Geography
Belgium is situated in the west of Europe, bordered to the north by the Netherlands, to the east by Germany and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and to the south and the west by France. Although its surface area of 32,545 km² makes it a small country, its location has made it the economic and urban nerve center of Europe.

Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. In the half century following, it has prospered as a small, modern, technologically advanced European state and member of the European Union. Unique politically, Belgium has had long-standing differences between the wealthier Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the poorer French-speaking Walloons of the south, differences that are becoming increasingly acute.

"Belgium, heart of Europe" is not just a catch phrase: the geographical centre of the 15 countries of the European Union is actually in Belgium, and more precisely in Oignies-en-Thiérache (Viroinval), in the province of Namur.

Belgium is an ancient, yet young nation. Belgians were first mentioned in 2,000 B.C. by Julius Caesar in his book on the Gallic Wars. Nevertheless, Belgium was for centuries part of a larger state structure. The independant State of Belgium was born on October 4, 1830. National Day is celebrated on July 21. Its commemorates the day on which Leopold I took the constitutional oath as the first King of Belgium, on July 21st 1831.

Brussels
Brussels is not only the capital of Belgium but also the seat of the European Commission and the administrative capital of Europe. However, the city has retained its typical character, a sort of individuality resulting from it being a melting pot of cultures over the past centuries. The legendary "Mannekin Pis" stands as a symbol of the roguish nature of the Brussels city dweller, a mixture of the French 'savoir vivre' and the Flemish good-nature. The small streets around the "Grand Place" abound with typical Brussels bonhomie, and the restaurants offer delicacies that will please even the most discriminating gourmet. One can breathe in the effervescent Brussels atmosphere in all kinds of market places, such as the famous bird market at the Grand Place, the flea market in the popular Marolles area and the antiques market at the Grand Sablon.

The guild houses that surround the Brussels' Grand Place are known as some of the most beautiful baroque facades in Europe, reminding one of the power of the earlier guilds. Brussels has more than a hundred museums, amongst them the Museum of Ancient Art where the works of Rubens and Van Dijck are exhibited, and the Museum of Modern Art containing 19th and 20th century paintings and sculptures. Brussels is above all the mecca of Art Nouveau and Art Deco.

The geography of Belgium shows it to have three major areas: lower Belgium (up to 100m above sea level), central Belgium (between 100 and 200m above sea level) and upper Belgium (from 200 to over 500m above sea level). Lower Belgium begins in the west at the coast, with beaches and dunes that extend in a straight line for 65 km. Inland from the coast lie the "polders". This flat and fertile land used to suffer from flooding by the sea in the past but is now totally dry, thanks to the sluices which protect it from tidal erosion. Between the western polders, the Leie and the Scheldt, are the Flemish lowlands, a sandy region, which is hilly in places such as the Kemmelberg and the Kluisberg. The Kempen lie in the east of the country. The soil in the Kempen is poor and the landscape comprises conifer woods, heathlands, ponds, marshes, pastures and cornfields.

Behind the Flemish lowlands and the Kempen, gradually rising to the Sambre and Meuse valleys, lies central Belgium, with its low and very fertile clay plateaus. The heavily urbanized Brabant has its own lush green carpet, the forest of Soignes, a forest area and a remnant of the earlier Forest of Cologne, which covered a large part of the country in Roman times. Furthermore, central Belgium boasts Hainaut in the west and Hesbaye in the east, both fertile areas with large farms and extensive fields and pastures.

Upper Belgium the most sparsely populated and densely wooded part of the country, begins south of the Sambre and the Meuse at the Condroz plateau. It is a fertile area, regarded primarily as a tourist attraction on account of the beautiful valleys of the Meuse and the Ourthe and its numerous historical monuments. Between the Vesder and the Meuse lies the Country of Herve, which, due to its rich clay soil, is suitable for grazing and cattle rearing. To the south of the Condroz lies the area of Fagnes and Famenne, which, although a poor agricultural region, is well known for its many mysterious caves, the most interesting examples being those at Han-sur-Lesse and Remouchamps. Further to the south are the Ardennes, a region alternating between a magnificent, wooded area with natural beech forests and specially grown fir trees, and plateaus and deep valleys. The Ardennes are a natural tourist attraction, and its southernmost part, Belgian Lorraine, has a milder climate than the rest of the country.

Tourism Belgium's two main tourist attractions are its coast and the Ardennes. The coast's 65 kilometer-long stretch of sandy coastline has 15 resorts, each with its own character and unique atmosphere. The sandy beaches are ideal for children. The beaches shelve gently out to sea, and lifeguards ensure everyone is safety. Sunbathers have found that they acquire a healthier tan here than in southern Europe, thanks to the iodine and salt in the air.

