belgium infos wikkipedia

8/13/2019 Belgium Infos Wikkipedia

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BelgiumFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the European country. For other uses, see Belgium (disambiguation).

"Belgian" redirects here. For the article on the people, seeBelgians.

Kingdom of Belgium

Koninkr ijk Belgi(Dutch)

Royaume de Belgique (French)

Knigreich Belgien (German)

Flag Coat of arms

Motto:

"Eendracht maakt macht" (Dutch)

"L'union fait la force" (French) "Einigkeit macht stark" (German)

"Strength through Unity" (literally, "Unity makes strength")

Anthem: TheBrabanonne

MENU

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(instrumental version)
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Location of Belgium (dark green)

inEurope (green & dark grey)

in theEuropean Union (green) [Legend]

Capital

and largest city

Brusselsa

5051N421E

Official languages Dutch

French

German

Ethnic groups seeDemographics sectionbelow

Demonym Belgian

Government Federalparliamentary

constitutional monarchy[1]

- King King Philippe

- Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo

Legislature Federal Parliament

- Upper house Senate

- Lower house Chamber of Representatives

Independence

- Declaredfromthe Netherlands 4 October 1830

- Recognised 19 April 1839

Area

- Total 30,528 km2(140th)

11,787 sq mi

- Water (%) 6.4

Population

- 2012 census 11,035,948[2](76th)

- Density 361.5/km2(33rd)
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.org/wiki/Constitutional_monarchyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_systemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federalismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demonymhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Demographicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_languagehttp://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=Belgium&params=50_51_N_4_21_E_type:countryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brusselshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EU-Belgium.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe


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Historically, Belgium, theNetherlandsandLuxembourgwere known as theLow Countries,which used to

cover a somewhat larger area than the currentBeneluxgroup of states. The region was called Belgica in

Latin because of theRoman provinceGallia Belgicawhich covered more or less the same area. From the

end of theMiddle Agesuntil the 17th century, it was a prosperous centre of commerce and culture. From

the 16th century until theBelgian Revolutionin 1830, when Belgium seceded from theNetherlands,many

battles between European powers were fought in the area of Belgium, causing it to be dubbed the

"Battlefield of Europe,"[10]a reputation strengthened by both World Wars.

Upon its independence, Belgium participated in theIndustrial Revolution[11][12]and, during the course of the

20th century, possessed a number ofcolonies in Africa.[13]The second half of the 20th century was marked

by the rise of contrasts between the Flemish and the Francophones fuelled bydifferences of languageand

theunequal economic developmentof Flanders and Wallonia. This continuing antagonism has causedfar-

reaching reforms,changing the formerly unitary Belgian state into a federal state, and several

governmental crises, themost recent,from 2007 to 2011, being the longest.

Contents

[hide]

