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*I am really sorry for being this late altough the belgian comunity answered so fast, RL issues were involved. The next articles won’t be on time but I am trying to make them as quick as posbile. I have 5 more articles to be on day : South Africa, Paraguay, Japan, Egypt and Peru.. so please bear with me.

General information

Population : 11.3 mil people (75th in the World, 12th in Europe)
Total Area : 30,528 km^2 (136th in the World, 34th in Europe)
Official languages : Dutch, French, German
Official currency : Euro(EUR)
Capital : Brussels
Population density : 372.06 people/km^2 (36th in the World, 10th in Europe)
Top 5 biggest cities : Brussels, Antwerp, Liege, Ghent, Charleroi


Belgium is a low-lying country on the North Sea coast in the Benelux. With the majority of West European capitals within 1,000km of the Belgian capital of Brussels, and as a member of the long-standing international Benelux community, Belgium sits at the crossroads of Western Europe. Its immediate neighbours are France to the southwest, Luxembourg to the southeast, Germany to the east and the Netherlands to the north.

Belgium is a federal constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of governance. It is divided into three highly autonomous regions and three communities: the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders in the north, the mostly French-speaking Wallonia region in the south, and the German-speaking cantons in the east. The Brussels-Capital Region is an officially bilingual (French and Dutch) enclave within the Flemish Region, though French is the dominant language. A German-speaking Community exists in eastern Wallonia. Belgium's linguistic diversity and related political conflicts are reflected in its political history and complex system of governance, made up of six different governments.

Belgium's political institutions are complex; most political power is organized around the need to represent the main cultural communities. Since about 1970, the significant national Belgian political parties have split into distinct components that mainly represent the political and linguistic interests of these communities. The major parties in each community, though close to the political centre, belong to three main groups: Christian Democrats, Liberals, and Social Democrats. Further notable parties came into being well after the middle of last century, mainly around linguistic, nationalist, or environmental themes and recently smaller ones of some specific liberal nature.













National sport : Football

Cycling





National animal : Lion (heraldic symbol)


National plant : Red poppy (Papaver rhoeas)



National Instruments : Saxophone







The significance of the 21st of July

In 1830, drawing inspiration from the recent July Revolution in France, the southern provinces of the United Netherlands rebelled against Dutch rule after a period of growing economic, religious, and political alienation. After some fighting in August-September 1830, the Dutch were forced out of much of the region and Belgium gained de facto independence. A National Congress was created to write a Constitution for the new state.

The Congress decided that the new country would be a constitutional monarchy (associated with political stability) rather than a republic, in order to reassure foreign governments and the Belgian middle class who associated republicanism with "mob rule" in the aftermath of the French Revolution of 1789. The Congress called upon Leopold of Saxe-Cobourg-Gotha, a German nobleman, to be the first King of the Belgians on 4 June 1831.

Accepting the invitation, Leopold travelled from England to Brussels. On 21 July, the temporary regent Erasme Louis Surlet de Chokier officially relinquished his position and Leopold swore allegiance to the Constitution drawn up by the National Congress, officially bringing it into force and acceded to the throne.








France isn’t the only country with great comicbooks. Time to talk about Belgium’s most famous comicbook : The Adventures of Tintin !


The Adventures of Tintin is a series of 24 comic albums created by Belgian cartoonist Georges Remi, who wrote under the pen name Hergé. The series was one of the most popular European comics of the 20th century.

The series first appeared in French on 10 January 1929 in Le Petit Vingtième (The Little Twentieth), a youth supplement to the Belgian newspaper Le Vingtième Siècle (The Twentieth Century). The success of the series saw the serialised strips published in Belgium's leading newspaper Le Soir (The Evening) and spun into a successful Tintin magazine. In 1950, Hergé created Studios Hergé, which produced the canonical versions of ten Tintin albums.

