Belgium - Bỉ

Belgium (language Netherlands: België, English France: Belgique; language virtue: Belgien), the current state name is the Kingdom of Belgium ( Netherlands: Koninkrijk België; language France: Royalaume de Belgique; language virtue: Königreich Belgien), is a country in the West Europe. The country is a founding member of the Union Europe and is also home to this organization, as well as many other major international organizations, including NATO. Belgium has an area of ​​30,528 km² and a population of about 10.7 million people.

Belgium shares a border with France (620 km), virtue (167 km), Luxembourg (148 km) and Netherlands (450 km). The total area of ​​this country including the water surface area is 33,990 square kilometers, the land area alone is 30,528 square kilometers. The country is a founding member of the Union Europe and is also home to this organization, as well as many other major international organizations, including NATO.

overview

Is the cultural border between Europe German and Europe Latin, Belgium is home to two major language groups, Flemish and English speakers France, mostly Walloons, plus a small group of speakers virtue. Belgium's two largest regions are Netherlands Flanders is in the north, with 59% of the population, and the region speaks France to the south is Wallonia, with 41% of the population. The Brussels Capital Region, which has two official languages, is a predominantly English-speaking region France included in the Flemish Region and is home to 10% of the population. A Language Community virtue exist in eastern Wallonia. Belgium's linguistic diversity and the political and cultural conflicts associated with it are reflected in its political history and a complex system of government.

Historically, Belgium Netherlands and Luxembourg are known as the Low Countries, usually referring to an area slightly larger than the current Benelux group of countries. From the late Middle Ages until the 17th century, it was a thriving commercial and cultural center. From the 16th century to the Belgian Revolution of 1830, many battles between great powers Europe took place in the Belgian region, leading it to be called the battle ground of Europe—a reputation that became even more prominent after the two World Wars. As soon as it gained independence Belgium immediately joined the Industrial Revolution and, by the end of the 19th century, owned many colonies in Africa. The second half of the 20th century was marked by the resurgence of communal conflicts between the Flemings and Francophones fueled by cultural differences in one respect and unsettled economic development on the other. equality of Flanders and Wallonia. These are conflicts that are still simmering and have led to many proposals for reform from a unitary Belgian state to a federal state.

History

In the 1st century BC, the Romans, after defeating local tribes, established the province of Gallia Belgica. A gradual immigration of Frankish Germanic tribes in the 5th century, brought the region under the rule of Merovingian kings. A gradual shift in power in the 8th century caused the kingdom of the Franks to develop into the Carolingian Empire. The Treaty of Verdun of 843 divided the region into Central and Western Francia and thus became a collection of fiefs of varying degrees of independence, and during the Middle Ages these fiefs were either vassals of the King. France or of the Holy Roman Emperor. Many of these fiefdoms were unified within Burgundian Netherlands in the 14th and 15th centuries. Emperor V expanded the private confederation of the Seventeen Provinces during the 1540s, making it more than a private confederacy by Edict 1549 and increasing his influence with Diocese of Bishop-Prince Liège.

The Eighty Years' War (1568–1648) divided the lowland states into the United Provinces (Belgica Foederata in Latin, "Dutch Confederation") to the north and south. Netherlands (Belgica Regia, "Dutch Royal"). male Netherlands under constant human rule Spain and Austria Habsburg and included most of modern Belgium. This is the stage of most wars France-Spain and France-Austria in the 17th and 18th centuries. After the 1794 campaigns in the revolutionary wars France, lowland states—including territories that were never officially under Habsburg rule, such as the Bishopric-Prince Liège—was taken over by the First Republic. France annexed, ending Austrian rule in the region. The unification of the lowland countries became the Kingdom Netherlands Unification took place after the dissolution of the First Empire France in 1815.

