Western Europe, bordering the
North Sea, between France and the Netherlands
Lowest point: North Sea 0 m
Highest point: Signal de Botrange
694 m
Capital: Brussels
Largest City: Brussels
Religion: Roman Catholic 75%,
Protestant or other 25%
Languages Spoken: Dutch
(official) 60%, French (official)
40%, German (official) less than
1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and
French)
See also: Languages
spoken in Europe, Languages of
the world
Introduction and Brief History
Belgium became independent from the
Netherlands in 1830 and was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and
II. It has 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.
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Belgium
