Where it is located is one of the first questions that arises for travelers planning to buy quality diamonds, explore ancient castles, or “attack” spa centers in . The best time to visit Belgium is the high season, which lasts from April to September. But it’s worth planning a trip here during the winter holidays to attend concerts and fairs, as well as skiing in the Ardennes.
Belgium: where is this country of chocolate and diamonds?
Location of Belgium (capital - , area 30528 sq. km) - Western. It borders on the eastern side, , on the western and southern, , on the southeastern, and on the northern. As for the northwestern side of Belgium, it is washed by the North Sea (the coastline stretches for 66.5 km).
If we talk about the topography of the country, we distinguish Low (there are dunes, the height of which does not exceed 30 m, as well as the Flanders Lowland and the Campine Lowlands), Middle (this territory is occupied by plains) and High (the territory is occupied by the Ardennes Mountains) Belgium, the highest point which is the 694-meter Mount Botrange.
Belgium is divided into regions (Brussels-Capital, Walloon and Flemish regions) and 10 provinces (Flemish Brabant, Limburg, Hainaut and others).
How to get to Belgium?
Passengers spend approximately 3 hours on board Aeroflot and Brussel Airlines aircraft en route to Brussels.
Residents will be able to get to the Belgian capital by train, bus or plane (direct flights are available from International Airlines, and connecting flights from LOT and KLM), by train or on board airliners owned by Belavia (Austrian Airlines will offer a stopover). As for the Moscow - flight, there will be stops along the way at the airports (12.5 hours), and (10 hours), Rome and Vienna (8.5 hours).
Holidays in Belgium
Guests of Belgium are advised to visit Brussels (famous for the Royal Palace and Museum, the Atomium, St. Michael's Cathedral, Manneken Pis, the Palace of Charles of Lorraine, the Beer Museum, the Mini-Europe park), Liege (travelers should see the palace of the prince-bishops of the 11th century, the Church of Saint-Jean, the Town Hall, which is a reflection of the style of “French classicism”, exhibits of the Maasland Museum of Archeology and Art; and on Saturday morning it is recommended to take a walk through the Marche de la Batte market in search of the necessary products and clothes; it would not be a bad idea to look at the flea market on Saint Gilles, to acquire unique Belgian souvenirs), (tourists are attracted here by the Cartier castle, museums of photography, glass and fine arts, as well as the annual modern dance festival), (visitors to Bruges should pay special attention to the 83-meter Belfort tower of the 13th century - climbed more than 360 steps will allow you to look around the surroundings: Lake of Love; Church of the Holy Blood of Christ; Diamond Museum; amusement park Boudewijn).
Belgian beaches
- Beaches: These wide beaches are covered with amber sand. From here you can go on a sea excursion, as well as ride on a rented yacht or catamaran.
- beaches: they attract surfers, scuba diving, yachting and water skiing. As for the coastal area, there are sports shops there.
Souvenirs from Belgium
It’s not worth returning from Belgium to your native land without Belgian waffles and chocolate, fondue sets, lace tablecloths, napkins and linens, ceramics, tapestries, a small copy of Atomium, and cherry beer.
Belgium is a small state located in the center of Western Europe, surrounded by France, Holland, Germany and Luxembourg. Its territory stretches from northwest to southeast, from the dunes of the North Sea coast to the Ardennes Heights.
State capital- Brussels. It is called the “capital” of the European Union, since the European Parliament meets in the city, and NATO headquarters is located here. The largest cities in the country are Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, Liege, Bruges.
Kingdom of Belgium – constitutional parliamentary monarchy. The head of state is the king, but in fact the main person in the country is the prime minister, the representative of the party that won the parliamentary elections.
Administrative-territorial structure is unique. In 1993, Belgium became a federation consisting of three regions:
- Flanders, where Flemish is spoken;
- Wallonia, where French is dominant;
- Brussels (Flemish and French).
There are also three linguistic communities in the country - Flemish, French and a small German one. Each region and community has its own governing bodies.
State languages – French, Flemish (Dutch), German.
Main religion is Catholicism(about 70%). The second largest denomination is Protestantism (25%). There are representatives of Islam, Judaism, and Orthodoxy.