The Belgian Revolution of 1830 led to the creation of an independent, Christian and neutral Belgian state under a provisional government and a national parliament. Since Leopold I was made king in 1831, Belgium has been a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. Although suffrage was initially limited, universal suffrage for men was enacted in 1893 (with regional voting until 1919) and for women in 1949. The world's major political parties The 19th century was the Christian and Liberal Party, with the Belgian Labor Party emerging towards the end of the century. Language France was originally the only official language of choice for the nobility and bourgeoisie. It gradually loses its importance when the language Netherlands also recognized. This recognition became official in 1898 and in 1967 a version of the Constitution France language Netherlands officially recognized.

The Berlin Conference of 1885 granted control of the Free State of the Congo to King Leopold II as his personal property. From around 1900 there was growing international concern about the extreme and barbaric treatment of the Congolese population by Leopold II's government, for him the Congo was the main source of income from ivory and rubber production. . In 1908 this opposition put the Belgian state in charge of the colonial government, hence the name Belgian Congo.

virtue The invasion of Belgium in 1914 as part of the Schlieffen Plan and most of the battles on the Western Front during World War I took place in the western part of the country. Belgium occupies the colonies of virtue were Ruanda-Urundi (modern Rwanda and Burundi) during the war and in 1924 they were commissioned by the League of Nations to Belgium. After World War I, the Prussian counties of Eupen and Malmedy were annexed by Belgium in 1925, thus leading to the emergence of a language-speaking community. virtue. This country is once again virtue invaded in 1940 during the Blitzkrieg Offensive and was occupied until liberated in 1945 by the Allies. Congo Belgian independence in 1960 during the Congo Crisis; Ruanda-Urundi followed two years later.

After World War II, Belgium joined NATO as a founding member and formed the Benelux country group with Netherlands and Luxembourg. Belgium becomes one of the six founding members of the Coal and Steel Community Europe 1951 and of the Atomic Energy Community Europe and Economic Community Europe, was established in 1957. Economic Community Europe now Union Europe, and Belgium is home to its main institutions and structures, including the Council Europe, Union Council Europe and is also the place where ordinary and special sessions of Parliament are held Europe.

Geography and climate

Belgium shares a border with France (620 km), virtue (167 km), Luxembourg (148 km) and Netherlands (450 km). The total area of ​​this water, including the water surface area, is 33,990 square kilometers; its own land area is 30,528 km². Belgium has three main geographical regions: the coastal plain in the northwest and the central plateau both belong to the Anglo-Belgian Delta; The Ardennes highlands in the southeast are part of the Hercynian tectonic belt. The Paris Delta occupies a quarter of Belgium's small southernmost tip, the Belgian Lorraine.

The coastal plain is mainly composed of sand dunes and reclaimed land. Deeper inland lies the ascending land irrigated by numerous creeks, with fertile valleys and sandy plains northeast of the Campine (Kempen). The wooded hills and Ardennes plateau are rougher and more rocky with caves and small gorges, and are home to most of Belgium's wildlife but of little agricultural value. Extend to the west France, which connects to the east with Eifel at virtue Thanks to the High Fens, here Signal de Botrange is the country's highest peak at 694 meters (2,277 ft).

Ardennes' Tree Landscape The climate is temperate oceanic, with moderate rainfall in all seasons (Köppen Climate Rating: Cfb). The average minimum temperature in January is 3 °C (37.4 °F) and the highest in July is 18 °C (64.4 °F). Average monthly rainfall varies from 54 millimeters (2.1 in) in February or April to 78 mm (3.1 in) in July. Yearly average for 2000 to 2006 minimum initial temperature daily 7 °C (44.6 °F) and 14 °C (57.2 °F) maximum and 74 mm (2.9 in) monthly rainfall; an increase of about 1 °C and almost 10 compared to the usual values ​​of the last century.

In terms of botanical geography, Belgium lies between regions Europe Atlantic and Central Europe of the Boreal Region within the Boreal Realm. According to WWF, the territory of Belgium belongs to the Atlantic ecoregion with mixed forests

Region

Belgium consists of 3 regions, listed from north to south:

City

Belgium has a very high rate of urbanization and has an amazing number of cities for such a small territory.

