Background:

Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country 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. Considered the crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO.

Flag description:

Three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France

Independence: 

4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King Leopold I ascended to the throne)       

Geography:

        Location:

Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands

Area:

about the size of Maryland, total: 30,528 sq km
land: 30,278 sq km
water: 250 sq km

Climate:

Temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy

Terrain:

Flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast. Elevation extremes: lowest point: North Sea 0 m highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m

Natural resources:  Construction materials, silica sand, carbonates

Environment - current issues:

The environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges

People:

Population:  10,379,067 (July 2006 est.)

            Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.7% (male 883,254/female 846,099)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 3,450,879/female 3,389,565)
65 years and over: 17.4% (male 746,569/female 1,062,701) (2006 est.)

Median age: 40.9 years (2006 est.)

Male: 39.6 years
Female: 42.1 years

Population growth rate:  0.13% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:  10.38 births/1,000 population (2006
                         est.)

Death rate:  10.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006
                          est.)

Life expectancy at birth:  total population: 78.77
                                            years (2006 est.)

Male: 75.59 years
Female: 82.09 years

Literacy:  total population: 99%

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)

 Population by Cities: (2003)

Brussels, 1,750,600 (metro area), 981,200 (city proper)

Antwerp, 952,600 (metro area), 450,000 (city proper)

Ghent, 226,900 (Our Target)

Charleroi, 201,200

Liège, 185,700

Bruges, 117,200

Religious Demographics:  Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25%

Catholic:

(9 – 12% attend church regularly)

41-45% Active Catholics (Baptized to be able to marry and have funeral in the church)

NO ACTIVE RELIGION OR ATHEIST about 10%

Islam about 3.5%

Greek & Russian Orthodox about 1%

General Protestants (Multiple Groups about 1%)

Jewish about .4%

Anglican about .2%

Jehovah’s Witnesses about .2%

Mormons about .02%

Baptists about .01%

Union of Baptists in Belgium

31 Churches and missions (number varies)
Approximately 1,600 members
Largest church has 65 members
Only a few churches in church-type buildings
Most pastors are bivocational

Missiological Status:  One of five most-closed countries in the world

Government:

Government type: Federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Capital:  Brussels

Administrative divisions:

10 provinces

3 regions

Brussels (Bruxelles) capital region

Flanders region (five provinces): Antwerpen (Antwerp), Limburg, Oost-Vlaanderen (East Flanders), Vlaams-Brabant (Flemish Brabant), West-Vlaanderen (West Flanders)

Wallonia region (five provinces): Brabant Wallon (Walloon Brabant), Hainaut, Liege, Luxembourg, Namur

Note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities

Legal system: Civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Voting: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Governmental Structure:

Executive branch:

Chief of state: King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch

Prime Minister: Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July 1999)

Cabinet: Council of Ministers formally appointed by the monarch

Elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and then approved by parliament

Legislative branch:

Bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch (71 seats; 40 members are directly elected by popular vote, 31 are indirectly elected; members serve four-year terms)

Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

Elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 18 May 2003 (next to be held 10 June 2007)

Note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities; this reality leaves six governments each with its own legislative assembly

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Dutch, (judges are appointed for life by the government; candidacies have to be submitted by the High Justice Council)

Political parties and leaders:

Flemish parties: Christian Democrats and Flemish or CD & V [Jo VANDEURZEN]; Flemish Liberal and Democrats or VLD [Bart SOMERS]; GROEN! (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens) [Vera DUA]; New Flemish Alliance or NVA [Bart DE WEVER]; Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A [Johan Vande LANOTTE]; Spirit [Geert LAMBERT] (new party now associated with SP.A); Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Frank VANHECKE]

Francophone parties: Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX, Isabelle DURANT, Claude BROUIR]; Humanist and Democratic Center of CDH [Joelle MILQUET]; National Front or FN [Daniel FERET]; Reform Movement or MR [Didier REYNDERS]; Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO]; other minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Christian, Socialist, and Liberal Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries; numerous other associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical professions; various organizations represent the cultural interests of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as Pax Christi and groups representing immigrants

Economy - overview:

This modern, private-enterprise economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north. With few natural resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. Roughly three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Public debt is more than 90% of GDP. On the positive side, the government has succeeded in balancing its budget, and income distribution is relatively equal. Belgium began circulating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth in 2001-03 dropped sharply because of the global economic slowdown, with moderate recovery in 2004-06.

Labor force:  4.89 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 1.3%

industry: 24.5%

services: 74.2% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:  8.1% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:  4% (1989 est.)