The series has been admired for its clean, expressive drawings in Hergé's signature ligne claire ("clear line") style. Its well-researched plots straddle a variety of genres: swashbuckling adventures with elements of fantasy, mysteries, political thrillers, and science fiction. The stories feature slapstick humour, offset by dashes of sophisticated satire and political or cultural commentary.



The series is set during a largely realistic 20th century. Its hero is Tintin, a courageous young Belgian reporter and adventurer. He is aided by his faithful dog Snowy (Milou in the original French edition). Other protagonists include the brash and cynical Captain Haddock and the intelligent but hearing-impaired Professor Calculus (French: Professeur Tournesol), as well as the incompetent detectives Thomson and Thompson (French: Dupont et Dupond) and the opera diva Bianca Castafiore.

Tintin is a young Belgian reporter and adventurer who becomes involved in dangerous cases in which he takes heroic action to save the day. The Adventures may feature Tintin hard at work in his investigative journalism, but seldom is he seen actually turning in a story.

Readers and critics have described Tintin as a well-rounded yet open-ended, intelligent and creative character, noting that his rather neutral personality—sometimes labelled as bland—permits a balanced reflection of the evil, folly, and foolhardiness, which surrounds him. The character never compromises his Boy Scout ideals, which represent Hergé's own, and his status allows the reader to assume his position within the story, rather than merely following the adventures of a strong protagonist.

Snowy (Milou in Hergé's original version), a white Wire Fox Terrier dog, is Tintin's loyal, four-legged companion. The bond between Snowy and Tintin is very deep, as they have saved each other from perilous situations many times. Snowy frequently "speaks" to the reader through his thoughts (often displaying a dry sense of humour), which are not heard by the human characters in the story. Snowy has nearly let Tintin down on occasion, particularly when distracted by a bone. Like Captain Haddock, he is fond of Loch Lomond brand Scotch whisky, and his occasional bouts of drinking tend to get him into trouble. When not distracted, Snowy is generally fearless, his only fear being arachnophobia. When Tintin gets tied up by villains (which often happens), Snowy is usually able to free him by gnawing through the rope.



Captain Archibald Haddock (Capitaine Haddock in Hergé's original version) is a Merchant Marine sea captain and Tintin's best friend. Introduced in The Crab with the Golden Claws, Haddock is initially depicted as a weak and alcoholic character, but later evolves to become genuinely heroic and even a socialite after he finds a treasure from his ancestor, Sir Francis Haddock (Chevalier François de Hadoque in the original version). The Captain's coarse humanity and sarcasm act as a counterpoint to Tintin's often-implausible heroism; he is always quick with a dry comment whenever the boy reporter seems too idealistic. After he and Tintin find Red Rackham's treasure, Captain Haddock lives in the luxurious mansion Marlinspike Hall (Le château de Moulinsart in the original French).


The settings within Tintin have also added depth to the strips. Hergé mixes real and fictional lands into his stories. In King Ottokar's Sceptre, Hergé creates two fictional countries, Syldavia and Borduria, and invites the reader to tour them in text through the insertion of a travel brochure into the storyline. Other fictional lands include Khemed on the Arabian Peninsula and San Theodoros, São Rico, and Nuevo Rico in South America, as well as the kingdom of Gaipajama in India. Apart from these fictitious locations, Tintin also visits such real places as Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Soviet Union, Belgian Congo, Peru, India, Egypt, Indonesia, Nepal, Tibet, and China. Other actual locales used were the Sahara Desert, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Moon.










Top 5 places visited by tourists


Bruges





*Market Square


*Provincial Palace


*Belfry Tower

The spirit and history of the Vikings emits strongly in this lovely city of canals that have earned it the title as the Europe’s ‘Venice of the North.’ Easy to traverse, Bruges is home to glorious medieval architecture, particularly on the southern side of the city’s main hub, The Grote Market Square. Flanking its western side, visitors can enjoy the neo-gothic style amid Provincial Court. The striking Belfry Tower is just north of the square. Other sites not to miss include the spectacular Gruuthuse Mansion, and the impressive Saint John’s Hospital, which was built in 1188.



