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.
Belgium Latest news
How frozen Russian money could save Ukraine when Trump returns to power
Global money game: How frozen Russian cash could save Ukraine's defense plans
French influence in Africa shifts as Nigeria signs controversial Paris deal
Europe freezes Syrian asylum cases as Damascus changes hands
Massive drug stash found in Caribbean banana container heading to Europe
Popular
New Syrian leader reveals empty coffers as dollar hits 35,000 pounds
Lithuanian defense chief warns: Europe must pay its fair share for protection
Trump's unexpected trade strategy leaves world markets guessing what's next
Biden talks big money and future of women's health at White House meeting
Democrats push for last-minute changes to US immigration policy before 2025
How frozen Russian money could save Ukraine when Trump returns to power
Western countries hold about $300-billion of frozen Russian money which could help Ukraineʼs defense needs. New ideas emerge to use these funds as US political changes might affect future support
Global money game: How frozen Russian cash could save Ukraine's defense plans
Western nations hold about $300-billion of frozen Russian money since early-2022. With US support becoming shaky new ideas emerge to use these funds for Ukraineʼs defense needs despite international risks
French influence in Africa shifts as Nigeria signs controversial Paris deal
French-African relations face major changes as former colonies cut ties while Nigeria forms new partnerships. Recent deals and leadership changes across the continent show a complex shift in regional dynamics
Europe freezes Syrian asylum cases as Damascus changes hands
European nations hit pause on Syrian refugee applications after rebels take Damascus and **Bashar al-Assad** escapes to Russia. The move affects over 124‚000 asylum-seekers who applied this year
Massive drug stash found in Caribbean banana container heading to Europe
Dominican authorities uncovered tons of cocaine hidden among bananas at Santo Domingo port. The shipment from Guatemala was meant to reach Belgium but got intercepted in what became a record-breaking bust
Record-breaking drug bust: Huge cocaine stash found in Dominican banana cargo
Dominican officials made their biggest-ever drug bust at Santo Domingo port this Friday. The massive cocaine shipment was cleverly hidden inside banana containers heading to Europe
Belgian court makes historic ruling about colonial-era child separations
Brussels court found Belgium guilty of crimes against humanity for taking mixed-race kids from African mothers during colonial times. Five womenʼs legal fight brought justice for thousands of separated families
Trump's Ukraine stance forces Europe to rethink its defense strategy
Europe faces new reality as Trump hints at cutting Ukraine support worth $60 billion. EU must decide how to fill massive funding gap while dealing with internal political challenges
Saudi's mega-city NEOM gets new boss as deadline pressure builds up
Saudi Arabias landmark NEOM project worth $500 billion sees unexpected leadership change. Project faces timeline pressure as new acting-CEO takes charge of the massive Red Sea development