EN/NL
Belgium
Kingdom of Belgium
Belgique / Belgie / Belgien
Population
11,913,633 (2023 est.)
11,778,842 (2021)
11,720,716 (2020)
11,491,346 (2017)
Capital: Brussels
Internet country code: .be
Government
Official website: belgium.be
National tourism agency: belgium.be/tourism
Statistics Belgium: statbel.fgov.be
Kingdom of Belgium / Koninkrijk België (Dutch) / Royaume de Belgique (French) / Königreich Belgien (German)
Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Political divisions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy. Its capital, Brussels, is home to numerous international organizations including the EU and NATO.