Brussels




*Town Hall and Grand Place


*Galeries St.Hubert


*Atomium

Known for its diversity of sites and places of interest, Brussels is the capital city of Belgium and is likely where visitors will begin their sightseeing. As the headquarters of many European institutions, Brussels might also be considered something of a capital for the European Union. Most notably, the Grand Place is the city’s center and was established in the 13th century. Terrace cafes and pubs are plentiful around this central square, as are other sites of interest such as the stunning Gothic style Town Hall. Shopping is plentiful amid the Galeries St. Hubert, a centrally located glass-roof arcade filled with shops, cafes, and theaters.


Ghent






*Graslei Harbour


*Gravensteen Castle


Belgium’s best kept secret, Ghent is a city of history. During the Middle Ages, it was one of the richest and most powerful cities in Europe. It was once considered the second largest city north of the alps, after Paris. The impact of this rich past can be clearly seen when viewing the imposing architecture of churches and the houses of rich traders. The whole of the city center is restored in this fashion, and still breathes the atmosphere of a thriving late-medieval city state. This is particularly so along the scenic old Graslei harbour, and grand medieval cathedrals and the Gravensteen Castle.



Antwerp




*Plantin Moretus Museum


*Cathedral of Our Lady


*St.Paul’s Cathedral

Antwerp is a city with many faces. While it may not be as historically preserved as Bruges or Ghent, it is a very dynamic city, offering a perfect mix of history and present-day modern life. Lovers of great food, great beer, and good times, this city is most well-known for the Diamond District, where more than 70 percent of the world’s rough diamonds are traded. Art abounds in Antwerp, with Revenshuis celebrates the baroque works of Peter Paul Ruebens and the Plantin Moretus Museum is the home of printer and bookbinder Christoffel Plantin. Architectural wonders await with the 1351 construction the gothic Cathedral of Our Lady, and the majestic combination of baroque and Gothic architecture of the Saint Paul’s Church.



Leuven




*University




Home to the oldest Catholic university in the world, Leuven is home about 100,000 residents with nearly 35,000 of them being students that keep the city lively when classes are in session. Two seemingly endless streets are laden with interesting shops and galleries, while the more historical section of the city boasts sites such as the The Belfry on St. Peter’s Church and the Grand Beguinage. Visitors will find much action and things to do in the Grote Market in Leuven, where sites like the City Hall are adjacent to exceptional dining options and street side pubs and cafes. This city’s location makes it an ideal alternative to Brussels as a vacationer’s main hub to explore the rest of the country.





Top 3 locations suggested by the locals


Ardennes









For hiking, biking and camping, visitors to Belgium should head to the rugged hills of the Ardennes with their tight forests, caves and cliffs. They are home to wild boar, deer and lynx and hide a number of friendly villages, lots of castles and a few other notable sights. The impressive caves of Han-sur-Lesse, the castle of Bouillon and the modern Labyrinth of Barvaux are some of the best picks. The city of Namur makes a great base from where to explore the Ardennes and has some fine sights itself too.


Liège








Just one hour from Brussels is Liège, a historical city on the river Meuse, dating back to Charlemagne. With a wonderful central location only one hour from Brussels by train or car, Liege must-see sites are the Prince-Bishops’ Place, Liege-Guillemins Station, Museum of Walloon Life, Church of Saint-Jacques, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Stay for its fun, vibrant night life.




Dinant









This city lies along the sparkling Meuse River in the Namur province just 65 km (40 miles) south of the capital city. The Caves of Han and the Grotto of Dinant are some of the natural attractions that bring visitors here. These caves are some of Europe’s largest and most beautiful and are situated in within a Wildlife Reserve teeming with native flora and fauna. However, the city’s landmark, The Collegiate Church of Notre Dame is still remarkable after being partially rebuild post a massive landslide, as does the restored Citadel that overlooks the city. Accesses to most of Dinant’s sanctuaries are accessible with an appointment, but the Sanctuary of Beauraing is open daily.






