Belgium
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BASIC FACTS
Surface area : 30 528 km2 (136th biggest in the world)
North-South 220 km, West-East 260 km
Belgium is a part of West-European region. It is located on the coast of La Manche canal (English Channel) and shares frontiers with Netherlands on the North, with the Germany and Luxembourg on the East, and France on the South. Local Time Zone is GMT + 1 hour(summer + 2 hours).
Inhabitants: 10 millions
Belgium is one of the countries with a highest population density – 328 inhabitants / Km2. Most of them live in the middle of the country and on the coast. Population is stable with natural increase 0,2% per annum.
- 97% of local population lives in the larger cities .
- 57% of population are Germanic Flemings (Flemish) who speak Dutch dialect, 33% are Romance Valons who speak French, 9% are Italian, French and Moroccan minorities, 1% is a German minority.
- Official languages are French and Dutch
- 85% of the population are Roman Catholics.
Source
COUNTRY PROFILE
ECONOMY
Macroeconomic statistics
| 2004 | 2005 | |
| Economic growth | 2,6 % | 1,2 % |
| GDP/inhabitant | 118,4 | 117,5 |
| Inflation rate | 1,9 % | 2,5 % |
| Unemployment rate | 8,4 % | 8,4 % |
| Public debt | 94,7 % in relation with GDP | 93,3 % in relation with GDP |
| Public budget deficit | 0,0 % in relation with GDP | 0,1 % in relation with GDP |
| Average income | 2 690 Euro |
Commodity structure of imports and exports is characterized by economic maturity of Belgium and its interests in international business. Belgium occupies 11th place in the world of international business. Main exports are high value addend goods like: engineering, energy, transport, chemical and pharmaceutical products and also agricultural and food-processing products. Most important export articles in the year of 2004 were: chemical and pharmaceutical goods 23%, transports goods14% and machinery and electrical equipment 13%. Most important imports were: chemicals and pharmaceuticals 21%, machines and electrical equipment 15% and transports12%.
HISTORY
800 000 BC. – the first pugs of people occured in the territory of today Belgium
500 BC – Celtic tribes settled here, from their name – lat. Belgae – comes contemporary name of the state and people
150 BC – the first coins were made
57 BC – Julius Caesar and his army occupied the land of Belgae – new Roma province Gallia Belgica.
5th century – Belgium is a part of Frankish Empire and than a part of Holy Roman Empire.
977 - foundation of Brussels
981 - Vikings were defeated in 981 by Arnulf of Carinthia
11th and 12th century – Belgium is divided into 7 historical lands:
13th and 14th century - the golden age of Flanders: „By importing wool from England and weaving it into fine cloth for sale on the continent, the Flemish cities became exceedingly wealthy, populous, and powerful. By 1300, Ghent, Bruges, and Ypres, in particular, had gained virtual autonomy from aristocratic rule, developing the proud civic culture that still distinguishes them today."
The Kingdom of France tried to control the Flanders – it was successful in 1329.
14th-15th century – in the end of the Hundred Year War (1337-1453) between France and England, Philip the Bold of Burgundy became the ruler of Flanders in 1384 – the beginning of the Burgundian Period
1482 – 1795 – the rule of Habsburg Dynasty – the lands of Belgium are united with Spain (until 1715) and then with Austria
1795-1815 – French occupation
1815 - Belgium became part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
1830 – Belgium was separated from the Netherlands – independent Kingdom of the Belgium
| Belgian Revolution 1830 - source |
1914-18 – First World War – first German occupation
1940-44 – Second World War - Nazi occupation – second German occupation
1944 – Belgium, together with Luxemburg and Netherlands becomes a commonwealth of states - Benelux
1949 - Belgium becomes a member of the NATO
1952 – Belgium is one of the constituent members of the European Union, Brussels is a capital city of the European Union
1977 - the country was divided into three administrative regions: Flanders (Flemings), Valonia (Valons), and Brussels
1980 - new Belgian constitution
1993 - Belgium becomes a federation
Belgium is today at risk of disintegration, due to the nationalism of Valons and Flemings
POLITICS
Government system of Belgium is Constitutional Monarchy. Head of State and also main representative is a King of Belgium. However, true power lies in the hands of Prime Minister appointed by the King, Prime Minister is also head of the main political party in the country. Government is formed by representatives Valons and Flemings. Parliament consist of two Houses : Senate (181 members) and the House of Representatives (212 members). Belgian law is based on Civil Code supplemented by specific laws.
Belgium is a member of the following organizations: United Nations (UN), NATO, OECD (Organization of Cooperation and Development), GATT (General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade), EU, European Council, WEU (West European Union) and Benelux.
