of a classical style much closer to that of Roman palaces. However, this work remains a personal and isolated experience, and soon the old formulas prevailed again. It was in decoration where the Italian Renaissance advanced the most, with the appearance on the facades of arabesques composed of scrolls, loves, medallions in vogue from 1530 to 1550, then garlands of fruit and grotesques from 1550 to the end of the century. This sculpted decoration, a Flemish interpretation of Italian models, is somewhat thick and heavy, but it is dynamic and original, and these ornaments often take on unexpected importance in the composition of the façades.
Art
Since the Middle Ages, the region that is now Belgium has been the cradle of great artistic movements that have had a major influence on European art. Mosan art, Flemish painting (a term that encompasses all of Belgium), Renaissance and Baroque painting, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture, as well as Renaissance classical music, are important elements in the history of the art.
The genre of Flemish Primitives, to which some of the most important works in art history are attributed, appeared in Bruges in the 18th century XV and subsequently acquired great importance in other large Belgian cities.
Flemish Baroque painting arose and developed in Antwerp and became a veritable industry thanks to its popularity among the European nobility of the 19th century XVII.
Surrealists are widely represented in Belgium with artists such as René Magritte and James Ensor, even Surrealism is said to be the soul of Belgium.
Belgium has also produced famous painters at various times such as René Magritte, Rubens, Brueghel, Van Dijck, Paul Delvaux, James Ensor, Félicien Rops or Léon Spilliaert.
Belgium is known for its contribution to comics, which is an art form in its own right.
The BALaT portal of the Royal Institute for Artistic Heritage offers access to 700,000 images of Belgian art, of which 650,000 are available for free download.
Literature
Among the Belgian writers we can highlight Maurice Maeterlinck (Nobel Prize for Literature in 1911), who wrote in French, as well as Émile Verhaeren, Jean Ray, Georges Simenon, Marguerite Yourcenar and Amélie Nothomb. Among the writers in Dutch, Jean Ray himself, Louis Paul Boon, or Hugo Claus.
Belgium is a bicultural country, so there is no such thing as a "Belgian literature" that brings together all Flemish and Walloon authors. Belgian writers are part of and participate in French or Dutch or even German literature (in the eastern cantons). On the other hand, since Belgium did not exist before 1830, the term "Belgian writers" refers to French, Dutch or German-speaking writers who live or have lived in present-day Belgian territory.
Flemish writers are widely read in the Netherlands; French-speaking Belgian writers are widely read in France. But it is very rare for a Dutch-language work to penetrate the French-speaking cultural realm, and French-speaking Belgian authors tend to look to Paris more than their neighbors to the north.
There is a regional literature, especially in Wallonia.
In the 16th century, most of present-day Belgium became French-speaking in aristocratic circles and social spheres. of power. However, Flemish, or rather Dutch, remained in the legal system and in the legislation. Literature no longer reached the level of previous centuries, largely due to the emigration of a large elite to the United Provinces of the Netherlands during the Wars of Religion.
The language of the uneducated people remained essentially dialectal (Western Flemish, Eastern, Brabant and Limburgish in the north, Walloon and Picardy in the south, with some nuances.
The Burgundian court, then the Spanish and especially the Austrian Habsburgs, were French-speaking. This phenomenon of Frenchification was further accentuated during the French period, which ended in 1815.
Starting at the end of the XIX century, French-speaking Belgian literature took off with big names like Camille Lemonnier, Georges Rodenbach, Émile Verhaeren or Maurice Maeterlinck.
Flemish literature is about works written in Dutch in a Belgian context. An abundance of high-quality Flemish or Dutch-language literature has flourished since the early Middle Ages (note that in Belgium the word Flemish is often used to refer to the Dutch language, which is considered an abuse of language)
Dutch-language Belgian literature is the Belgian literature of Dutch-speaking writers. Since its birth in 1830, education in Belgium has been based entirely on French. Although there was a primary school where Flemish was taught, the higher courses could only be taught in French, even though the Flemish were in the majority. This situation caused the language war in Belgium and explains why Dutch-speaking Belgian literature is less abundant than French-speaking. In fact, until the 20th century, at least in the Belgian context (since 1830), Dutch remained a popular language (or rather, a set of dialects) neglected by the Flemish elite, who often spoke in French.