Inventions Belgium gave to the world!


*Saxophone!
*by Adolphe Sax, 1840


*Fentanyl - very powerful opioid painkiller!
*by Paul Janssen, 1959


*”French fries”!


*Haloperidol/Haldol - antipsychotic medication!
*by Paul Janssen, 1958


*Roller skates!
*by John Joseph Merlin, 1760







Famous people from Belgium


Georges Prosper Remi - known by the pen name Hergé ([ɛʁʒe]), was a Belgian cartoonist. He is best known for creating The Adventures of Tintin, the series of comic albums which are considered one of the most popular European comics of the 20th century. He was also responsible for two other well-known series, Quick & Flupke (1930–40) and The Adventures of Jo, Zette and Jocko (1936–57). His works were executed in his distinct ligne claire drawing style.

Hergé's works have been widely acclaimed for their clarity of draughtsmanship and meticulous, well-researched plots. They have been the source of a wide range of adaptations, in theatre, radio, television, cinema, and computer gaming. He remains a strong influence on the comic book medium, particularly in Europe.[2][3] Widely celebrated in Belgium, a Hergé Museum was established in Louvain-la-Neuve in 2009.



(1907 - 1983)



Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg - professionally known as Jean-Claude Van Damme[a] and abbreviated as JCVD, is a Belgian actor, martial artist, screenwriter, film producer, and director best known for his martial arts action films. The most successful of these projects include Bloodsport (198😎, Kickboxer franchise (1989-201😎, Lionheart (1990), Double Impact (1991), Universal Soldier franchise (1992-2012), Hard Target (1993), Street Fighter (1994), Timecop (1994), Sudden Death (1995), JCVD (200😎, The Expendables 2 (2012), Kung Fu Panda 2, and 3 (2011-2015).


(born 1960)


Godfrey of Bouillon - Frankish knight and one of the leaders of the First Crusade from 1096 until its conclusion in 1099. He was the Lord of Bouillon, from which he took his byname, from 1076 and the Duke of Lower Lorraine from 1087. After the successful siege of Jerusalem in 1099, Godfrey became the first ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. He refused the title of King, however, as he believed that the true King of Jerusalem was Christ, preferring the title of Advocate (i.e., protector or defender) of the Holy Sepulchre (Latin: Advocatus Sancti Sepulchri). He is also known as the "Baron of the Holy Sepulchre" and the "Crusader King".



(1060 - 1100)



Jacques Romain Georges Brel - Belgian singer, songwriter, poet, actor and director who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following—initially in Belgium and France, later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson.Although he recorded most of his songs in French and occasionally in Dutch, he became an influence on English-speaking songwriters and performers, such as David Bowie, Alex Harvey, Marc Almond and Rod McKuen. English translations of his songs were recorded by many top performers in the United States, including Ray Charles, Judy Collins, John Denver, the Kingston Trio, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, Scott Walker, and Andy Williams.

In French-speaking countries, Brel was also a successful actor, appearing in ten films. He also directed two films, one of which, Le Far West, was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1973. Having sold over 25 million records worldwide, Brel is the third best-selling Belgian recording artist of all time. Brel married Thérèse "Miche" Michielsen in 1950 and the couple had three children. He also had a romantic relationship with actress and dancer Maddly Bamy from 1972 until his death in 1978.



(1929 - 1978)


Paul Van Haver - better known by his stage name Stromae ([stʁɔmaj]), is a Belgian musician, rapper, singer, and songwriter. He established himself in both the hip hop and electronic music genres. Stromae came to wide public attention in 2009 with his song "Alors on danse" (from the album Cheese), which became a number one in several European countries. In 2013, his second album Racine carrée was a commercial success, selling 2 million copies in France alone and nearly 600,000 units elsewhere. He has sold over 8.5 million records worldwide. His music is primarily sung in French.


