Belgium at a glance

Brochure Kanselarij België ENG 09-06-2009 00:56 Pagina 1

Belgium at
a glance


Belgium - a bird's-eye view

© METRIA 2000-2001
© ESA 1999-2001
© NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC INSTITUTE OF BELGIUM (NGI-IGN) 2008


B ELG I U M - A B IRD'S-EYE V IEW

3

B E LG I U M – T H E C O U N T RY spoken in the Flemish Region, while in the
Walloon Region both French and German are
Belgium lies in northwest Europe and is bordered spoken although the Region is not officially
by the Netherlands, France, Germany and the bilingual.
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The country's main federal institutions are the
Its capital city, Brussels, is recognised, too, as federal government and a bicameral parliament
the de facto Capital of Europe and the cities of comprising the Senate and Chamber of Depu-
Paris, London and Amsterdam are just two hours ties. The Communities and Regions also retain
or so away by train. Belgium itself is strategi- their own legislative and executive authority.
cally located between Europe's economic and
urban 'backbone' to the south and the world's Belgium's three Communities are delineated by
primary seaboard, the North Sea, to the north. language and their main powers and responsi-
As such, it lies not only within one of the most bilities include education, culture and what are
populous and trade-intensive regions on the referred to as 'social matters' such as family/
planet but also along a key economic and urban child support and certain aspects of healthcare.
axis. By contrast, the three Regions focus more on
geographical issues and their powers extend
primarily to considerations of a more economic
B E LG I U M - T H E F E D E R A L nature such as public works, agriculture, em-
S TAT E ployment, land-use planning and the environ-
ment.
Belgium is a federal state made up of three
Communities (the French Community, the
Flemish Community and the German-speaking
Community) and three Regions (the Brussels
Capital Region in the centre, the Flemish Region Seagulls on one of Belgium's North Sea beaches
© WIM ROBBERECHTS

to the north and the Walloon Region to the The Forêt des Soignes/Zoniënwoud
on the outskirts of Brussels
south). In terms of language, both French and © CHRISTINE BASTIN & JACQUES EVRARD

Dutch are spoken in the Brussels Capital Region Belgium's High Fens in the Ardennes
under a blanket of snow
and the latter is officially bilingual; Dutch is © MARC BOSERET


B E LG I U M - A W E A LT H The dynamo, soda and Bakelite, among others,
O F TRAD ITIO NS were all invented by Belgians or people of
Belgian origin, and today’s rapidly evolving
Creative Belgians have often met with great industry is continuing this tradition.
success. Such well-known artists as Peter Paul Rubens,
John Cockerill supplied customers all over the Pieter Bruegel, Jan Van Eyck, Rogier Van der
world with steam locomotives, steamboats, Weyden and Antoon Van Dyck – to mention just
trams, blast furnaces and other heavy industrial a few of the Flemish masters – rose to promi-
equipment. nence in the land that would one day become
Jehay castle © CHANCERY OF THE PRIME MINISTER
Belgium. Today, their paintings are to be found
all over the world but some of their finest works
So Belgium has a rich architectural history too.
are on display in a number of Belgium's muse-
Today, reflecting the past and setting tomorrow’s
ums. James Ensor, Félicien Rops, Théo Van
trends, Belgian talent is finding an outlet in the
Rysselberghe, Paul Delvaux, René Magritte and
fine arts, traditional folklore, fashion, design and
Constant Permeke were also Belgian.
many more domains besides.
Belgium is Cartoon strips are considered an art in their
And of course Belgians really appreciate top cui-
a parliamentary
own right in Belgium and the latter boasts the
democracy under a sine, relishing the country's mouth-watering and
constitutional greatest number of cartoonists of any country
monarchy. long-standing culinary traditions.
The King is the in the world, talented artists following in the
Head of State and
performs the role
footsteps of revered predecessors such as Hergé
detailed in the (Tintin), Peyo (the Smurfs), Edgar P. Jacobs and
Belgian constitution.
HRH King Albert II Bob De Moor (Blake and Mortimer), Morris A small country
is the sixth King
of the Belgians.
(Lucky Luke) and many others! with a large population
He succeeded his During the Middle Ages, cathedrals and belfries
brother, the late Belgium has just over 10.5 million inhabitants,
King Baudouin I, sprung up all over Belgium and can still be ad-
1.5 million of whom are foreign nationals. The
in 1993 and is the
father of Crown
mired today in many art cities across the coun- population continues to rise slowly and with
Prince Philippe. try. Countless castles are to be found dotted all an average of 340 inhabitants per square
The Queen of the
Belgians is Paola over the Belgian countryside and come the kilometre, Belgium has one of the highest
Ruffo di Calabria.
20th century, the city of Brussels became syn- population densities in the world.
© CHANCERY OF THE PRIME MINISTER,
PHOTOGRAPHER J.-P. VAN DER ELST onymous with the Art Nouveau movement.


