Belgium
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry information - Belgium
Country name - conventional long form : Kingdom of Belgium
Country name - conventional short form : Belgium
Country name - local long form : Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie
Country name - local short form : Belgique/Belgie
Country name - former :
Country code : BE
Government type : federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Capital - name : Brussels
Capital - time difference : UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : 21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King LEOPOLD I
Population : 10,403,951 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : Belgian(s)
Nationality - adjective : Belgian
Languages : Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)
Currency (code) : euro (EUR)
Currency code : EUR
Major infectious diseases - degree of risk :
Major infectious diseases - note :
Belgium is located Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands. The climate is temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy. The terrain is flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country 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.
