the Kingdom of Belgium is a member of NATO, the UN and the EU.Number of people living in this area, more than 10.5 million people.Later in the article we will tell you where is Belgium, with some territories it borders, as well as its administrative structure and history.
General
Belgium - a country with a constitutional parliamentary monarchy.The shape of the administrative-territorial structure, it is a federation.Currency Belgium - Euro.The capital city is Brussels.Belgium Area - 30,528 sq.km.Name België (niderl.) Is derived from the Celtic ethnonym tribe Belgians.Where is Belgium?Federation located in Western Europe.In the north, Belgium borders on the Netherlands in the west and south - with France and Germany - to the east and Luxembourg in the south-east.
Brief History
In the 54th BC.e.territory in northern Gaul (where Belgium now) won the army of Julius Caesar.After the fall of the Roman Empire in the fifth century, the province seized Franks (Germanic tribes).They created in this territory his kingdom.In the Middle Ages was part of België Duchy of Burgundy, and from 1556 till 1713th she was a part of Spain.The separation of the territory of Belgium from the Netherlands began during the Eighty Years' War.
België since 1713 belonged to the Holy Roman Empire as the Austrian Netherlands.From 1792 till 1815 th Belgium moved to France.Then, until 1830, she was part of the Netherlands.This year, on September 23, there was a revolution.As a result of unrest Belgium gained independence and became a neutral kingdom.Its ruler at the time was Leopold I.
development after independence
Suffice intensive economy of the future federation was formed in the XIX century.The territory, where Belgium, became the first in continental Europe, which was built railroad.F / A knitted fabric of Brussels and Mechelen.At the end of the XIX century, Belgium became a colonial country.In her possession since 1885 till 1908 it was the first country of the Congo, which is now a democratic republic.Active exploitation of the colonies represents one of the major sources of industrial development and recruitment of capital Belgium.During the First World War (it is called "The Great War") of the future federation suffered greatly.In one of the cities (Ypres) was even used poison gas.
In 1925, in connection with the conclusion of an agreement between the Netherlands and Belgium, the latter has lost its neutrality.In addition, the port of Antwerp was demilitarized.During World War II, Belgium was invaded by the Germans, and King Leopold III was deported to Germany.After the liberation of the territory of the new government was formed.The head of state while he was king.In 2013, the twenty-first of July, there was the coronation of Philip I. On its inception, Belgium is a constitutional monarchy, and in 1980 - also a federal country.
administrative division in the country, there are two parallel systems.The Federation is divided into three regions.Two of them, in turn, have their own province:
in the Flemish region included:
- Antwerp.
- East Flanders.
- Limburg.
- West Flanders.
- Flemish Brabant.
The Walloon Region includes:
- Liege.
- Hainaut.
- Luxembourg.
- Barbant Wallon.
- Namur.
There is also the Brussels-Capital Region.In addition, Belgium has three language communities.In the area of their jurisdiction - cultural issues, scientific, educational activities and sports.Guide regions involved in the issues of the local economy, environment and public works (eg road construction).
map Belgium
The whole area is divided into three geographical areas.In the south-east - a hill Battle of the Bulge, in the north-west - the coastal plain.The third part - is the central plateau.Low Belgium (coastal plain) is mainly polders and dunes.The former include sites that are under threat of flooding.They are protected by dams or fields with special drainage canals, arranged farther from the sea.Polders are highly fertile soil.In the western sector (Scheldt and Fox) runs Flemish lowlands.Behind her is Kempen (geographic area).The landscape in this area is mainly represented by meadows and pine forests and corn fields.
central plateau between the valleys of the rivers Meuse and Sambre and Kempen lies Average Belgium.This is the central plateau.It is mainly the clay plains that gradually rise towards the valley.In this area the most fertile soil in the whole of Belgium.To the central plateau include the province of Hainaut, south and north Limburg Liege.Much of the land is occupied by meadows and pastures.Between them the farm (rural estates).
Ardennes hill
High Belgium is characterized by an abundance of forests and fairly low population density.The relief is represented mainly by mountains.In this regard, on the territory of undeveloped agriculture.However, the region attracts quite a lot of tourists.Belgium begins by high river valleys of the Meuse and Sambre and stretches to the south.Just beyond them lies Condroz (geographic area).This territory is dominated by low hills whose height - no more than 300 m. To a high of Belgium include part of the province of Liege, Namur and Emo.Behind them are placed high hills - Ardenne.They are mostly covered with forest.The small village, located across the area, connected by roads, winding serpentine.In the Ardennes is the highest point of Belgium - Botranzh Mountain (694 m).
ethnic composition
country's population is divided into two main groups.The first is the Flemish.They make up about 60% of the population.About 40% comes from Wallonia.Flemings live in the five northern provinces.The official language in this area is considered to be Dutch.Residents say it and its many dialects.Walloons inhabit the five southern provinces.They speak Walloon, French and several other languages.After the Federation gained independence, it was frankoorientirovannoy area.First there was one official language of Belgium - French.However, I must say that the Flemings were always a big part of the population.But even in the Flanders a long time French was the only language of higher and secondary education.
At the end of the First World War began active movement for the emancipation of the Flemish.It grew into a so-called "linguistic struggle."Results movement reached only the 60th years of the twentieth century.In 1963, it adopted a set of laws that regulate the use of a language in official cases.By 1980, it was officially recognized as a second official language of Belgium - Netherlands.However, despite this progress, the tension between the two major groups of federation retained.
Political structure
As mentioned above, Belgium - is a constitutional monarchy and a federation.The head of government is the prime minister.Today, this post takes Elio Di Rupo.Usually becomes prime minister representative of the party that won the most votes in the election.The king appoints the government.Parliament is also involved in the approval of its composition.According to the Constitution, the government must be respected linguistic parity: 50% have to be members of the community who speaks Dutch, and 50% - from the French-speaking group.Federation Parliament consists of two chambers.Top - a Senate.Bottom - the House of Representatives.Both are formed on the basis of the direct general elections, which take place every 4 years.The right to vote are all residents over 18 years old.In the House, 150 deputies and the Senate - 71. Sometimes referred to as a double federation of Belgium, at the same time as it is divided into three linguistic communities and three regions.Its government and parliament have almost all of them.The exception is the Flemish Region and Niderlandoyazychnoe community.By mutual consent of the authorities they were united.As a result, Belgium has six parliaments and as many governments.The federal government coordinates the activities of the other five governance structures.In addition, she is responsible for defense, foreign affairs, pensions, monetary and economic policies and other national problems.