5

B E LG I U M - A DY N A M I C its success. Industrial activity in Belgium origi-
ECO NO MY nally centred around heavy industry associated
with the mining and processing of its under-
With its distinctive way of life, natural resources ground resources.
and numerous growth sectors, Belgium is one However, the country has come a long way since
of the most dynamic economies both in Europe those early days and is now active in some of
and worldwide. The country boasts considerable the key industries (metals, glass and textiles) to IMEC's ultrapure
expertise in a wide range of fields – expertise have shaped economic growth in Europe and laboratory for
research into new
which has largely been the driving force behind made the latter more attractive in economic electronic chips © IMEC

terms. New sectors continued to spring up
throughout the 20th century following the
arrival in Belgium of leading groups in a variety
of sectors including petrochemicals, pharma-
ceuticals, biotechnology, nanoelectronics, auto-
mobile manufacturing and household goods
among others.
Activity in these new sectors has long ensured
considerable socio-economic diversity in Belgium
and in so doing has promoted the growth of
subcontracting and an efficient service sector
offering substantial added value.
Following in its own footsteps as the first coun-
try in Continental Europe to embrace the indus-
trial revolution, Belgium has made the most of
its geographical location as a gateway to its key
neighbours and at the very heart of all Europe's
markets.

Solar panels: A key example of a sustainable energy source @ BELGA


B E LG I U M - A LA N D
O F C O N T R A S TS

The main features of Flanders with its flat land-
scape are its cities and ports; Wallonia, mean-
while, is a region of hills and valleys, the most
famous area being the Ardennes to the south
with its outstanding natural beauty and consid-
erable appeal as a tourist destination.
Most towns in Belgium are extremely old, with
some such as Tongeren and Arlon dating back
over 2,000 years to Roman times. Cities such
The Lion's Mound marking the site of the Battle of Waterloo © WIM ROBBERECHTS

as Bruges and Tournai were some of Europe's guage – still spoken in its southern areas and
largest settlements during the Middle Ages and the Germanic Dutch in the north.
Diversity and multiculturalism
Ghent, Brussels, Antwerp and Liège are also Over the centuries, Belgians have found them-
Belgium has always welcomed migrants from renowned artistic centres. selves under the rule of a number of foreign
abroad and many have made the country their despots including the Burgundians, the Spanish,
home over the centuries, including writers, ar- the Austrians and the French. At that time, the
tists and other intellectuals such as Karl Marx, B E LG I U M - A C O U N T RY terms "Belgica" and "Belgium" were Roman
Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Charles Baude-
S T E E P E D I N H I S TO RY names for "the Netherlands", which, until the
laire and Auguste Rodin among others.
16th century, comprised modern-day Belgium
Its central location in Europe at the crossroads
between the Latin and Germanic worlds, its mul- Origins and the Netherlands.
tilingualism and its forward-looking social, poli- The south of Belgium was conquered by the Belgium's geographical location within Europe,
tical and religious freedom have all contributed Romans while Germanic tribes staked their claim therefore, has shaped its entire history.
to Belgium's cosmopolitan character and fos- – and culture – in the more sparsely populated
tered a tolerant and multicultural society. north. Indeed, it is this historical pattern of set- Independence
tlement which has shaped the country's multi- On 25 August 1830, the opera La muette de
lingual character, with French – a Romance lan- Portici (The Mute Girl of Portici) was performed


B ELG I U M - A B IRD'S-EYE V IEW

7
at Brussels' Royal Mint Theatre and succeeded
in stirring up a sense of extreme patriotism
among the audience. Riots broke out against
the Netherlands, with which Belgium had once
again been united to form the United Kingdom
of the Netherlands in 1815 following Napoleon's
defeat at the Battle of Waterloo.
Dutch troops retreated and Belgium proclaimed
independence on 4 October 1830.
In 1831, Europe's major powers at that time (the
United Kingdom, Prussia, Austria and France,
the former three wishing to avoid the region
being unified with the latter) recognised the new The legendary Orient Express © BELGA The Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA) in Tervuren © AFRICA MUSEUM

state of Belgium at the London Conference.
So began Belgium's history as an independent Belgian figures would soon play a key role as
nation. the forerunners in the development of railways. A prosperous state
Sovereignty of the new state of Belgium was The legendary Orient Express, for example, founded on solidarity
offered to Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha carrying tourists and businessmen between
Ostend, Paris and Istanbul was designed and In the aftermath of the Second World War,
(Leopold I), the uncle of the United Kingdom's
built by a Belgian. Belgium put in place a comprehensive social-
Queen Victoria; he was sworn in on 21 July 1831
Leopold I's successor, King Leopold II, firmly security system entitling all citizens to family
and was duly crowned King of the Belgians.
believed that Belgium would only prosper on allowance, sickness insurance, a pension, un-
The date 21 July has been celebrated as Belgian
the world stage if it acquired a colony, along employment benefit and paid leave.
National Day ever since.
the lines of its European neighbours. He there- This impressive system has enabled everyone
In 1831, the newly formed state of Belgium
fore set about finding one – and his search to advance while at the same time enjoying
adopted what was at the time one of the most
took him to Africa. In 1877, the Congo Free State the reassurance of a safety net. It has also
liberal constitutions in existence.
was formed and became the personal property ensured that Belgium's poverty rate is one of
the lowest in the world and per capita GDP is
Industrialisation and prosperity of Leopold II. However, in 1908 against the
backdrop of a more turbulent international currently in excess of €30,000.
Thanks primarily to the success of its industry,
Belgium quickly made a name for itself and climate, Leopold transferred ownership of the


colony to the state of Belgium. The former Congo was French although this did lead to a certain atre in which the major powers clashed and,
Free State became known as the Belgian Congo degree of frustration among some of the popu- quite literally, the battleground on which they
until it finally gained independence in 1960. lation. sought to settle their differences. During World
The Flemish wanted Dutch to be recognised as War One alone, millions of soldiers were killed
The advent of state reform and the an official language of instruction in schools in trench warfare across the Yser plain and
two World Wars and for administrative business, a wish which in entire regions were annihilated. Today, the
Belgium's institutional framework at the time of time came to be granted. image of Flanders Fields endures as a reminder
its independence in 1831 was relatively straight- of the atrocities that occurred there.
forward. The country had a king, a government World War One and World War Two hindered the
with a bicameral parliament, nine provinces and country's development into a "new Belgium". Post-1945, Belgium was a pioneer in establish-
multiple municipalities. The official language Once again, Belgium became the central the- ing the United Nations (UN) and the North

