Belgium

The Kingdom of Belgium (Dutch: Koninkrijk België, French: Royaume de Belgique, German: Königreich Belgien) is a Federal state in a continuous process of devolution. It is a developed country in North-Western Europe that is bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and the North Sea. Belgium has a population of over ten million people in only thirty thousand square kilometres, making it the 17th most densely populated country in the world. It ranked ninth on the 2005 United Nations Human Development Index.

Related Topics:
Dutch - French - German - Federal - Devolution - Developed country - Western Europe - Netherlands - Germany - Luxembourg - France - North Sea - 17th - 2005 - United Nations - Human Development Index

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Belgium straddles the cultural boundary between Germanic and Romance Europe. As a result, the country is linguistically and culturally split. It has two main languages: Dutch in Flanders (often unofficially called Flemish) to the north and French in the Wallonia to the south. To the east is an officially recognised minority of German speakers; the capital of Belgium, the Brussels-Capital Region, is legally bilingual. This linguistic diversity, which often leads to political conflict, is reflected in Belgium's complex institutions and political history. Belgium is the host of prominent international organisations, among which NATO and the European Union.

Related Topics:
Germanic - Romance - Dutch - Flanders - Flemish - French - Wallonia - German - Brussels-Capital Region - Institutions - Political history - NATO - European Union

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~