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.

Culture

A discussion of Belgian culture may lead to a discussion of both those aspects of cultural life shared by 'all' or most Belgians, regardless of their language, and also the differences between the cultural communities. Each community has its own administrative and political representation: the Flemish community, the German-speaking community of Belgium and the French Community in Belgium.

Related Topics:
Flemish community - German-speaking community of Belgium - French Community in Belgium

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Since the beginning of the 20th century, cultural life has tended to concentrate within each community. The shared element is clearly much less important as there are no universities that are both Dutch and French speaking (except the royal military academy), no common media, and no single, common large cultural or scientific organisation where both main communities are represented.

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As for cultural generalities shared by all Belgians, the country is well-known for its fine art, its comics, its architecture, its beer, its food, and its chocolate. Did you know?

Related Topics:
Fine art - Comics - Architecture - Beer - Food - Chocolate

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Cesar Franck is a major 19th century romantic composer. Adolphe Sax is famous for inventing the saxophone in 1846. The music scene is nevertheless still very active in Belgium. See also: music of Belgium.

Related Topics:
Cesar Franck - 19th century - Romantic - Adolphe Sax - Saxophone - 1846 - Music of Belgium

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In architecture, Victor Horta was one of the originators of Art Nouveau, a style of architecture which had a major impact upon 20th century buildings. Many major building of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque architectures, dating from before independence, can be found. In particular, the well-known Grand Place of Brussels or the city hall of Leuven are milestones in the history of art.

Related Topics:
Victor Horta - Art Nouveau - Romanesque - Gothic - Baroque architecture - Grand Place - Brussels - Leuven

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Belgium has had a variety of famous painters. These include Constant Permeke, René Magritte, James Ensor, Paul Delvaux. Magritte, together with Paul Delvaux, were two major artists of the surrealistic style. The Belgian museums (in particular in Brussels and Antwerp) exhibit many first rank Mosan art, Early Netherlandish, and Flemish Baroque painting.

Related Topics:
Constant Permeke - René Magritte - James Ensor - Paul Delvaux - Surrealistic style - Brussels - Antwerp - Mosan art - Early Netherlandish - Baroque painting

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In literature, Belgium has produced several well-known authors such as poets: Emile Verhaeren, Jacques Brel and writers: Hendrik Conscience, Georges Simenon. The poet and playwright Maurice Maeterlinck won the Nobel Prize in literature in 1911.

Related Topics:
Emile Verhaeren - Jacques Brel - Hendrik Conscience - Georges Simenon - Maurice Maeterlinck - Nobel Prize in literature - 1911

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The best known Franco-Belgian comics are The Adventures of Tintin by Hergé but many other major authors are coming from this country, e.g. Edgar P. Jacobs and André Franquin.

Related Topics:
Franco-Belgian comics - The Adventures of Tintin - Hergé - Edgar P. Jacobs - André Franquin

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More recently, some representative cinema directors have emerged. Most of them are strongly influenced by French cinema. The absence of a major Belgian cinema company has forced them to emigrate to or participate in low-budget productions. Some representative directors: Chantal Akerman, Stijn Coninx, Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne; actors: Jan Decleir, Marie Gillain; and films: Toto le héros, Man bites dog.

Related Topics:
Cinema - French cinema - Chantal Akerman - Stijn Coninx - Luc - Jean-Pierre Dardenne - Jan Decleir - Marie Gillain - Toto le héros - Man bites dog

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In the 1980s, Antwerp's Royal Academy of Fine Arts has produced important fashion trendsetters: (Walter Van Beirendonck, Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten, Dirk Van Saene, Dirk Bikkembergs, Marina Yee, Martin Margiela.

Related Topics:
1980s - Antwerp - Royal Academy of Fine Arts - Walter Van Beirendonck - Ann Demeulemeester - Dries Van Noten - Dirk Van Saene - Dirk Bikkembergs - Marina Yee - Martin Margiela

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One could not understand Begian cultural life without the folk festivals. They play a major role in Belgium's cultural life. Examples are the Carnival of Binche, the Ducasse of Ath, the procession of the Holy Blood in Bruges, the 15th-of-August festival in Liège, and the Walloon festival in Namur. A major non-official holiday is the Saint Nicholas Day which is the festival of the children (Saint Nicholas is the ancestor of Santa Claus) and, in Liège, of the students.

Related Topics:
Carnival - Binche - Ath - Bruges - Liège - Namur - Saint Nicholas Day - Saint Nicholas - Santa Claus

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Belgium is well-represented in the world of sport, football (soccer) and cycling being very popular. The national football team is the Red Devils, and it is ranked 45th by FIFA. One of the greatest cyclists ever, Eddy Merckx, who won five Tours de France, was a Belgian. Belgium also has two female tennis champions, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne.

Related Topics:
Football (soccer) - Cycling - National football team - Red Devils - FIFA - Eddy Merckx - Tours de France - Tennis - Kim Clijsters - Justine Henin-Hardenne

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Many "gourmets" claim that Belgium has the best food in Europe. Many highly ranked restaurants can be found within famous gastronomic guides (e.g. the Michelin Guide). Brands of Belgian chocolate, like Neuhaus, are world renowned and widely distributed. In Belgium there are over 500 different kinds of beer (ales, pils), those of the Trappist monks being among the most prestigious (see Belgian beer). Belgians have a reputation for loving waffles and french fries (originally from Belgium), and their national food is mussels with french fries.

Related Topics:
Michelin Guide - Neuhaus - Ale - Pils - Trappist - Belgian beer - Waffles - French fries - Mussel

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