Head of state: Albert II. - King
Head of Goverment: Herman Van Rompuy (CD&V) - Prime Minister
Governing parties: CD&V, MR, VLD, CDH, PS, N-VA
Last national elections: 2007
http://www.parties-and-elections.de/belgium.html
Last European Parliament election June 2009
See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Parliament_election,_2009_(Belgium)
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/archive/elections2009/en/belgium_en.html
Government
Federal government has 15 ministers and several secretaries of state. Its is forbidden to combine one of those functions with parliamentary mandate.
The current prime minister of Belgium is Yves Leterme from the Christian Democratic party. This party won the parliamentary election in 2007. To assemble the new Belgian government took nine months. It is based on coalition of five political parties.
Parliament
The two chamber Federal Parliament consist of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate has 71 members appointed for 4 years. In addition, the King’s successor has the right to join the Senate. House of Representatives has 150 members chosen by election for 4 years. The authority of the Senate is limited. The main role of the Senate is to arbitrate between organs of federation.
Belgium has a proportional electoral system based on 11 districts. People over 18 years of age have the right to vote.
Political Parties
All traditional political parties (Christian Democrats, Socialists, Liberal Democrats and also Greens) exists independently in Valon and Fleming part of the country.
| Belgian Senate - source |
Administrative classification
Belgium is divided into three main regions and those are divided into10 provinces.
Regions: Brussels, Fleming region, Valon region
Provinces: Antwerp, Limburg, Fleming Brabant, East Flanders, West Flanders, Hainaut, Lutych, Luxembourg, Namur, Valon Brabant.
Belgium and European Union (EU)
- One of the founders of EU
- Since the beginning Belgium participated in integrative groupings (like establishment of ESUO –European Association of Coal and Steel)
- Belgium participated in evolution of European associations such as: European customs union and interstate marketing bodies
- In the middle of nineties Belgium strongly supported the EURO – EU currency
- Brussels is now capital city of the European Union and shares European parliament with the city of Strasbourg
- Presence of EU officials supports local business in Brussels and other parts of Belgium
- For a small country like Belgium, the central position in the EU is important for the formation of the Belgian international policy
| European Parliament in Strasbourg - source |
CULTURE
Belgian culture respects cultural specificities of the main cultural groups: the Flemings (Flemish people from Flanders) and the French speaking Valons (from Brussels and Wallonia.).
Some of the most impressive museums in Belgium are The Royal Museum for Fine Arts, in Antwerp, which has an admirable collection of works by Peter Paul Rubens, the Groeningemuseum in Bruges, with the Flemish Primitives, and the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium in Brussels, which has a cinema, a concert hall, and artworks of many periods, including a large René Magritte collection.
| Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium - source |
Furthermore, the Plantin-Moretus Museum in Antwerp, a world heritage site, is the complete factory of the largest publishing house of the seventeenth century.
Belgian literature as such does not exist. Flemish share their authors with the Dutch (see Dutch literature, Flemish literature), and French-speakers with the French (see French literature), which tend to confuse people on Belgian authors’, several great French authors went to Belgium for refuge (e.g. Apollinaire, Baudelaire, Rimbaud, Verlaine) and conversely, top French-speaking writers often settle in Paris (e.g. Simenon, Amélie Nothomb). It is also sometimes difficult to cast Belgian authors into the French or Flemish category because many Flemish authors have written in French (e.g. Suzanne Lilar) and spent a large part of their lifes outside of Flanders or of Belgium (e.g. Emile Verhaeren or Maurice Maeterlinck). The confusion is also enhanced by the fact that many French-speaking individuals are coming from originally Dutch-speaking families (particularly in Brussels, e.g. Jacques Brel). There have also been writers in the Walloon language, such as Nicolas Defrecheux and Edouard Remouchamps.
Belgium has produced several well-known authors such as poets: Guido Gezelle (1830-1899), Emile Verhaeren (1855-1916), Max Elskamp (1862-1931), Maurice Maeterlinck (1862-1949), Paul van Ostaijen (1896-1926), Henri Michaux (French born and educated in Belgium, 1899-1984) and Jacques Brel (1929–1978) and writers: Hendrik Conscience (1812-1883), Charles de Coster (1827-1879), Willem Elsschot (1882-1960), Michel de Ghelderode (1898-1962), Georges Simenon 1903-1989, Louis Paul Boon (1912-1979), Hugo Claus ( 1929 -2008 ), Pierre Mertens (born in 1939) Ernest Claes (1885 - 1968), and, Amélie Nothomb (born in 1967).
| Gezelle Guido - source |
Belgium has numerous well-known cartoonists, such as Hergé (The Adventures of Tintin), Peyo (The Smurfs), Franquin (Spirou et Fantasio, Marsupilami, Gaston), Willy Vandersteen (Spike and Suzy), Morris (Lucky Luke), Edgar P. Jacobs (Blake and Mortimer), Jef Nys (Jommeke) and Marc Sleen (Nero). More recently, Jean Van Hamme (XIII, Largo Winch, Thorgal, etc.), Raoul Cauvin (Les Tuniques Bleues, Agent 212), François Schuiten and Benoît Peeters (Les Cités Obscures) are among the most read cartoonists.