(born 1985)








Traditional food


Moules-frites / Mosselen-friet



Summer in Belgium means mussel season: North Sea mussels, which are fleshier and larger than French ones, are harvested June through April, and cooked either in a classic vegetable and white wine broth or in beer. Served with fries, they're the unofficial national dish. Do as the locals do, and pick out the mussels using an empty shell as tongs.

Waterzooi



A creamy fish stew using eggs and butter, waterzooi originated in Ghent, where local lad Charles V (the Holy Roman Emperor) is said to have counted it as his favorite dish. Today, it's more likely to be made with chicken than fish—either way, it's served as a soup.


Carbonnades Flamandes / Stoverij



At first glance, you may mistake this hearty beef casserole for French staple boeuf bourguignon, but it’s beer, rather than wine, that the Belgians cook with—giving it an earthier taste. Stoverij usually comes with frites for dipping.


Anguilles au Vert / Paling in't Groen



Luckily, "eel in green sauce" is more appetizing than it sounds. Chunks of white, meaty eel (which has the consistency of chicken, only with a more gamey taste) are stewed in a thick, herby sauce of sorrel and chervil—hence its bright green color.

Tomates aux Crevettes Grises / Tomaat met Grijze Garnalen



Juicy crevettes grises—tiny gray shrimp—are known as "the caviar of the North Sea." In this popular appetizer, they're peeled, mixed with mayo, and used to stuff cold tomatoes.


Stoemp



A staple of Brussels cuisine, stoemp blends mashed potatoes and vegetables such as brussels sprouts, carrots, onion, and kale. It's usually served either as a side dish, or as an entrée with sausage or stewed meat.

Boulet au Sauce Lapin / Balletjes op Luikse Wijze



"Meatballs in rabbit sauce" may be the direct translation, but no rabbits were harmed in the making of this meal. The meatballs ("boulettes" are small, "boulets" are larger, and both are usually a mix of pork or beef) come served in a sweet and sour sauce made of onion, vinegar, brown sugar, and Sirop de Liège. Expect to see them served with frites, crudités, or even a fruit compote.

Filet Americain



Filet Americain is similar to steak tartar, only it's simpler in preparation. This dish is made with finely minced ground beef, topped with sauce Americain, and served with fries (of course) and bread. Put aside your skepticism and take a bite, you'll instantly understand why this is a national favorite.


Boudin blanc



Boudin blanc is a white sausage that's made with milk. Its delicate flavor and fine texture is unlike any other sausage out there. It's usually prepared grilled or sauteed and is best served with mashed potatoes or apple compote.



Traditional desserts

Speculoos



Yes, Belgium has an (unofficial) national cookie. These flat, spiced shortbreads are so beloved you can even get speculoos-flavored spread—as well as ice cream or gelato. Originally baked to celebrate St. Nicholas Day (December 6), you'll now find them year-round.


Sirop de Liège / Luikse Siroop



A sweet, sticky brown jelly made from evaporated fruit juices—dates, apples, and pears are stock ingredients—Sirop de Liège trumps even Euro favorite Nutella when it comes to spreads. Smear it on a baguette for breakfast, or pair it with cheeses at lunch.


Waffle



Are you ready for something sweet? I thought so! When you think “Belgium” and “sweet”, Belgian waffles are one of two things (chocolate!) that immediately come to mind. As with “French fries”, there is some confusion about the term “Belgian waffles”. In fact, there is no one Belgian waffle, but rather two types of waffles, both originating in Belgium.

The Brussels waffle, or gaufre de Bruxelles, is rectangular and flaky. It isn’t as sweet as its rival but is often topped with whipped cream, chocolate, ice-cream or various fruit toppings.

The denser Liège waffle has rounded edges and crystallized sugar baked into it, making it slightly sticky and sweeter than the Brussels waffle. This is the kind that’s sold from hole-in-the-wall places everywhere in the center of Brussels.



Chocolate



Chocolate fans, this is the country where you belong. There are over 2,000 chocolatiers (!!!) in Belgium. And it's all excellent thanks to an 1884 Belgian law that regulates the composition of its chocolate. The chocolate alone is a worth making the trip to this country. Seriously.


