Belgium

Belgium One of the things Belgium is most known of, is their chocolates, but that is not all this country has to offer. Especially historical, this country is very special since the country has been divided into two different parts, but remaining one country. The capital Brussels can offer you a big city with great culture and food, but not to forget, also the city that houses the European Parlament and NATO's headquarters.

Area: 30.528 Km²
Population: 10.396.000
Density: 341 pop/Km²

System of government: Constitutional monarchy
Capital: Brussels (141.300 pop., 1.800.000 urban aggl.)
Major cities: Antwerp 455.000 pop. (945.000 urban aggl.), Gent 229.300 pop., Charleroi 200.600 pop., Liege 185.500 pop., Brugge 117.000 pop., Schaerbeek 110.300 pop., Namur 106.200 pop.
Ethnic majority: Fleming 58%, Walloon 33%, others 9%
Border countries: France WEST and SOUTH, Luxembourg SOUTH-EAST, Germany EAST, Netherlands NORTH

Principal mountains: Botrange 694 m
Principal rivers: Schelde 200 Km (belgian tract, total 435 Km), Meuse 183 Km ((belgian tract, total 933 Km)
Principal lakes: Lac de la Plate-Taille 3,74 Km² (artificial)
Principal islands: -
Climate: Oceanic

Language: French (Walloon), Dutch (Fleming)
Religion: Catholic 75%
Currency: Euro (€)

Fixed public holidays: 1/1, 1/5, 11/7 (only the flemian community), 21/7, 15/8, 27/9 (only the walloonian community), 1/11, 11/11, 25/12
Dialling code: 0032
GMT: +1

World Heritage List:

• Flemish Béguinages (1998)
• Grand-Place, Brussels (1998)
• The Four Lifts on the Canal du Centre and their Environs, La Louvière and Le Roeulx (Hainault) (1998)
• Belfries of Belgium and France (1999, 2005) *
• Historic Centre of Brugge (2000)
• Major Town Houses of the Architect Victor Horta (Brussels) (2000)
• Neolithic Flint Mines at Spiennes (Mons) (2000)
• Notre-Dame Cathedral in Tournai (2000)
• Plantin-Moretus House-Workshops-Museum Complex (2005)