Countries of Europe - Belgium (Kingdom of Belgium)

8/14/2019 Countries of Europe - Belgium (Kingdom of Belgium)

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BelgiumI INTRODUCTION

Belgium: Flag and Anthem

Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved./ Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Belgium (French Belgique; Dutch Belgi), constitutional monarchy in northwestern Europe. Belgium is one of the

smallest and most densely populated European countries. It is also the most urbanized; 97 percent of its people live in

urban areas. Together with Netherlands and Luxembourg, Belgium forms the Low, or Benelux, Countries. The countrys

name comes from the Belgae, a Celtic people who lived in the region and were conquered by Roman general Julius

Caesar in 57 BC. Its capital and largest city is Brussels.

Antwerp, Belgium

The Gothic-style Cathedral of Notre Dame towers above Antwerps Green Square. The statue, foreground, depicts the 17th-centuryFlemish painter Peter Paul Rubens. Antwerp developed as one of Europes foremost trading and manufacturing centers during the15th and early 16th centuries. Today the city is Belgiums principal seaport.Richard Klune/Corbis


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Belgium is situated between France and the plains of northern Europe, and it borders the North Sea. Because of its

geographic position as a crossroads of Europe, Belgium has been a major commercial center since the Middle Ages.

The North Sea has been the countrys outlet for trade with the rest of the world. Belgiums geographic location has

also given it strategic importance, and many battles have been fought for control of the area. Belgium became an

independent country in 1830.

Grand-Place, Brussels, Belgium

The Grand-Place in Brussels is one of Belgiums most well-known landmarks. The square was destroyed by French bombardment in1695, but it and the structures surrounding it were quickly rebuilt. Some of the more famous buildings on the Grand-Place include the

Htel de Ville, or Town Hall, and the Maison du Roi, which houses a museum. At night the buildings in the Grand-Place are illuminatedby floodlights, which makes for an impressive spectacle. Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Belgium is divided into three regionsFlanders, Wallonia, and Brussels. In Flanders, which consists of the provinces to

the north and west of Brussels, most of the people speak Dutch (Flemish) and are known as Flemings. In Wallonia, the

provinces south and east of Brussels, most of the people speak French and are known as Walloons. The population of

the Brussels region comes from both language groups. Each region has a great deal of autonomy (self-rule), but

friction between Flemings and Walloons continues to the present day.

II LAND AND RESOURCESGeography of Belgium

Area 30,528 sq km11,787 sq mi

Coastline 66 km41 mi

Highestpoint

Botrange694 m/2,277 ft

Belgium is roughly triangular in shape. It is bounded on the north by Netherlands and the North Sea, on the east by

Germany and Luxembourg, and on the south and southwest by France. Belgium has an area of 30,528 sq km (11,787sq mi), which makes it slightly smaller than the state of Maryland. The country is about 280 km (about 175 mi) long,

measured in a southeast-northwest direction, and about 145 km (about 90 mi) wide.

A Natural Regions


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Loess Belt of Belgium

The Loess Belt, a small portion of central Belgium's agricultural region, encompasses the country's best farmland. The belt ispermeated with a fine sediment of windblown particles called loess, which makes for rich, highly productive soil.

Funderburk/NCGE-GPN

Belgium has three main geographic regions: the coastal plain, the central plateau, and the Ardennes highlands.

Nestled in the Woods

Picturesque Durbuy, which gained city status in the 14th century, perches on the banks of the Ourthe River at the edge of theArdennes highlands in southeast Belgium. Here, the cliffs of Sy mark the shift from a farming region to a region of deciduous (and

some conifer) forests.Ronny Jaques/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Belgiums coastline, in the northwest, stretches 66 km (41 mi) along the North Sea. A low coastal plain extends inland

16 to 48 km (10 to 30 mi). Nearest the North Sea is a low-lying area consisting mainly of sand dunes and polders. The

polders, sections of land reclaimed from the sea and protected by dikes, were developed between the 13th and 15th

centuries. Lying farther inland is a flat pastureland drained by canals. The coastal plains elevation ranges from sea

level to about 20 m (65 ft).


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Albert Canal, Belgium

Belgium has an excellent network of waterways that includes canals such as the Albert Canal, shown here, in the province of Limburgnear the Belgian border with the Netherlands.photographs Belgium: Uitgeverij Lannoo nv/Danil Leroy

The central plateau is a gently rolling, slightly elevated area. Irrigated by many waterways, it contains a number of

wide, fertile valleys with a rich, alluvial soil. Caves, grottoes, and ravines are found in parts of this area.

The Ardennes highlands, a densely wooded plateau, extends across southeastern Belgium and into northeastern

France. Located here is Botrange, the highest peak in Belgium, with an elevation of 694 m (2,277 ft). The average

elevation of the Ardennes highlands is 460 m (1,500 ft). The area is generally rocky and poorly suited to agriculture.

B Rivers

Boats on the River Schelde

Belgiums River Schelde is navigable for almost its entire length. The town of Sint-Amands is picturesquely situated in thebackground, on the rivers bank.photographs Belgium: Uitgeverij Lannoo nv/Danil Leroy

The chief rivers are the Schelde (known as the Escaut in French) and the Maas (most commonly known by its French

name, Meuse). The Schelde and Meuse and their tributaries run slowly through the central plateau to the sea in a

generally southwest to northeast direction. Both rise in France and are for the most part navigable throughout

Belgium. On the Schelde, the principal waterway of Belgium, are the ports of Antwerp and Ghent. Although the

Schelde flows through Belgium, the river meets the sea in Netherlands. The chief tributaries of the Schelde are the

Leie (Lys), Dender (Dendre), Zenne (Senne), and Rupel rivers. The Sambre and Ourthe rivers are the main tributaries of

the Meuse.


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C Climate

Belgium generally has a temperate climate, with winters that are not excessively cold and with cool, rainy summers.

The climate near the sea is humid and mild. Farther inland, away from the moderating maritime influences, a marked

increase in the range of temperature occurs. In the Ardennes highlands hot summers alternate with cold winters.

Heavy rains are confined almost exclusively to the highlands. Fog and drizzle are common, and April and November

are particularly rainy months.

In Brussels, located at the center of the nation, the average temperatures range from -0 to 5C (32 to 41F) in

January and from 13 to 22C (55 to 72F) in July. In Oostende, on the coast, the average range is 1 to 5C (34 to

42F) in January and 14 to 20C (56 to 69F) in July. Rainfall in Brussels is uniformly spread throughout the year, with

a yearly average of 820 mm (32 in); annual precipitation in Oostende averages 580 mm (23 in).

D Natural Resources

Spa, Belgium

The town of Spa in Belgium is noted for its healthful mineral waters, which flow from nearby springs. Spa gave its name to all laterhealth resorts that offer mineral springs.Ron Giling/Hutchison Library

The natural resources of Belgium are almost entirely mineral. Coal was mined in abundance for many years, but

supplies have been exhausted and the last mine closed in the early 1990s. Copper, lead, and zinc are still extracted

and refined in Belgium.

