- Population:
- 11,739,000
- Religion:
- Christianity
Belgium has a long history of cultural and political influences, including Celtic, Roman, and Frankish rule. It was part of the Spanish and Austrian Netherlands before falling under French control during the Napoleonic Wars. Belgium gained independence from the Netherlands in 1830. The country was occupied during both World Wars but rebuilt itself into a prosperous European nation. Today, Belgium is a founding member of the EU and NATO, with Brussels serving as the de facto capital of the European Union.
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Western Europe. It shares borders with the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the southwest, and the North Sea to the northwest. Covering an area of 30,528 square kilometers, Belgium has a population of approximately 11.5 million people. The capital and largest city is Brussels, which also serves as the de facto capital of the European Union. The official languages are Dutch, French, and German. Belgium is a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy, divided into three regions: Flanders, Wallonia, and the Brussels-Capital Region. The economy is highly developed, with key sectors including manufacturing, services, and technology. Belgium is a founding member of the European Union, NATO, and the World Trade Organization.