Currency unit– euro (since January 2002), before that the Belgian franc.
Climate is formed under the influence of marine air masses and warm currents of the North Atlantic. Temperate maritime, characterized by high precipitation. Winters are mild, summers are cool. The average temperature on the coast is +3 degrees in January, +19 in July, and several degrees colder in the Ardennes.
- The name of the country comes from the Celtic tribe Belgov, conquered by the soldiers of the Roman Empire in the 1st century BC. e.
- Belgium is a young state, the territory of the country in different historical periods belonged to Rome, Germanic tribes, and was part of Spain, Austria, France, and the Netherlands. Only in 1830 Belgium received independence.
- Waterloo, a village 20 km south of Brussels. It became famous as the arena of the famous battle, where Napoleon’s glory finally ended. After the defeat, the emperor abdicated the throne for the second time and went into exile on the island of St. Helena.
- City of Ypres(west Flanders, near the border with France) became the site of fierce battles during the First World War. In 1917, the Germans used mines filled with a toxic substance, later named after the city, against the Anglo-French troops. mustard gas.
The country is attractive for tourists medieval architecture of its ancient cities, primarily Bruges - the “Venice of the north”. The great Flemish artists Rubens, van Dyck, P. Bruegel, J. Bruegel, F. Snyders are widely represented in the country's art museums and galleries. Beach lovers can relax in the summer on the dunes of the North Sea coast.
And, of course, Belgium is home to delicious chocolate and wonderful beer (there is a rare variety called Floris Chocolat - a light beer with the aroma of dark chocolate).
Belgium map
Brief information about Belgium.
Belgium ( Belgium) is a small kingdom in Europe, conveniently located between the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and France. The main wealth of this small state is its cultural heritage. Belgium– these are ancient castles of world significance, museums with wonderful collections and unique masterpieces of famous painters, beautiful parks, cathedrals and fortresses. Belgium- a paradise for culinary gourmets, thanks to its unrivaled cuisine, there are a large number of restaurants awarded with Michelin stars.
Belgium - "North Venice"
1. Capital
The capital of Belgium is the city of Brussels.. Currently, it is not only capital of Belgium, but also the cultural and political center of the country and European Union, as well as the headquarters NATO and various international organizations. The main concentration of attractions is concentrated in the center of the capital, which is divided into the Lower and Upper towns. Wealthy artisans lived in the Lower Town, while the Upper Town belonged to aristocrats. In Brussels You can find such unique museums as the Chocolate and Cocoa Museum, the Comic Book Museum, the Beer Museum and a huge number of cafes and restaurants (about 2000).
2. Flag
Belgium flag- rectangular panel, with an aspect ratio of 13:15. State flag g consists of three equal vertical stripes: black, yellow and red. The colors were taken from the coat of arms of the Duchy of Brabant, and the vertical arrangement of the stripes was borrowed from the flag of France.
3. Coat of arms
Great coat of arms of Belgium- is a black shield located on two crossed scepters, with the image of a golden lion standing on its hind legs. Above the shield is a helmet with a raised visor and a royal crown. The shield is surrounded by a double chain of gold, symbolizing the highest award Kingdoms of Belgium- Order of Leopold. Behind the shield are two scepters: one with the “hand of justice”, the other with a lion. On coats of arms also depicts two lions holding a shield (Brabantian coat of arms) and two flags of Belgium. At the bottom of the coat of arms there is a red ribbon with a gold inscription-motto in French: « Unity gives strength"(L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE). All of the above is placed on a red mantle (a symbol of the political system of Belgium) with gold fringe, the mantle is lined with ermine and crowned with a grand ducal crown. Banners with provincial coats of arms are raised above the mantle. Belgium: West Flanders, Antwerp, East Flanders, Brabant, Liege, Luxembourg, Namur, Limburg and Hainaut. Great coat of arms used quite rarely.
Small coat of arms of the Kingdom of Belgium consists of a black shield with a golden lion, crossed scepters, the motto of the state, a crown and the Order of Leopold.
4. Anthem
listen to the Belgian anthem
5. Currency
The national currency of Belgium is the euro. 1 euro equals 100 cents. There are banknotes in circulation in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros, as well as coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents. Euro to Russian ruble exchange rate or any other currency can be viewed on the currency converter below:
Appearance of Belgian coins
Appearance of Belgian banknotes
Belgium is a kingdom in northwestern Europe, on the east coast of the North Sea. It borders in the north with the Netherlands, in the east with Germany, in the southeast with Luxembourg, in the south and west with France, and in the northwest it is washed by the waters of the North Sea.
The area of Belgium is 32545 km 2. The country is divided into three so-called geographical zones: the coastal plains, the low central plateaus and the Ardennes Mountains.
7. How to get to Belgium?
8. What is worth seeing in Belgium
Despite its small size, Belgium I'm oversaturated sights. These are the richest museums, amazing ancient cathedrals, castles, architectural buildings, sculptures, wonderful parks and much, much more.
Here's a small one list of attractions, which you should pay attention to when planning excursions around Belgium:
- Atomium in Brussels
- Basilica of Sacre Coeur
- Brussels Town Hall
- Palace of Justice
- Sten Castle
- Belfort Bell Tower
- Royal Palace in Brussels
- Museum Ville de Brussels
- Petit Sablon Garden
- Sculpture "Manneken Pis" in Brussels
- Cathedral of Our Lady of Antwerp
- St Michael's Cathedral
- Park "Europe in Miniature"
- Grand Place
- Fountain "Pissing Girl"
- Church of St. Nicholas
9. Largest cities in Belgium
- Antwerp
- Ghent
- Charleroi
- Liege
- Brussels (capital of Belgium) (Brussels - capital of Belgium)
- Bruges
- Namur
- Mons
- Leuven
10. Climate
Belgium climate- temperate maritime, with a fairly high level of precipitation and mostly cloudy weather. The average precipitation is 800 - 900 mm per year, and in the south of the country 1250 - 1400 mm. The sunniest months of the year are September and April. Average annual Belgium temperature is +12... +13 °С, in winter - from -2 °С to + 4 °С and in summer - +15... +18°С. It is extremely rare that the air temperature reaches +30 °C.
11. Population
There are more than 11,419,541 people (as of February 2017). Ethnic composition of Belgium is as follows: 59% are the indigenous population Flemings, 30% are Walloons, 11% come from Italy, Spain, Turkey, Germany and the Netherlands. The average life expectancy of Belgians is 80 – 82 years.
12. Language
Belgium has three official languages- Dutch, French and German. The majority of the population (about 60%) speaks Dutch, 39% speaks French and only 1% speaks German. Despite the fact that English is not an official language, it is used quite often in conversation.
13. Religion
Belgian Constitution Freedom of religion is guaranteed. The bulk of believers are Catholics, who make up 76% of the entire believing population of the country. Religions such as Islam, Protestantism, Judaism, and Orthodoxy are also recognized. The church is separated from the state.
14. Holidays
National holidays in Belgium
- January 1 – New Year
- Movable date - Easter
- May 1 – Workers' Day
- May 19 is Holy Trinity Day.
- May 25 – Ascension of the Lord.
- Movable date - Pentecost (Day of the Holy Spirit) (fiftieth day after Easter)
- July 21 – National Day of Belgium (Oath Day of King Leopold I)
- August 15 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- November 1 – All Saints Day
- November 11 – Armistice Day
- November 15 – Royal Dynasty Day
- December 25 – Nativity of Christ
15. Souvenirs
Here's a small one list most common souvenirs which tourists usually bring from Belgium:
- Belgian perfume
- Belgian beer
- Belgian chocolate
- Tapestry products
- Tiny replicas of a popular Brussels landmark in the form of an atonium
- Lace from Bruges
- Sculpture of a boy peeing
- China
- Elite cherry beer of natural fermentation -“ Kriek«
16. “Neither nail nor rod” or customs rules
Permitted by Belgian customs regulations free import and export of currency, however, is not for everyone. If you are not a citizen of a country that is part of the European Union, then amounts over 10,000 euros will need to be declared.
