Belgium 

(Dutch: België [ˈbɛlɣijə] ( listen); French: Belgique [bɛlʒik] ( listen); German: Belgien [ˈbɛlɡi̯

ən] ( listen)), officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Western Europe. It is bordered by
the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the
southwest, and the North Sea to the northwest. It covers an area of 30,689 km2 (11,849 sq mi) and
has a population of more than 11.5 million, making it the 22nd most densely populated country in the
world and the 6th most densely populated country in Europe, with a density of 376 per square
kilometre (970/sq mi). The capital and largest city is Brussels; other major cities
are Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, Liège, Bruges, Namur, and Leuven.
Belgium is a sovereign state and a federal constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. Its
institutional organization is complex and is structured on both regional and linguistic grounds. It is
divided into three highly autonomous regions:[10] the Flemish Region (Flanders) in the north,
the Walloon Region (Wallonia) in the south, and the Brussels-Capital Region.[11] Brussels is the
smallest and most densely populated region, as well as the richest region in terms of GDP per
capita.
Belgium is home to two main linguistic communities: the Dutch-speaking Flemish Community, which
constitutes about 60 percent of the population, and the French-speaking Community, which
constitutes about 40 percent of the population. A small German-speaking Community, numbering
around one percent, exists in the East Cantons. The Brussels-Capital Region is officially bilingual in
French and Dutch,[12] although French is the dominant language.[13] Belgium's linguistic diversity and
related political conflicts are reflected in its political history and complex system of governance,
made up of six different governments.
Belgium is part of an area known as the Low Countries, a somewhat larger region than the
current Benelux group of states that also historically included parts of northern France and western
Germany. Its modern name is derived from the Latin word Belgium, used in Julius Caesar's "Gallic
Wars", to describe the region in the period around 55 BCE.[14] From the end of the Middle Ages until
the 17th century, the area of Belgium was a prosperous and cosmopolitan centre of commerce and
culture.[clarification needed] Between the 16th and early 19th centuries, Belgium served as the battleground
between many European powers, earning the moniker the "Battlefield of Europe",[15] a reputation
strengthened in the 20th century by both world wars. The country emerged in 1830 following
the Belgian Revolution, when it seceded from the Netherlands.
Belgium participated in the Industrial Revolution[16][17] and, during the course of the 20th century,
possessed a number of colonies in Africa.[18] Between 1888 and 1908, Leopold II, king of Belgium,
perpetrated one of the largest massacres in human history in Congo Free State, his private estate
(and not a colony of Belgium at that time) causing the deaths of an estimated five to fifteen million
Congolese people, during the production of massive amounts of rubber and ivory.[19]
The second half of the 20th century was marked by rising tensions between the Dutch-speaking and
the French-speaking citizens fuelled by differences in language and culture and the unequal
economic development of Flanders and Wallonia. This continuing antagonism has led to several far-
reaching reforms, resulting in a transition from a unitary to a federal arrangement during the period
from 1970 to 1993. Despite the reforms, tensions between the groups have remained, if not
increased; there is significant separatism particularly among the Flemish; controversial language
laws exist such as the municipalities with language facilities;[20] and the formation of a coalition
government took 18 months following the June 2010 federal election, a world record.
[21]
 Unemployment in Wallonia is more than double that of Flanders, which boomed after the war.[22]
Belgium is one of the six founding countries of the European Union and its capital, Brussels, hosts
the official seats of the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, and
the European Council, as well as one of two seats of the European Parliament (the other
being Strasbourg). Belgium is also a founding member of the Eurozone, NATO, OECD, and WTO,
and a part of the trilateral Benelux Union and the Schengen Area. Brussels hosts the headquarters
of many major international organizations such as NATO.[A]
Belgium is a developed country, with an advanced high-income economy. It has very high standards
of living, quality of life,[23] healthcare,[24] education,[25] and is categorized as "very high" in the Human
Development Index.[26] It also ranks as one of the safest or most peaceful countries in the world.[27]