E Plants and Animals

Small animals, primarily fox, badger, pheasant, squirrel, weasel, marten, and hedgehog, are found in Belgium. Deer

and wild boar are present in the Ardennes highlands. Abundant plants include the hyacinth, strawberry, goldenrod,

periwinkle, foxglove (see Digitalis), wild arum, and lily of the valley. Forest trees include oak, beech, elm, and stands of

pine that have been planted as part of reforestation programs.


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F Environmental Issues

Soignies Forest Path

A leaf-strewn trail leads through woods near the town of Soignies. Forests cover more than one-fifth of Belgium and are used mainlyfor recreation. Forestry has increased recently as more conifers have been planted, but Belgium still depends on imports of timber forits paper industry.

Clive Druett/Papilio/Corbis

Belgium is heavily industrialized and experiences many of the environmental problems common to other industrialized

nations. The country is a significant producer of greenhouse gases and industrial emissions that cause acid rain.

Belgiums air quality has improved, however, and industrial emissions have steadily decreased since the United

Nations (UN) Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) Sulphur Protocols were implemented, beginning in the 1970s.

European Union (EU) directives aimed at improving Belgiums environmental conditions concern water treatment and

water quality, both significant issues in such an industrial center. Before these directives were issued, the Meuse River,

a major source of drinking water, had become polluted from steel production wastes. Other rivers were polluted with

animal wastes and fertilizers. However, Belgium failed to meet EU targets set for the early 2000s for protecting itsrivers from farm pollution and for preventing water pollution in its ports.

Some areas of Belgiums coastal lands were reclaimed and developed from the 13th to the 15th century. With only

concrete dikes separating them from the sea, these lands are especially threatened by flooding. The EU predicted that

flooding was likely to worsen as a result of global warming.

Only 2.6 percent (1997) of Belgiums land is protected in parks and other reserves. This is a small amount when

compared with neighboring countries such as France (11.7 percent), Netherlands (6.7 percent), and Germany (27

percent).


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Belgium is party to international agreements concerning air and water pollution, biodiversity, ozone layer protection

and climate control, endangered species, hazardous wastes, and wetlands.

III POPULATIONPeople of Belgium

Population 10,392,226 (2007 estimate)Population density 343 persons per sq km

889 persons per sq mi (2007 estimate)

Urban population distribution 97 percent (2005 estimate)

Rural population distribution 3 percent (2005 estimate)

Largest cities, with population Brussels, 1,024,492 (2006 estimate)Antwerp, 464,038 (2006 estimate)Ghent, 233,925 (2006 estimate)

Official languages Dutch, French, German

Chief religious affiliations Roman Catholic, 81 percentMuslim, 4 percentProtestant, 1 percent

Life expectancy 78.9 years (2007 estimate)

Infant mortality rate 5 deaths per 1,000 live births (2007 estimate)Literacy rate 99 percent (1995)

The name Belgae was originally applied to a Celtic (see Celts) people in Gaul who were conquered by the Romans in

the 1st century BC. Later, Germanic elements mingled with the Romanized Celtic strain. In the course of history, the

Franks, the Burgundians, the Spaniards, the Austrians, and the French have introduced new elements into the

population.

Today the people of Belgium are primarily of two ethnic groups, the Flemings (Germanic origin) and the Walloons

(Celtic origin, probably with an admixture of Alpine elements). The most distinguishing characteristic of these two

groups is language. The Flemings speak Dutch (often referred to by its historic regional name, Flemish), and theWalloons speak French. The predominantly Flemish provinces are in the northern half of Belgium, called Flanders, and

the predominantly Walloon provinces are in the southern half, called Wallonia. The capital of Brussels, an enclave

within the Flanders region, is mixed. In 1993 these three ethnolinguistic areas became official federal regions.


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Flower Market in Brussels

Shoppers flock to the colorful flower market on the Grand-Place in the heart of Brussels. The Htel de Ville (Town Hall), whichdominates the area with its elaborate Gothic facade, is the only structure on the square that survived the bombardment of the city byLouis XIV, king of France.

Deni McIntyre/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Friction between Flemings and Walloons has been a stubborn social and political problem since Belgium gained

independence in 1830. French became the official language of government after the Revolution of 1830, which was

directed against Netherlands. In the following decades Belgian cultural life was influenced mainly by France. But this

dominance, along with Walloon social and economic domination, aroused a spirit of nationalism among the Flemings.

They agitated for the equality of their language with French. A series of laws in the 1920s and 1930s achieved this

goal.

Antagonism between the two groups increased after World War II (1939-1945). The Belgian constitution was revised in

1971 and 1980 to provide Flemings with a greater degree of cultural and political autonomy. Today, Flemings continue

to outnumber Walloons in Belgium.

The population of Belgium is 10,392,226 (2007 estimate). Nearly 60 percent live in the Flanders region. The overall

population density, one of the highest in Europe, is 343 persons per sq km (889 per sq mi). The largest concentrations

were in the Brussels, Antwerp, Lige, and Ghent (Gent) industrial areas, as well as in the narrow industrial region

between Mons and Charleroi. In recent decades the Limbourg city region has increased in population because of

industrial expansion in that area. Almost 10 percent of all Belgians live in Brussels, which is also home to vast numbers

of foreign guest workers. Some 97 percent of the population is classified as urban.

A Principal Cities


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Ghent, Belgium

The city of Ghent, the capital of East Flanders Province, is a major trading, export, and manufacturing center. It also benefits greatlyfrom tourism, attracted by Ghent's historic past and many medieval structures. The city, located in western Belgium, is also the site

of the University of Ghent, founded in 1817.Stan Cedarleaf/ImageQuest

Belgium is highly urbanized. The chief cities and their 2006 populations are Brussels (145,717), Antwerp (464,038),

Ghent (233,925), Charleroi (201,456), and Lige (187,432).

The larger cities of Belgium are generally fascinating combinations of old and new, where ancient guild halls, churches

and houses contrast with modern office buildings, apartment houses, and factories. Brussels, the capital, is famous for

its beauty, boulevards, restaurants, and stores. The Grand-Place, a square in the center of Brussels, is surrounded by

fine examples of medieval and Renaissance architecture, recalling the opulent splendors of an earlier time. Antwerp, aFlemish city, first developed as a major port in the 15th century and remains today one of the busiest ports in Europe.

Ghent was a center of the Flemish lace and textile industries and a commercial port during the Middle Ages. The old

part of the town, with its many waterways and bridges and medieval and Renaissance buildings, attracts thousands of

tourists each year. Charleroi grew up near large coal deposits. Today, Charleroi and Lige are industrial centers.

B Language

A law passed in 1963 established three official languages within Belgium: Dutch was recognized as the official

language in the north, French in the south, and German along the eastern border. In the city and suburbs of Brussels,

both French and Dutch are officially recognized, although French speakers are the larger group. In the country as awhole, strictly Dutch speakers make up about 56 percent, and French speakers 32 percent of the population. Only 1

percent of the people speak German, while some 11 percent speak more than one language. In 1971 a constitutional

change was enacted giving political recognition to these three linguistic communities, providing cultural autonomy for

them, and also revising the administrative status of Brussels.