Import:
- 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars and 250 grams of tobacco;
- alcoholic beverages are not subject to customs duties up to 1 liter of strong drinks with an alcohol content of up to 22%, up to 2 liters of wines and champagne;
- up to 0.5 kg. coffee, 100 gr. tea, 50 gr. perfume and 250 gr. toilet water, as well as personal goods worth up to 175 euros per person, subject to return.
Export:
- There are no restrictions on the export of alcoholic beverages, 250 gr. perfumes, 1000 cigarettes, 1 kg. tobacco
Prohibitions and restrictions
It is prohibited to import into Belgium meat and dairy products, including sausages, canned food, lard, as well as chocolate (a fine will be charged). An exception is baby food and food for people with certain chronic diseases: such products must be packaged and weigh no more than 2 kg. It is also prohibited to import narcotic drugs, pornography, firearms, explosives, bladed weapons, rare and endangered animals, birds and plants, as well as products made from them. Hunting weapons are subject to declaration, accompanied by a special permit from the Austrian mission. Export from Belgium is prohibited items of historical and artistic value.
All plants and animals must be presented to the quarantine service. Pets are allowed import into Belgium, if they have a vaccination certificate and a medical certificate received 10 days or less before departure.
What about sockets?
Belgian electrical grid voltage:
Voltage in the electrical network in Belgium: 230 volts, frequency - 50 hertz. Socket Types: Type E
17. Telephone code and domain name Belgium
Country dialing code: +32
Geographic first level domain name: .be
Dear reader! If you have been to this country or have something interesting to tell about Belgium . WRITE! After all, your lines can be useful and educational for visitors to our site "Across the planet step by step" and for all travel lovers.
Belgium is a very small state in Western Europe. What language do its inhabitants speak? What is the state of Belgium? From this article we will learn about this country, as well as its characteristics.
Belgium: government structure
The name of the country comes from one Celtic tribe - the Belgians. The state gained its independence from the Netherlands in 1830, but it was recognized only in 1839. Since then, the independent state of Belgium has been on the political map of the world. The country's form of government is constitutional. This means that the monarch has limited powers, for the most part he plays the role of a symbol and representative of the state, and not the role of a ruler.
The name of the king of the state of Belgium, whose form of government is a monarchy, is Philippe Leopold Louis Marie (since 2013). The Prime Minister's name is Charles Michel. The government is appointed by the king, and the head of the party that wins the elections becomes the prime minister. The administrative-territorial structure of Belgium is federal.
Belgium is a member of NATO and the UN. The political center of Belgium is its capital Brussels. The headquarters of some influential organizations such as NATO, the European Commission, EFTA are located here.
Population and language
Belgium is home to about eleven million people, most of whom are city dwellers. The country has one of the highest population densities among other European countries.
Two large ethnic groups predominate here: the Flemings and the Walloons. The Flemings make up about 60% of the population and live mainly in the northern provinces. Walloons live in the southern provinces, of which about 40%. French and these are the official languages.
Germans constitute the largest group. German is also an official language in Belgium. English is widely used as a spoken language. In some regions, Lorraine, Walloon, Luxembourgish and Champagne are spoken.
The country is home to many immigrants from Italy, Morocco, DR Congo, Turkey and other countries.
Belgian cuisine
Belgian cuisine has absorbed features of Latin and German cuisine. It is highly prized in upscale restaurants. As you may recall, one of the talents of the famous literary character in Agatha Christie’s detective novels was culinary.
Fried mussels and fried meat with salad are national dishes. Popular Belgian dishes include waffles and fried potatoes. The Belgians think that the world owes them the invention of French fries; there are specialists in this field in almost all cities of Belgium.
The Kingdom of Belgium is also famous for its chocolate and beer. This country is the origin of praline. The most famous brands of chocolate are Godiva, Leonidas, Neuhaus, Côte d’Or, Guylian. About five hundred different brands of beer are produced here, many of which are over 500 years old. In addition to the usual varieties, you can try peach, apple, chocolate, etc. The headquarters and museum of the Confederation of Belgian Brewers are located in Brussels. The confederation was founded more than 300 years ago.
Tourism and culture
Belgium ranks 21st in terms of tourism competitiveness. About seven million people visit it every year, most of them coming from neighboring countries.