Belgium: The Battlefield of Europe

Across a total area of barely fighting during World War One, sounding bugle call in honour of
30,000 km2, Belgium has over and the Ardennes, the scene of those soldiers who fell in battle
3,000 battlefields, the scene of the Ardennes Offensive, the during the Great War. Many vet-
battles which decimated the final German offensive on the erans and ordinary citizens of all
population and completely oblit- Western Front during World War nationalities also come to pay
erated entire regions. Hence Two. The cemeteries still draw their respects at the War Me-
why Belgians have long believed visitors and descendents of morial in the town of Bastogne
that a peaceful and concerted those who were killed in battle, where thousands were killed
approach is the best way to all coming to pay their respects during World War Two.
resolve conflict… and remember their – and our –
heroes. Waterloo to the south of Brus-
The country's war cemeteries sels, the site of the Emperor
bear witness to past horrors Indeed, every day for decades Napoleon's defeat, is another
and are dotted all over both the at the Menin Gate in Ypres, the of Belgium's world-renowned
Yser plain, which saw ferocious Last Post is sounded – a re- battlefields.
© CHANCERY OF THE PRIME MINISTER


The Communities

9
Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and was interests. This skill has been further underlined
also one of the six founder Member States of by the fact that no fewer than four Belgians
what has today become the European Union. have been awarded Nobel Peace Prizes.
The latter, in addition to its central location
within Europe, has earned Brussels the title of New Belgium
Capital of Europe. After almost 30 years of federalism, the new
Belgium's history as a diplomatic 'buffer' be- Belgium has a completely different image.
tween major powers and, on occasions, as the Today, the newly formed state of 1830 is dra-
victim of the latter's ambitions, has naturally matically changed: the King, the federal govern- Flemish Community
made the country a world expert in how organi- ment and the federal parliament have been French Community
sations and states can best seek peace – so joined by a range of associated institutions German-speaking Community
much so, in fact, that Belgians have carved out whose powers have increased with each suc-
an established reputation and recognised skill cessive wave of state reform. Federal bodies
in devising solutions for complex and multicul- retain authority in the fields of justice, finance,
tural societies which take account of all parties' social security, defence, foreign affairs, law and The Regions
order and the police service.
State reform in Belgium is a dynamic process
Belgian Nobel Laureates and each wave gradually facilitates and balan-
ces out a little more the manner in which the
1977 Chemistry: Ilya Prigogine
country's institutions operate; it is certainly a
1974 Physiology or Medicine:
peaceful way of reconciling Belgium's long-
Albert Claude and Christian De Duve
standing heritage of Roman and Germanic influ-
1958 Peace: George Pire
1938 Physiology or Medicine: Corneille Heymans ences.
1919 Physiology or Medicine: Jules Bordet The 'Belgian model', as it were, has almost be-
1913 Peace: Henri La Fontaine come a 'trademark' and Belgium is often cited
1911 Literature: Maurice Maeterlinck internationally as a shining example of peaceful
Flemish Region
1909 Peace: August Beernaert cohabitation. It also stands out on account of
Walloon Region
1904 Peace: Ghent's Institute of International its emphasis on individual cultural autonomy
Brussels Capital Region
Law within the country. A fresh wave of state reform
in Belgium is currently on the agenda.


Belgium at work

The port of Zeebrugge © WIM ROBBERECHTS


B E LG I U M AT WO RK

11

A K E Y P LAY E R F L EX I B I L I T Y, Q U A L I T Y By raising standards among its manufacturing
I N G LO B A L I S AT I O N A N D I N N O VAT I O N companies and enhancing the competitiveness
of its workforce, Belgium has also managed to
Belgium has always been an open economy. Belgium has managed to rise successfully to the adapt to the demands of globalisation while at
Since the Middle Ages, Bruges and later Antwerp major economic and technological challenges it the same time remaining competitive. Belgian
have been important centres for merchants and has faced over the years. Some 75% of its pop- entrepreneurs have seized the opportunity
businessmen trading products from all over the ulation are employed in the service sector, a lit- afforded by globalisation and have focused on
world. This openness has grown greater still in tle under 25% in industry, and the remaining 1% providing substantial added value and cutting-
recent decades: the 2007 KOF Index of Global- or so in agriculture. edge technology. So what are Belgium's spe-
isation named Belgium the most globalised
country in the world based on economic, social
and political criteria.

Although home to less than 0.2% of the world's
population, Belgium ranks as one of its top ten
countries in terms of volume of international tra-
de in goods. In 2006, exports accounted for over
90% of the country's GDP – by far the greatest
percentage of any of the EU's 27 Member States.
Belgium is also the top-ranked EU Member State
in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI).

