Belgium

Introduction & Quick Facts
Land
- Relief, drainage, and soils
- Climate
- Plant and animal life
People
- Ethnic groups and languages
- Religion
- Settlement patterns
- Demographic trends
Economy
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
- Resources and power
- Manufacturing
- Finance
- Trade
- Services
- Labor and taxation
- Transportation and telecommunications
Government and society
- Constitutional framework
- Local government
- Justice
- Political process
- Security
- Health and welfare
- Housing
- Education
Cultural life
- Cultural milieu
- Daily life and social customs
- The arts
- Cultural institutions
- Sports and recreation
- Media and publishing
History
- The Spanish Netherlands
  - Administration
  - Economic developments
- The Austrian Netherlands
- French administration
- The Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Independent Belgium before World War I
  - Liberal dominance
  - Period of Catholic government
- Through two world wars
  - Belgium and World War I
  - The interwar period
  - Nazi occupation
- Belgium after World War II
- Federalized Belgium

References & Edit History Facts & Stats

Images, Videos & Interactives

Map of Belgium showing political boundaries, provinces, and major cities. The map highlights neighboring countries-France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg-and includes a small locator map in the lower left corner to show Belgium's position in Europe. Major cities such as Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, and Liege are labeled, along with provincial borders and names.

Row of ornate historic guild houses with stepped gables and tall spires reflected in the Lys River in Ghent, Belgium, with people sitting along the waterfront.

Map highlighting Belgium in northwestern Europe, shaded in orange, with surrounding countries labeled, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom across the North Sea. The capital city, Brussels, is marked with a star symbol.

Exploring Antwerp, Belgium

Map of Belgium highlighting major physical features, including forests such as the Ardennes, rivers like the Meuse and Schelde, upland regions, and national parks. The map is bordered by France, Luxembourg, Germany, and the Netherlands, and includes a small inset locator map showing Belgium's position in Europe.

Sunset over a green field and forested hills with low river mist drifting through the trees in Houyet, Ardennes, Belgium.

Belgium: National composition

Thematic map of Belgium showing ethnic and linguistic regions, with the northern part shaded for Flemings (Dutch-speaking), the southern part for Walloons (French-speaking), a small eastern area for German speakers, and Brussels marked as a bilingual area. Major cities, provincial boundaries, and protected minority areas are also indicated.

At a Glance

default image

Belgium summary

Belgium: Media

country, Europe

Videos

Exploring Antwerp, Belgium

Exploring Antwerp, Belgium

Learn about the historic landmarks, streets, diamonds, fashions, and food in Antwerp,...

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

How to make Belgian chocolates

How to make Belgian chocolates

Learn how Belgian chocolates are made.

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

Images

Belgium

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of Belgium showing political boundaries, provinces, and major cities. The map highlights neighboring countries-France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg-and includes a small locator map in the lower left corner to show Belgium's position in Europe. Major cities such as Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, and Liege are labeled, along with provincial borders and names.

Belgium

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Row of ornate historic guild houses with stepped gables and tall spires reflected in the Lys River in Ghent, Belgium, with people sitting along the waterfront.

guild houses

Guild houses along the Lys River in Ghent, Belgium.

© SergiyN/Shutterstock.com

Map highlighting Belgium in northwestern Europe, shaded in orange, with surrounding countries labeled, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom across the North Sea. The capital city, Brussels, is marked with a star symbol.

Belgium

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of Belgium highlighting major physical features, including forests such as the Ardennes, rivers like the Meuse and Schelde, upland regions, and national parks. The map is bordered by France, Luxembourg, Germany, and the Netherlands, and includes a small inset locator map showing Belgium's position in Europe.

Belgium

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Sunset over a green field and forested hills with low river mist drifting through the trees in Houyet, Ardennes, Belgium.

Ardennes landscape, Belgium

Sunset in the forest of the Ardennes, Belgium.

© Orangebicycle/Dreamstime.com

Thematic map of Belgium showing ethnic and linguistic regions, with the northern part shaded for Flemings (Dutch-speaking), the southern part for Walloons (French-speaking), a small eastern area for German speakers, and Brussels marked as a bilingual area. Major cities, provincial boundaries, and protected minority areas are also indicated.

ethnic and linguistic composition of Belgium

The ethnic and linguistic composition of Belgium.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Stone bridge arches over a canal lined with historic brick and white buildings in Quay Vert, Bruges, Belgium, with clear reflections in the water.

Brugge

Stone bridge over a canal, Brugge, Belgium.

© Caron Badkin/Shutterstock.com

Brugge: Market Hall

Brugge: Market Hall

Market Hall belfry towering above rooftops along the Groenerei canal, Brugge, Belgium.

R. Kord/H. Armstrong Roberts

Liège

Liège

Central Liège, cut by the Meuse River, Belgium.

Photo Research International

Prince Philippe, Queen Paola, King Albert II, and Princess Mathilde of Belgium sit together on a bench outdoors at Laeken Castle, smiling for a formal photo.

Belgium: royal family

Belgian royal family members (from left) Prince Philippe, Queen Paola, King Albert...

Mark Renders/Getty Images

Six small glasses of craft beer in varying amber and golden hues are arranged on a metal tray atop a wooden bar counter in Brussels, Belgium.

Beer

Glasses of beer in a bar in Brussels.

© Edgar Hernandez/Dreamstime.com

Shrove Tuesday Carnival in Binche, Belgium

Shrove Tuesday Carnival in Binche, Belgium

Townsmen costumed as Gilles (versions of a clownlike stock character named Gille)...

Marie-Claire

Stoclet House

Stoclet House

Stoclet House, Brussels, designed by Josef Hoffmann, 1905.

© Tram Bruxelles (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Map of Europe color-coded to show the expansion of the European Union by year of joining, distinguishing original 1993 members, later additions in 1995, 2004, 2007, and 2013, as well as candidate countries and the United Kingdom as a former member. Country names are labeled within their borders.

European Union

Map of Europe with European Union member states.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Belgium

Belgium

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Audio

National anthem of Belgium

The instrumental version of the national anthem of Belgium.

Interactives

Belgium: National composition

Belgium: National composition

Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.

Belgium: Religious affiliation

Belgium: Religious affiliation

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Belgium: Urban-rural

Belgium: Urban-rural

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Belgium: Age breakdown

Belgium: Age breakdown

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Belgium: Major import sources

Belgium: Major import sources

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Belgium: Major export destinations

Belgium: Major export destinations

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

VIEW MORE in these related Britannica articles: