Belgium Travel Guide

Belgium is limited to the North by the Netherlands, in the East by Germany and Luxembourg, in the South by France; she(it) is lined on the West by the North Sea. The geographical situation was privileged by the country, in the center of Western Europe, the place(square) Brussels near several capitals (Amsterdam and Luxembourg are 200 km, London in 226 km, Paris in 270 km, Berlin in 650 km). We can distinguish three geographical zones: low Belgium, rectilinear band(strip) of beaches(ranges) and 65 km dunes approximately beyond which we find polders and clayey and sandy plains of the Flemish country;
Average Belgium which rises gradually towards the valleys of Sambre and Meuse(Maas) among which the low clayey trays (Brabant, Hainaut, Cambrésis) establish(constitute) very fertile grounds; high Belgium, the least populated and the woodiest region, established(constituted) by the tray(plateau) of Condroz with the valleys of the Meuse(Maas) and by Ourthe, region of Fagnes and more in the South still, the massif of the Ardennes, covered with birches and with conifer, peaking as height as 694 meters (Signal of Botrange).

Population
According to a geographical and linguistic distribution, the population consists of 60 % of Flemish, 30 % of Walloons (among which 85 % are French-speaking and German-speaking 5 %) and of 10 % of Brusselses, French speakers in 85 %. Belgium welcomes 900.000 foreigners, essentially Italians, French people, Moroccans and Turks.
Population (in millions): 10,3 Density (inhabitants in km ²): 334 natural Increase of the population: 0,3 Indication of fertility: 1,6 Life expectation (in years): 77 Urbanization (in %): 97
Climate
Belgium benefits from an oceanic, soft and rainy moderate climate, with low(weak) temperature differences. In Ardennes, the climate is semi-continental, with warm and rainy summers, cold and long winters, mists and important fogs. The precipitation are the strongest in the high regions and along coast(ribs) (from 700 to 1000 mm on average over the year).
Capital and main cities
BRUSSELS AGGLOMÉRATION of 19 training(forming) municipalities(Communes) one of three Regions of the Belgian federal State, Brussels is at once(at the same time) the capital of the Kingdom of Belgium, the administrative centre of the Province of Brabant, the Seat(Siege) of the French and Flemish Communities. It is also the seat(siege) of the Committee(Commission) and the European Union Council of the NATO, the Western European union ( UEO) as well as the numerous international organizations and the NGO(the NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION). Railroad and motorway knot but also river port, the city possesses a developed branch of industry, in particular in the preparation(clothing business), the chemistry, the mechanical engineerings, the food-processing industry, the metal industry and the printing office. She(it) concentrates the majority of the activities of the tertiary sector. The expansion of Brussels from the 13th century in fact very quickly a big city(estate), a favourite residence of the dukes of Brabant. Connected with the duchy of Burgundy in 1430, she(it) passes in 1482 under the supervision(guardianship) of Habsbourg, which make it the capital of the Netherlands. In 1519 Charles the Fifth in fact the geographical and political center of its Empire. Afterward, Brussels knows the Protestant uprising, violently crushed by Philippe II. It is in 1831 when it becomes the capital of the Kingdom of Belgium. Occupied by the Germans during both world wars, the city is freed(released) in September, 1944. On the architectural plan(shot), Brussels knew numerous transformations(processings). She(it) gradually extended in the other bank of the Seine, while gaining(winning) the summit of the hill as well as the surrounding tray(plateau). Of this situation was quickly born a division between the high, residential city, grouping together(including) the official buildings(ships), and the low city, the industrial and commercial area. Of its multiple evolutions, Brussels kept(preserved) numerous buildings of from Brabant, Flemish, baroque and Gothic style. We can quote so Big Place(Square), the city hall, the House of King, former(ancient) Halle in the bread, the royal Place(Square), the Palace of Academies(Regional education authorities), the royal Library, Saint Michel's cathedral, churches of from Brabant Flemish and Gothic Gothic style, without forgetting the numerous museums. In 1958, Brussels was the seat(siege) of the World Fair.
Brussels is a particularly cosmopolitan city(estate) today, marked by an important Mediterranean immigration. She(it) counts near a million inhabitants. Web site: www.bruxelles.be
ANTWERP
ANTWERP is situated in the North of the country, in Flemish region, on the estuary of the Schelde, in the center of the region of Campine. Second port(bearing) of Europe after Rotterdam, first industrial area and assists city of the country ( 660.000 inhabitants), Antwerp is characterized by a diversified economic activity: chemistry, petrochemistry, naval construction, automobile, metal industry, electronics, food-processing industry. It is also the biggest world center of the trade and the size(cutting) of diamonds. Cultural and artistic center, her includes numerous museums and former(ancient) buildings (medieval houses, cathedral of the 16th century, city hall in the style close to that of the Italian Renaissance, baroque and Gothic churches) The city knew numerous influences during its history(story). His(her,its) commercial development begins in 14th century but its real expansion is bound(connected) to the decline of Bruges and Venice, in 15th and 16th centuries. She(it) finds her(its) vocation of cultural pole in 17th century with painters such as Rubens and Van Dyck. In spite of the signature of the treaty of Westphalia in 1648, planning the closure(lock) in the navigation of the mouths of the Schelde, the city quickly becomes again an important commercial crossroads. Web site: www.visitantwerpen.be northwest BRUGES AU of Belgium, Bruges is the administrative centre of the province of Flanders-Westerner. Channels(canals) connect(bind) her(it) with the ports(bearings) of Zeebrugge, Ghent and Ostend. Not insignificant industrial area, specialized in textiles(textile industries), metal industry and electronics, Bruges is especially the Mecca of the tourism, particularly picturesque, with its old town crossed by channels(canals). Of his(her,its) rich medieval past, she(it) kept(preserved) numerous monuments: his(her,its) belfry of the 13th century, the cathedral Saint rescuer, the chapel Saint blood or the City hall. We can also admire there buildings of the Renaissance as well as numerous museums. Important commercial and financial crossroads in the Middle Ages, in particular thanks to the business of the wool with England, city declines then of the 17th in 19th century. The construction of the channel(canal) while connecting(binding) her(it) with Zeebrugge, at the beginning of the 20th century, who restores in the city a commercial moose(run-up).