Architecture fans visit Ghent, Brussels, Antwerp, and Bruges. Examples of Romanesque and Gothic architecture and buildings in the Art Nouveau style are well preserved here. The most famous architect whose work can be seen in Belgium is Victor Horta.
Many people visit the state because it was especially famous during the Renaissance. In this country, artists of different styles and directions worked: romanticism, surrealism, symbolism, expressionism. Rubens lived in Antwerp. James Ersons, Constant Permeke, Rene Magritte were born and worked in these parts.
The Kingdom of Belgium is often visited to purchase diamonds and jewelry.
To visit this country, you must obtain a Schengen visa. located on Shchipok Street, 11, building 1, near the Serpukhovskaya, Dobryninskaya or Paveletskaya metro stations.
- The name Brussels translates as “city on a swamp” from the medieval version of the Dutch language.
- Throughout Europe, fewer battles took place than in Belgium.
- After reaching the age of majority, all citizens of the Kingdom of Belgium are required to vote.
- This country has a very high standard of living, so there is virtually no emigration.
- In terms of the number of citizenships issued, Belgium is second only to Canada.
- We owe the invention of the saxophone to Belgium and Adolphe Sax.
- Forced marriage is unacceptable here and is punishable by law.
- In 1605, the world's first newspapers were printed in Antwerp.
- Many dog breeds come from here. For example, Malinois, Tervuren, Griffon.
- Fans of the unusual will especially love the hotel in the shape of a human intestine located in Belgium.
- Belgium ranks third in the world after the Netherlands and Japan in terms of the number of cars.
Conclusion
Amazing Belgium, whose form of government is named above, is one of the most prosperous countries in the world. It is called the birthplace of chocolate and lace, waffles and the saxophone were invented here, and the headquarters of world-famous organizations are located in the capital.
The Kingdom of Belgium is a member of NATO, the UN and the EU. The population living in this territory is more than 10.5 million people. Further in the article we will tell you where Belgium is located, what territories it borders on, as well as its administrative structure and history.
General information
Belgium is a country with a constitutional parliamentary monarchy. According to the form of administrative-territorial structure, it is a federation. The currency of Belgium is the euro. The capital is the city of Brussels. The area of Belgium is 30,528 square meters. km. The name België (Dutch) comes from the ethnonym of the Celtic tribe Belgians. Where is Belgium? The federation is located in Western Europe. Belgium borders the Netherlands in the north, France in the west and south, Germany in the east and Luxembourg in the southeast.
Brief historical background
In 54 BC. e. territory in the northern part of Gaul (where Belgium is now located) was conquered by the troops of Julius Caesar. After the Roman Empire fell, the Franks (Germanic tribes) took over the province in the fifth century. They created their kingdom on this territory. In the Middle Ages, België was part of the Duchy of Burgundy, and from 1556 to 1713 it was part of Spain. The separation of Belgian territory from the Netherlands began during the Eighty Years' War.
Since 1713, België belonged to the Austrian Netherlands. From 1792 to 1815, Belgium passed to France. Then, until 1830, it was part of the Netherlands. This year, on September 23rd, a revolution took place. As a result of the unrest, Belgium gained independence and became a neutral kingdom. Its ruler at that time was Leopold I.
Post-independence development
The economy of the future federation was formed quite intensively in the 19th century. The territory where Belgium is located became the first in continental Europe on which a railway was built. The railway line connected Brussels and Mechelen. At the end of the 19th century, Belgium became a colonial country. From 1885 to 1908, it controlled the country of Congo, which is now a democratic republic. The active exploitation of the colony was one of the significant sources of industrial development and replenishment of capital in Belgium. During the First World War (it is called the "Great War") the future federation suffered greatly. In one of the cities (Ypres) poison gas was even used.
In 1925, due to the conclusion of an agreement between the Netherlands and Belgium, the latter lost its neutrality. In addition, it was demilitarized. During World War II, Belgium was captured by the Germans, and King Leopold III was deported to Germany. After the liberation of the territory, a new government was formed. The head of state was the king. In 2013, on the twenty-first of July, the coronation of Philip I took place. Since its formation, Belgium has been a constitutional monarchy, and since 1980 it has also been a federal country.
