Destination Belgium

Background

Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. It has prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy.

Area

• Total: 30,528 sq km
• Land: 30,278 sq km
• Water: 250 sq km

Area - comparative

• About the size of Maryland

Coastline

• 66.5 km

Climate

• Temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy

Terrain

• Flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast

Population

• 10,379,067 (July 2006 est.)

Capital

• Brussels

Nationality

• noun: Belgian(s)
• adjective: Belgian

Languages

• Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)

Local Weather

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