Belgium is a small, densely populated country in Western Europe with ten provinces and three regions. It is a federal parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch. Belgium is a founding member of the European community and is known for its variety of races and cultures. The country’s primary industries include engineering, metal products, transportation equipment, and processed food and beverages. Famous Belgians include writers, painters, and chefs. Popular travel destinations include Antwerp, Brussels, and Ghent, which are known for their history, art, and architecture.
Belgium is located in Western Europe between France and the Netherlands. Bordered by the North Sea, Belgium is divided into ten providences and three regions: Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. Officially called the Kingdom of Belgium, the country gained independence from the Netherlands in 1830 and is a federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch.
Today’s Belgium is a modern and technologically advanced country. As one of the founding members of the European community, its capital Brussels is the capital of both the European Union and NATO. Its proximity to other Western European capitals makes it a crossroads. Due to its location, Belgium is quite a melting pot, well known for its variety of races and cultures.
Being a small country, 12,566 square miles (32,547 square km), Belgium is densely populated. Therefore almost all Belgians are urban residents. Citizens enjoy a high literacy rate and a low poverty rate. The main ethnic groups in Belgium are Flemings and Walloons and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion. The languages spoken are Dutch and French. German is spoken by a minority of Belgians.
The geography of Belgium is mainly flat, but contains a hilly and forested area in the southeast, the Ardennes region. It has a small coastal area to the north. Belgium borders the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and France. The temperature is cool and rather rainy, with sunnier periods from late spring to early autumn.
The country depends on world trade and is known for its highly skilled, multilingual and productive employees. Most workers are in the service sector, with fewer jobs in industry and agriculture. Belgium’s primary industries include engineering and metal products, transportation equipment, motor vehicle assembly, scientific instruments, and processed food and beverages. Primary agricultural products include fruits, sugar beets, vegetables, grains, tobacco, beef, veal, pork, and milk.
Famous Belgians include the writers Georges Simenon and Hugo Claus and the painters James Ensor, Paul Delvaux and René Magritte. Belgian cuisine is famous for waffles, french fries, chocolates and beer. Belgium’s sports include motocross, football, cycling and auto racing.
Travel destinations include the country’s many castles and museums. Popular city sights include Antwerp, Brussels and Ghent. Antwerp is a city steeped in history, with medieval castles and palaces. Brussels is a cosmopolitan city characterized by art, architecture and history. The former medieval city of Ghent is now home to many students.
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