Agriculture - products:  Sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk

Industries:  Engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum

Exports - commodities:  Machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs

Imports - commodities:  Machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products

Communications:

Telephones - main lines in use:  4.801 million
                          (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:  9.46 million (2005)

Telephone system:  Highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities. domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network

Internet users:  5.1 million (2005)

Military:

Military branches:  Belgian Armed Forces: Land, Naval, and Air Operations Commands (2005)

Military service age and obligation:  16 years of age for voluntary military service; women comprise approx. 7% of the Belgian armed forces (2001)

Illicit drugs:

Growing producer of synthetic drugs and cannabis; transit point for US-bound ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe; despite a strengthening of legislation, the country remains vulnerable to money laundering related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco; significant domestic consumption of ecstasy

The Flemish People Group

 Flanders in Belgium

1. Antwerpen Province. Population, 1.7 Million. Capital: Antwerp
2. Limburg Province. Population, 806,000. Capital: Hasselt
3. East Flanders Province. Population, 1.4 Million. Capital: Gent
4. Flemish Brabant Province. Population, 1.04 Million. Capital: Leuven
5. West Flanders Province. Population, 1.13 Million. Capital: Bruges

The official flag of Flanders is yellow with a black lion outlined in white and with red claws and tongue. The flag with a completely black lion is unofficial, although very popular within groups of Flemish nationalists.

Flemish People and Language

 It is generally believed the Flemings mainly descend from the invading Germanic tribes, rather than from the Celtic-Germanic tribes who lived in the same region even before Roman times. Flemish culture is defined by language, Flemish (a derivative of Dutch) shared with most people in the Netherlands, as opposed to the mostly Francophone compatriots within Belgium.

 For students, the intellectual norm in Flanders means learning two or even three foreign languages (at least two are obligatory in most secondary school programs, generally French and English, sometimes also German and/or a languages chosen from a supplementary list) to a higher standard than in most countries. Until the 1960s, Flanders was heavily dominated by French culture (as long imposed by the Belgian state), which now only is an honorable second.

 Proficiency in the English Language has greatly improved during the last half century, whereas proficiency in French and German has decreased somewhat. Proficiency in other languages widened, and improved, although some companies complain about a seemingly eternal lack of sufficient German-speakers.

 The Flemish have some typical cultural characteristics. On average, Flemings have a greater respect for authority than most Dutch, English and Nordic peoples, although Belgians in general have little confidence in political authorities.

 In terms of intellectual discourse, Flemings appear more Anglo-Saxon again, preferring a down-to-earth, factual style. The somewhat more confrontational nature of Flemish politics is probably related to the fact that until the 1960s Belgium's Flemings were oppressively discriminated against by the official Belgian institutions dominated by the French-speaking Walloon minority. Walloons and the Francophone Flemings who had deliberately chosen to use French made the use of French mandatory in all aspects of public life: government, the courts, academia, and industry. Until the 1930s, for example, the Flemish majority was forcibly educated only in French; courts were conducted in French (with notorious examples of Flemish peasants tried and judged in a language they did not comprehend); Flemish soldiers were shot for not comprehending orders given in French by Walloon officers (which led to mutinies by the Flemish majority during the First World War).

 Although most overt discrimination has since disappeared, Flemings still bristle at the remaining injustices - such as the widespread discrimination in service against Flemings by the medical emergency services in Brussels. Even today, Walloons, less than one third of Belgium's population, are guaranteed half of all government positions and retain a veto on actions that govern the entire country. Wallonia, the French-speaking southern half of Belgium, is in fact subsidised by the more economically robust Flemish north, an issue that remains unresolved and feeds a sense of injustice for Flemings in Belgium.

 Consequently, a movement for Flemish independence, has gathered steam over the post-war period. As more functions continue to devolve away from the Belgian state to the three regions, it is increasingly likely that a Flemish Republic may one day emerge from the current Belgian state. The Vlaams Belang political party is the strongest advocate of a Flemish Republic. The party is considered far right by all other Flemish political parties and they refuse any political alignment with it.

Language

 The official language of Flanders is Flemish (at the Belgian-federal-level at par with French, and to a lesser extent German; the linguistic legislation is complex and politically extremely sensitive). The local Flemish dialects are diverse. A common error is to exaggerate differences between dialects in Flanders and in the Netherlands, but in fact neither country has a consistent group of dialects, there are several, including cross-border ones; in this respect the term 'Holland' is not always an equivalent for the Dutch kingdom, as usual in foreign languages, but can refer to the dominant group of dialects in and around North- and South Holland provinces.