CHARLEROI Located on Sambre, in the Province of Hainaut, Charleroi was at first a fortress built in 17th century by king of Spain Charles II, on the site of the village of Charnoy where from she(it) pulls(fires) her(its) name. His(her,its) ownership was the stake in important quarrels between France and Spain. Chosen as base by the army of Napoleon, the city remained French till the beginning of the 19th century. Place of confrontation between Germans and Frenchman(French people) during the first world war, she(it) was then almost completely annulled. Connected(bound) in Brussels by a channel(canal), Charleroi was at first an important mining center, until 1984, date in which one(which) stops its production of coal. Today, it is essentially an industrial area specialized in the steel industry, the metal industry, the glass factory(glass-making) and the electrical manufacturing, to whom(which) are added the chemical and aerospace industry. The city account 210.000 inhabitants. Web site: Www.charleroi.be
GHENT
CHEF-LIEU of oriental Flanders, in the confluence of the Schelde and of Lily, the second port(bearing) of Belgium is connected(bound) in the North Sea by the channel(canal) of Terneuzen, as well as in Bruges and in the Ostend. His(her,its) geographical situation quickly made of Ghent one of the first centres of business and export, in particular towards the North Sea. At first based(established) on the industry, the activity of the city afterward turned to the tertiary sector. The horticulture also participates in the fame of Ghent, in particular thanks to the Flower shows, which(who) take place every five years. At first seat(siege) of Counts de Flandres, then more big city European cloth merchant, Ghent knows a big economic prosperity in 15th century, under the Burgundian dominion. Frenchwoman in 18th century, Dutch in the 19th, she(it) is connected in independent Belgium in 1830. Picturesque, the old town of Ghent conceals an important architectural heritage of baroque, Gothic monuments or Renaissance style. We can hold(retain) in particular the castle of the Counts, the belfry, the hall(market) to sheets, cathedral Saint-Bavon. The city account 230.000 inhabitants. Web site: www.gent.be
LIÈGE
Located in east of Belgium, in the confluence of the Meuse(Maas) and the Ourthe, the city of Liège is one of the biggest river ports of Europe.
Seat(Siege) of the economic institutions of the region wallone, it is an industrial pole of first importance the activities of which (armament, chemistry, glass factory(glass-making), electronics, cutlery industry) were grouped together(included) around the port(bearing) and in the suburb of the town(conglomeration). His(her,its) development also likes that of the tertiary sector. She(it) counts 430.000 inhabitants today. Liège is a big university, also sheltering a conservatoire and an Academy of Arts. She(it) possesses former(ancient) numerous buildings(ships), in particular the Palace of Princes-Evêques and churches, as well as diverse museums. The Legion of Honour was awarded to the city of Liège.
Web site: www.liege.be
Mons
In 50 km from Brussels, in the southwest of Belgium, Mons is the administrative centre of Hainaut. Of its history(story), the city(estate) kept(preserved) numerous monuments of diverse styles, such the Sainte-Waudru collegiate church, a baroque belfry, as well as several religious buildings and houses of the 16th and 18th centuries. Today, the economic activity of this city of 93.000 inhabitants is essentially turned(shot) to the tertiary sector. Numerous parties(holidays) with folk character take place there.
Web site: www.mons.be
NAMUR
Located in the Walloon region the capital of which it is, in the confluence of Sambre and Meuse(Maas), Namur is at first an administrative, university and tourist center, but also an industrial diversified pole about 105.000 inhabitants. Besieged on numerous occasions because of its strategic position, the city of Namur knows successively the Roman, French dominion, the Austrian, the front of future in 1814 the administrative centre of the French department of Sambre-et-Meuse. She(it) underwent numerous damage during both world wars but keeps(preserves) nevertheless numerous vestiges: the citadel, the castle of Counts de Namur, the baroque church of Saint wolf, the episcopal palace, which shelters the provincial government, a belfry and numerous museums. Web site: www.namur.be
OSTEND EN Flemish region, on the coast(ribs) of the North Sea and near Bruges, Ostend is above all the first fishing port of the country, but also an important industrial area, specialized in particular in the construction and the repair of boats, chemistry, mechanics or still food-processing industry. Ostend also found a vocation of sea resort, with its center of water and marine cures. The city conceals some tourist curiosities, such as the quay(platform) of the fishermen, the house of James Ensor and numerous museums. The urban community of Ostend account 70.000 inhabitants. Web site: www.ostende.be
Tournai
In the southwest of the country in the province of Hainaut, in Walloon region, Tournai is on the Schelde, near the French border. Built on the site of the Roman city(estate) of Tornacum, it is one of the most former(ancient) Belgian cities. Tournai lived the dominions franque and Merovingian, French, English, Dutch. Strengthened by Vauban in 17th century, she(it) was known in particular for her(its) tapestries and her(its) porcelain factories. Tournai is an active tourist center today, provided with a rich architectural heritage (cathedral Notre-Dame, belfry, medieval bridge(deck) as well as very numerous religious buildings of diverse styles). The city counts approximately 68.000 inhabitants. Web site: www.tournai.be