Belgium

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**Belgium**
Flag of Belgium
Capital	Brussels
Inhabitants	10.827.519
Language(s)	Dutch French German

Belgium is a small country in northwestern Europe. Belgium's location has been the country's great fortune and its terrible sorrow. The country borders three major trading nations via France, the Netherlands, and Germany. It is separated from a fourth one, the United Kingdom, by a narrow strip of the North Sea.

Trade with these nations has helped make Belgium an important centre of commerce and industry. Throughout its history, however, Belgium has been a bloody battleground for the wars of other nations because of its central location.

A Short Background

Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and 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.

People

The people of Belgium are primarily of two ethnic groups, the Flemings (Teutonic 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; see Flemish Language), and the Walloons speak French.

The predominantly Flemish provinces are in the northern half of Belgium, called Flanders (Flemish Region), 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.

History

Belgium's neighbors France, Germany and England. Conquered by German tribes, Christianized by the 7th century and carved up during the Frankish Empire in 1100, much of Belgium enjoyed a golden age of prosperity and artistry under the French Duke of Burgundy during the 14th century. With the demise of Bruges due to British competition and a silted river, Antwerp soon became the greatest port in Europe. The golden age began to tarnish in the mid-15th century when the Low Countries (present-day Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) were inherited by Spain, igniting a long battle against Catholic Spanish rule. The fanatically Catholic Philip II of Spain sent in the Inquisition to enforce Catholicism.

Thousands were imprisoned or executed before full-scale war erupted in 1568. The Revolt of the Netherlands lasted 80 years and in the end Holland and its allied provinces booted out the Spaniards.

Belgium and Luxembourg stayed under Spanish rule. Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Waterloo near Brussels led to the creation, in 1814, of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, melding Belgium and Luxembourg into the Netherlands. But the Catholic Belgians revolted, winning independence in 1830.

Despite Belgium's neutral policy, the Germans invaded in 1914. Another German attack in 1940 saw the entire country taken over within three weeks. King Leopold III's questionably early capitulation to the Germans led to his abdication in 1950 in favor of his son, King Boudewijn, whose popular reign ended with his death in 1993. Childless, Boudewijn was succeeded by his brother, the present King Albert II.

Postwar Belgium was characterized by an economic boom, later accentuated by Brussels' appointment as the headquarters of the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Belgium of today is home to a vast army of diplomats, and with them has come a rampant form of internationalism - followed closely by bland skyscrapers and intimidatory restaurants.

While the country's number one city is being busily groomed to suit the rest of Europe, the Belgians themselves remain nonchalant - the true spirit of Belgium will always emanate from its people and its past.

Culture

Language

In 1963 a law was passed establishing 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 a whole, strictly Dutch speakers make up about 58 percent, and French speakers about 32 percent of the population, while about 10 percent are bilingual or speak German or other languages. 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.

Religious

The vast majority of Belgians are Roman Catholics, and despite a decline in church attendances, religious traditions still flavour much of Belgium's daily life.

Art

Early Belgian artists are credited with inventing oil painting, so it's no wonder the place has produced more than its fair share of masterpieces. The Flemish Primitive Jan van Eyck started it all in the 15th century, Pieter Brueghel followed with his portrayals of peasant life in the 16th century, and Pieter Paul Rubens dominated early 17th century art as the leading light of the Baroque period. In Antwerp, Rubens set up a highly productive studio of painters and turned out sensational religious allegories such as his famous Descent from the Cross.

Architecture

At the turn of this century, the sinuous architecture of Art Nouveau started in Brussels led by Henri van de Velde and Victor Horta. Horta was famed for his interiors which avoided straight lines - ceilings simply became curved continuations of walls. Stained glass and wrought iron were much used to accentuate this whiplash of lines.

Comic

Comic strips are another Belgian forte and while there are many local favourites, Herge, the creator of the quiffed reporter Tintin, is the most widely known.

Food

Belgian food is highly regarded throughout Europe - some say it's second only to French. Combining French and German styles, meat and seafood are the main raw ingredients. The Belgians swear they invented frites (chips, or fries), and judging by availability, it's a claim few would contest. And though they didn't actually invent beer or chocolate, they may as well have.

National holidays

Jan 1: New Year's Day
May 1: Labour Day
July 11: Flemish Community Holiday*
July 21: National Holiday
Aug 15: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sept 27: French Community Holiday*
Nov 1: All Saints Day
Nov 11: Armistice Day
December 25: Christmas Day

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Belgium

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Art

Architecture

Comic

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