For this reason, many Flemish writers spoke French, such as Maeterlinck, Émile Verhaeren and Marie Gevers. Others, however, kept their mother tongue for their works, such as Guido Gezelle, Félix Timmermans and Marnix Gijsen. Others switch from one language to another. The most famous of them changed his pseudonym and his language, signing his works written in French as & # 34; Jean Ray & # 34; and those written in Dutch as "John Flanders".
Comics
Belgium and its capital Brussels is the most important production center in Europe as far as the production of comics is concerned. Comanche, Lucky Luke, The Smurfs, Tintin (Kuifje in Dutch), Spirou and Fantasio, Achilles Talon or Bluecoats are some of the best-known Belgian comic series.
Media
Issuance of Belgian stamps and postal services in Belgium are handled by bpost. The first stamp was issued in 1849.
The Dutch and French-speaking public broadcasters are based in Brussels, in the same Reyerslaan complex. For the Dutch-speaking public, there is the VRT: Vlaamse Radio on Televisie. For French-speakers there is the Radio-Télévision belge de la Communauté française (RTBF). In addition, there are commercial television channels such as VTM and Play4 in the Flemish part and RTL in the French part. Each of the public stations broadcasts different radio programs and faces increasing competition from private stations. In addition, there are well-known free radio stations. They are regulated by language community, which causes problems in Brussels because some FM programs from one language group are displacing those from the other, more powerful language group.
There are dozens of newspapers and magazines in the three languages. There are ten Flemish newspapers, of which the largest circulation is Het Laatste Nieuws. There are 18 French-speaking newspapers, of which the best known is Le Soir in Brussels. For the German-speaking community there is Grenz-Echo.
Cinema
Starting in 1797, Étienne Robertson, a scientist and artist, introduced the magic lantern, called the "Fantascope". With this apparatus that allows the projected shadows to change shape thanks to embryos of movement, he presents phantasmagoria that make a sensation.
The Dardenne brothers are an example of the many current Belgian filmmakers.
Parties
One of the most famous traditional festivals is the Carnival of Binche, near Mons, celebrated before Lent. During carnival, fun and dancing are led by "gilles," men dressed in tall, feathered hats and sparkling costumes.
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Another traditional manifestation is the Ommegang of Brussels, which is the memory of the reception of Charles I upon his arrival (Joyeuse Entrée) in Brussels from Spain as emperor in 1549, which is commemorated every year.
Another famous spectacle is the procession of the Holy Blood, held in Bruges in May.
December 6 is the day of Saint Nicholas, a child-oriented tradition where it is customary for Saint Nicholas to bring sweets and sometimes gifts to children who have behaved well throughout the year. It is similar to what in other countries is Santa Claus or the arrival of the Magi (Epiphany).
Tomorrowland is an electronic music festival held annually in the small town of Boom. It is organized by ID&T and Entertainment and Media Enterprise. The first edition of the festival was held on August 14, 2005. It is estimated that 210,000 people of 75 different nationalities attend annually. The festival takes place in the city of Boom, 16 kilometers south of Antwerp, 32 kilometers north of Brussels.
Tomorrowland has become the most important electronic music festival in the world.
Gastronomy
There are hundreds of different types of beer, its production being considered by many as an art. The best known are Trappist beers (there are six official ones: Achel, Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westmalle and Westvleteren), lambic beers (Kriek) and renowned craft beers for their high quality such as "La Chouffe", &# 34;La Binchoise" or "Dolle Brouwers". The same goes for chocolates, the best known are: Godiva, Neuhaus, Cornet, Côte d'Or, Leonidas...
