Belgium

The middle of Europe

The country

• Area of 32.545 m3

• 10.472 inhabitants• capital: Brussel• Flanders (Dutch)• Wallonie (French)

• In Belgium there are 3 official languages:

• Dutch (yellow) 60%• French (red) 40%• German (blue) 1%

Arendonk

HistoryHistory

• 1815: together with the Netherlands

• 1830: Independent

• WOI

• WOII

• Tensions between Wallonie and Flanders

History

• World War I1914-1918

war in tranches

against Germany

• WO II• 1941-1945• Against Germany/Italy/Japan

– Hitler

– Third empire

– Holocaust on the Jews

Monarchie

• King Albert II

• Queen Paola

• Three children: Filip-Astrid-Laurent

First ministre: Guy Verhofstadt

Politic

• federal state composed of three communities, three regions and four linguistic regions

• Communities: Flamish community, french-speaking community and the German community

• Regions: Brussels-capital region – Flamish region – walloon region

• Flanders + Wallonia: own parliament, governement and administration

Schoolsystem

• Nursery school: 3-6 year • Primar school: 6-12 year • All together

• Secondary school 12-18 year• Choses: ASO/TSO/BSO

• High School/University

You have to go to school till you’re 18

Level is high

Brussel

• Capital of Belgium• Biligual part (French and

Dutch)

• Europese centre:• European commission • council of the european union • Part of european parliament• NAVO (=The North Altantic

Treaty Organisation)

Brussel

Antwerp

Brugge

Beers

• About 680 different sorts of beers in Belgium

• Stella Artois, Duvel, Leffe

Chocolat

• Pralines are very famous, as present

• People eat between the 9.5 – 8.7 kg chocolat per year: Top 3 in Europe

• Neuheus, Leonidas

French fries

• French fries are typical belgian

• Some people eat it every week

Restaurants

• Belgian people like good food

• Lot of good restaurants

Sport celebrities

• Tennis• Justin Henin• 5 grandslams• + olympic games

• Kim Clijsters• 1 grandslam• Number 1 of the world

• Biking• Tom Boonen:• World champion• Won the most famous

races• Very famous in belgium

Eddy Merckx

• 1961-1977 he biked• He won single-day

classics, six days trials and long tours

• 5 tours de France• 5 tours of Italy• 4 Worldchampion

Belgian music

• dEUS• Millionaire• Hooverphonic• K’s Choice• Praga khan• Lord of Acids• Soulwax• 2Many DJ’s

Strips

• Kuifje (Tintin) by Hergé

The end