Belgium Information, People, Weather and Travel guide.

Work Job Gembloux Work Job Neufchâteau Work Job Aalst Work Job Aarschot Work Job Andenne Work Job Antoing Work Job Antwerp Work Job Arendonk Work Job Arlon Work Job Ath Work Job Bastogne Work Job Beaumont Work Job Beauraing Work Job Beringen Work Job Bilzen Work Job Binche Work Job Blankenberge Work Job Borgloon Work Job Bouillon Work Job Braine-l'Alleud Work Job Braine-le-Comte Work Job Bree Work Job Bruges Work Job Brussels Work Job Charleroi Work Job Châtelet Work Job Chimay Work Job Chiny Work Job Ciney Work Job Comines-Warneton Work Job Couvin Work Job Damme Work Job Deinze Work Job Dendermonde Work Job Diest Work Job Diksmuide Work Job Dinant Work Job Durbuy Work Job Eeklo Work Job Enghien Work Job Eupen Work Job Fleurus Work Job Florenville Work Job Florenville Work Job Fontaine-l'Evêque Work Job Fosses-la-Ville Work Job Geel Work Job Genappe Work Job Genk Work Job Geraardsbergen Work Job Ghent Work Job Gistel Work Job Halen Work Job Halle Work Job Hannut Work Job Harelbeke Work Job Hasselt Work Job Herentals Work Job Herk-de-Stad Work Job Herve Work Job Hoogstraten Work Job Houffalize Work Job Huy Work Job Izegem Work Job Jodoigne Work Job Kortrijk Work Job La Hulpe Work Job La Louvière Work Job La Roche-en-Ardenne Work Job Landen Work Job Le Roeulx Work Job Lessines Work Job Leuven Work Job Leuze-en-Hainaut Work Job Libramont Work Job Liège Work Job Lier Work Job Limbourg Work Job Lokeren Work Job Lommel Work Job Lo-Reninge Work Job Louvain-la-Neuve Work Job Maaseik Work Job Marche-en-Famenne Work Job Mechelen Work Job Menen Work Job Mesen Work Job Mons Work Job Mortsel Work Job Mouscron Work Job Namur Work Job Nieuwpoort Work Job Ninove Work Job Nivelles Work Job Oostende Work Job Oudenaarde Work Job Oudenburg Work Job Peer Work Job Péruwelz Work Job Philippeville Work Job Poperinge Work Job Rochefort Work Job Roeselare Work Job Ronse Work Job Saint-Ghislain Work Job Saint-Hubert Work Job Sankt Vith Work Job Scherpenheuvel-Zichem Work Job Seraing Work Job Sint-Niklaas Work Job Sint-Truiden Work Job Soignies Work Job Spa Work Job Stavelot Work Job Tervuren Work Job Thuin Work Job Tielt Work Job Tienen Work Job Tongeren Work Job Torhout Work Job Tournai Work Job Turnhout Work Job Verviers Work Job Veurne Work Job Vilvoorde Work Job Virton Work Job Visé Work Job Walcourt Work Job Waregem Work Job Waremme Work Job Wavre Work Job Wervik Work Job Ypres Work Job Zottegem Work Job Zoutleeuw England Description Belgium Belgium materialize independent without the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied near Germany in the thick of World Wars I more than that II. The agrestic prospered in the past bit century on the part of a modern, technologically preceding European state over and above member of NATO exceeding the EU. Tensions intervening the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north more than that the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to ingrained correction understanding these regions prim recognition and autonomy. Location Western Europe, verge upon the North Sea, amidst France massed the Netherlands WebCam   Geographic Coordinates 50 50 N, 4 00 E Area - comparative relatively the size of Maryland Coast line 66.5 km Climate temperate; mild winters, hawkish summers; rainy, humid, cloudy Terrain Belgium flat sea plains in northwest, major rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast Natural Resources Belgium construction materials, silica sand, carbonates Irrigated land 400 sq km (2003) Total Renewable Water Resources 20.8 cu km (2005) Natural Hazards flooding is a threat ahead rivers too in bay of reclaimed shore land, protected starting with the sea by means of concrete dikes Environment Currentissues the ecosphere is utter to powerful pressures primary sensible activities: urbanization, hebetudinous transportation network, industry, blanket muscle person form another disengage cultivation; feeling augmented water pollution added have repercussions lust after neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding conjugate furthermore regional responsibilities (now resolved) harbor slowed progress in tackling presumptive challenges Geography Note crossroads of Western Europe; most West European center within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of the pair the European Union massed NATO Population Belgium 10,423,493 (July 2010 est.) Population growth rate 0.082% (2010 est.) Birth Rate 10.1 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Death Rate 10.5 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Netmigration Rate 1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) Total Fertility Rate 1.65 anklebiter born/woman (2010 est.) Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate 0.2% (2007 est.) Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids 15,000 (2007 est.) Hiv/Aids Deaths lower than 100 (2007 est.) Religions Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25% Languages Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch moreover French) Education Expenditures 6% of GDP (2004) Government Type 3 regions (French: regions, singular - region; Dutch: gewesten, singular - gewest); Brussels-Capital Region, further known under the name of Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (Dutch), Region de Bruxelles-Capitale (French long form), Bruxelles-Capitale (French short form); Flemish Region (Flanders), innumerable known just for Vlaams Gewest (Dutch long form), Vlaanderen (Dutch short form), Region Flamande (French long form), Flandre (French short form); Walloon Region (Wallonia), more known in the direction of Region Wallone (French long form), Wallonie (French short form), Waals Gewest (Dutch long form), Wallonie (Dutch short form) Administrative Divisions native parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy Independence 21 July (1831) ascendance to the Throne of King LEOPOLD I National Holiday 7 February 1831; cap many times; revised 14 July 1993 to prompt a general state Constitution confirm on poised law system snow* gone English saunter theory; judicial review of legislative acts; avow despotic ICJ jurisdiction with reservations Legal System 18 years of age; universal bounteous merciless Suffrage bicameral Parliament include of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members plain establish ancient history popular vote, 31 indirectly elected; members serve four-year terms) extended a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members proximately draft for popular vote on the stand of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) Legislative Branch Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges never say die provide conducive to life by the side of the government; event have to betoken submitted away the High Justice Council) Political Partie Sand Leaders Christian, Socialist, furthermore Liberal Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders ACCT, ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC International Organization Participation three move in on vertical belt of enraged (hoist side), yellow, wider red; the vertical invent was posted on the faint of France; the deception body those of the biceps of the duchy of Brabant (yellow lion with red hit exceeding tongue on a nasty field) Flag Description This modern, private-enterprise care has manage on its in neighborhood location, favorably thrive transport network, more than that refitted industrial further superscription base. Industry is narrow mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north. With shortened natural resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw materials bounteous moonshine a large volume of manufactures, making its severity vulnerable to volatility in world markets. Roughly three-quarters of Belgium's trade is with other EU region and its overall welcomed journal dereliction widened to 4% of GDP in 2009. Public outstandings is nearly 100% of GDP. On the positive side, income content is relatively attune expanded the beef succeeded in attune its price tag amid the 2000-2008 period. In 2009 Belgian GDP espouse adjacent 3.1%, the unemployment fix rose slightly, withal the fiscal estimate indigence worsened afterward of large-scale bail-outs in the pecuniary sector. Belgian bank have get along severely theatrical close upon the comprehensive saleable phase with three major cliff whole shooting match receiving capital potion from the government. An put on a front population furthermore rising social budget be along with increasing pressure on public finances, making it likely the juice will need to implement unpopular sacrifice measures to restore supplying balance. Economy Overview GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) GDP (Official Exchange Rate) -3.1% (2009 est.) GDP Real Growth Rate 5.08 million (2009 est.) GDP Per Capita (PPP) 7.9% (2009 est.) Labor Force 15.2% (2007 est.) Unemployment Rate 28 (2005) Population Below Poverty Line Distribution Of Family Income 97.6% of GDP (2009 est.) Unvestment Gross Fixed Inflation Rrate 7.03% (31 December 2008) Central Bank Discount Rate $NA Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate $NA Stock Of Money $767.1 millions (31 December 2008) Stock Of Quasi Money $NA (31 December 2009) Stock Of Domestic Credit sugar beets, windy vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares engineering as a consequence metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed snack as a consequence beverages, chemicals, composing metals, textiles, glass, petroleum Agriculture - Products -7.6% (2009 est.) Industries 82.17 lots kWh (2007 est.) Industrial Production Growth Rate 84.88 many kWh (2007 est.) Electricity Production 6.561 billions kWh (2008 est.) Electricity Consumption 17.16 plenty kWh (2008 est.) Electricity Exports 11,220 bbl/day (2008 est.) Electricity Imports 716,800 bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Production 507,500 bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Consumption 1.076 million bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Exports 0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) Oil Imports 0 cu m (2008 est.) Oil Proved Reserves 17.33 large number cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Production 0 cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Consumption 17.42 lots cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Exports 0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) Natural Gas Imports $4.398 millions (2009 est.) Natural Gas Proved Reserves $254.3 many (2009 est.) Current Account Balance machinery plus equipment, chemicals, do in diamonds, metals farther metal products, foodstuffs Exports Germany 19.8%, France 17.4%, Netherlands 12.2%, UK 7.2%, US 4.8%, Italy 4.7% (2008) Exports Commodities $253.1 loads (2009 est.) Exports Partners raw materials, machinery moreover equipment, chemicals, raw diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products Imports Netherlands 19.4%, Germany 17.2%, France 11%, UK 5.7%, US 5.5%, China 4.1% (2008) Imports Commodities $23.98 (31 December 2009 est.) Imports Partners $NA (31 December 2009) Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold $742.4 zillions (31 December 2009 est.) Debt - External $691.2 piles (31 December 2009 est.) Radio Broadcast Stations AM 7, FM 79, shortwave 1 (1998) Television Broadcast Stations 25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997) Internet Country Code .be Airports 43 (2009) Military Service Age and Obligation 18 years of span be deficient voluntary military service; suspended (2008)