Belgium
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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