Belgian gastronomy is heavily influenced by French cuisine. Belgian cuisine is among the best in Europe: it has reinterpreted the gastronomic traditions of neighboring France in an original way, adapting them to the typical products of its own territory. Belgian cuisine has regional characteristics that give it a wide variety of recipes and ingredients. Samples of Belgian cuisine are chocolate, beer, French fries, waffles, meat (with breeds developed in the country such as the bleu blanc belge in bovines, or the Pietrain in pigs) or Brussels sprouts.
It is also often said of Belgians that they are a nation of Gourmands rather than Gourmets which can be translated as preferring "great cuisine" over fine cuisine. In reality, this means that it is a cuisine of "big portions" and of high quality. The French word Gourmandise originally comes from 'glutton', but has been interpreted with another meaning in France (the term is still used today, albeit with slightly archaic overtones). It is a saying that Belgium serves the amount of food in Germany and the quality of France.
Sports
The most popular sports in Belgium are cycling, soccer, tennis and motor racing.
Cycling
Cycling in this country enjoys (along with other countries in the area) great popularity, being cyclo-cross (a modality of this) the sport most watched and practiced by Belgians. Most professional road cycling races are held in this country, especially in the Flanders and Ardennes regions. The first one has a large pavé network, a very characteristic type of paving stone, which also usually provides a lot of spectacle. What this mountain country lacks is made up for by the "walls" or heights, quite short sections of road or cobblestone, but with high percentages that make it difficult to pass and are also very common in the classics in these areas. Two of the five "monuments" riders of the season:
- The Flanders Tour: Celebrated on the first Sunday of April, with the end in the town of Oudenaarde, is characteristic for combining the two characteristic elements of Belgian cycling: the walls and the Pavés. Its route usually oscillates 250 km, and its peaks to climb, about 20.
- La Lieja-Bastoña-Lieja: As its own name indicates, it departs from the town of Lieja, crossing Bastoña, to return to the surroundings of the exit, in a nearby town called Ans. This race is nicknamed "The Dean" for its antiquity. Its length is usually around 260 km, which the cyclists complete in about six hours, last Sunday of April.
Kim Clijsters was elected best tennis player in WTA in 2005 and 2010.
In addition to these important races, Belgium has a large number of races (most of them classic, such as the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad or the Fleche Wallonne. On some occasions it has also been part of the Tour de France, or traveled through it, as in 2015, in which a stage ended, at the Mur d'Huy.Belgium is also a cradle of good cyclists, most of them specialized in cobblestone races, like the one there
Other sports
In soccer, the R.S.C. Anderlecht and Club Bruges are considered the two most popular clubs in the country. The R.S.C. Anderlecht, along with RKV Mechelen, are the only national clubs with international titles (two European Cup Winners' Cups, two European Super Cups and one UEFA Cup by R.S.C. Anderlecht; and one European Cup Winners' Cup and Super Cup by RKV Mechelen); while Club Bruges is the only club that managed to reach a European Cup final, although it did not win it.
The soccer team is one of the most important at the continental level today, achieving third place in the Euro Cup in 1972 and a runner-up in 1980, as well as occupying third place in the World Cup in 2018, being its best participation in the orbital rendezvous story. At the Olympic Games, he won bronze in Paris (1896) and gold in his own country, in 1920.
On the tennis side, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin are the two tennis players who have reached number 1 in the world ranking. Henin won seven Grand Slam tournaments and the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, while Clijsters was the champion of three editions of the US Open and one of the Australian Open. They also led Belgium's Fed Cup team to victory in 2001.
The Spa-Francorchamps circuit is one of the most prestigious in world motorsports. The Belgian Grand Prix of Formula 1, the Belgian Grand Prix of the Motorcycle World Championship, the 1000 km of Spa-Francorchamps of the World Endurance Championship, and the 24 Hours of Spa of the European Touring Car Championship, Championship have been held there. World Touring Car and FIA GT Championship. In circuits the pilots Olivier Gendebien, Paul Frère, Jacky Ickx, Thierry Boutsen and Eric van de Poele have stood out, and in rally Bruno Thiry, Freddy Loix and François Duval.
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Annex:Countries and dependent territories by population density
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