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Country Guide > Europe > Belgium | |
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General Information Area 30,528 sq km (11,787 sq miles).
Population 10,419,000 (UN, 2005). Population Density 341 per sq km. Capital Brussels (Bruxelles, Brussel). Population: 970,000. Geography Belgium is situated in Europe and bordered by France, Germany, Luxembourg and The Netherlands. The landscape is varied, the rivers and gorges of the Ardennes contrasting sharply with the rolling plains which make up much of the countryside. Notable features are the great forest of Ardennes near the frontier with Germany and Luxembourg and the wide, sandy beaches of the northern coast, which run for over 60km (37 miles). The countryside is rich in historic cities, castles and churches. Government Constitutional monarchy. The Kingdom of Belgium was established in 1830. In 1993, Belgium became a federal state comprising three autonomous regions. Head of State: King Albert II since 1993. Head of Government: Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt since 1999. Language The official languages are Dutch, French and German. Dutch is slightly more widely spoken than French, and German is spoken the least. Religion Mainly Roman Catholic, with small Protestant and Jewish communities. Time GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October). Electricity 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are of the round two-pin type. Communications Telephone Fully automatic IDD. For operator services, dial 1324. Country code: 32. Outgoing international code: 00. There are call boxes in all major towns and country districts. Some coinless cardphones and credit card phones are also available. Telecards are available from newsagents, railway stations and post offices. Mobile telephone GSM 900 and 1800 networks provide coverage all over Belgium. Main operators include BASE (website: www.base.be), Belgacom Mobile (website: www.belgacom.net), Mobistar (website: www.mobistar.be) and Proximus (website: www.proximus.be). Internet Internet cafes are widely available. ISPs include Belgacom (website: www.belgacom.net). Post Airmail takes two to three days to other West European destinations. Poste Restante facilities are available in main cities. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700 (post office hours vary) (website: www.post.be). Press Principal daily newspapers are La Lanterne, La Meuse, Le Soir (French) and De Gentenaar, De Standaard, Het Laatste Nieuws, Het Nieuwsblad (Dutch). There is an English-language magazine, The Bulletin, printed in Belgium. Radio BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. |