1 History

2 Politics

o 2.1 Political culture

3 Communities and regions

o 3.1 Locus of policy jurisdiction

4 Geography

o 4.1 Provinces

5 Economy

6 Military

7 Science and technology

8 Demographics

o 8.1 Languages

o 8.2 Education

o 8.3 Religion

o 8.4 Health

9 Culture

o 9.1 Fine arts

o 9.2 Folklore

o 9.3 Cuisine

o 9.4 Sports
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_Countrieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_Countrieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_Countrieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beneluxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beneluxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beneluxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_provincehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_provincehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallia_Belgicahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallia_Belgicahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallia_Belgicahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Revolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Revolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Revolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_of_the_Netherlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_of_the_Netherlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_of_the_Netherlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-Hass-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-Hass-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-Hass-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Revolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Revolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Revolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-EUbusiness-13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-EUbusiness-13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_colonial_empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_colonial_empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-Karl-14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-Karl-14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-Karl-14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_reform_in_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_reform_in_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_reform_in_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_reform_in_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007%E2%80%932011_Belgian_political_crisishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007%E2%80%932011_Belgian_political_crisishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007%E2%80%932011_Belgian_political_crisishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Politicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Politicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Political_culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Political_culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Communities_and_regionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Communities_and_regionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Locus_of_policy_jurisdictionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Locus_of_policy_jurisdictionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Geographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Geographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Provinceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Provinceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Economyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Economyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Militaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Militaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Science_and_technologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Science_and_technologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Demographicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Demographicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Languageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Languageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Educationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Educationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Religionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Religionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Healthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Healthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Fine_artshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Fine_artshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Folklorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Folklorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Cuisinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Cuisinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Sportshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Sportshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Sportshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Cuisinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Folklorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Fine_artshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Healthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Religionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Educationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Languageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Demographicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Science_and_technologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Militaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Economyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Provinceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Geographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Locus_of_policy_jurisdictionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Communities_and_regionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Political_culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Politicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007%E2%80%932011_Belgian_political_crisishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_reform_in_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_reform_in_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-Karl-14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_colonial_empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-EUbusiness-13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Revolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Revolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-Hass-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_of_the_Netherlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Revolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallia_Belgicahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_provincehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beneluxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_Countrieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands


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Episode of theBelgian Revolutionof 1830(1834), byEgide Charles Gustave Wappers,Museum of Ancient Art, Brussels

The main political parties of the 19th century were the Catholic Partyand theLiberal Party,with theBelgian

Labour Partyemerging towards the end of the 19th century. French was originally the single officiallanguage adopted by thenobilityand thebourgeoisie.It progressively lost its overall importance as Dutch

became recognised as well. This recognition became official in 1898 and in 1967 a Dutch version of

theConstitutionwas legally accepted.[22]

TheBerlin Conferenceof 1885 ceded control of theCongo Free StatetoKing Leopold IIas his private

possession. From around 1900 there was growing international concern for the extreme and savage

treatment of the Congolese population under Leopold II, for whom the Congo was primarily a source of

revenue from ivory and rubber production. In 1908 this outcry led the Belgian state to assume responsibility

for the government of the colony, henceforth called theBelgian Congo.[23]

Germany invaded Belgium in 1914 as part of theSchlieffen Planto attack France and much of theWestern

Frontfighting of World War I occurred in western parts of the country. The opening months of the war were

known as theRape of Belgiumdue to German excesses. Belgium took over theGerman

coloniesofRuanda-Urundi(modern dayRwandaandBurundi)during the war, and they were mandated to

Belgium in 1924 by theLeague of Nations.In the aftermath of the First World War, thePrussian

districtsofEupen and Malmedywere annexed by Belgium in 1925, thereby causing the presence of a

German-speaking minority.

The country was again invaded by Germany in 1940and was occupied until itsliberation by the Alliesin

1944. After World War II,a general strikeforced KingLeopold IIIwhomany viewed as collaborating with

Germanyduring the war, to abdicate in 1951.[24]The Belgian Congo gained independence in 1960 during

theCongo Crisis;[25]Ruanda-Urundi followed with its independence two years later. Belgium

joinedNATOas a founding member and formed the Benelux group of nations with the Netherlands and

Luxembourg.

Belgium became one of the six founding members of theEuropean Coal and Steel Communityin 1951 and

of theEuropean Atomic Energy CommunityandEuropean Economic Community,established in 1957. The

latter is now the European Union, for which Belgium hosts major administrations and institutions, including

theEuropean Commission,theCouncil of the European Unionand the extraordinary and committee

sessions of theEuropean Parliament.
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_Steel_Communityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Atomic_Energy_Communityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Atomic_Energy_Communityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Atomic_Energy_Communityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Economic_Communityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Economic_Communityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Economic_Communityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Commissionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Commissionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Commissionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_the_European_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_the_European_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Parliamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Parliamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Parliamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wappers_-_Episodes_from_September_Days_1830_on_the_Place_de_l%E2%80%99H%C3%B4tel_de_Ville_in_Brussels.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Parliamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_the_European_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Commissionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Economic_Communityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Atomic_Energy_Communityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Coal_and_Steel_Communityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATOhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-26http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congo_Crisishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-25http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Questionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Questionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_III_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_strike_against_Leopold_III_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied_advance_from_Paris_to_the_Rhinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eupen-Malmedyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Districts_of_Prussiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Districts_of_Prussiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burundihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruanda-Urundihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_colonieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_colonieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Front_(World_War_I)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Front_(World_War_I)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlieffen_Planhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-24http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Congohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_II_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congo_Free_Statehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Conferencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-23http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Constitutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourgeoisiehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Labour_Partyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Labour_Partyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_Party_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Party_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Museums_of_Fine_Arts_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egide_Charles_Gustave_Wappershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Revolution