The Belgian coast offers a wide range of sport and recreation facilities. Here you can hire a bicycle or a buggy, or go sailing or fishing. The wide beach is ideal for ball games, horse riding and beach surfing.

The Ardennes, situated in the southeast of Belgium, are one of nature's unspoilt areas, rich in fauna and flora, with vast forests of broadleaf and fir, hills and fast flowing rivers. Visitors can wander through the many picturesque villages nestling in the valleys where traditions and folklore still live on, and where the region's arts and crafts can be enjoyed.

Springtime in the Ardennes is the season for walking, cycling, fishing, canoeing and kayaking, and the keen mountaineer has an exciting choice of challenges. In winter, the Ardennes are a fun paradise for downhill and cross country skiers, or perhaps you prefer tobogganing and snow scooter racing. Belgium is the ideal country for a day trip. A visit to any of its beautiful old towns and cities, steeped in history, is a relaxing way to get to know the country and its history.

For those people who prefer the countryside, there are parks, zoos and recreation centers. Belgium plays a central role in the gastronomic life of Western Europe. The Belgian is well known for its Burgundian lifestyle and takes great pleasure in sharing this with guests. The restaurants are known for their quality, and what finer way to end an exciting day than with a typical Flemish stew washed down with an Ardennes trappist beer?

Belgium is famous for its gastronomy. It is the Flemish Benedictine monks that we have to thank for inventing beer. Charles de I'Ecluse, known as Clusius, was from Flanders and played a major part in promoting the potato throughout Europe. If you browse through old cookery books you are certain to find delicious Belgian recipes. No wonder that Belgium is at the top of its tree in 'haute cuisine', and equals France in ratio to restaurants per head of its population! Wherever you go in Belgium you will find restaurants that lay great store in offering the customer the best in culinary delights, many of them being specialties of the regions themselves. The coastal restaurants are popular for their North Sea fish and shellfish dishes. Here, from the smallest cafe to the grandest restaurant, the 'fruits of the sea' are lovingly prepared in every way imaginable. The Ardennes are known for their abundance of fresh trout and freshwater lobster.

Beef, pork and sheep are the most popular of meats in restaurants. With its excellent hunting, the Ardennes is able to offer succulent dishes such as wild boar, stag and roebuck when in season, although there is also poultry such as partridge, pheasant and quail to be sampled. Poultry, along with rabbit and hare are on menus throughout the country, in a wide variety of cooking styles.

Not surprisingly, beer is Belgium's national drink. Of the literally hundreds of different sorts of beer brewed by the breweries, what is renowned as best beer, that brewed by the fathers, is still brewed in monasteries around the country such as Orval and Westmalle. An art that is tradition to a Belgian has become famous throughout the world.

Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands

Area-comparative: about the size of Maryland

Coastline: 64 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

Natural resources: coal, natural gas

Geography—note: crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat of both the EU and NATO

Population: 10,182,034 (July 1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Belgian(s)
adjective: Belgian

Ethnic groups: Fleming 55%, Walloon 33%, mixed or other 12%

Religions: Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%

Languages: Flemish 56%, French 32%, German 1%, legally bilingual 11%

Government type: federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch

Capital: Brussels

Constitution: 7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993; parliament approved a constitutional package creating a federal state

Legal system: civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alexis REYN
chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900
FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Paul CEJAS
embassy: Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels
mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710
telephone: [32] (2) 508-2111
FAX: [32] (2) 511-2725

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France

Economy—overview: This highly developed private enterprise economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north, although the government is encouraging reinvestment in the southern region of Wallonia. With few natural resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. Two-thirds of its trade is with other EU countries. Belgium's public debt fell from 127% of GDP in 1996 to 122% of GDP in 1998 and the government is trying to control its expenditures to bring the figure more into line with other industrialized countries. Belgium became a charter member of the European Monetary Union (EMU) in January 1999.

Industries: engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum, coal

Currency: 1 Belgian franc (BF) = 100 centimes

Telephone system: highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network
international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat

Railways:
total: 3,380 km (2,459 km electrified; 2,563 km double track)
standard gauge: 3,380 km 1.435-m gauge (1996)

Highways:
total: 143,175 km
paved: 143,175 km (including 1,674 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Antwerp (one of the world's busiest ports), Brugge, Gent, Hasselt, Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Zeebrugge

Airports: 42 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie