Background
Geography
People
Government
Economy
Communications
Transportation
Military
Transnational Issues

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. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings 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.

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

Geography
Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands.
Geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 00 E
Total area: 30,528 sq km
Land area: 30,278 sq km
Water area: 250 sq km
Comparative area: About the size of Maryland.
Total land boundaries: 1,385 km
Border countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km
Coastline: 66.5 km
Maritime claims: Territorial sea 12 nm; contiguous zone 24 nm; exclusive economic zone geographic coordinates define outer limit; continental shelf median line with neighbours.
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.
Lowest point: North Sea 0 m
Highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m
Natural resources: Construction materials, silica sand, carbonates.
Land use: Arable lad 27.42 percent; permanent crops 0.69 percent, other 71.89 percent.. Note: includes Luxembourg (2005).
Irrigated land: 400 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources: 20.8 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): Total 7.44 cu km/yr (13 percent/85 percent/1 percent); per capita 714 cu m/yr (1998).
Natural hazards: Flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes.
Environment issues: The environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanisation, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighbouring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) had slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges.
Environment agreements: Party to 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-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, 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. Signed but not ratified none of the selected agreements.
Note: Crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO.

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