Luxembourg
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry name - conventional long form : Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Country name - conventional short form : Luxembourg
Country name - local long form : Grand Duche de Luxembourg
Country name - local short form : Luxembourg
Government type : constitutional monarchy
Capital - name : Luxembourg
Capital - time difference : UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June; note - the actual date of birth was 23 January 1896, but the festivities were shifted by five months to allow observance during a more favorable time of year
Population : 486,006 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : Luxembourger(s)
Nationality - adjective : Luxembourg
Languages : Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrative language), French (administrative language)
Currency (code) : euro (EUR)
Currency code : EUR
Luxembourg is located Western Europe, between France and Germany. The climate is modified continental with mild winters, cool summers. The terrain is mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle flood plain in the 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 : Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and an independent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than half of its territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger measure of autonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun by Germany in both World Wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it entered into the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO the following year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries of the European Economic Community (later the European Union), and in 1999 it joined the euro currency area.
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