 Dialects tended to be very strong, almost particular to every locality. Since WWII, the influence of radio, television, and with more people moving out of their region of birth, the use of the original dialects tends to decrease. Differences between the regional dialects erode and new types of intermediate dialects appear, including a non-standardized mix of standard Dutch with 'cleaned-up' dialect. This is often called 'tussentaal' ('language-in-between') or, derogatorily, 'verkavelingsvlaams' (speech as where Flemish people from diverse locations and dialects become neighbors in a newly built-up out of town quarter). In Brussels, the local dialect is still heavily influenced by French, both in pronunciation, as in vocabulary. Only a small number (c. 150,000) of the inhabitants of French Flanders can speak or understand Flemish.

 The Flemish Diaspora

 The Flemish Diaspora consists of Flemish emigrants and their descendants in countries such as France, the United States, Great Britain, Canada, India (Sri Lanka), Indonesia, Australia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa and Latin America.

 During the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, when the territory of present-day Flanders formed the setting for an impressive economic and cultural boom as well as certain internal problems, many artists and craftsmen sought refuge elsewhere, particularly in southern Europe. Flemish settlers introduced the first printing presses into Spain and Portugal. The Flemish contribution to the exploitation as well as the population of the Azores was so conspicuous, that for a long time the archipelago was referred to as the Flemish islands.

 A combination of a demographic explosion and inadequate economic growth resulted in an emigration from Flanders that continued up to WWI. It was something that every family faced sooner or later. Not only did it involve the so-called lower classes of the population, but also members of the better classes who found a future overseas in teacher-training colleges and colleges of engineering and agriculture. About 400,000 Flemings settled in France. They often had to start afresh in poor villages, from where they breathed new life into agriculture. In the United States and Canada today, there are more than 1 million Americans who clearly have Flemish roots.

 The destination of the majority of Flemish emigrants was France. There are an estimated 1,250,000 people with a Flemish surname in France. The North and Pas-de-Calais areas however, were parts of historic Flanders before France annexed the region in 1656 (and other additions until the last permanent boundary change in the 1790's after the French Revolution).

 Evangelical Work in Flanders:

 Two of the Union of Belgium Baptist Churches are located in Flanders (the two smallest churches). There are perhaps no more than 15 evangelical churches for 6 million people. GCC’s include: Operation Mobilization; Belgian Evangelical Mission; and Evangelical Free Church.

Gent, Belgium: A Snapshot

Since there are three official languages in Belgium (Dutch, French and German) most cities in Belgium have two to three official names. Gent is the name in the Flemish region and Gand is the name French speakers use. If you look back in history you may find the city referred to as Gaunt from the old English language. 

Archeological evidence shows human presence in the region dating back as far as the Stone and Iron Ages. The confluence of the Schelde and Leie (Lys in French) rivers has always been a significant place. Some historians believe the confluence of the Schelde and Leie rivers led to the naming of the city. Ganda is the Celtic word for confluence. 

Around the year 630AD the Abbey of Saint Peter (now Sint Pieters Kerke) was founded. Later, a second abbey was founded adjacent to Saint Peter’s Abbey. These two institutions became the anchor of the city that was to become Gent. From its early days, Gent (and its significant port) had a regional focus. Charlemagne gave it a fleet for protection against the Vikings. In both 851 and 879 the Vikings attacked and plundered the city. Shortly afterwards a first wooden fortification was built for better protection. It stood on the spot where now the impressive Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts) Castle can be visited. 

From the 11th until the 12th century Gent rose to become an important trade center, especially because of the production of cloth based on the import of English wool. In 1178 Count Philip of Alsace granted Gent its first privileges. The same Count also transformed the wooden fortification into the impressive stone Castle of the Counts. In the 13th century the city was governed by an oligarchy of patricians who, continuously, defended their own interests against the Count and the corporations.

During the Hundred Years' War the count of Flanders chose the side of the French king. Gent, however, depended heavily on the import of English wool. Therefore, the people of Gent asked Jacob van Artevelde, a corporation leader, to try and preserve the trade-relations with England. Through diplomatic actions he succeeded and managed to avoid an open conflict with the French King.  

In the 15th century, Gent was under stricter rule of the Dukes of Burgundy (who had obtained the Country of Flanders through marriage policy). The city managed to regain its important privileges under the young Duchess of Burgundy, Mary. Her marriage with Maximilian of Austria moved the Low Countries into the House of Habsburg. The grandchild of Mary and Maximilian, Charles V, was born in Gent in 1500. Although a native of the city of Gent, Charles V punished his hometown severely when the citizens refused to pay more war-taxes.  

