Belgium Travel Guide
Area : 30 528 km² .
Population : 10,7 million
Capital : Brussels .
Language : German, French, Dutch .
Belgium is a federal state divided into three regions: Dutch-speaking Flanders in the north, francophone Wallonia in the south and Brussels, the bilingual capital, where French and Dutch share official status. There is also a small German-speaking minority of some 70 000 in the eastern part of the country.
Climate : The greater part of Austria lies in the cool/temperate climate zone in which humid westerly winds predominate.
Religion : The Roman Catholic Church remains in a favourable position.
Political system : Independent since 1830, Belgium is a constitutional monarchy. The two houses of Parliament are the Chamber of Representatives, whose members are elected for a maximum period of four years, and the Senate or upper house, whose members are elected or co-opted. Given its political make-up, Belgium is generally run by coalition governments.
Belgium's strongly globalized economy and its transportation infrastructure are integrated with the rest of Europe. Belgium's main imports are food products, machinery, rough diamonds, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, clothing and accessories, and textiles. Its main exports are automobiles, food products, iron and steel, finished diamonds, textiles, plastics, petroleum products and nonferrous metals.