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Elio Di Rupo

Prime Ministersince 2011

Philippe

Kingsince 2013

TheBelgian Federal ParliamentinBrussels

Politics[edit]

Main articles:Politics of BelgiumandBelgian federal government

Belgium is aconstitutional,popular monarchyand afederalparliamentary democracy.

Thebicameralfederal parliamentis composed of aSenateand aChamber of Representatives.The former

is made up of 40 directly elected politicians and 21 representatives appointed by the 3 Community

parliaments,10co-opted senatorsand the children of the king, asSenators by Rightwho in practice do not

cast their vote. TheChamber's 150 representatives are elected under aproportional votingsystem from
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elgian_federal_governmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Belgium&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brusselshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Federal_Parliamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elio_Di_Rupo


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11electoral districts.Belgium hascompulsory votingand thus holds one of the highest rates ofvoter

turnoutin the world.[26]

TheKing(currentlyPhilippe)is thehead of state,though with limitedprerogatives.He appoints ministers,

including a Prime Minister, that have the confidence of theChamber of Representativesto form thefederalgovernment.The Council of Ministers is composed of no more than fifteen members. With the possible

exception of the Prime Minister, the Council of Ministers is composed of an equal number of Dutch-

speaking members and French-speaking members.[27]The judicial system is based oncivil lawand

originates from theNapoleonic code.TheCourt of Cassationis the court of last resort, with theCourt of

Appealone level below.

Political culture[edit]

Belgium's political institutions are complex;most political power is organised around the need to represent

the main cultural communities.[28]Since around 1970, the significant nationalBelgian political partieshave

split into distinct components that mainly represent the political and linguistic interests of these

communities.[29]The major parties in each community, though close to the political centre, belong to three

main groups:Christian Democrats,Liberals,andSocial Democrats.[30]Further notable parties came into

being well after the middle of last century, mainly aroundlinguistic,nationalist, or environmental themes

and recently smaller ones of some specific liberal nature.[29]

A string of Christian Democrat coalition governments from 1958was broken in 1999after the firstdioxin

crisis,a majorfood contaminationscandal.[31][32][33]A "rainbow coalition" emerged from six parties: the

Flemish and the French-speaking Liberals, Social Democrats and Greens.[34]Later, a "purple coalition"of

Liberals and Social Democrats formed after the Greens lost most of their seats in the2003 election.[35]

The government led by Prime MinisterGuy Verhofstadtfrom 1999 to 2007 achieved a balanced budget,

sometax reforms,a labour-market reform, schedulednuclear phase-outand instigated legislation allowing

more stringentwar crimeand more lenientsoft drug usageprosecution. Restrictions on

withholdingeuthanasiawere reduced andsame-sex marriagelegalized. The government promoted active

diplomacy in Africa[36]andopposed the invasion of Iraq.[37]

Verhofstadt's coalition fared badly in theJune 2007 elections.For more than a year, the country

experienced apolitical crisis.[38]This crisis was such that many observers speculated on a possible partition

of Belgium.[39][40][41]From 21 December 2007 until 20 March 2008 the temporaryVerhofstadt III

Governmentwas in office. This coalition of theFlemishandFrancophone Christian Democrats,

theFlemishandFrancophone Liberalstogether with theFrancophone Social Democratswas an interim

government until 20 March 2008.[42]

On that day anew government,led by Flemish Christian DemocratYves Leterme,the actual winner of the

federal elections of June 2007, was sworn in by the king. On 15 July 2008 Leterme announced the

resignation of the cabinet to the king, as no progress inconstitutional reformshad been made.[42]In

