Meet Belgium
Located in Western Europe, bordering the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France and the North Sea, Belgium is about the size of Maryland. With three official languages, Belgium can be broken down into linguistic regions: Dutch/Flemish is spoken in Flanders, French is primarily spoken in Wallonia, the Brussels Capital Region is legally bilingual in Dutch and French, and the Liège region of Wallonia is home to German-speaking Belgians. This nation is also one of the few countries in the world that enforces mandatory schooling up to age 18.
Traditional Food
Belgian Waffles
When you think of Belgian cuisine, the foods that first come to mind are either Belgian chocolates or Belgian waffles. Both are undeniably delicious, so imagine the tickle of your tastebuds when you drizzle melted chocolate over your light, fluffy waffles. Add some berries, banana or strawberries and you've got yourself a sweetly scrumptious sensation, just like you'd find in Brussels!
Country Info
Capital:
Brussels
Population:
10,431,477
Student Snapshot
Soccer is one of the most popular sports in Belgium. Many children start playing soccer at a young age and continue throughout their education, playing in sports clubs and school. Cycling is also popular among Belgian people of all ages. Other popular activities include horseback riding, tennis, and swimming. Young Belgians spend free time with friends and enjoy activities such as dancing and going to the movies.
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Fun Facts
- Belgium's capital city, Brussels, is also the capital city of the European Union.
- Every two years, Brussels hosts "Tapis des Fleurs" or Flower Carpet in the market square, "Grote Markt", an artistic exhibition open to the public, made up of 700,000 begonias arranged to create a vibrant fresco of color.
- The diamond capital of the world, Antwerp, is located in Belgium.
- Belgian national, Adolphe Sax, invented the saxophone in 1841.