Remarkably, too, Belgium is also the leading
country worldwide in a number of sectors.
For example, it is the world's largest exporter of
diamonds, pharmaceuticals, polyethylene and
carpets. Its position within the European Union
and its economic openness enable it to exploit
its assets to the full while enjoying a leading
© BELGIAN FOREIGN TRADE AGENCY (ABH-ACE)
position in international trade.


cialities? Processing, assembly, development, thread in terms both of creativity and a desire
upgrading and refining to name but a few. to overcome challenges and spearhead innova-
Belgium's workforce is its driving
Sectors such as minerals, metals, car manufac- tion, and of their unique attributes of skill and
force and key asset
turing, civil engineering, chemicals, textiles, providing tailor-made services in niche markets.
glass and oil are also established industries in In fact, so great is their expertise, they have The Belgian workforce's high level of productiv-
Belgium. become market leaders in several key sectors. ity has been – and continues to be – a determ-
ining factor in the country's excellent achiev-
Belgium's economic make-up comprises primari- ements in an economic context. Belgium has
ly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), C O O P E R AT I O N A N D one of the highest productivity rates of any
country in the world and however one meas-
which are active in all areas of the economy, INDUSTRIAL PEAC E
ures the quality of its workforce, Belgian work-
from the chemicals and pharmaceuticals indus- ers consistently rank among the very best.
try to the food sector. They share a common The Belgian economy also has a human face.
Industrial relations here are not simply an obli- Productivity is particularly impressive in indus-
gation but a way of life, the country preferring try, construction and finance and is certainly
to avoid conflict and protracted confrontation. due in no small part to the fact that Belgians
hold key management positions in a number of
major groups. Multilingualism, a creative flair,
Belgium is a true example of economic cooper-
flexibility and a determination to achieve the
ation: issues are resolved between representa- best possible compromise for all parties make
tive workers' and employers' bodies while the Belgian CEOs a highly sought-after commodity
authorities act as mediators. among multinationals!
This dialogue-based approach is taken by indi-
vidual companies, wider sectors and at national
level alike and the country's long-standing tradi-
helped Belgium's workforce build up the positive
tion of cooperation in this respect means it is
image it enjoys today.
much better placed to anticipate potential prob-
lems, address them and ultimately resolve
them. The system has proven to be a highly
effective one on countless occasions and has

Wind turbine © BELGA



13
Europe's key ports. Belgium has airports in enable Belgium to remain at the top of its
Brussels, Liège, Ostend, Charleroi and Antwerp, game as a hub for distributing goods and serv-
some of which specialise in freight as well as ices both at home and abroad, as well as to
passenger transport. numerous multinationals who have recognised
the benefits to them of establishing their
Be it seaports, inland ports, canals, airports, or European headquarters in Belgium.
rail, road and motorway networks, Belgium's
transport systems are constantly being adapted
to meet the needs of its thriving economy.
Construction projects are on the go all the time
building locks, boat lifts, high-speed trains,
multimodal transport systems and more to
Car assembly line © PETER LABARQUE

B E LG I U M - LO G I S T I C S
C ENTRE AND A M A JO R H U B
FO R D I S T R I B U T I O N O F
G O O D S A N D S E R V I C ES

Belgium's trump card is certainly its enviable
geographical location, lying as it does at the
very heart of a dynamic region. It is a crucial
link in the transportation chain whether by air,
sea or land and the country has used this in-
herent asset to its advantage, becoming a piv-
otal logistics hub in terms of transportation,
assembly, refining, processing and distribution:
the seaport of Antwerp is the second largest
port in Europe and the fourth largest in the
Biotechnology
world, while Liège's river port is also one of © VIB - WWW.VIB.BE


S C I E N T I F I C R ES E A R C H
AND TEAC HING: CU RRENT
A N D F U T U R E C H A L L E N G ES

Today, at the dawn of the 21st century, Belgium
is involved in a wide range of international
scientific programmes, for example in nuclear
research at the European Organisation for
Nuclear Research (CERN), research into space
exploration, and study of environmental issues
at its newly established Princess Elisabeth
Station in Antarctica. These are just some of the
more widely reported of the country's scientific
The Princess Elisabeth Station in Antarctica (rear view) JOHAN BERTE - © INTERNATIONAL POLAR FOUNDATION

research activities: Belgian scientists are also
involved in research in the fields of nanotech- Belgian Nobel Prize-winners:
nology, biotechnology, vaccinations and more. Recognising ingenuity and skill

The main hotbed for Belgium's scientific exper- The prestigious Nobel Prize has been awarded
tise is its universities, which, by creating spin- to five Belgian scientists – Jules Bordet, Corneille
offs, have succeeded in tapping into the added J.-F. Heymans, Albert Claude, Christian De Duve
value to be gained from their invaluable body of and Ilya Prigogine – in recognition of their ex-
knowledge and know-how. For example, the ceptional achievements.
Belgians have also received Fields Medals, the
development of proton therapy in treating can-
Paul Guggenheim Prize and other international
cer is perhaps one of the world's greatest eco-
awards acknowledging some great successes –
nomic and scientific achievements.
and, by extension, the high quality of Belgium's
education system and universities.

Hydroculture © BELGIAN FARMERS’ UNION



15

Fina Antwerp
Olefins
© ESSENSCIA - BELGIAN FEDERATION
FOR CHEMISTRY AND LIFE SCIENCES
INDUSTRIES

Looking to the future and fostering synergies
and efficiency is crucial and with this in mind,
countless so-called 'clusters' – groups of com-
panies both small and large – are springing up
in Belgium in connection with particular busi-
nesses, products, skills, sectors and ancillary
markets. The key benefit of such clusters is the
opportunity they present for players to share
knowledge and shore up their capabilities, and
thereby achieve the critical mass required to
become preferred partners.

The Strépy-Thieu boat lift © CHANCERY OF THE PRIME MINISTER


Belgium
has art in
its blood

Statue inside the St Bavo Cathedral in Ghent
© CHANCERY OF THE PRIME MINISTER - PETER WAUTERS


BELG IUM HAS ART IN ITS BLOOD

17

A N I N N AT E TA L E N T fries, the latter housing the particular town or
SHOWCASED ON city's royal charter.
B E LG I U M ' S S T R E ETS
These charters set out the citizens' political
In Belgium, the first taste one gets for the freedoms as recognised by the city's noblemen
country's artistic talent is its architecture. and thanks to their determination, the inhabi-
The countryside is dotted with villages boasting tants of Ghent, Bruges, Liège and Huy enjoyed
their own castle (in all styles and dating from
extensive rights even in the Middle Ages. Huy's
all eras) and sometimes even an abbey.
charter is the oldest, dating from 1066 while in
1068, the Count of Flanders granted the town Aerial view of the town of Tournai
Most Belgian towns have a long history and
©
TOURNAI TOURSIM OFFICE

often date back to the Middle Ages or earlier. of Geraardsbergen a charter setting out its citi-
The majority – Tournai, Mons, Ghent, Bruges zens' rights and privileges.
and Antwerp, for example – were built around a
mediaeval centre with church steeples and bel- Tongeren (Civitas Tungrorum) and Tournai (Civitas
Tornacensium) were considered towns as far
back as Roman times, while Arlon (Oralaunum
Vicus) was an important hub and trade centre.
Roman remains are still visible today in Tongeren
and Arlon, the two oldest towns in Belgium.

Discovering the charm of Belgium's towns –
large and small – is a real pleasure. Bruges is
renowned worldwide not only for its majestic
buildings but also for its peaceful béguinage
and tranquil canals. The bustling city of Ghent
is dominated by its three towers and tourists
Baptismal font of Renier de Huy in the Church of St Bartholomew
in Liège © CHANCERY OF THE PRIME MINISTER frequently throng to the St Bavo Cathedral to The Sint-Michielshelling bridge in Ghent © PHILIP VANOUTRIVE


admire its impressive altarpiece, the Adoration
of the Mystic Lamb.

Antwerp is the largest city in Flanders. Its centre-
piece is the staggering Cathedral of Our Lady,
the tallest in Belgium. Antwerp also embodies
the essence of the Renaissance and the baroque
era and is the city of Peter Paul Rubens.

Brussels is Belgium's capital city and is renowned
worldwide for its magnificent Grand'Place, the
Bruges © CHANCERY OF THE PRIME MINISTER The Palace of the Prince-Bishops in Liège © MARC BOSERET
futuristic Atomium and the Manneken Pis, a tiny
statue of a small boy. Brussels was also the
birthplace of Art Nouveau and boasts many fine Countless other, smaller, Belgian towns have
museums. a delightful charm, including Dinant and
Bouillon with their citadels, Diest and Lier
The city of Liège, formerly the administrative with their béguinages, Thuin with its hanging
centre of the Episcopal principality of the same gardens, as well as others such as Mechelen,
name, is full of churches, including the ancient Spa, Kortrijk, Stavelot, Ypres, Rochefort,
collegiate church of St Bartholomew. The town Furnes, Chimay, Damme and Durbuy to name
of Mons has the largest and tallest belfry in but a few. The buildings in even the very
Belgium. Namur, the administrative and political smallest towns – and villages – bear witness
capital of Wallonia, lies at the foot of a citadel at to the impressive architecture of bygone
the confluence of the rivers Sambre and Meuse. eras.
Charleroi, by contrast, is a relatively young town,
a product of the industrial development there Louvain-la-Neuve, some 20 km from Brussels,
from the late 18th century onwards. is one of Belgium's newer towns and has
been designed to develop sustainably well
View over the city of Antwerp © WIM ROBBERECHTS into the future.


19

F I N E A RTS – ly linked to the adjective "Belgian".
A LO N G - S TA N D I N G
B E LG I A N T R A D I T I O N Works by the so-called Flemish Primitives, name-
ly the Van Eyck brothers, Rogier Van der Weyden,
Fine art is the perfect showcase of Belgium at Hugo Van der Goes, Hans Memling and Jeroen
its best. Pieter Bruegel the Elder was one of Bosch today hang in museums all over the world,
the greatest artists the world has ever known as do those by more contemporary Belgian
and the adjective "Brueghelian" is a virtual syn- painters such as Paul Delvaux and René Magritte.
onym for "Burgundian", both terms being close- The latter, like Pieter Bruegel, Félicien Rops,
James Ensor, Marcel Broodthaers (famous for his
work entitled Large pot of mussels), Luc
Tuymans and Panamarenko and Jan Fabre all Heaven of Delight,
a work by Jan Fabre
share a typically Belgian mindset which seeks in the Royal Palace
to 'relativise reality'. Surrealism is another con- © BELGA

cept to conjure up images of Belgium!

The link between art and Belgium's towns and
cities lies in the latter's architecture for it is the
mediaeval cathedrals, belfries and town halls,
and works by master-builders whose names
have been lost over the centuries which have
shaped the country's present-day urban centres.