December 2008 he once more offered his resignation to the king after acrisissurrounding the sale
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ia.org/wiki/Purple_(government)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_(government)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_(government)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_general_election,_2003http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_general_election,_2003http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-36http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-36http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-36http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Verhofstadthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Verhofstadthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Verhofstadthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_reformhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_reformhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_reformhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_energy_policy#Europehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_energy_policy#Europehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_energy_policy#Europehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Crimes_Law_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Crimes_Law_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Crimes_Law_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_drugshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_drugshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_drugshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthanasiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthanasiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthanasiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-37http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-37http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-37http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governmental_positions_on_the_Iraq_War_prior_to_the_2003_invasion_of_Iraqhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governmental_positions_on_the_Iraq_War_prior_to_the_2003_invasion_of_Iraqhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-38http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-38http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-38http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_general_election,_2007http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_general_election,_2007http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_general_election,_2007http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Belgian_government_formationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Belgian_government_formationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-39http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-39http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-39http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partition_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partition_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partition_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-SanFranChro-40http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-SanFranChro-40http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-Telegraph2010-42http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-Telegraph2010-42http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verhofstadt_III_Governmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verhofstadt_III_Governmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verhofstadt_III_Governmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verhofstadt_III_Governmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christen-Democratisch_en_Vlaamshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christen-Democratisch_en_Vlaamshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christen-Democratisch_en_Vlaamshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanist_Democratic_Centrehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanist_Democratic_Centrehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanist_Democratic_Centrehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Vlaamse_Liberalen_en_Democratenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Vlaamse_Liberalen_en_Democratenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Vlaamse_Liberalen_en_Democratenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouvement_R%C3%A9formateurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouvement_R%C3%A9formateurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouvement_R%C3%A9formateurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Party_(francophone_Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Party_(francophone_Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Party_(francophone_Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-news-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-news-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-news-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leterme_I_Governmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leterme_I_Governmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leterme_I_Governmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yves_Letermehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yves_Letermehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yves_Letermehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_reform_in_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_reform_in_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_reform_in_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-news-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-news-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-news-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%80%932009_Belgian_financial_crisishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%80%932009_Belgian_financial_crisishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%80%932009_Belgian_financial_crisishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%80%932009_Belgian_financial_crisishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-news-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_reform_in_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.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ofFortistoBNP Paribas.[43]At this juncture, his resignation was accepted andChristian Democratic and

FlemishHerman Van Rompuywas sworn in as Prime Minister on30 December 2008.[44]

After Herman Van Rompuy was designated the first permanentPresident of the European Councilon 19

November 2009, he offered the resignation of his government to King Albert II on25 November 2009. A fewhours later, thenew governmentunder Prime MinisterYves Letermewas sworn in. On 22 April 2010,

Leterme again offered the resignation of his cabinet to the king[45]after one of the coalition partners,

theOpenVLD,withdrew from the government, and on 26 April 2010 King Albert officially accepted the

resignation.[46]

The Parliamentary elections in Belgium on 13 June 2010 saw the Flemish nationalistN-VAbecome the

largest party in Flanders, and the Socialist Party PS the largest party in Wallonia.[47]Until December 2011,

Belgium was governed by Leterme'scaretakergovernment awaiting the end of the deadlocked negotiations

forformation of a new government.By 30 March 2011 this set a new world record for the elapsed timewithout an official government, previously held by war-tornIraq.Finally, in December 2011 the current

government led by Walloon socialist Prime MinisterElio Di Rupowas sworn in.

