Belgium
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the south, and the North Sea to the west. It covers an area of 30,689 km2 (11,849 sq mi) and has a population of more than 11.7 million, making it the 22nd most densely populated country in the world and the 6th most densely populated country in Europe, with a density of 383/km2 (990/sq mi). Belgium is part of an area known as the Low Countries, historically a somewhat larger region than the Benelux group of states, as it also included parts of northern France. The capital and largest metropolitan region is Brussels; other major cities are Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, Liège, Bruges, Namur, and Leuven.
Some of the key events about Belgium
- 1576Spanish troops sacked and burned Antwerp, killing thousands in what became known as the "Spanish Fury"
- 1830Belgium gained independence from the Netherlands, establishing itself as a sovereign state
- 1830The Belgian Revolution led to the separation from the Netherlands and significant political instability
- 1835The first railway on the European continent opened between Brussels and Mechelen
- 1905The world's first diamond cutting factory was established in Antwerp
- 1914Germany invaded neutral Belgium, triggering Britain's entry into World War I
- 1919Universal suffrage for men was introduced in Belgium
- 1921The world's first international hockey league was founded in Belgium
- 1940Nazi Germany invaded and occupied Belgium during World War II
- 1958Brussels hosted the World's Fair, introducing the iconic Atomium structure
- 1960Belgium hastily granted independence to Congo, leading to years of instability and violence in the former colony
- 1967The world's first stock exchange was founded in Antwerp
- 1980A series of terrorist attacks known as the "Brabant killings" left 28 people dead and many more injured
- 1985The Heysel Stadium disaster occurred, resulting in 39 deaths and hundreds of injuries
- 1989Belgium became the second country in the world to legalize abortion
- 1996The Marc Dutroux case shocked the nation, exposing failures in the Belgian justice and police system
- 1999Belgium became one of the first countries to legalize same-sex civil partnerships
- 2003Belgium became the second country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage
- 2016Brussels was hit by terrorist attacks, killing 32 civilians and injuring over 300 people
- 2021Severe flooding in Belgium caused by heavy rainfall led to 42 deaths and widespread destruction
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.
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