• Brussels - the Belgian capital and the unofficial capital of the EU. Nice historic center and several museums of interest. One of the most multicultural cities in Europe.
• Antwerp - Belgium's second largest city, with a huge cathedral, medieval streets and artistic heritage, and a great place for fashion.
• Bruges - one of the wealthiest cities Europe During the 14th century, the atmosphere was medieval and quiet at night, with small guest houses and family businesses that greatly outnumbered hotel chains.
• Dinant - small city in a beautiful natural setting, a popular spot for extreme sports such as boating and rock climbing, best visited during winter.
• Ghent - used to be one of the biggest cities Europe, now a perfect mixture of Antwerp and Bruges: a cozy city with canals, but with a rich history and a lively student population.
• Leuven - a small city dominated by one of the oldest universities of Europe. Beautiful historic center and a lively nightlife.
• Liège - second largest city of Wallonia, along a wide river, industrial urban landscape with hiking and resorts in the nearby hills, it has a very strong, independent character and a vibrant nightlife.
• Mechelen - a small medieval city with a nice historic district around the church.
• Mons - Mons has had the special privilege of having three sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List and being an event on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This makes Mons unique in Belgium.
• Namur - the capital of Wallonia, at the confluence of Sambre and Meuse with the citadel.
• Ypres - once one of the largest cities in the lowlands, now best known to have been destroyed in the first world war, marked by memorials and cemeteries (Flanders Fields Country, see below).

Other destinations

• Ardennes — the most sparsely populated area in the Benelux, a mountainous area covered with forests
• Fondry des Chiens
• Pajottenland Also called the "Tuscany of the north" is a green region to the west of Brussels, consisting of hills, villages, and castles. Suitable for climbing, cycling, horseback riding.

Arrive

Visa

Belgium is a member of the Schengen Agreement. There is no border control between countries that have signed and implemented international treaties - Union Europe (except Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom), Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Likewise, visas issued to any Schengen member are valid in all other countries that have signed and implemented the treaty. But beware: not all EU members have signed the Schengen agreement, and not all Schengen members are part of the Union. Europe. This means that there may be a customs check location but no immigration check (traveling within the Schengen area but to/from a non-EU country) or you may have to clear immigration but no customs (traveling within the EU but to/from a non-Schengen country).

Airports in Europe thus divided into "Schengen" and "non-Schengen" areas, which in effect act as "domestic" and "international" parts elsewhere. If you are flying from outside Europe If you become a Schengen country and so on, you will clear immigration and customs in the first country and then proceed to your destination with no further checks. Travel between a Schengen member and a non-Schengen country will result in normal border checks. Note that regardless of whether you are traveling within the Schengen area or not, many airlines will insist on seeing your ID card or passport.

Citizens of the EU and EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) countries only need a valid national identity card or passport for entry - otherwise they will need a long-stay visa. any.

People from non-EU/EFTA countries will usually need a passport to enter a Schengen country and most will need a visa.

Only nationals of the following non-EU/EFTA countries do not require a visa to enter the Schengen area: Albania*, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Macedonia *, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro *, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino , Serbia * / **, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan *** (Republic of China), USA, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela, additional people with the title of British National (overseas), Hong Kong or Macao. Visa-free non-EU/EFTA visitors may not be able to stay more than 90 days in a 180-day period in the Schengen area in total, not being able to work during the break (although a Some Schengen countries do not allow certain nationalities to work - see below). People count the days from when you enter any country in the Schengen area and do not reset it by leaving a particular Schengen country for a Schengen country, or vice versa. However, New Zealand citizens can stay longer than 90 days if they only visit special Schengen countries.

By air

Brussels Airport (also known as Zaventem due to the town where the airport is primarily located) is the main airport of Belgium (IATA code BRU). It is not located in the Brussels area, but in the surrounding Flanders. The airport is the base of the national airline Brussels Airlines. Full-service airlines use the BRU, as do low-cost carriers like Vueling [1], Jetairfly [2] and Thomas Cook [http://www.thomascookairlines.com/].