Communities and regions[edit]

Main article:Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium

Communities:

Flemish Community/ Dutch language area

Flemish & French Community / bilingual language areaFrench Community/ French language area

German-speaking Community/ German language area
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Regions:

Flemish Region/ Dutch language area

Brussels-Capital Region/ bilingual area

Walloon Region/ French and German language areas

Following a usage which can be traced back to the Burgundian and Habsburgian courts,[48]in the 19th

century it was necessary to speak French to belong to the governing upper class, and those who could only

speak Dutch were effectively second-class citizens.[49]Late that century, and continuing into the 20th

century,Flemish movementsevolved to counter this situation.[50]

While the people in Southern Belgium spoke French or dialects of French, andmost Brusselers adopted

Frenchas their first language, the Flemings refused to do so and succeeded progressively in making Dutch

an equal language in the education system.[50]Following World War II, Belgian politics became increasingly

dominated by the autonomy of its two main linguistic communities.[51]Intercommunal tensions rose and theconstitution was amended to minimise the potential for conflict.[51]

Based on the four language areas defined in 196263 (the Dutch, bilingual, French and German language

areas), consecutiverevisionsofthe country's constitutionin 1970, 1980, 1988 and 1993 established a

unique form of a federal state with segregated political power into three levels :[52][53]

1. Thefederal government,based in Brussels.

2. The three language communities:

theFlemish Community(Dutch-speaking); theFrench Community(French-speaking);

theGerman-speaking Community.

3. The three regions:

theFlemish Region,subdivided into fiveprovinces;

theWalloon Region,subdivided into five provinces;

theBrussels-Capital Region.

Theconstitutional language areasdetermine the official languagesin their municipalities, as well as the

geographical limits of the empowered institutions for specific matters.[54]Although this would allow for seven
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parliaments and governments, when the Communities and Regions were created in 1980, Flemish

politicians decided to merge both.[55]Thus the Flemings just have one single institutional body of parliament

and government is empowered for all except federal and specific municipal matters .[nb 2]

The overlapping boundaries of the Regions and Communities have created two notable peculiarities: the

territory of the Brussels-Capital Region(which came into existence nearly a decade after the other regions)

is included in both the Flemish and French Communities, and the territory of the German-speaking

Community lies wholly within the Walloon Region. Conflicts about jurisdiction between the bodies are

resolved by theConstitutional Court of Belgium.The structure is intended as a compromise to allow

different cultures to live together peacefully.[11]

Locus of policy jurisdiction[edit]

The Federal State's authority includes justice, defence, federal police, social security, nuclear energy,

monetary policy and public debt, and other aspects of public finances. State-owned companies include

theBelgian Post GroupandBelgian Railways.The Federal Government is responsible for the obligations

of Belgium and its federalized institutions towards the European Union and NATO. It controls substantial

parts of public health, home affairs and foreign affairs.[56]The budgetwithout the debtcontrolled by the

federal government amounts to about 50% of the national fiscal income. The federal government employs

around 12% of the civil servants.[57]

Communities exercise their authority only within linguistically determined geographical boundaries,

originally oriented towards the individuals of a Community's language: culture (including audiovisual

media), education and the use of the relevant language. Extensions to personal matters less directly

connected with language comprise health policy (curative and preventive medicine) and assistance to

individuals (protection of youth, social welfare, aid to families, immigrant assistance services, and so

on.).[58]

Regions have authority in fields that can be broadly associated with their territory. These include economy,

employment, agriculture, water policy, housing, public works, energy, transport, the environment, town and

country planning, nature conservation, credit and foreign trade. They supervise the provinces,

municipalities and intercommunal utility companies.[59]

In several fields, the different levels each have their own say on specifics. With education, for instance, theautonomy of the Communities neither includes decisions about the compulsory aspect nor allows for

setting minimum requirements for awarding qualifications, which remain federal matters.[56]Each level of

government can be involved in scientific research and international relations associated with its powers.

The treaty-making power of the Regions' and Communities' Governments is the broadest of all the

Federating units of all the Federations all over the world .[60][61][62]

Geography[edit]

Main article:Geography of Belgium
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Poldersalong theYserriver.

Belgium shares borders with France (620 km),Germany(167 km),Luxembourg(148 km) and

theNetherlands(450 km). Its total area, including surface water area, is 30,528 square kilometres; land

area alone is 30,278 km2.[63]It lies between latitudes 4930 and 5130 N, and longitudes 233 and 624

E.[64]

Belgium has three main geographical regions: the coastal plain in the north-west and the central plateau

both belong to the Anglo-Belgian Basin; theArdennesuplands in the south-east are part of theHercynian

orogenic belt.TheParis Basinreaches a small fourth area at Belgium's southernmost tip,Belgian

Lorraine.[65]

The coastal plain consists mainly of sand dunes and polders.Further inland lies a smooth, slowly rising

landscape irrigated by numerous waterways, with fertile valleys and the northeastern sandy plain oftheCampine(Kempen). The thickly forested hills and plateaux of the Ardennes are more rugged and rocky

with caves and smallgorges.Extending westward into France, this area is eastwardly connected to

theEifelin Germany by theHigh Fensplateau, on which theSignal de Botrangeforms the country's

highest point at 694 metres (2,277 ft).[66][67]

The climateismaritime temperatewith significant precipitation in all seasons (Kppen climate

classification:Cfb), like most of northwest Europe.[68]The average temperature is lowest in January at 3 C

(37.4 F) and highest in July at 18 C (64.4 F). The average precipitation per month varies between 54

millimetres (2.1 in) for February or April, to 78 mm (3.1 in) for July.[69]

Averages for the years 2000 to 2006show daily temperature minimums of 7 C (44.6 F) and maximums of 14 C (57.2 F) and monthly rainfall

of 74 mm (2.9 in); these are about 1 C and nearly 10 millimetres above last century's normal values,

respectively.[70]

Phytogeographically,Belgium is shared between the Atlantic European and Central European provinces of

theCircumboreal Regionwithin theBoreal Kingdom.[71]According to theWorld Wide Fund for Nature,the

territory of Belgium belongs to theecoregionof Atlantic mixed forests.[72]Because of its high population

density, its location in the centre of Western Europeand inadequate political effort, Belgium faces

seriousenvironmental problems.A 2003 report suggested Belgian natural waters (rivers and groundwater)to have the lowest water quality of the 122 countries studied .[73]In the 2006 pilotEnvironmental
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Performance Index,Belgium scored 75.9% for overall environmental performance and was ranked lowest

of the EU member countries, though it was only 39th of 133 countries.[74]

Provinces[edit]

Antwerp

East

Flanders

FlemishBrabant

Hainaut

Lige

Limburg

Luxembourg

Namur

Walloon Brabant

West

Flanders

Flanders

Wallonia

BrusselsMain article:Provinces of Belgium
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_Performance_Indexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_Performance_Indexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-76http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-76http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#cite_note-76http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Belgium&action=edit&section=7http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Belgium&action=edit&section=7http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Belgium&action=edit&section=7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antwerp_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flemish_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flemish_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainaut_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li%C3%A8ge_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limburg_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namur_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walloon_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walloniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walloniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels-Capital_Regionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels-Capital_Regionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walloon_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namur_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limburg_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li%C3%A8ge_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainaut_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flemish_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antwerp_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Provinces_of_Belgium.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walloon_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namur_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limburg_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li%C3%A8ge_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainaut_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flemish_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antwerp_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Provinces_of_Belgium.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walloon_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namur_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limburg_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li%C3%A8ge_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainaut_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flemish_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antwerp_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Provinces_of_Belgium.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walloon_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namur_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limburg_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li%C3%A8ge_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainaut_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flemish_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antwerp_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Provinces_of_Belgium.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walloon_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namur_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limburg_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li%C3%A8ge_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainaut_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flemish_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antwerp_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Provinces_of_Belgium.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walloon_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namur_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limburg_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li%C3%A8ge_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainaut_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flemish_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antwerp_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Provinces_of_Belgium.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walloon_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namur_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limburg_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li%C3%A8ge_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainaut_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flemish_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antwerp_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Provinces_of_Belgium.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walloon_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namur_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limburg_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li%C3%A8ge_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainaut_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flemish_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antwerp_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Provinces_of_Belgium.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walloon_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namur_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limburg_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li%C3%A8ge_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainaut_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flemish_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antwerp_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Provinces_of_Belgium.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Flandershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walloon_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namur_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limburg_(Belgium)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li%C3%A8ge_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainaut_(province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flemish_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Flandershttp://e

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