It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts several of the EU's official seats and as
well as the headquarters of many major international organizations such as NATO.
Belgium covers an area of 30,528 square kilometres (11,787 sq mi) and has a population of about 11 million people.
Straddling the cultural boundary between Germanic and Latin Europe.
Belgium is home to two main linguistic groups: the Dutch -speaking, mostly Flemish community,
which constitutes about 59% of the population, and the French -speaking, mostly Walloon population, which comprises 41% of all Belgians.
Additionally, there is a small group of German -speakers who live in the East Cantons located around the High Fens area, and bordering Germany.
Belgium is a federal constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of governance. Its two largest regions are the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders in the north and the French-speaking southern region of Wallonia.
The Brussels-Capital Region , officially bilingual,
is a mostly French-speaking enclave within the Flemish Region.
A German-speaking Community exists in eastern Wallonia.
Belgium's linguistic diversity and related political conflicts are reflected in its political
history and complex system of government.
Historically, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg were known as the Low Countries;
it once covered a somewhat larger area than the current Benelux group of states.
The region was called Belgica in Latin, after the
Roman province of Gallia Belgica, which covered more or less the same area.
From the end of the Middle Ages until the 17th century, the area of Belgium was a prosperous
and cosmopolitan centre of commerce and culture.
From the 16th century until the Belgian Revolution in 1830, when Belgium seceded from the Netherlands, the area of Belgium served as the battleground between many European powers, causing it to be dubbed the "Battlefield
of Europe," a reputation strengthened by both world wars.
Upon its independence, Belgium participated in the Industrial Revolution and, during the course of the 20th century, possessed a number of colonies in Africa.
The second half of the 20th century was marked by rising tensions between the Dutch-speaking and the French-speaking citizens fueled by differences in language and the unequal economic development of Flanders and Wallonia.
This continuing antagonism has led to several far-reaching reforms , resulting in a transition from a unitary to a federal arrangement during
the period from 1970 to 1993.
Despite the reforms, tensions between the groups remain; the formation of a coalition government took 18 months following the June
2010 federal election.
Belgium is a constitutional , popular monarchy and a federal parliamentary democracy . The bicameral federal parliament is composed of a Senate and a Chamber of Representatives.
The former is made up of 50 senators appointed by the parliaments of the communities and regions and 10 co-opted senators.
Prior to 2014, most of the Senate's members were directly elected.
The Chamber 's 150 representatives are elected under a proportional voting system from 11 electoral districts.
Belgium has compulsory voting and thus maintains one of the highest rates of voter turnout in the world.
The King (currently Philippe ) is the head of state, though with limited prerogatives.
He appoints ministers, including a Prime Minister, that have the confidence of the Chamber of Representatives to form the federal
government.
The Council of Ministers is composed of no more than fifteen members. With the possible exception of the Prime Minister, the Council of Ministers is composed of an equal number of Dutch-speaking members and French-speaking members.
The judicial system is based on civil law and originates from the Napoleonic code.
The Court of Cassation is the court of last resort, with the Court of Appeal one level below.
Basic Facts:
It's capital and largest city is Brussels
Official languages Dutch, French, German
Government: Federal parliamentary and constitutional monarchy
Monarch: Philippe
Prime Minister: Charles Michel (incumbent)
Legislature Federal Parliament: Upper house Senate and Lower house Chamber of Representatives
Independence from the Netherlands
• Declared 4 October 1830
• Recognised 19 April 1839
• Founded the EEC (now the EU)
credit: wiki
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