Information
Country: BelgiumContinent: Europe
Belgium, Europe
Overview
Tucked in Western Europe, Belgium may be small, but it pulses with history, vibrant culture, and sleek, modern design-sometimes all on the same cobblestone street.Here’s a closer look at Belgium without zeroing in on landmarks: it covers about 30,528 km²-small enough to drive across in a day-yet it’s packed with people, and it shares borders with France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, placing it right at the heart of Western Europe’s crossroads.To the northwest, the North Sea opens Belgium to busy maritime trade routes.In the flat, windswept plains of Flanders in the Dutch-speaking north, farms and factories share the land, while Wallonia in the French-speaking south rolls into forests, hills, and the rugged Ardennes plateau.Brussels, officially bilingual in French and Dutch but largely French-speaking, serves as the nation’s capital.Home to about 11.7 million people, Belgium speaks mostly Dutch (around 60%) and French (about 40%), with a small German-speaking minority, and its cities hum with cultures from across Europe, Africa, and Asia.A federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy, it’s split into three regions-Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels-and three language communities.Brussels also doubles as the de facto capital of the EU and NATO.Steel, textiles, chemicals, and food processing form the industrial base, while banking, insurance, and trade fill bustling urban centers; farmland yields potatoes, grains, and sugar beets.Its central location, modern ports, and rail links make it a global trading hub.Belgium’s cultural life stretches from Rubens’ luminous paintings to the playful worlds of Tintin and The Smurfs, and its tables offer chocolates, frothy beers, moules-frites, waffles, and slow-simmered stews.Festivals like the masked Carnival of Binche, the pulsing beats of Tomorrowland, and twinkling Christmas markets keep traditions alive.Schools are strong and multilingual, healthcare is universal and world-ranked, and football, cycling, and tennis draw passionate crowds.The temperate maritime climate brings mild summers, cool winters, and frequent rain that deepens the country’s green landscapes.Today, Belgium also drives innovation in biotech, renewable energy, and logistics.Belgium’s role in global politics and trade gives it real weight in shaping both European and international policy.Beyond the cobblestone squares of Bruges or the bustle of Brussels, it weaves together regions, cultures, and responsibilities that strike a rare balance between local traditions and worldwide influence.