C Religion


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Antwerp's Cathedral of Notre Dame

The Gothic-style cathedral of Notre Dame rises above the city of Antwerp in north-central Belgium. Construction began on thecountrys largest cathedral in 1352 and was not completed for 200 years. Notre Dame houses many artistic treasures, most notably

masterpieces by the 17th-century Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens. Belgium's second largest city and a major European port,Antwerp lies on the banks of the Schelde River.Marsha Nordbye/Bruce Coleman, Inc.

About 80 percent of the Belgian population is Roman Catholic. Religious liberty is guaranteed, and part of the stipend

for the ministers of all faiths is paid by the government. Other religions practiced within the country include Islam, a

number of Protestant denominations, and Judaism.

D Education

Although educational freedom was provided by the constitution of 1831, the first law for public elementary educationwas not passed until 1842. In 1914 compulsory attendance was enacted for children between the ages of 6 and 14;

compulsory schooling now extends to age 18. Since 1959 the education system has included state secular schools and

private Roman Catholic schools. A number of children attend private schools, most of them under the control of the

Catholic Church. Educational controversies involving language and religion that arose in Belgium in the 19th century

have continued to the present day. Almost the entire adult population is literate.

The oldest and most prestigious Belgian university dates from the Middle Ages: The Catholic University of Leuven was

founded under religious auspices in 1425. Since 1970 it has been divided into independent French- and Dutch-

speaking universities, as has the Free University of Brussels. The latter university opened in 1834 under an enactment

by the newly formed Belgian government. The universities of Ghent and Lige were founded in 1817 during the period

of Dutch rule. Ghent has a Dutch-speaking faculty, Lige a French-speaking one. In 1965 state universities opened in

the cities of Mons and Antwerp; French is the language of instruction at Mons, and Dutch is used at Antwerp.

Royal academies of fine arts and royal conservatories of music are maintained in Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, Lige, and

Mons. A state agricultural institute is maintained in Gembloux and a technical institute in Mons. In the early 2000s the

total enrollment at the universities and other institutions of higher education exceeded 322,300.

E Culture


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Pageant of the Golden Tree (Belgium)

Paraders march through Brussels, Belgium, in the Pageant of the Golden Tree, a festival that celebrates the marriage of Charles theBold in 1468.

Nat and Yanna Brandt/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Fairs and festivals play an important part in Belgian life. Fairs, usually known by the Flemish name ofkermesse, are

held in nearly all the cities and towns of the country during the summer months. On a larger scale, ten worlds fairs

have been held in Belgium, the most recent in 1958. There are also many local festivals, often associated with

religious observances. One of the most famous festivals is the three-day carnival at Binche, near Mons, held just before

Lent. During the carnival, noisemaking and dancing are led by Gilles, men dressed in high, plumed hats and bright

costumes. Another famous pageant is the Procession of the Holy Blood, held in Brugge in May. December 6

commemorates Saint Nicholass Day, an important childrens holiday.

E1 Libraries and Museums

General and specialized libraries are located in all the principal cities. The main reference collection is the Belgian

National Library (1837) in Brussels, with some 5 million volumes. Large libraries are maintained by the universities of

Ghent, Lige, and Leuven.

The Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels include the Museum of Ancient Art, with collections of paintings, drawings,

and sculptures from the 15th to the 18th centuries, and the Museum of Modern Art, with works from the 19th century

to the present. The Brussels house of Belgian architect Victor Horta, now a museum, exemplifies the turn-of-the-

century art nouveau style. The Royal Institute for Natural Sciences in Brussels has an extensive paleontology

collection.

The Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp is noted for its collection of paintings by Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens.

The Rubens House in Antwerp is also a museum. Museums in Brugge and Ghent have collections of early Flemish art,

and Brugge has a museum devoted to the paintings of Hans Memling.

E2 Literature


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The National Theater (1945) in Brussels is supported by state subsidies. Belgium has contributed to both Flemish and

French literature. Among the outstanding authors of the country are Philippe de Comines and Jean Froissart, who wrote

in French during the Middle Ages. The works of Charles de Coster and mile Verhaeren, both of whom wrote in French,

and of Hendrik Conscience, who developed the Flemish novel, were popular during the 19th century. Poet and

playwright Maurice Maeterlinck, who wrote in French, won the Nobel Prize in literature in 1911. See Flemish Literature;

French Literature. Important Belgian writers of the later 20th century include the novelist, poet, and playwright Hugo

Claus and novelists Franoise Mallet-Joris and Amlie Nothomb.

E3 Art

Ghent Altarpiece: Adoration of the Lamb

The Ghent Altarpiece consists of 12 panels. The outer panels open to reveal a central panel depicting the Lamb of God (Christ) beingadored by many figures. The other panels include full-length nudes of Adam and Eve and portraits of Joos Vyd (the wealthy citizen of

Ghent who paid for the work) and his wife Elizabeth. Evidence suggests that the work was begun by Hubert van Eyck and completedafter his death by his brother, Jan, in 1432. The remarkable and much-celebrated work of art was commissioned for Vyds chapel atthe Ghent Cathedral, where it can still be seen today.Archivo Iconografico, S.A./Corbis

During the 15th and 16th centuries, northern Europe was one of the centers of the Renaissance. Flemish painters

Hubert van Eyck and Jan van Eyck, Hieronymus Bosch, and Pieter Bruegel the Elder were among the outstanding

artists of this period. Dominant in the 17th century were Rubens and Sir Anthony van Dyck, who are regarded by many

as two of the greatest Flemish painters. Among 20th-century painters and graphic artists of international fame are

James Ensor, Paul Delvaux, and Ren Magritte. Belgian architect Victor Horta was one of the originators of the art

nouveau style of architecture, which had an important influence on European architects of the 20th century. Modern

Belgian architecture is represented by the designs of Henry van de Velde.

F Recreation


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Belgiums national sport is soccer, and its team is called the Diables Rouges (Red Devils). Tennis gained in popularity

as two Belgian women players, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne, established themselves as stars in the early

2000s.

IV ECONOMYEconomy of Belgium

Gross domestic product (GDP in U.S.$) $371 billion (2005)

GDP per capita (U.S.$) $35,388.60 (2005)

Monetary unit 1 euro (), consisting of 100 cents

Number of workers 4,498,422 (2005)

Unemployment rate 7.4 percent (2004)

Although the service economy has grown rapidly in Belgium, the country remains heavily industrialized, importing raw

materials that are processed mainly for export. With about three-quarters of exports going to other European Union

(EU) countries, Belgiums economy is dependent upon its neighbors and the nation is a strong proponent of integrating

European economies.