Victor Horta, Henry Van de Velde and others
transformed Brussels into the capital of Art
Large pot of
Nouveau by building magnificent yet completely mussels by Marcel
Broodthaers in
habitable houses in the style; Belgians "are Ghent's Municipal
born with a brick in their stomach" as the say- Museum of
Contemporary Art
ing goes. Art Deco, too, is a striking feature of (SMAK)
© CHANCERY OF THE PRIME MINISTER
Sibylla Sambetha by Hans Memling © JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU Brussels' architecture, as is industrial art. - PETER WAUTERS


B E LG I U M - A C O U N T RY
O F P E R FO R M I N G A RTS

While the story of the state of Belgium coming
into being as a result of an opera performance
is a romantic notion and open to interpretation,
there is no doubt that performing arts enjoy a
high profile in modern-day Belgium.
The choreographer Maurice Béjart, for example,
turned Brussels' Royal Mint Theatre into a true
'arts concept', revolutionising the world of clas-
sical ballet. Anne-Theresa De Keersmaeker con-
tinued on this theme with her dance company
Rosas dance Rosas © Film and choreography by Thierry De Mey © HERMAN SORGELOOS

Rosas and contemporary ballet Rosas dance piano – with competitions in each discipline
Rosas, as well as the establishment of an inter- taking place every three years.
national school of contemporary dance, the Belgium is also the birthplace of Adolphe Sax,
Performing Arts Research and Training Studios inventor of the saxophone, and of musicians
(PARTS) in Brussels. Belgian ballet also currently such as Toots Thielemans and Django Reinhardt,
boasts a number of other talents including Wim the celebrated singer Jacques Brel, Adamo, and
Vandekeybus, Alain Platel and Frédéric Flamand of classical composers such as Eugène Ysaye
among others. and André Grétry.

Belgium's Queen Elisabeth International Music Belgium has no shortage of cultural events of
Competition is one of the highlights of the all types, be it major music festivals such as
classical music calendar. It is open to solo musi- Rock Werchter, four times named the Best
cians in three disciplines – violin, voice and Festival in the World at the International Live
Music Conference (ILMC), Spa's festival of French
The Royal Mint Theatre in Brussels
© CHANCERY OF THE PRIME MINISTER music and song known as the Francofolies or the


BELG IUM HAS ART IN ITS BLOOD

21
country's many artistic festivals – both national cartoon strip, the country having both produced cartoon characters even adorn entire façades of
and international – taking place throughout the and been home to a whole host of cartoonists, buildings. With the highest concentration of
country year round. whose characters have often become more cartoonists in the world, Belgium is taking car-
famous than their creators. Just think of Tintin toon-strip art to a whole new level!
and Milou, Nero, the Smurfs, Lucky Luke, Blake
A P E N I S FO R W R I T I N G . . . and Mortimer, Bob and Bobette, Spirou and
A N D FO R D R AW I N G ! Fantasio, Yoko Tsuno, Boule and Bill, Le Chat, B E LG I A N F I L M S
Michel Vaillant, XIII, Thorgal, Kiekeboe and
Belgian literature is shaped by the country's lin- countless other pencil figures who continue to Belgian cinema also reflects the country's her-
guistic heritage, both French-speaking and delight young and old alike. In some towns, itage and history – and the Belgian way of life,
Dutch-speaking, despite the fact that many too. It portrays a panorama of society and
Flemish writers have also written in French. images of humanity, all with striking realism:
Belgium boasts a long list of illustrious writers, stories of real lives and real people.
from the 19th century right through to the A new generation of film-makers, actors and
present day, including Georges Rodenbach, actresses have taken up the baton and are fre-
Maurice Maeterlinck, Guido Gezelle, Jean Ray, quently recognised for their achievements,
Michel de Ghelderode, Françoise Mallet-Joris, some having received Palmes d’Or in Cannes
Julos Beaucarne, Hugo Claus, Louis-Paul Boon, and Oscars in Hollywood – two of the most
Johan Daisne, Jef Geeraerts and Amélie prestigious awards in the world of cinema.
Nothomb. There is always Georges
Simenon, too, the creator of Inspector To reminisce briefly, Brussels was the birthplace,
Maigret, and the cosmopolitan too, of the celebrated American actress Audrey
Marguerite Yourcenar, who was born in Hepburn, immortalised in such films as Break-
Brussels yet did not hold Belgian nation- fast at Tiffany’s. In addition, Chantal Akerman,
ality. The Belgian spirit or 'belgitude' as it Alain Berliner, Jan Bucquoy, Stijn Coninx, Gérard
is known, may be interpreted differently but Corbiau, the Dardenne brothers, André Delvaux,
was and remains a recurrent theme in the Marion Hänsel, Raoul Servais, Henry Storck, Jaco
country's home-grown literary works. Van Dormael, Erik Van Looy and Harry Kümel are
just some of the many famous film-makers to
Belgium is also the unrivalled home of the © HERGÉ / MOULINSART 2008 have hailed from Belgium.


B E LG I U M - A WAY O F L I F E !

23

G A STRO N O M Y – A F E A ST
FO R T H E S E N S ES

In Belgium, fine food doesn't have to mean vis-
iting expensive restaurants. In smaller eateries
– and even at home – Belgians eat well and
gastronomy is often the subject of conversations
between friends over a tasty meal.

