Belgium 

 

 

Dutch: België, French: Belgique.

 

 Belgium is a constitutional monarchy in north-western Europe, 

bounded on the north by the Netherlands and the North Sea, 

on the east by Germany and Luxembourg, and on the south and southwest by France. 

With the Netherlands and Luxembourg, Belgium forms the Low, or Benelux, Countries. 

It is about 282 km (175 mi) long, measured in a southeastern-northwestern direction, 

about 145 km (90 mi) wide, and is roughly triangular in shape. 

The area is 30,528 sq km (11,778 sq mi). 

The capital and largest city is Brussels, located in the centre of Belgium.

The people of Belgium are primarily of two ethnic groups: the Flemings (of Teutonic origin) 

and the Walloons (of Celtic origin, probably with an admixture of Alpine elements). 

The distinction is also a linguistic one; the Flemings speak Dutch (formerly known as Flemish), 

and the Walloons speak French. 

The predominantly Flemish provinces are in the northern half of Belgium, called Flanders (Vlaanderen), 

and the predominantly Walloon provinces are in the southern half, called Wallonia (Wallonie).

A German-speaking minority lives in the east. The capital, Brussels, is mixed. 

Overall, 57 per cent of the population are Dutch-speaking and 32 per cent are French-speaking, 

about 9 per cent are classified as bilingual and 0.7 per cent as German-speaking.

In 1963 a law was passed establishing three official languages within Belgium: 

Dutch was recognized as the official language in the north, French in the south, 

and German along the eastern border.

In the city and suburbs of Brussels, both French and Dutch are officially recognized, 

although French speakers are the larger group. 

In 1971 a constitutional change was enacted giving political recognition to these three language communities, 

providing cultural autonomy for them, and also revising the bilingual and administrative status of Brussels, 

an enclave in the Dutch-speaking area. 

Implementation of a three-stage programme to increase the fiscal autonomy 

of the three ethno linguistic regions began in the late 1980s, and will culminate in 1995 

with the formation of a fully federal system of government.  

Belgium is a constitutional, representative, and hereditary monarchy. 

Succession to the throne is determined by primogeniture. 

The present ruler is King Albert II. 

H.M. King Albert II and H.M. Queen Paola

 

The Belgian constitution was promulgated in 1831 and revised in 1893,

 1921, 1970, 1971, 1980, 1989, and 1993. 

Responding to tensions between the Dutch- and French-speaking areas of Belgium, 

the reforms since 1970 have gradually transformed Belgium into a federal country. 

The majority of essential governmental powers now belong to the three regions: 

Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels. 

This process was completed in May 1993.

Executive power is vested in the monarch, who appoints the prime minister, cabinet ministers, and judges. 

The monarch is commander in chief of the armed forces and, with the approval of parliament, 

has the power to declare war and conclude treaties. 

The rights of the monarch, according to the constitution, include convening and dissolving parliament, 

conferring titles of nobility, and granting pardons. 

All royal acts, however, must be countersigned by a minister, 

who in turn assumes responsibility for those acts before parliament. 

Inasmuch as the ministers are responsible to parliament, 

the monarch must choose a cabinet that represents a majority in parliament. 

Cabinets are generally multiparty coalitions.  

 

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