Belgium is a very small country in the West.Europe. What language do its inhabitants speak? What is the state of Belgium? From this article we learn about this country, as well as about its features.
Belgium: form of government, government
The name of the country comes from one Celtictribe - belgov. The state gained its independence from the Netherlands in 1830, but it was recognized only in 1839. Since then, the political map of the world is an independent state of Belgium. The form of government of the country is a constitutional parliamentary monarchy. This means that the monarch has limited powers, for the most part he plays the role of a symbol and a representative of the state, and not the role of a ruler.
Name of the king of the state of Belgium, form of governmentwhich - the monarchy - Philip Leopold Louis-Mary (since 2013). The Prime Minister’s name is Charles Michel. The government is appointed by the king, and the head of the party that won the election becomes the prime minister. The administrative and territorial structure of Belgium is federal.
Belgium is a member of the European Union, NATOand the UN. The political center of Belgium is its capital Brussels. Here are the headquarters of some influential organizations, such as NATO, the European Commission, EFTA.
Population and language
There are about eleven million people in Belgium, most of whom are citizens. The country has one of the highest population densities among other European states.
Here are dominated by two large ethnic groups:Flemish and Walloons. Flemish make up about 60% of the population and live mainly in the northern provinces. In the southern provinces live Walloons, of which about 40%. They have spoken French and Dutch. These languages are state.
Germans make up the largest groupnational minorities. German in Belgium is also official. English is widely spoken. Some regions speak Lorraine, Walloon, Luxembourgish and champagne.
There are many immigrants from Italy, Morocco, DR Congo, Turkey and other countries.
Belgian cuisine
Belgian cuisine absorbed the features of Latinand German cooking. It is highly regarded in high-end restaurants. As you can recall, one of the talents of the famous literary character of the detective novels of Agatha Christie Hercule Poirot was exactly the culinary one.
Жареные мидии и жареное мясо с салатом являются national dishes. Popular Belgian dishes include waffles and chips. The Belgians think that the world owes them for the invention of French fries, and there are experts in this field in almost all cities in Belgium.
The Kingdom of Belgium is also famous for itschocolate and beer. This country is the ancestor of the praline. The most famous chocolate brands are Godiva, Leonidas, Neuhaus, Côte d’Or, Guylian. The beer here has produced about five hundred different brands, many of which are over 500 years old. In addition to the usual varieties, you can try peach, apple, chocolate, etc. In Brussels there is the headquarters and the museum of the confederation of Belgian brewers. The confederation was founded more than 300 years ago.
Tourism and culture
Belgium ranks 21st in competitiveness in the tourism industry. About seven million people visit it annually, most of them come from neighboring countries.
Fans of architecture visit Ghent, Brussels,Antwerp, Bruges. Here are well-preserved examples of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, built in the art nouveau style. The most famous architect whose work can be seen in Belgium is Victor Horta.
Many visit the state for the sake of painting.Flemish art was especially famous during the Renaissance. In this country, artists of different styles and trends worked: romanticism, surrealism, symbolism, expressionism. In Antwerp lived Rubens. James Ersons, Constant Permeke, Rene Magritte were born and worked in these parts.
The Kingdom of Belgium is often visited in order to purchase diamonds and jewelry.
To visit this country, you need to getSchengen visa. The Belgian Embassy in Moscow is located on Shchipok Street, 11, bldg. 1, near the Serpukhovskaya, Dobryninskaya or Paveletskaya metro stations.
Interesting facts about the country
- The name Brussels translates as “city in the swamp” from the medieval version of the Dutch language.
- Throughout Europe, fewer battles occurred than in Belgium.
- After attaining majority, all citizens of the Kingdom of Belgium are obliged to vote.
- There is a very high standard of living in this country, therefore emigration is practically absent.
- In terms of the number of citizenships granted, Belgium is second only to Canada.
- We owe the invention of the saxophone to Belgium and Adolf Sax.
- Forced marriage is not allowed here and is punishable by law.
- In 1605, the world's first newspapers were printed in Antwerp.
- Many breeds of dogs come from here. For example, Malinois, Tervuren, Griffon.
- Fans of the unusual will especially like a hotel in the shape of a person’s bowel in Belgium.
- Belgium ranks third in the world after the Netherlands and Japan in terms of the number of cars.
Conclusion
Amazing Belgium, whose form of governmentnamed above, is one of the most prosperous countries in the world. It is called the birthplace of chocolate and lace, waffles and a saxophone were invented here, and headquarters of world famous organizations are located in the capital.