Under the rule of Philip II of Spain (son of Charles V) Gent suffered as did most other cities of Flanders and the low countries under the continuous religious troubles between Protestants and Catholics. A massive number of people left the impoverished Flanders and settled in England and Germany. It was only under the Archdukes Albert and Isabella that Gent could flourish once more. Later, the economic situation improved thanks to the construction of the canal between the Gent harbor and the city of Oostende. War, however, was never far away, especially when Louis XIV of France repeatedly tried to conquer Flanders. 

The Austrian period of the 18th century again brought peace and prosperity. New industries were developed (sugar refineries and cotton mills). In 1795 the former Austrian Netherlands were annexed to France. From 1800 the cotton industry started to flourish. A citizen of Gent, Lieven Bauwens, had smuggled the plans for a cotton mill out of England. Gent turned into one of the most important industrial centers of the French Empire. After the battle of Waterloo and the defeat of Napoleon, the French Netherlands were united with Holland into the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. King William I founded the Gent University in 1817 and had the canal Gent-Terneuzen constructed. Gent continued to grow as an industrial center. 

The number of inhabitants tripled in the 19th century. The miserable working and housing conditions of the working-class resulted in the creation of the first Belgian trade union in Gent. Gent also played an important part in the Flemish movement in Belgium. In 1886 the Royal Academy of Language and Literature was founded. In 1930 the Gent University became a Dutch-language university.  

The people of Gent proudly wear the nickname “Stropke”, which is actually the round part of the rope through which a convict has to stick his head before being hanged. The citizens of Gent received this name because of the punishment inflicted on the city by its most famous citizen, Emperor Charles V.  In 1537 Gent had refused to pay more taxes for a new war of Charles V against the king of France. To deal with his rebellious birth-city once and for all, Charles V had the city walls destroyed. He also abolished most of the city's privileges and ordered the most important citizens to appear before him to ask for mercy while carrying a rope around their necks, as a sign that they were ready to be hanged if the Emperor would order it.  

The punishment was not new. The people of Gent had already experienced this under one of their former rulers. The first to use this form to punish the proud Gentners, was Duke Philip the Good of Burgundy in 1458.  Duke Philip was punishing the citizens for their uprising of 1448. He had already defeated the city in the bloody Battle of the Gavere in 1453, where upwards of 10,000 of Gent's soldiers died, but Philip withheld the city's rights and privileges (a virtual shut-down in trade) until a major ceremony was staged in 1458 to garner the Duke's forgiveness.   

At the onset of this ceremony, Duke Philip marched the leaders of the city and its guilds outside the city walls, stripped them to their undergarments, had them kneel in the mud wearing nooses around their necks, and pledge to him eternal allegiance. After this, they led him through the city streets, decorated with banners and torches and dramatized mythological and biblical scenes, including a live-action version of the Van Eycks' Gent Altarpiece as the centerpiece. The city of Gent has experienced extreme highs and lows in its long history. 

Gent is now the capital and largest city in East Flanders. With a population nearing 230,000, Gent is the third largest city in Belgium. Today it is a busy city with one of the largest sea ports in Europe and a well-respected university. The University of Gent and a number of research oriented companies are situated in the central and southern part of the city. Gent also has many hospitals, schools and shopping streets. Tourism is increasingly becoming a major employer in the local area.

The port of Gent, in the north of the city, is the third largest port of Belgium. It is accessed by the Gent-Terneuzen Canal, which ends near the Dutch port of Terneuzen on the Western Schelde River. The port houses, among others, big companies such as Sidmar Steel Manufacturing and Volvo Car and Truck Assembly Plants. Volvo also has a major parts warehouse in Gent. Honda Motor Company and Stora Enso (Finnish Pulp and Paper Manufacturer) also have significant operations in Gent.

Gent lies at the intersection of two major European highways. The E17 runs from the Netherlands to France and the E40 runs from the North Sea into Germany. Both are major routes for truck shipments. Gent-Sint-Pieters Railstation is the third busiest railway station in Belgium.

The metropolitan area of Gent is composed of the towns of Afsnee, Desteldonk, Drongen, Gentbrugge, Ledeberg, Mariakerke, Mendonk, Oostakker, Sint-Amandsberg, Sint-Denijs-Westrem, Sint-Kruis-Winkel, Wondelgem and Zwijnaarde. The 2006 population of this area was 233,120 making the Gent metropolitan area the third largest in Belgium.

Every year a ten day long street festival is held called the Gent Fests (Gentse Feesten). In 2007 the city of Gent saw 1.5 million people flock to its streets for this regional event. People from all walks of life walk shoulder-to-shoulder through the streets during this event.