Administrative division
There are two parallel systems in the country. The Federation is divided into three regions. Of these, two, in turn, have their own provinces:
The Flemish region includes:
- Antwerp.
- East Flanders.
- Limburg.
- West Flanders.
- Flemish Brabant.
The Walloon region includes:
There is also the Brussels Capital Region. In addition, there are three language communities in Belgium. Their areas of responsibility include cultural issues, scientific and educational activities and sports. Regional leadership is involved in solving issues of the local economy, ecology, as well as in public works (for example, road construction).
Belgium map
The entire territory is divided into three geographical areas. In the southeast is the Ardennes Upland, in the northwest is the coastal plain. The third part is the central plateau. Low Belgium (coastal plain) consists mainly of polders and sand dunes. The first includes areas that are at risk of flooding. They are protected by dams or fields with special drainage channels located further from the sea. Polders have high soil fertility. Between the western sections (Scheldt and Lys) lies the Flemish Lowland. Behind it is Kempen (geographical area). The landscape in this area is mainly represented by meadows and coniferous forests, as well as corn fields.
Central Plateau
Between the valleys of the Meuse and Sambre rivers and Kempen lies Central Belgium. This is the central plateau. There are mainly clay plains that gradually rise towards the valleys. This area has the most fertile soil in all of Belgium. The central plateau includes the province of Hainaut, the south of Limburg and the north of Liege. Most of the land here is occupied by meadows and arable land. Between them there are hamlets (rural estates).
Ardennes Heights
High Belgium is characterized by an abundance of forests and a fairly low population density. The relief here is represented mainly by mountains. In this regard, agriculture is not developed in the territory. However, this region attracts quite a large number of tourists. Haute Belgium begins from the valleys of the Meuse and Sambre rivers and stretches to the south. Immediately behind them lies Condroz (geographical area). This territory is dominated by low hills, the height of which is no more than 300 m. Parts of the provinces of Liege, Emo and Namur belong to Haute Belgium. Behind them are high hills - the Ardennes. They are mostly covered with forest. Small villages located throughout the territory are connected by serpentine roads. The highest point in Belgium is located in the Ardennes - Mount Botrange (694 m).
Ethnic composition
The country's population is divided into two main groups. The first group includes the Flemings. They make up about 60% of all residents. About 40% are Walloons. The Flemings live in the five northern provinces. The official language in this territory is Dutch. Residents speak it and its many dialects. The Walloons inhabit the five southern provinces. They speak Walloon, French and some other languages. After the federation gained independence, it was a French-oriented region. At first there was one official language of Belgium - French. However, it must be said that the Flemish always made up the majority of the population. But even in Flanders itself, for quite a long time, French was the only language of higher and secondary education.
After the end of the First World War, an active movement for the emancipation of the Flemings began. It developed into the so-called “language struggle.” The movement achieved results only in the 60s of the twentieth century. In 1963, a set of laws was adopted that regulated the use of a particular language in official cases. By 1980, the second official language of Belgium, Dutch, was officially recognized. However, despite the progress made, tensions remain between the federation's two main population groups.
Political structure
As mentioned above, Belgium is also a federation. The head of government is the prime minister. Today this post is occupied by Elio Di Rupo. Usually the representative of the party that received the majority of votes in the elections becomes prime minister. The king appoints the government. Parliament also participates in approving its composition. According to the Constitution, the government must maintain linguistic parity: 50% must come from the Dutch-speaking community and 50% from the French-speaking group. The Federation Parliament consists of two chambers. The top one is the Senate. Lower - House of Representatives. Both of them are formed on the basis of direct general elections, which take place every 4 years. All residents of the country over 18 years of age have the right to vote. There are 150 deputies in the House of Representatives and 71 in the Senate. Belgium is sometimes called a double federation because it is divided simultaneously into three linguistic communities and three regions. Almost all of them have their own government and parliament. The exception is the Flemish Region and the Dutch-speaking Community. By mutual agreement, power was united in them. As a result, Belgium has six parliaments and as many governments. The federal government coordinates the actions of the other five government structures. In addition, she is responsible for defense, foreign affairs, pensions, monetary and economic policy and other national issues.