In the early 1980s and early 1990s a growing budget deficit, combined with high unemployment rates, hindered

Belgiums overall economic growth. To reduce its deficit, the government initiated an austerity program in the 1980s

that cut spending while raising taxes, as well as beginning a program to transfer some state-owned enterprises to the

private sector. By the early 2000s the government presented balanced budgets, and the economy was growing at a

faster rate than the EU average. However, Belgiums public debt remained huge, and unemployment remained high.

The budget in 2005 anticipated revenues of $156.8 billion and expenditures of $156.3 billion. Gross domestic product

(GDP) in 2005 totaled $370.8 billion. GDP is a measure of the total value of goods and services a country produces.

Service industries account for 75 percent of Belgiums GDP and employ 73 percent of the workers. Trade and transport

rank among the countrys leading service industries.

Brussels is the headquarters of the European Union and of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and therefore

home to many diplomats and foreign residents. Many firms and governments maintain offices in Brussels for access to

European Community decision-makers, and the capitals real estate, hotel, restaurant, and entertainment industries

bring in sizable foreign earnings.

A Agriculture

Belgium's Farm Country

Although 97 percent of Belgians live in cities and towns, nearly one-quarter of the land in Belgium is cultivated. The 3 percent of thepopulation that is engaged in farming produces enough food to make Belgium a net food exporter.Belgian National Tourist Office


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Belgium has favorable conditions for agriculture: moderate temperatures, evenly distributed precipitation, and a long

growing season. For centuries much of Belgium, especially the Flanders plain, was an area of intensive cultivation.

Today, about 28 percent of the country is under cultivation. Farming engages only 2 percent of the total labor force,

but it produces sufficient quantities to make Belgium a net food exporter. About two-thirds of the farms are intensively

cultivated units of less than 10 hectares (25 acres).

In 2005 the leading crops were sugar beets (5.6 million metric tons), potatoes (2.7 million), wheat (1.8 million), and

barley (306,215). Other important crops included fruits, tomatoes, and flax. Livestock and dairy farming are majoragricultural industries. In 2005 the livestock population of Belgium numbered some 6.3 million pigs, 2.7 million cattle,

155,333 sheep, and 33,887 horses.

B Forestry and Fishing

Forests cover 22 percent of the area of Belgium, and wooded areas are used primarily for recreational purposes. In

recent years, stands of conifers have been planted, and forestry activity has increased; however, timber is still

imported for the countrys paper industry.

The main fishing port of Belgium is Oostende. The fishing fleet exploits the North Atlantic Ocean fisheries from theNorth Sea to Iceland. The total annual catch in 2004 amounted to 27,775 metric tons; most of it consisted of plaice,

sole, and cod.

C Mining

Belgium has very limited mineral resources. Coal was the chief mining product for much of the 20th century, but

deposits were severely depleted by the 1950s. In the 1980s many of the mines were closed, and the last remaining

coal mine was shut down in 1992. Coal and oil must now be imported for steelmaking and other industries.

D Manufacturing

Brugge, Belgium


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This is one of many canals running through the city of Brugge in Belgium. Notable for its scenic charm and 12th- to 14th-century

architecture, Brugge is also a center for manufacturing.Belgium Tourist Office

Belgium was the first country on the European continent to industrialize, following the lead of Britain in the industrial

revolution. It remains one of the most highly industrialized countries of Europe, largely because of its geographical

location and transport facilities. Industrial production increased steadily after World War II (1939-1945) but began to

decline in the 1970s, when recession and obsolescence began seriously to erode many traditional sectors. Wallonia,

which had been the center of the countrys traditional industries, was hit hard, while newer, lighter industries such aselectronics developed in Flanders. In 2003 manufacturing accounted for only 18 percent of total economic activity.

Belgium is still a major producer of iron and steel, although production has fallen since the 1970s. About 11 million

metric tons of crude steel were produced annually in the early 2000s. Belgium also has an old and important

nonferrous metal industry. It was, for example, Europes largest zinc producer into the 1990s, although several

European countries have since surpassed Belgium in zinc production. Belgium also furnishes metallurgical, chemical,

and other industries with copper, lead, tin, and uranium. The availability of steel and nonferrous metals has

encouraged the manufacture of heavy equipment, especially at Lige, Antwerp, and Brussels. Products include

machine tools, railroad cars, diesel engines, pumps, and other industrial equipment.

Oil in Antwerp

Antwerp, Belgium's second largest city, has a long and glorious history as a port and trading center. Today, it remains a leading portand diamond center. This oil refinery testifies to the city's role in the international oil industry.Corbis

The Belgian chemical industry began to develop in the 20th century and has become the countrys second largestmanufacturing industry. Like other heavy industries, it was stimulated by the availability of coal, which was used both

for energy and as the raw material for such coal derivatives as benzol and tar. In the second half of the 20th century,

petrochemicals, plastics, and pharmaceuticals gained in importance as coal mining declined. Antwerp has become a

major petrochemical center.

The textile industry, dating from the Middle Ages, produces cottons, woolens, linens, and synthetic textiles. With the

exception of flax, all raw materials are imported. But as world competition increased in the late 20th and early 21st

centuries, textiles were produced more cheaply elsewhere. As a result, Belgiums textile industry suffered; many plants

closed or relocated, and textile production declined. Traditional Belgian handicrafts industries, such as lacemaking and


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tapestries, began their decline much earlier, but some still operate to cater to tourists. Brussels and Brugge were long

noted for the manufacture of lace and damask.

Antwerp is the leading diamond-cutting center in the world. It replaced Amsterdam in that role after World War II and

today produces about 70 percent of the worlds finished diamonds.

E Energy

Belgiums 7 nuclear power plants are the main source of electricity, supplying 57 percent of the countrys electric

power. With the decline of the coal-mining industry, Belgium has been forced to rely on imported coal, petroleum, and

natural gas. Since the 1980s environmental concerns about nuclear power (see Nuclear Energy) have led to greater

reliance on renewable energy sources, such as solar power, biomass, and geothermal technologies; a gas-powered

generator was also constructed. Legislation approved in 2003 calls for Belgium to close its seven nuclear reactors

between 2015 and 2025. This means that Belgium will have to find a replacement for about two-fifths of its energy

supply. Total electric power production was 79 billion kilowatt-hours in 2003.

F Currency and Banking

The monetary unit of Belgium is the single currency of the European Union (EU), the euro (0.80 euros equal U.S. $1;

2005 average). Belgium is among 12 EU member states to adopt the euro. The euro was introduced on January 1,

1999, for electronic transfers and accounting purposes only, and Belgiums national currency, the Belgian franc, was

used for other purposes. On January 1, 2002, euro-denominated coins and bills went into circulation, and the Belgian

franc ceased to be legal tender.

As a participant in the single currency, Belgium must follow economic policies established by the European Central

Bank (ECB). The ECB is located in Frankfurt, Germany, and is responsible for all EU monetary policies, which include

setting interest rates and regulating the money supply. On January 1, 1999, control over Belgian monetary policy was

transferred from the Belgian central bank, the National Bank of Belgium, to the ECB. The National Bank of Belgium

joined the national banks of the other EU countries that adopted the euro as part of the European System of Central

Banks (ESCB).

