Belgium Travellers Guide:
Total Area:30,528 sq km Land Borders: France, Germany, Luxembourg
Population:10,379,067 Netherlands
Life Expectancy: 79 years HIV % Total Poulation:0.2%
Ethnic Groups: Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
Languages:Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)
President:Guy VERHOFSTADT GDP - Per Capita: $31,400
Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. It has 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.