The Kingdom of Belgium is a country in northwest Europe bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and France. It has a population of over ten million people, in an area of around 11,700 square miles (30,000 square kilometers).
Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and over the past half century, has prospered as a modern, technologically advanced European state. Belgium is a founding member of the European Union, hosting its headquarters in Brussels, as well as those of many other major international organizations, such as
NATO.
(Source: CIA World Fact Book.)
Brussels is the ultimate European city. As the headquarters to the EU (European Union) and NATO it is often referred to as The Capital of Europe. Over 120 international governmental organizations and approximately 1,400 non-governmental organizations have headquarters in the Belgian capital. With 159 embassies and 2,500 diplomats, it also ranks second in the world in terms of diplomatic representations.
It is an international metropolis – a mosaic of languages, cultures, and traditions. Aside from the splendid and varied architectural styles of the city, Brussels also hosts over 80 museums, numerous tourist attractions, a vibrant nightlife, and countless restaurants.
(Source: Belgian Tourist Office and Centre d'Informatique pour la Region Bruxelloise.)
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