Belgium is home to some of the most important European comics magazines and publishers, with Dupuis (Spirou magazine), Le Lombard (Tintin magazine) and Casterman.
| The Adventures of Tintin - source |
Many important classical composers were born in Belgium. The most famous is undoubtedly César Franck but Henri Vieuxtemps, Eugène Ysaÿe, Guillaume Lekeu and Wim Mertens are also noteworthy. Many great Medieval and Renaissance composers, such as Gilles Binchois, Orlande de Lassus, Guillaume Dufay, Heinrich Isaac and Jacob Obrecht came from the area which is now Belgium. Well-known singers include pioneer Bobbejaan Schoepen, Jacques Brel, Johnny Hallyday, Arno, and Maurane.
Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone, was born in Belgium. The country has also a very active jazz scene that is achieving international recognition with bands like Aka Moon, Maak’s Spirit and Octurn. Harmonicist Toots Thielemans and guitarist Philip Catherine are probably the best known Belgian jazz musicians.
Hooverphonic, formed in the mid-1990s, is a Belgian pop / trip hop band that achieved international recognition through their inclusion on the soundtrack Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1996 film Io Ballo da Sola (English: Stealing Beauty). Other popular Belgian pop music comes from Axelle Red, Vaya Con Dios, Kate Ryan and K’s Choice.
Belgium has also influenced electronic music with a.o. Front 242, Praga Khan (also known as Lords of Acid) and 2 Many DJ’s, and rock music with dEUS.
Belgian hip-hop started with the rise of Starflam, CNN (a Brussels-based crew) and ’t Hof van Commerce in the mid 1990s.
COMMUNICATION
Fleming Belgians will often prefer to answer visitors in English rather than French, even if the visitor’s French is good. It is customary to bring flowers or a small present for the hostess, especially if invited for a meal.
Belgians accept a degree of familiarity once relationships have been established. This does not however extend to the use of the more intimate second person unless specifically proposed by the person concerned. In meetings it will normally not be advisable in any case, as familiarity with just one representative of the other side may be felt inappropriate by his or her colleagues.
In practice, Belgians are less respectful of the rules than other nationalities. Provincial people, both the Flemings when speaking French, and the Valons, have no inhibitions about addressing strangers with the familiar you ("tu"). Likewise they will use the formal "uw " and "vous" as a sign of respect when addressing senior family members and colleagues.
It is good practice in Belgium to make an appointment at least a few days in advance.
If you later have a conflict of priorities, explain the situation to your Belgian partner and he or she will certainly understand and find an alternative arrangement.
The most suitable time for a business meeting is probably about 10 a.m. If the proceedings are positive, it may lead to a lunch, when the agenda may range from a continuation of the business discussion to purely social affairs. This will help build the sense of mutual trust that is important to Belgians.
www.businessculture.org
Belgians are pragmatic and relatively non-hierarchical people. Many Belgian managers can be approached direct for an appointment. Only occasionally you will deal with a secretary or personal assistant.
There may be no formal agenda for the meeting as many Belgians prefer to ’feel their way’ and leave themselves with the flexibility to work around to a sensible compromise.
It may be appropriate to start a business meeting with not too long informal conversation.
Punctuality is generally appreciated in Belgium and meetings will not normally be allowed to run on too long. In the case of social events, plan to arrive 5-10 minutes after the time indicated in the invitation.
www.businessculture.org
Negotiations and decisions are usually open and flexible. Your Belgian counterparts will favor a win/win approach.
TRAVEL and TOURISM
www.iexplore.com - Travel photos
LANGUAGE PHRASES
Official Languages of Belgium are French, Dutch and German. French (Wallon) is used by 33% of population. Flemish, the local variant of Dutch, is used by more than 60% of the population, and is spoken in the northern part of the country. The languages learned at school are officially labeled French and Dutch. German, spoken by 1% of population can be found in the cantons in the east of the Wallon region. Brussels, the capital of Belgium, has two official languages: French and Dutch. Luxembourgish is spoken by around 0.5% of the population, but the language has no official status. About 10% of the Belgian population are non-native, and languages spoken include Italian, Spanish, Greek, Arabic and Turkish. www.kwintessential.co.uk - Belgium country profile
www.kwintessential.co.uk - French phrases
www.kwintessential.co.uk - Dutch phrases
www.kwintessential.co.uk - German phrases
SOURCES
THE ALTERNATIVE BELGIUM
Please add your own experience at: The Alternative Belgium
