| | Geographically and culturally, Belgium is at a crossroads of Europe, and during the past 2,000 years has witnessed a constant ebb and flow of different races and cultures. Consequently, Belgium is one of Europe's true melting pots with [[Celtic]], [[Roman]], [[Germanic]], [[French]], [[Dutch]], [[Spanish]], and [[Austrian]] cultures having made an imprint. | | Geographically and culturally, Belgium is at a crossroads of Europe, and during the past 2,000 years has witnessed a constant ebb and flow of different races and cultures. Consequently, Belgium is one of Europe's true melting pots with [[Celtic]], [[Roman]], [[Germanic]], [[French]], [[Dutch]], [[Spanish]], and [[Austrian]] cultures having made an imprint. |
| − | The country has since 1977 been divided into three semi-autonomous regions: [[Flanders]] (the Dutch speaking area), [[Wallonia]] (the French speaking area) and Brussels, a bilingual 'island' within Flanders. | + | The country has since 1977 been divided into three semi-autonomous regions: [[Flanders]] (the Dutch speaking area), [[Wallonia]] (the French speaking area, with a small German-speaking minority) and the Brussels capital region, a bilingual 'island' within Flanders. |