G Foreign Trade

Belgium is a major trading country. It is located on the trade route from major European industrial areas to the North

Sea. Additionally, it needs raw materials to supply its factories and markets to absorb its excess production. Belgium

has historically tried to follow a policy of free trade, but the need for protection led it to join with Luxembourg in a

customs and currency union in 1922. In 1948 a customs union was established between the two countries and

Netherlands. It was extended in 1958 into an agreement for full economic integration. In 1960 the Benelux Economic

Union became operative, establishing free movement of labor, capital, and services between the three countries.

Belgium strongly supported further European economic integration in the EU.

In 2003 Belgiums exports were valued at $255 billion. Principal commodities were automobiles and other vehicles,

chemicals and pharmaceuticals, food and food products, nonferrous metals, iron and steel, diamonds, and petroleum

products. Annual imports in 2003 had a value of $235 billion. Principal commodities were machinery, chemicals, food

products, petroleum and petroleum products, vehicles, rough diamonds, and clothing and accessories. Belgiums major

trading partners were Germany, France, Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Italy.


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Albert II

Albert II succeeded his brother, Baudouin I, as king of Belgium in 1993.Agentschap Belga

Belgium is a constitutional, representative, and hereditary monarchy. Succession to the throne is determined by

primogeniture. The present ruler is King Albert II, who came to the throne in 1993. The Belgian constitution was

promulgated in 1831 and revised in 1893, 1921, 1970, 1971, 1980, 1989, 1993, and 2001. The reforms of the 1970s

and afterward gradually transformed Belgium into a federal state, giving the majority of essential governmental

powers to the three regions: Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels.

A Executive

Executive power is vested in the king, who appoints the prime minister, cabinet ministers, and judges. The king is

commander in chief of the armed forces and, with the approval of parliament, has the power to declare war and

conclude treaties. The rights of the king, according to the constitution, include convening and dissolving parliament,

conferring titles of nobility, and granting pardons. All royal acts, however, must be countersigned by a minister, who in

turn assumes responsibility for those acts before parliament. Inasmuch as the ministers are responsible to parliament,

the king must choose a cabinet that represents a majority in parliament. Cabinets are generally multiparty coalitions.

B Legislature

Under constitutional changes that took effect with the parliamentary elections of 1995, both houses of the Belgian

parliament were reduced in size. The Senate was scaled back from 184 members to 71, while the Chamber of

Representatives dropped from 212 members to 150. All members of the Chamber of Representatives are directly

elected, while the Senates membership is elected through a combination of direct and indirect methods. All citizens

more than 18 years of age are required to vote in parliamentary elections and may be fined for not doing so.

C Political Parties

The three major political alliances, each consisting of Dutch- and French-speaking units, are the Christian Democrat

parties (1945), the Socialist parties (1885), and the Liberal parties, including the Flemish Liberals and Democrats-

Citizens Party (Dutch, 1961) and the Liberal Reformation Party (French, 1979). There are many minor parties.

D Local Government

Belgium is divided into the three federal regions of Brussels (population, 2006 estimate, 1,024,492), Flanders

(6,095,416), and Wallonia (3,421,985). These regions are further subdivided into the ten provinces of Antwerpen,


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Flemish Brabant, Walloon Brabant, East Flanders, Hainaut, Lige, Limbourg, Luxembourg, Namur, and West Flanders,

and into nearly 600 communes (administrative districts).

Belgium has devised a two-tiered system of regional government to address political and cultural differences. Each of

the three federal regions elects its own council, which is responsible for territorial matters such as planning,

transportation, water, energy, municipalities, and regional development. In 2001 the regions were given greater

authority over taxation and expenditure. There are also independent language councils for the Dutch-, French-, and

German-speaking communities. These councils are in charge of education, health care, and communications (such asbroadcasting) for the communities.

Each of the ten provinces has a council of 50 to 90 members who are chosen by direct vote. The provinces are

subdivided into administrative districts, often based in cities and towns, called communes. Each commune is

administered by a burgomaster appointed by the king. The town council, directly elected to six-year terms, advises the

king on this appointment. The council elects an executive body called the board of aldermen. Local government on all

levels possesses a large degree of autonomy, a tradition that originated in feudal times.

E Judiciary

The Belgian constitution provides for an independent judiciary with powers equal to those of the executive and

legislative departments. The highest tribunals are the five courts of appeal, which sit at Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent,

Lige, and Mons; the five labor courts; and the Supreme Court of Justice. Cases are referred to the courts of appeal by

the courts of assize, which review both civil and criminal matters. In the assize courts 12 jurors decide all cases by

majority vote. A special court was established in 1989 to resolve constitutional conflicts arising from the transfer of

power from the central government to regional authorities.

F Defense

Belgium is a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which has its headquarters in

Brussels. Recruitment in Belgiums armed forces is made by voluntary enlistment. Military training methods and

equipment are coordinated with those of Netherlands under an agreement of 1948. The Belgian armed forces, which

include a navy, army, and air force, stood at 36,900 in 2004. Large force reductions took place during the 1990s.

VI HISTORY

Although the modern country of Belgium was founded in 1830, the history of the peoples and the territory of the

southern Low Countries reaches back to the Roman period. Around 50 BC Roman general Julius Caesar named the

territory of the Belgae he had conquered Gallia Belgica (Belgian Gaul). The Roman region of Gallia Belgica included

modern Belgium, northern France, Netherlands, and part of Switzerland.

Romes successor in western Europe was the kingdom of the Franks, which originated in Belgian Gaul and expanded

into Germany, eventually extending from the Pyrenees eastward across the Alps and southward as far as Rome itself.

The Franks were led by Charlemagne, who united all of western Europe through conquest during his reign from 768 to

814. When the Frankish realm was partitioned in 843, Belgium was incorporated in the duchy of Lorraine, which was

part of Francia Orientalis (the East Frankish Kingdom, or Germany). In the extreme west of this realm arose the county

of Flanders, which was a fief of the kings of France.


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The Middle Ages, and especially the 12th and 13th centuries, were a period of intensive commercial development

throughout the southern Low Countries. The merchant class rose to great prosperity, and cities flourished. In Flanders

the cloth trade was the basis of the wealth and growing independence of such cities as Brugge, Ghent, and Ypres.

Lige grew rich on the profits of its iron forges and arms manufacture. Wealthy merchants and powerful guilds vied

with each other in endowing public works such as the belfries, guildhalls, and churches that are still the pride of many

Belgian cities.

