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World > Europe > Belgium
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Belgium |
Introduction:
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.
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Official name: |
Kingdom of Belgium |
Capital: |
name: Brussels geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 20 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October |
Government type: |
federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy |
Population: |
10,392,226 (July 2007 est.) |
Languages: |
Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French) |
Official Currency: |
Euro (EUR)
Current Euro Exchange Rates Historical Euro Exchange Rates Chart Euro Exchange Rates |
Currency code: |
EUR |
Area: |
total: 30,528 sq km land: 30,278 sq km water: 250 sq km |
Climate: |
temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy |
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Map of Belgium
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