Belgium
in Western Europe
Europe

National active POI Bordering countries
Location Summary
Currency and Currency Code:
Euro - EUR
Spoken languages:
Dutch, French, German
Local electricity:
230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, E)
Mobile phone / cellular frequencies (MHz):
900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G
ISO 2-Letter code:
BE
Internet top level domain:
.be
Country phone prefix:
+32
Local Time (capital):
Timezone:
UTC/GMT offset: hours
Current travel safety evaluation for Belgium in Western Europe

Safety Score: 3,0 of 5.0 based on data from 9 authorites. Meaning we advice caution when travelling to Belgium.

Travel warnings are updated daily. Source: Travel Warning Belgium. Last Update: 2024-08-13 08:21:03

Explore Belgium

Belgium with its capital Brussels is located in Europe (Western Europe, bordering the North Sea). It covers some 30,529 square kilometers (about the size of Maryland) with 11,491,300 citizens. Dutch, French and German are the languages commonly used by the people in Belgium (consider regional differences). France, Germany, Luxembourg and Netherlands are bordering countries.

Belgium is a low-lying country on the North Sea coast. It has a very high rate of urbanization and has an astonishing number of cities for such a small territory. Being such a small country (300 km as its maximum distance), you can get anywhere in a couple of hours. Public transport is fast and comfortable. Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French and German. However, English is widely spoken by the younger generations. Belgium is famous for its good cuisine and people like to go to restaurants frequently. The style is influenced not only by the surrounding countries but also by many other countries. Belgium's capital and the unofficial capital of the EU is Brussels with a nice historic centre. One of the most multicultural cities in Europe.

Popular Destinations in Belgium

 

Tournai
 

Namur
 

Gent
 

Brussels
 

Brugge
 

Antwerp

Administrative regions of Belgium

About the country

Official logo of Belgium tourism

Website: Belgium Tourism

Grote Markt 13 - 15
B - 2000 Antwerp
Belgium

Phone: +32 3 232 01 03
Fax: +32 3 231 19 37
Mail: visit@antwerpen.be

The landscape is flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast. The average density of population is about 376 per km². The climate in Belgium can be described as temperatemild winters, cool summers, rainy, humid, cloudy. Potential threats by nature are flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes.

To reach someone Belgium dial +32 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".be". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, E). The sign for the locally used currency Euro is EUR.

Three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the vertical design was based on the flag of France; the colors are those of the arms of the duchy of Brabant (yellow lion with red claws and tongue on a black field).

Flag of Belgium

Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Political divisions between the Dutch-speaking Flemish of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy. Its capital, Brussels, is home to numerous international organizations including the EU and NATO.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 141) 30,528sq km
Land (World Rank: 139) 30,278sq km
Water (World Rank: 131) 250sq km
Forest (World Rank: 108) 16.10%
Comparative about the size of Maryland
Coastline
66.5
Landborder
1297
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 186) 694m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 86) 44.10%
Arable (World Rank: 37) 27.20%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 131) 0.80%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 108) 16.10%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 133) 230sq km
Map reference
Europe
Environment
Issues
  • - air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries
  • - dense transportation network
  • - extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation
  • - industry
  • - intense pressures from human activities: urbanization
Agreement party
  • - Air Pollution
  • - Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides
  • - Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
  • - Air Pollution-Sulfur 85
  • - Air Pollution-Sulfur 94
  • - Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
  • - Antarctic Seals
  • - Antarctic Treaty
  • - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
  • - Antarctic-Marine Living Resources
  • - Biodiversity
  • - Climate Change
  • - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
  • - Desertification
  • - Endangered Species
  • - Environmental Modification
  • - Hazardous Wastes
  • - Law of the Sea
  • - Marine Dumping
  • - Marine Life Conservation
  • - Ozone Layer Protection
  • - Ship Pollution
  • - Tropical Timber 83
  • - Tropical Timber 94
  • - Wetlands
  • - Whaling
Hazzards flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
Location
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands
Climate
temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
Terrain
flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast

People

Population
Total (World Rank: 77) 11,491,300
Deathrate (World Rank: 47) 0.97%
Birthrate (World Rank: 173) 1.13%
Growthrate (World Rank: 141) 0.70%
Migration rate (World Rank: 21) 0.54%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 150) 1.78%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 35) 40.20
Female (World Rank: 40) 42.70
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 97) 1,010,200
0 14 female (World Rank: 97) 961,994
15 24 male (World Rank: 93) 665,483
15 24 female (World Rank: 93) 637,700
25 54 male (World Rank: 73) 2,320,840
25 54 female (World Rank: 75) 2,281,410
55 64 male (World Rank: 53) 732,062
55 64 female (World Rank: 53) 746,212
65 x male (World Rank: 43) 929,594
65 x female (World Rank: 45) 1,205,840
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 203) 0.34%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 30) 81years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 29) 84years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 32) 79years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 42) 2.97
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 16) 6.50
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 24) 99.50%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 82) 22.10%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 28) 100.00%

Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 42) 64,780,000,000kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 35) 81,960,000,000kWh
Export (World Rank: 26) 8,465,000,000kWh
Import (World Rank: 14) 14,650,000,000kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 177) 34.80%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 70) 28.00%
Source renew (World Rank: 11) 32.10%
Crude oil
Imports (World Rank: 17) 639,500bbl / day
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 24) 701,700bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 30) 662,400bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 11) 597,000bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 12) 585,700bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 40) 23,010,000,000m³
Export (World Rank: 38) 1,694,000,000m³
Import (World Rank: 56) 0m³
Carbon footprint
93620000

Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 25) 6% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 127) 1% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 18) 11% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 99) -3% of GDP
National symbol
golden rampant lion
National colours
yellow
Adjective
Belgian
Noun
Belgian(s)
Background
Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Political divisions between the Dutch-speaking Flemish of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy. Its capital, Brussels, is home to numerous international organizations including the EU and NATO.
Flag description
three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the vertical design was based on the flag of France; the colors are those of the arms of the duchy of Brabant (yellow lion with red claws and tongue on a black field)

Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 37) 509,000,000,000USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 165) 1.20%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 35) 45,000USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 204) 0.70%
Source industry (World Rank: 130) 22.30%
Source service (World Rank: 33) 77.00%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 76) 5,291,000
In poverty (World Rank: 128) 15.10%
Products
Industries
  • - base metals
  • - beverages
  • - chemicals
  • - engineering
  • - glass
  • - metal products
  • - motor vehicle assembly
  • - petroleum
  • - pharmaceuticals
  • - processed food
  • - scientific instruments
  • - textiles
  • - transportation equipment
Agriculture
  • - beef
  • - fresh vegetables
  • - fruits
  • - grain
  • - milk
  • - pork
  • - sugar beets
  • - tobacco
  • - veal
Exports
  • - chemicals
  • - equipment
  • - finished diamonds
  • - foodstuffs
  • - machinery
  • - metal products
  • - metals
Imports
  • - chemicals
  • - equipment
  • - foodstuffs
  • - machinery
  • - oil products
  • - pharmaceuticals
  • - raw diamonds
  • - raw materials
  • - transportation equipment

Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 33) 4,371,060
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 43) 38.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 112) 109.00
Assessment 0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 47) 9,870,730
Population (World Rank: 32) 86.50%

Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 66) 26.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 117) 15.00
Heliports (World Rank: 80) 1.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 53) 3,592
Road
Total length (World Rank: 33) 154,012
Paved length (World Rank: 26) 120,514
Unpaved length (World Rank: 46) 33,498
Water
Total length (World Rank: 42) 2,043
Popular places in this country

This is a list of famous places in this country in alphabetical order.