Htel de Ville, Leuven, Belgium

The ornately decorated Htel de Ville (town hall) in Leuven, Belgium, dates from the 15th century. It is widely regarded as one of thefinest examples of flamboyant Gothic architecture in Europe. Leuven is situated in the Flemish province of Brabant.Robert Harding Picture Library

The most important of the medieval states in what is now Belgium was Flanders. In the early Middle Ages the counts of

Flanders succeeded in establishing themselves as independent rulers, although the king of France was the theoretical

overlord of the region. At the end of the 13th century Flanders was annexed by King Philip IV of France. French rule was

welcomed by some of the Flemish nobility but was bitterly resented by the merchants and craftsmen in the cities. In

1302 the craftsmen of Brugge massacred the French garrison of the city. In the same year an army of Flemish

townsmen inflicted a crushing defeat on the French in the Battle of Courtrai. It is sometimes called the Battle of the

Spurs because the Flemings collected the spurs of the dead French knights as trophies. However, the French later

gained control over Flanders. During the Hundred Years' War between France and England, the Flemings rebelled unde

the leadership of Ghent and allied themselves with England, but in 1382 were decisively defeated.

In 1384 Flanders was united with Burgundy, and by the mid-15th century the dukes of Burgundy ruled the greater partof the Belgian and Dutch Netherlands. Flanders continued to enjoy great prosperity, and the great age of Flemish art

began. While owing allegiance to the French crown, Burgundys aim was to found a powerful state between France and

Germany. This effort was disrupted by the death in 1477 of the last Burgundian ruler, Charles the Bold.

A Habsburg Rule


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Market Square, Antwerp

The Grote Markt, or Market Square, in Antwerp, Belgium, is the heart of the old city. The buildings on it date from the 16th to the 18thcenturies. The fountain in the center of the square features the statue of a legendary figure said to have lived on the banks of the

Schelde River in ancient times.HorreeZirkzee Produkties

By the marriage in 1477 of Mary of Burgundy, daughter of Charles the Bold, to the German prince Maximilian (later

Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I), all of the rich Burgundian realm except the duchy itself passed to the control of the

Habsburg family. Maximilians grandson, Charles, inherited Netherlands (which included present-day Belgium) in 1506.

Charles ascended the throne of Spain in 1516 and later became Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. In 1549 he decreed

that Netherlands be formally joined to the possessions of Spain.

Philip II of Spain, Charless successor, tried to suppress Protestantism and forbade all trade between his subjects andthe outside world. Many of the inhabitants of the northern Low Countries had converted to Protestantism during the

Reformation, and religious feeling intensified with Roman Catholic Spain. Philips policies provoked a rebellion in

Netherlands that began in 1566. This upheaval was partly a religious and economic struggle and partly an attempt to

preserve local traditions of self-government. Spanish armies were defeated, but the strife between the predominantly

Catholic south and the Protestant north continued. In 1581 seven northern provinces (Gelderland, Friesland, Holland,

Groningen, Overijssel, Utrecht, and Zeeland) declared their independence as the United Provinces of The Netherlands,

while the southern provinces (Belgium) remained loyal to Spain.

Philip II continued to pursue reconquest of the north without success. In 1609, with neither side capable of a decisive

victory, Philip III of Spain signed a 12-year truce with the rebels. By the time this accord expired, the Thirty Years' Warwas raging, and the Spanish Netherlands was once again a battleground. In 1635 the Dutch and the French joined

forces to divide the Spanish Netherlands, but still could not dislodge the Spaniards. A succession of Franco-Dutch

victories finally forced the Spanish king, Philip IV, to accept a separate peace with the Dutch in 1648. The south,

present-day Belgium and Luxembourg, remained a Spanish domain. By the Treaty of Mnster, the Dutch gained some

territory on their southern border, notably Maastricht, and Spain agreed to close off shipping from the Schelde River,

which flowed through Dutch territory but which was Antwerps sole outlet to the sea. The great port city, a center of

commerce, thus entered a period of decline.


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France, with a growing coalition of European powers, continued the war with Spain. Throughout his long reign the

French king, Louis XIV, refused to abandon his quest for the Spanish Netherlands. By the Peace of the Pyrenees in

1659, France gained several frontier areas, and through subsequent conquests won possession of additional towns.

The Spanish Netherlands became an important pawn in the next major European conflict, the War of the Spanish

Succession (1701-1714). A settlement concluded at Utrecht (see Peace of Utrecht) in 1713 gave France part of

Flanders, including Dunkerque and Lille. The bulk of the territory, however, came under the control of the Habsburg

rulers of Austria, with a stipulation that its fortresses on the French border be garrisoned by the Dutch. Until the end of

the 18th century the area was generally known as the Austrian Netherlands.

During the War of the Austrian Succession in 1744, the country was occupied by the French, but it was restored to

Austria by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748. Except for this invasion, Belgiums Austrian era was initially peaceful.

This tranquility was disrupted in 1781 when the Austrian emperor, Joseph II, decided to raze the border fortresses and

reopen the Schelde estuary. The Dutch mounted an effective blockade and again closed the river to trade. Then, in

1787, as part of his effort to centralize the administration of the far-flung Habsburg domains, Joseph abolished

provincial autonomy in the Austrian Netherlands. The loss of local control led to a general uprising, which coincided

with the outbreak of the French Revolution (1789-1799). Most of the Austrian garrisons were forced to capitulate, and

on January 11, 1790, a Belgian republic was proclaimed.

Quarrels between social and religious factions shook the new state from the outset, and within a year of Josephs death

in 1790, his successor as Austrian emperor, Leopold II, reestablished control. A conciliatory and enlightened ruler, he

revoked his predecessors decrees, but the new regime won little popular support. After Leopold was succeeded by

Francis II in 1792, Austria became embroiled in war with the revolutionary government of France. Belgium was twice

occupied by the French army, and the country was formally ceded to France by the Treaty of Campo Formio in 1797.

B French and Dutch Rule

Battle of Waterloo

On June 18, 1815, French emperor Napoleon I and his armies met a force of primarily Austrian, Prussian, and Brit ish troops near thetown of Waterloo, in modern Belgium. The Battle of Waterloo was one of the bloodiest in modern history, and it ended in Napoleonscrushing defeat. Shown here, Prussian troops storm the village of Plancenoit, southeast of Waterloo, during the battle.Erich Lessing/Art Resource, NY


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The regime installed by the French was generally unpopular, but Belgium profited from French rule. It expanded in area

after France conquered the prosperous city of Lige and annexed it to Belgian territory. Economically, after the French

opened the Schelde River to shipping, Antwerps trade revived. New markets were also opened for local industry.

In 1814 the country was occupied by armies of the nations ranged against Napoleon Bonaparte. The next year the

Battle of Waterloo, the last great battle of the Napoleonic Wars, was fought on Belgian soil.

In 1815 the Congress of Vienna assembled to redraw the map of Europe in the wake of Napoleons defeat. The peacesettlement adopted at the Congress again united Belgium and Netherlands, this time under a Dutch king, William I.

Catholic Belgium, however, did not want a Protestant ruler, even though the country prospered under the Dutch. The

outbreak of a revolution in France in July 1830 (seeJuly Revolution) inspired a Belgian uprising in August. Dutch troops

were driven from Brussels, and on October 4 a coalition of the normally antagonistic Catholics and Liberals proclaimed

Belgian independence. The great powersAustria, France, Britain, Prussia, and Russiaaccepted Belgian

independence, and the Dutch were unable to overcome such a formidable group.

