Belgium TourismBelgium TourismKingdom of Belgium Koninkrijk België (Dutch) Royaume de Belgique (French) Königreich Belgien (German) Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the south, and the North Sea to the west. It covers an area of 30,689 km2 (11,849 sq mi) and has a population of more than 11.7 million, making it the 22nd most densely populated country in the world and the 6th most densely populated country in Europe, with a density of 383/km2 (990/sq mi). Belgium is part of an area known as the Low Countries, historically a somewhat larger region than the Benelux group of states, as it also included parts of northern France. The capital and largest metropolitan region is Brussels, other major cities are Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, Liège, Bruges, Namur, and Leuven. Belgium is a sovereign state and a federal constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. Its institutional organization is complex and is structured on both regional and linguistic grounds. It is divided into three highly autonomous regions: the Flemish Region (Flanders) in the north, the Walloon Region (Wallonia) in the south, and the Brussels-Capital Region in the middle. Brussels is the smallest and most densely populated region, as well as the richest region in terms of GDP per capita. Belgium is also home to two main linguistic communities: the Flemish Community (Dutch-speaking), which constitutes about 60 percent of the population, and the French Community (French-speaking), which constitutes about 40 percent of the population. A small German-speaking Community, making up around one percent of the population, exists in the East Cantons. The Brussels-Capital Region is officially bilingual in French and Dutch, although French is the majority language and lingua franca. Belgium's linguistic diversity and related political conflicts are reflected in its complex system of governance, made up of six different governments. Belgium is a developed country, with an advanced high-income economy. The country is one of the six founding members of the European Union, and its capital, Brussels, is the de facto capital of the European Union itself, hosting the official seats of the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, and the European Council, as well as one of two seats of the European Parliament (the other being Strasbourg). Belgium is also a founding member of the Eurozone, NATO, OECD, and WTO, and a part of the trilateral Benelux Union and the Schengen Area. Brussels also hosts the headquarters of many major international organizations, such as NATO. Largest Cities or Towns in Belgium Numbers according to the Belgium's National Register Rank Name Region Pop. Rank Name Region Pop.
Belgium Tourism Capital: City of Brussels Belgium Tourism Coordinates: 50°51′N 4°21′E Belgium Tourism Largest City: Brussels-Capital Region Belgium Tourism Official Languages: Dutch, French, German Belgium Tourism Ethnic Groups (2024): 64.8% Belgians 35.2% other Belgium Tourism Religions (2021): 49% Christianity 44% Catholicism 5% other Christian 40% no religion 7% Islam 3% other Belgium Tourism Demonym(s): Belgian Belgium Tourism Government: Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy Belgium Tourism Monarch: Philippe Belgium Tourism Prime Minister: Alexander De Croo Belgium Tourism Legislature: Federal Parliament Belgium Tourism Upper House: Senate Belgium Tourism Lower House: Chamber of Representatives Independence from the Holy Roman Empire and Netherlands: Declared: 4 October 1830 Recognized: 19 April 1839 Federal State: 1970 Belgium Tourism Area Total: 30,689 km2 (11,849 sq mi) (136th) Belgium Tourism Water (%): 0.64 (2022) Belgium Tourism Population: 2024 census Neutral increase 11,763,650 Belgium Tourism Density: 383/km2 (992.0/sq mi) (22nd) GDP (PPP) 2024 estimate Belgium Tourism Belgium Tourism Total: Increase $803.166 billion (37th) Belgium Tourism Per Capita: Increase $68,079 (20th) GDP (nominal) 2024 estimate Total: Increase $655.192 billion (23rd) Per capita Increase $55,536 (16th) Belgium Tourism Gini (2022): Negative increase 24.9 low inequality Belgium Tourism HDI (2022): Increase 0.942 very high (12th) Belgium Tourism Currency: Euro (€) (EUR) Belgium Tourism Time Zone: UTC+1 (CET) Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST) Belgium Tourism Drives: on right Belgium Tourism Calling Code: +32 Belgium Tourism ISO 3166 code: BE Belgium Tourism Internet TLD: .be and .eu | |||||
| |||||
