Belgium is a hereditary constitutional monarchy. The present King, Albert II, succeeded his brother, King Baudouin, who died July 31, 1993. Albert took the oath of office to become King on August 9, 1993. As titular head of state, the King plays a ceremonial and symbolic role in the nation. His primary political function is to designate a political...

Full article: http://www.traveldocs.com/be/govern.htm
Date submitted: 17.6.2006

  Belgium, a highly developed market economy, belongs to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a group of leading industrialized democracies. With a geographic area about equal to that of Maryland, and a population of 10.4 million, Belgian per capita GDP ranks among the world rsquo;s highest. In 2005, the per capita income...

Full article: http://www.traveldocs.com/be/economy.htm
Date submitted: 17.6.2006

  Festival's play an important part in Belgian life. One of the most famous festivals is the three-day carnival at Binche, near Mons, held just before Lent. During the carnival, noisemaking and dancing are led by quot;Gilles, quot; men dressed in high, plumed hats and bright costumes. Another famous pageant is the Procession of the Holy Blood, held in...

Full article: http://www.traveldocs.com/be/culture.htm
Date submitted: 17.6.2006

  Belgium derives its name from the Belgae, a Celtic tribe. The Belgae were forced to yield to Roman legions during the first century B.C. For some 300 years thereafter, what is now Belgium flourished as a province of Rome. But Rome's power gradually lessened. In about A.D. 300, Attila the Hun invaded what is now Germany and pushed Germanic tribes into...

Full article: http://www.traveldocs.com/be/history.htm
Date submitted: 17.6.2006

  Belgium is located in Western Europe, bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and the North Sea. Although generally flat, the terrain becomes increasingly hilly and forested in the southeast (Ardennes) region. Climate is cool, temperate, and rainy; summer temperatures average 77°F, winters average 45°F. Annual extremes (rarely attained)...

Full article: http://www.traveldocs.com/be/geog.htm
Date submitted: 17.6.2006

  Geographically and culturally, Belgium is at the crossroads of Europe, and during the past 2,000 years has witnessed a constant ebb and flow of different races and cultures. Consequently, Belgium is one of Europe's true melting pots with Celtic, Roman, Germanic, French, Dutch, Spanish, and Austrian cultures having made an imprint. Belgium is divided...

Full article: http://www.traveldocs.com/be/people.htm
Date submitted: 17.6.2006