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Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and 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.. LOCATION: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands Temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy BORDERS: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km Nestling between the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and France, Belgium occupies 30,518 square kilometres and is home to 10.2 million people. Stretching from the picturesque Ardennes region in the south to the windswept North Sea coastline in the North, it is crisscrossed extensively by a network of canals. Belgium became part of the Frankish empire in 1100 and enjoyed a Golden Age during the 14th century under the French Duke of Burgundy. This was a time of great prosperity and artistry with the city of Antwerp becoming the greatest port in Europe. The country was invaded twice by Germany, once in 1914 and again in 1940. Belgium’s population is divided between Flemish speakers (60%) and French speaking Walloons (40%) with pockets of German speakers in the east. The constitution was redrawn in 1980 on a federal basis. It recognized three separate entities: the Flemish North, Walloon South and Brussels, which is officially bilingual.

Belgium hostels