C Independence and Neutrality

Leopold I (of Belgium)

Leopold I, a German noble, was elected the first king of Belgium in 1831. He remained in power until his death in 1865.Agentschap Belga

The Belgians drew up a constitution providing for a bicameral legislature elected by male property owners and a king

whose executive acts had to be countersigned by a responsible minister. They chose as their monarch Leopold I ofSaxe-Coburg-Gotha. He was a model constitutional monarch whose political skills enabled him to wield considerable

power at home, and to become an influential figure among Europes rulers. The Dutch finally agreed to recognize

Belgium in 1839 and a peace treaty was signed. In the settlement, half of Luxembourg became a Belgian province,

while the Dutch were awarded nominal control of the remainder of the Grand Duchy, as well as Limbourg east of the

Meuse River. In its most important provision, the European powers confirmed Belgium as an independent and

perpetually neutral state (Neutrality).


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Triumphal Arrival of Prince Leopold

On July 21, 1831, Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg arrived in Brussels and later that day swore to uphold the constitution of Belgium. Hebecame the first king of Belgium after the declaration of the countrys independence. July 21 is celebrated as a national holiday in

Belgium.Royal Army Museum Brussels

Even after the internal alliance of Catholics and anticlerical Liberals disintegrated, Belgian constitutionalism survived.

The economic decline that followed the separation from Dutch markets was halted by Europes first national program

of railway construction, which connected all major Belgian towns by 1840. Belgium was the first country in continental

Europe to industrialize, and had become politically and economically viable by 1865, when Leopold I died and was

succeeded by his son.

Coronation of Leopold I

Leopold of Saxe-Coburg pledges to uphold the Belgian constitution at his coronation as the first king of Belgium on July 21, 1831, inthis watercolor painting.Royal Army Museum Brussels


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As the outbreak of war seemed imminent in Europe, Belgiums neutral status caused a domestic controversy over the

military budget. Advocates of preparedness opposed those who believed that the nations neutrality rendered most

armaments unnecessary. In 1909, when Albert I ascended the throne, he warned that the army was not strong enough

to defend the country. The Catholic-led government used an electoral victory in 1912 to increase draft quotas, over the

opposition of Liberals and Socialists.

D World War I

Albert I of Belgium

In 1914 Albert I, king of Belgium, took personal command of his army and delayed the Germans in an invasion attempt at the start ofWorld War I. Albert remained with his troops throughout the war.Library of Congress

On August 4, 1914, one week after World War I began, German troops crossed the frontier into Belgium, ignoring its

neutral status. The government resisted invasion and appealed to France, Britain, and Russia for aid. The Belgian army

put up a heroic defense against overpowering forces; for four years its troops held on to a sliver of Belgian territory

between the Yser River and the French border. The Germans, meanwhile, carried on a ruthless occupation of Belgium,

confiscating property and deporting civilians. Although they attempted to capitalize on language divisions by

establishing separate Flemish and Walloon administrations, only a small minority of Flemings collaborated with the

invaders. A million Belgians fled the country. As the war dragged on, more than 80,000 soldiers and civilians died.


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Third Battle of Ypres

Soldiers of an Allied machine gun company sit in crater holes of the devastated landscape around Ypres, Belgium. The Third Battle of

Ypres began in July 1917 and continued until November, when the Allies captured the Passchendaele (Passendale) Ridge. The battlewas a struggle in the mud of Belgium.Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis

The major Allied offensive that began on September 28, 1918, liberated the entire Belgian coast and led the Germans

to agree to an armistice and to withdrawal on the Allies terms. The shooting war was finally over. Under the Treaty of

Versailles, Germany ceded Eupen-et-Malmdy, and Moresnet to Belgium, adding 989.3 sq km (382 sq mi) and some

64,500 inhabitants to the kingdom.

After the war Belgium was faced with the task of rebuilding the devastated areas. Although the damage wasenormous, the country made a remarkable recovery. Another consequence of World War I for Belgium was the

discrediting of the policy of neutrality. Belgium effectively renounced its neutrality in 1920 by signing a military

alliance with France. In 1925 it became a party to the Locarno treaties, in which Britain, France, Germany, and Italy

guaranteed the boundaries of Belgium and affirmed its right to form defensive treaties. Ruanda-Urundi was created

from part of a former German colony in East Africa in 1923 and placed under Belgian control by the League of Nations.

E World War II

Leopold III

Leopold III, king of Belgium, surrendered the Belgian army in World War II (1939-1945) after being surrounded by the Germans. The

move was to plague Leopold his entire life, forcing him into exile and causing many of his people to accuse him of treason.


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Corbis

In 1936, after France failed to oppose German remilitarization of the Rhineland, Belgium again returned to neutrality

with the understanding that Britain and France would assist in its defense against foreign aggression. Nevertheless,

Belgium was attacked for a second time by Germany on May 10, 1940, early in World War II. Without warning or

ultimatum, Belgian airfields, railroad stations, and communications centers were bombed by German planes, and

German armored units rolled across the border. The army and the French and British troops that came to Belgiums aid

were overwhelmed by the superior might of the invading forces.

By May 26, 1940, the Allies had been pushed into a narrow beachhead around Dunkerque, France, near the Belgian

border. King Leopold III surrendered his remaining forces unconditionally on May 28 and was taken prisoner. The

Belgian cabinet, which had fled to Paris, refused to acknowledge defeat, declaring the kings surrender illegal and

unconstitutional. On May 30 the ministers voted to divest the king of all powers and of the right to rule, a decision

supported by the Belgian parliament. After the fall of France, the Belgian government moved to London; it returned to

Brussels on September 8, 1944. Later that month parliament elected Leopolds brother, Prince Charles, as regent.

F Postwar Belgium

Although Belgium was in better economic condition after World War II than after World War I, it was politically

disorganized because of a conflict between the Christian Democrat parties and a coalition of Liberals, Socialists, and

Communists. Intensifying the political struggle was the question concerning King Leopold, who had remained in Austria

awaiting determination of his future. Despite pressure from the Christian Democrat parties (now strengthened by the

enfranchisement of women), which favored the return of the king, the Belgian parliament in the summer of 1945

extended indefinitely the regency of Prince Charles, virtually exiling the king because of his alleged defeatism in 1940.

While the struggle for political control continued, Belgium regained much of its former position as one of the worlds

great trading nations. Industrial areas in the south were modernized, and Antwerps port facilities were expanded. Rich

uranium deposits from the Congo, which were of particular value in the nuclear age, added to Belgiums postwar

prosperity.

G Royal Controversy

On March 12, 1950, after more than a year of successive governmental crises brought on by the controversy over the

king, the Belgian electorate went to the polls in an advisory plebiscite on the question of Leopolds return. A slight

majority of the voters favored the return of the king from exile, but his attempt to resume power led to strikes,

demonstrations, and riots. Leopold agreed to abdicate in 1951, when his son reached the age of 21. Baudouin was

proclaimed king the day after Leopolds abdication.