Belgian cuisine has developed its own identity
thanks to the country's inventive chefs and their
use of typically Belgian produce. Creative,
memorable food available to all is the hallmark
Belgian chocolate is
of gastronomy in Belgium, tradition and quality a delicacy
its watchwords. © CHANCERY OF THE PRIME MINISTER

To many, Belgian specialities and Belgian cuisine
mean endives, beer and chocolate. given its name to the Belgian Blue breed of cat- Belgium, as are bread, fine pastries and delicious
Hundreds of different types of beer are brewed tle, developed over years of selection and biscuits among others. All in all, Belgium offers
by small, artisanal breweries and larger interna- reared to provide exceptionally high-quality a true taste sensation and the country is re-
tional concerns alike. Belgium's world-famous beef. nowned worldwide for its cuisine!
Trappist beer is even protected by law.
Chocolate is also one of the country's best- Belgium also boasts a wide range of typically
known products and here, too, the key criterion regional food, including North Sea fish and sea-
is quality. food dishes, waterzooi (a stew of chicken and
vegetables) from Ghent, stoemp (a mix of
Belgium is also breaking the mould in cheese- pureed potatoes and root vegetables) and
making. With over 300 different cheeses, the Brussels' sprouts as well as game, poultry, par-
country is rightly proud of its reputation as a tridge and pheasant dishes in the Ardennes.
cheese-producing nation. Belgium has also Cooked and cured meat is also a delicacy in


FA S H I O N , TO O, In addition to the Antwerp Six, Belgium has
I S A B E LG I A N T R A D I T I O N produced a long list of successful designers to
have enjoyed international acclaim, including
Belgian fashion is à la mode! Belgians are trend- Veronique Branquinho, Edouard Vermeulen,
setters and the country has a long-standing Gérald Wathelet, Kaat Tilley, Olivier Strelli, Xavier
tradition of expertise and skill in the world of Delcour, Raf Simons, Olivier Theyskens, Elvis
fashion, a tried-and-tested mix of creative and Pompilio, Christophe Coppens and the Delvaux
tempered audacity. Today, Belgian designers are brand to name but a few.
to be found on all the top catwalks and at all
the most prestigious fashion shows.
The country's fashion schools are renowned
worldwide and Belgian fashion has become an
established trademark in its own right.

Antwerp is the undisputed birthplace of contem-
porary fashion in Belgium. Since the late 1980s,
the city's designs have bowled over the world
of fashion in Belgium and Ann Demeulemeester,
Marina Yee, Dries Van Noten, Dirk Bikkembergs,
Dirk Van Saene and Walter Van Beirendonck –
known as the Antwerp Six – have enjoyed inter-
national success; Martin Margiela, too, is gener-
ally considered the unofficial seventh member
of this illustrious group.

A timeless creation
by Belgian fashion A unique outfit
designer Kaat Tilley by Dries Van Nooten
© KAAT TILLEY © BELGA


B E LG I U M - A WAY O F L I F E !

25
transformation of creative projects into industrial
products and rejected the myth of pre-industrial
authenticity.

Belgian designers have always sought to mix
genres. Be it furniture or decorative accessories,
they love to blur accepted distinctions and push
back boundaries, and classicism, antiquity,
avant-gardism and countless other styles can
often be found combined in a single piece!
Belgian designers have also carved out a repu-
tation in the world car industry.
PicNik, a creation by Xavier Lust and Dirk Wynants © EXTREMIS

Victor Horta's Art Nouveau house © CHANCERY OF THE PRIME MINISTER

Antwerp, diamond centre
of the world

Over half of all world trade in diamonds (rough or
C U TT I N G - E D G E D ES I G N polished, industrial or gem quality) is conducted in
Antwerp. The diamond trade with all its exchanges
Belgium's modern-day creative talents are the
and offices is conducted in a specific area of the
latest in a long line of home-grown designers
city covering approximately 2 square kilometres, an
with a rich and illustrious tradition.
area filled with different nationalities, cultures and
Henry Van de Velde, the pioneer of Art Nouveau,
styles of dress. All languages and dialects are spo-
Gustave Serrurier-Bovy, Victor Horta, Huib Hoste,
ken in Antwerp, an incredible symbiosis of people
Willy Van der Meeren and a whole host of other
and activities all linked by a single precious stone!
leading designers inspired the likes of Maarten © ANTWERP WORLD DIAMOND CENTRE , TIMOTHÉ WINDESHAUSEN

Van Severen. Their creations symbolise the


B E LG I A N FO L K LO R E
AND TRAD ITIO NS

All manner of festivals and events take place in
Belgium throughout the year, including carnivals,
marching bands, religious processions, historical
A North Sea beach at Blankenberge © CHRISTINE BASTIN & JACQUES EVRARD
re-enactments, country fairs, commemorative
events and popular displays. Many such events
are inspired by the collective memory in differ- examples of the world's oral and intangible her- tourist attractions, particularly for such a small
ent areas and regions and each town, village itage (Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible country: there is something for everyone – and
and sometimes even individual districts or tiny Heritage of Humanity). it's never very far away!
hamlets organise their own festivals. Other festivities include the Ommegang Pageant
Belgium's folklore is centuries old and respected in Brussels, Assumption events on 15 August in
and revered traditions have been passed down Liège… In fact, Belgium has almost as many
through the generations. Some traditions and festivals as it does towns and villages!
folklore such as the famous Gille character at
the Binche Carnival, the Ascension Day proces-
sion in Bruges, the Aalst Carnival and the Pro- L E I S U R E I N B E LG I U M
cessional Giants and Dragons in Ath, Brussels,
Dendermonde, Mechelen and Mons have even In addition to its countless popular festivals,
been classified by UNESCO as being outstanding packed cultural calendar, rich and impressive
artistic heritage and tasty cuisine, Belgium also
offers a great deal in the way of leisure pursuits,
including walking trails through the forests of
the Ardennes and across the fenland Plateau
des Fagnes, the North Sea coast, cycling, horse-
riding and boating, golf, theme parks, castles
Gilles at the Binche
Carnival: One of and estates, international fairs and exhibitions,
Belgium's many antiques fairs and flea markets.
folkloric traditions
© BINCHE TOURISM OFFICE Belgium offers an incredibly diverse range of Canoeing on the River Lesse © CHRISTINE BASTIN EN JACQUES EVRARD