There is a train line (5.10 € ticket) that runs every 15 minutes to the center of Brussels for 25 minutes, some of which continue to go Ghent, Mons, Nivelles and West Flanders and bus lines 12 and 21 (3€ at the vending machine / 5€ on the train) every 20 to 30 minutes to Place Luxembourg (European Parliament). Bus stops at NATO and Schuman (for EU institutions) en route to the centre. There are also two trains per hour to Leuven, take 13 minutes. A taxi to the center of Brussels costs about 35 € - cheaper if booked in advance. Taxi Bleus: 32 (0) 2 268 0000, Taxi Autolux: 32 (0) 2 411 4142, Taxi Verts: 32 (0) 2 349 4949.

Brussels South Charleroi Airport (IATA code CRL), about 50 km south of Brussels, mainly serving low-cost carriers, such as Ryanair [3] and Wizzair [4]. You can get to Brussels Gare du Midi on a coach in about an hour (€13 one way, €22 round trip). If you're going to any other part of Belgium, buying a bus ticket combination train pass through Charleroi Sud train station from the TEC vending machines outside the airport for a maximum of €19.40 one way.

The price of a taxi ride to Brussels follows the specified fare (about 95 € as of May 2006) and you can check with the taxi driver if he will accept your credit card (s ) or not.

Antwerp Airport (IATA code ANR) has several business flights, including CityJet [5] 's reasonably priced links to the City of London airport. Other airports include Oostende, Liège and Kortrijk, but they only handle freight and charter flights.

Flights to airports in neighboring countries may be worth considering, especially to Amsterdam Schiphol . Airport which has a direct railway to Brussels, also stops at Antwerp and Mechelen.

By train

There are direct trains between Brussels and:

• Luxembourg (normal trains, run every hour)
• Paris, Cologne / Cologne, Aachen, Amsterdam (Thalys [6])
• Lyon, Bordeaux, Paris-CDG airport and many other French cities (TGV Brussels-France [7]).
• London, Ebbsfleet, Ashford, Lille and Calais (Eurostar [8]) . Tip: If traveling to a tourist Belgian city choose the "any Belgian station" ticket (£5.50 one way class 2), and your local transport is included in your Eurostar ticket . Depending on the distance this may be cheaper then getting a separate ticket. Note: Passengers traveling from the UK to Belgium go through a French passport/ID card check (performed on behalf of Belgium) within the UK prior to boarding, not upon arrival in Belgium. Passengers traveling from Lille / Calais to Brussels are in the Schengen area.
• Frankfurt, Cologne / Cologne (ICE [9])
• Zurich, Switzerland, via Luxembourg (normal trains, daily 2)

International trains connect to domestic trains at Brussels Gare du Midi / Zuidstation, and with all Eurostar or ICE and some Thalys tickets you can end your journey for free on trains within country. For all high-speed trains, you need to book in advance for cheap fares, either online or using a travel agency. There are no regularly scheduled five-bed trains anymore.

By car

By bus

By boat

Go

Language

Shopping

Expense

Food

Many highly rated Belgian restaurants appear in most famous culinary guides, such as the Michelin Guide. Belgium is famous for its waffles and fries. Contrary to its name (french is French), french fries are also of Belgian origin. The name "french fries" actually describes the way potatoes are cut. The verb "french" means to cut into small pieces. The national specialties are "barbecue and fries with salad", and "clams with chips". Belgian chocolate and hazelnut brands, such as Callebaut, Côte d'Or, Neuhaus, Leonidas, Guylian, Galler and Godiva, are all world famous and widely sold.

Belgium produces more than 500 beers. The Trappist beer of Westvleteren Abbey is consistently ranked as the best beer in the world.[116] The world's largest beer company by volume is Anheuser-Busch InBev, headquartered in Leuven.

Drinks

Accommodation

Learn

Do

Safe

Medical

To respect

Contact

This tutorial is just an outline, so it needs more information. Have the courage to modify and develop it !