H European Cooperation

The 1950s were marked by the concentrated effort of European leaders to effect a political and economic union of the

Western European nations. Taking an active role in this movement, Belgium, along with France, West Germany,

Luxembourg, Italy, and Netherlands, became a charter member of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in

1952. The efforts of Belgian Foreign Minister Paul Henri Spaak were instrumental in the founding in 1957 of the

European Economic Community (EEC). Brussels became the seat of its governing commission and much of its

bureaucracy, reflecting the key role that Spaak played in shaping the new European order. In 1967 the ECSC, the EEC,

and Euratom merged to form the European Community, now called the European Union.


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I Crises of Empire and Nation

Baudouin I and Fabiola

Baudouin I succeeded his father, Leopold III, to the Belgian throne after Leopolds abdication in 1951. In 1960 he married Fabiola ofMora y Aragn, the daughter of a Spanish duke. Baudouin and Fabiola lived simply and were much loved by the Belgian people. Thecouple had no children, and after Baudouins death in 1993 his brother Albert became king.Raymond/ Reuters/Sygma

In 1960 uprisings in the Belgian Congo forced Belgium to withdraw from its African empire. On June 30, 1960, King

Baudouin proclaimed the independence of the colony (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC). In 1962 the

Belgian-administered UN trust territory of Ruanda-Urundi achieved independence as two states, Rwanda and Burundi.

The Belgian Congo was a source of great wealth for Belgium, especially for a few large companies, in which the

Belgian government also had substantial shares. The loss of the Congo caused economic hardship in Belgium.

Jean-Luc Dehaene

Jean-Luc Dehaene was prime minister of Belgium from 1992 to 1999.Corbis

To strengthen the economy, the Belgian government instituted an austerity program in the early 1960s. The Socialists

called for a general strike and violence erupted, particularly in the Walloon south. Although the strike was called off,

the crisis had sharpened the differences between Flemings and Walloons. Socialist leaders proposed that the unitary

state of Belgium be replaced by a loose federation of three regionsFlanders, Wallonia, and the area around Brussels.


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Atomium, Brussels Worlds Fair

Atomium, a steel and aluminum structure representing a metal molecule, was built for the Worlds Fair held in Brussels, Belgium, in1958. The 102-m (335-ft) high building became a symbol of the fair. Visitors reach exhibitions in the spheres through staircases in the

connecting tubes. A restaurant and viewing deck are in the topmost sphere. 2007 Atomium / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / SABAM, Brussels/Jean-Jaques Rousseau

New laws in 1962 and 1963 established official language frontiers, but the problem was not that easily solved. Both

Flemish and Walloon workers protested discrimination in employment, and disturbances broke out at the universities o

Brussels and Leuven, which eventually split into separate Dutch-speaking and French-speaking institutions. Although

during the 1960s the Christian Social and Socialist parties remained the major contenders for power, both Flemish and

Walloon federalists continued to make gains in the general elections, principally at the expense of the Liberal Party.

Eventually separate Flemish and Walloon ministries were created for education, culture, and economic development.

Finally, in 1971, the constitution was revised to prepare the way for regional autonomy in most economic and culturalaffairs.

University Buildings in Leuven, Belgium

Belgian architect Lucien Kroll designed these buildings in the 1970s for the medical school of the Catholic University of Leuven(Louvain) in Belgium. The living chaos of his designs earned Kroll an international reputation.Bastin and Evrard

Despite this reversal of a long-standing policy of centralization, the federalist parties opposed the revisions on the

grounds that they did not go far enough. Moreover, repeated efforts to transfer actual legislative authority to regional


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bodies were blocked by disagreements about the geographical extent of the Brussels region. In 1980 agreement was

finally reached on the question of autonomy for Flanders and Wallonia.

During the 1980s the Christian Democrat parties formed the cabinets, usually under the leadership of Wilfried Martens

In January 1989 parliament passed a devolution bill designed to transfer power from the central government to the

three ethnolinguistic federal regions. Implementation of this law moved slowly, and the 1991 elections resulted in a

reduced plurality for the Christian Democrats. Martens resigned as party leader, and his successor, Jean-Luc Dehaene,

formed a new center-left government.

J European Integration

Home of the European Union

The Cit Berlaymont in the Belgian capital of Brussels is headquarters of the European Commission, which carries out the provisions

of European Union (EU) treaties. Brussels is home base for many international organizations, including the North Atlantic TreatyOrganization (NATO) and Benelux, a trade bloc representing the interests of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.Corbis

Belgium moved to support increased economic and political cooperation in Europe by ratifying the Treaty on European

Union, or the Maastricht Treaty, in the fall of 1992. In May 1993 Belgium approved the devolution process and it

became a federal state with three regionsFlanders, Wallonia, and Brusselsin July of that year. King Baudouin died

on July 31, 1993, and was succeeded by his brother Albert, who ruled as Albert II. In parliamentary elections held in

May 1995, Dehaenes coalition was returned to power. Belgium took another step toward integrating with Europe in

May 1998, when it officially agreed to replace its national currency with a new single European currency, the euro. The

euro was introduced in 1999 and entirely replaced the Belgian currency, along with the currencies of other European

nations participating in the single currency, in early 2002.

K Recent Events


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Guy Verhofstadt

Guy Verhofstadt became prime minister of Belgium in 1999 in the aftermath of a food-contamination scandal that discredited the

government of Jean-Luc Dehaene. Verhofstadt had previously led the opposition for 11 years.Pierre Thielemans/AP/Wide World Photos

Dehaenes center-left coalition suffered a major defeat in parliamentary elections in June 1999, a defeat attributed to

rising public anger over a food contamination scandal. The government had revealed in May that a wide variety of

Belgian foodstuffs might have been contaminated by the cancer-causing chemical dioxin. Officials reportedly allowed

more than a month to pass before warning the public about health risks. The contamination led to the banning ofmany Belgian food exports by the European Union and cost the Belgian economy hundreds of millions of dollars.

A center-right coalition led by the Liberal parties took office in July 1999, and Liberal leader Guy Verhofstadt became

prime minister. The formation of the new government, which also included the left-leaning Socialist parties and the

environmentalist Green parties, marked the first time since 1958 that the Christian Democrats had been excluded from

government. Verhofstadt and his coalition were returned to power following parliamentary elections in 2003. The

governments plan to raise the age at which Belgian workers could retire with full benefits led to strikes in late 2005.

In local elections held in 2000 a far-right party, Vlaams Blok (Flemish Block), achieved significant gains. The Vlaams

Blok wants independence for the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders and an end to immigration. In 2004 the VlaamsBlok was declared racist, deprived of funding, and subsequently disbanded. However, it reorganized under a new

name. Meanwhile, disputes over Belgiums language boundaries continued in the early 2000s.

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Countries of Europe - Belgium (Kingdom of Belgium)

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