L I F ESTYL E O P Z ’ N B E LG I S C H

27

A C O U N T RY O F S P O RT I N G High-jumper Tia Hellebaut has continued
LEGENDS Belgium's sporting success with her gold-medal
win at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Belgium has produced many sporting legends
and has also been the inspiration behind a Belgium's sporting achievements have been
number of sporting disciplines and international recognised in other ways, too, with the appoint-
competitions. The Van Damme Memorial event, ment in 2001 of Jacques Rogge as President of
for instance, is currently considered one of the the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
highlights of the world athletics calendar.

Cycling is extremely popular in Belgium. Classic With their passion,
courage and
races such as the Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the determination,
Tour of Flanders and the Flèche Wallonne among Justine Henin and
Kim Clijsters became
Eddy Merckx at the height of his career © BELGA
others are evidence of just how much Belgians two of Belgium's
greatest ever female
love their bicycles! Cycling is also an excellent tennis players;
way of discovering – or indeed re-discovering – Another of Belgium's favourite sports is football both were ranked
number one in the
the areas of Belgium criss-crossed by these and the country's national team, nicknamed the world at various
points during their
various races and champion rider Eddy Merckx Red Devils, have a long and illustrious history, careers. © BELGA
epitomises Belgian cycling. having qualified on many occasions for the
world's most prestigious footballing event, the
Motor sport is another long-standing tradition in World Cup. At a local level, clubs such as Ander-
Belgium and the country hosts several rallies lecht and Standard Liège continue to inspire fans
throughout the year. The Spa-Francorchamps nationwide.
circuit is considered the best Formula One circuit
in the world, all the more so since it lies at the Belgium has also enjoyed sporting success in
heart of such a picturesque region. Motocross is judo, athletics, swimming, table tennis, rowing
also popular and for almost 30 years, Namur's and tennis in particular.
Tia Hellebaut takes
citadel and the sands of Limburg have been the Tennis champions Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin gold in the women's
sport's home in Belgium and borne witness to remained at the top of the world game until high jump at the
Beijing Olympics
the country's success in this particular sport. their retirements in 2007 and 2008 respectively. © BELGA


B ELG I U M AND B RUSSELS IN A WO RLD CO NTEXT

29

B E LG I U M - A N A C T I V E ence on the international scene was its election
M E M B ER O F THE to a non-permanent seat on the UN Security
I N T E R N AT I O N A L Council for the period 2007-2008.
CO M M U NITY AND A
C O U N T RY O F S O L I D A R I T Y Belgium is also at the forefront of cooperation
development activity, not only via the EU but
Belgium actively pursues a cooperation-based also at a bilateral level, and has provided
foreign policy. Its capital city, Brussels, is home valuable international assistance on countless
to the main institutions of the EU and to NATO occasions. Indeed, it is a world leader in terms
and has thus become a centre for international of per capita development cooperation and will
relations. The Supreme Headquarters Allied have earmarked 0.7% of its GDP for development
Powers Europe (SHAPE) is also based in Mons, cooperation activities well before the 2015
just south of Brussels. deadline cited in the United Nations' Millennium
Declaration.
Belgium is also a well respected member of the NATO buildings at
Evere
UN and was one of the latter's founding mem- © CHANCERY OF THE PRIME MINISTER

bers, as it was of both the EU and NATO.
On many occasions, Belgium has demonstrated The Capital of Europe
its commitment to the UN, not least by sending The European Commission and the EU's Council of Ministers are both permanently located in Brussels, the
Belgian Blue Helmets on a number of peace- European Council holds its summits there and the European Parliament meets there on a regular basis.
keeping missions. In recent times, Belgian Blue Belgium is only too aware of how important European integration is, the latter being a process the coun-
Helmets have been deployed to the Balkans, the try has supported actively since its inception and which it continues to promote unreservedly. Accordingly,
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lebanon Belgian politicians have always played – and indeed continue to play – a key role in determining the strat-
egy for European construction.
and Afghanistan. However, the purpose of such
UN cooperation goes far beyond peace and Thanks to its high profile in the field of international relations, Brussels is no longer simply the capital of
security alone – a fact that is illustrated by the the federal state of Belgium but has also become the de facto Capital of Europe and the home of NATO.
country's work to safeguard and promote human And the city's evolution continues apace as it takes on even greater roles on the European and world
rights and, more generally, sustainable social, stages. Belgium, the scene of past battles between Europe's major powers, has steadily become a world
economic and environmental development. leader and centre for international negotiations.
Further evidence of Belgium's proactive pres-

Belgium at a glance

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

More from Inge De Cleyn

More from Inge De Cleyn (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Belgium at a glance