Brief History

The first settlers of Belgium were the Celtic tribe of Belgae. They lived in the area of Belgium until they were conquered by the Roman Empire in 100 BC. For the next 300 years, Belgium was a productive part of the Roman Empire. Then Germanic tribes invaded Belgium and took over the Romans. During this time, the language and culture of Northern Belgium became very German. However, the southern part of Belgium continued to act more Roman and spoke Latin. Over the next several hundred years, Belgium became under the rule of many different empires and dynasties. Belgium’s location made it a center for European industry, including commerce, art, and textiles. Then in 1795, Belgium became a part of France after the Napoleonic wars. It then became part of the Netherlands for a short time until the Belgian people rose up and rebelled against the Dutch. They gained their independence in 1830. The many influences on Belgium throughout history created what Belgium is today.

National Flag

The flag of Belgium is a tricolor with three equal stripes of black, yellow, and red. It was adopted on January 23, 1831. The three colors symbolize the Belgium coat of arms, with black representing the shield, gold representing the lion, and red representing the lion’s claws and tongue.

Geography

Belgium is located in Western Europe, bordering the North Sea. There are three main geographical regions in Belgium: the coastal plain, the central plateau, and the Ardennes uplands. The countries that border Belgium are Belgium’s borders are the Netherlands to the north, Germany and Luxembourg to the east, and France to the south and west.

World Land Mass Ranking: 140th
Highest Mountain: Signal de Botrange, 2,777 feet above sea level
Longest River: Meuse, 575 miles

Main Languages

Dutch, French, German and Flemish.

Belgium Population: 11.6 million (as of 2019)
Capital City: Brussels
Capital City Population: 1.2 million (as of 2019)

Climate

The climate of Belgium is influenced by the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, giving it a temperate maritime climate. Winters are mild and summers are cool and rainy. Fog and drizzle are common, and the most rainy months are usually April and November.

Key People

Audrey Hepburn, Peter Paul Rubens, Victor Horta , Kim Clijsters

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  Cuisine

  The cuisine of Belgium is influenced by neighboring countries including the Netherlands and France. There are three Belgian foods that are widely known and acclaimed: fries, waffles, and chocolates. Belgian fries are fried twice, giving them a special texture. They are also usually served with mayonnaise, not ketchup. Liège Waffles, Brussels Waffles, and Galettes Campinoises are the three delicious varieties of waffles in Belgium. Belgians’ love of chocolate goes back to the 19th century, and their chocolates became famous following the invention of the praline (a chocolate shell with a soft center). Other popular Belgian dishes include Moules-frites, Stoemp, Waterzooi, and Carbonade flamande.

  The picture is a picture of Moules-frites, a main dish consisting of mussels and fries.

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  Sports

  Sports are an important part of life in Belgium, and there are around 28,000 sports clubs in the country. Like many other places, the biggest and most popular sport in Belgium is Football. Cycling is an important Belgian sport, and some of the greatest cycling races take place there. Eddy Merckx  is considered the best Belgium cyclist of all time and has won many races. Besides football and cycling, there are many other sports that are popular in Belgium. Some of these are running, tennis, swimming, and field hockey.

  The picture is a picture of the Belgian national football team.

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  Culture

  Belgium is bordered by four countries, and it also has three distinct regions that have their own distinct languages and cultures. Because of these factors, the culture of Belgium is very rich and diverse. Art is an important part of Belgium culture, including architecture, painting, and literature. Visits to museums and art galleries are popular and frequent. Belgium is home to some of the most important European comics magazines, and publishers. It has many well-known cartoonists as well. Music is an important part of Belgian culture, and many important composers and singers were born there. The main religion in Belgium is Christianity, and more specifically Roman Catholicism.

  The picture is a picture of The Gilles at the carnival of Binch in Belgium.

  Belgium is a beautiful country with wonderful people.

   

  Download questions about the Belgium here: Belgium (answers are on this page)

  Teachers. For more in depth work sheets on Belgium. Click on Kidskonnect Worksheets

  For further reading and more info on the Belgium visit https://kids.kiddle.co/Belgium