Stofé



Stofé is popular sweet cheesecake originating from the city of Wavre in Belgium’s French Wallonian region. Cottage cheese, or in Walloon stofé, is blended with meringue and bitter and sweet almonds and poured over a bed of sliced apples. The neighbouring city of Jodoigne also has a soufflé-like version called the blanke doréye, which replaces the almonds with a hint of vanilla and the sliced apples with mashed ones. Whichever way you make it, make sure to use quality cottage cheese as this is what gives the dessert its unique flavour.

Snoep



Other than baked goods, Belgians have a strong love for candies or snoep or confiserie. One of the most well-known snoepjes in Belgium is cuberdon, a cone-shaped candy made of gum arabic that has a hard outer layer but a soft core. Cuberdons originated in Flanders and are sometimes referred to as neusjes in Flemish due to the resemblance to a nose (neus) or chapeau-de-prêtre in Wallonia (a priest's hat). They come in a wide variety of flavours from the classic violet raspberry to more recent variants like tropical fruits, cookie or jenever (gin-flavour). You can savour it the traditional way by biting off the top and sucking out the syrup or dropping it on champagne, tea or vodka, to add an explosion of taste.




Traditional drinks

Beer

Belgium is the fatherland of quality beer brewing, creating a huge variety of beer styles from well established Pale Ales, Saisons, Tripels and Dubbels to the more unusual Flemish sours, Lambics and Geuzes.

It is also the spiritual home of Trappist beer as it can claim 6 of the 11 breweries in the world where Trappist monks lovingly craft beer (and usually cheese) to support the charitable works of their monastery. The tradition of having a specific design of beer glass also originates here as each brewery insisted on the local surroundings serving their beer in a particular type of glass. Even to this day the Belgian beer scene is hugely regionalized around the local brewery with most pubs and restaurants in an area promoting the local beer. With such a rich history Belgium is therefore the place to go for any true beer lover wanting to sample the delights of Westmalle, Duvel, St Bernardus, Rochefort, Bosteels Kwak, Delirium Tremens, Maredsous, Rodenbach….the list goes on!



Genever



Known in the English world as Dutch gin, genever is a juniper-flavored liquor, traditional to the Netherlands and Belgium. It is the main ancestor to modern gin.






Interesting facts about Belgium


1.There are over 800 kinds of beers made in Belgium.
2.The world's first beer academy opened in Herk-de-Stad, in the Belgian province of Limburg, in 1999.
3.Belgium became the first country in the world to legalise euthanasia in 2002 (although the Netherlands decriminalised it a few months before), and the second to legalise gay marriage in 2003 (2 years after the Netherlands).
4.Belgium was the world's first country, along with Italy, to introduce electronic ID cards in March 2003. It will also be the first European country to issue e-ID's to the entire population.
5.Europe's first skyscraper ("Torengebouw") was built in Antwerp in 1928.
6.97% of Belgian households receive cable TV - the highest percentage in the world.
7.Europe's first modern health resort opened in Spa in the 18th century.
8.The Belgian motorway system is the only man-made structure visible from the moon (at night, due to the lights all along the motorway network).
9.Belgium produces 220,000 tonnes of chocolate per year. This amounts to 22 kg of chocolate per inhabitant annually, i.e. 61 grammes per day in average.
10.Possession of up to 3 grammes of cannabis is legal in Belgium.




My 5 words when I hear about Belgium:
#Chocolate,#Waffles,#Beer,#FrenchFries,#Tintin

What are your 5?





Special thanks to Curlybear, Director9 and mittekemuis and I will leave you with the national motto :







I leave you with some Belgium memes:


















Waiting for feedback , comments , opinions and if there is anyone that thinks I missed something , I could do something better or just wants to help me with this project , PM me !

Special thanks to Kariky for the spacers !!




Hope you enjoyed and see you next time!

P.S. Article 65/74!







P.S.2. Don't forget to push the flags !