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[[Image:Belgiumflag.gif‎ |thumb|240px|Belgium's flag]]

[[Image:Belgiumflag.gif‎ |thumb|240px|Belgium's flag]]

'''Belgium''' is a country in north-west [[Europe]] bordered by [[France]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Germany]], and the [[Netherlands]]. It is a constitutional monarchy with a population (1997) of 10.1 million, and occupies 11,783 square miles (30,528 square kilometres) The capital is [[Brussels]] (Flemish: ''Brussel''; French: ''Bruxelles''). The national languages are [[Flemish]] and [[French]]; a small German-speaking minority lives along the eastern border with Germany.

'''Belgium''' is a country in north-west [[Europe]] bordered by [[France]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Germany]], and the [[Netherlands]]. It is a constitutional monarchy with a population (1997) of 10.1 million, and occupies 11,783 square miles (30,528 square kilometres) The capital is [[Brussels]] (Dutch: ''Brussel''; French: ''Bruxelles''). The national languages are [[Dutch]] and [[French]]; a small German-speaking minority lives along the eastern border with Germany.

The country has since 1977 been divided into three semi-autonomous regions: [[Flanders]] (the Flemnish 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) and Brussels, a bilingual 'island' within Flanders.

=== History of Belgium ===

=== History of Belgium ===

The territory known as Belgium has hed many rulers over the centuries: Burgundian, Spanish, Austrian, French. In the post-Napoleonic settlement of 1815 it became part of the Kingdom of the [[Netherlands]] but rebelled in 1830 and in 1839 was recognized as an independent kingdom, its neutrality guaranteed by the Great Powers. This neutrality was violated on 1 August 1914 when [[German]] troops invaded Belgium as part of the [[Schlieffen Plan]] to defeat France (the Belgian government had refused a German demand to allow their troops to cross Belgium). This action caused the United Kingdom to enter the war on the side of Belgium and France, part of the widening circle of conflict that turned a Balkan dispute into the [[First World War]]. Most of Belgium was occupied by the Germans in the autumn of 1914, but a small area around [[Ypres]] (Flemish: ''Ieper'') remained in Belgian hands. Three major battles were fought between British and German forces in the Ypres Salient between 1914 and 1917.

The territory known as Belgium has had many rulers over the centuries: Burgundian, Spanish, Austrian, French. In the post-Napoleonic settlement of 1815 it became part of the Kingdom of the [[Netherlands]] but rebelled in 1830 and in 1839 was recognized as an independent kingdom, its neutrality guaranteed by the Great Powers. This neutrality was violated on 1 August 1914 when [[German]] troops invaded Belgium as part of the [[Schlieffen Plan]] to defeat France (the Belgian government had refused a German demand to allow their troops to cross Belgium). This action caused the United Kingdom to enter the war on the side of Belgium and France, part of the widening circle of conflict that turned a Balkan dispute into the [[First World War]]. Most of Belgium was occupied by the Germans in the autumn of 1914, but a small area around [[Ypres]] (Dutch: ''Ieper'') remained in Belgian hands. Three major battles were fought between British and German forces in the Ypres Salient between 1914 and 1917.

Under the Treaty of Versailles Belgium acquired the districts of Eupen and Malmedy from Germany in 1919. Belgian troops also participated in the (French-led) occupation of the [[Ruhr]] in 1923.

Under the Treaty of Versailles Belgium acquired the districts of Eupen and Malmedy from Germany in 1919. Belgian troops also participated in the (French-led) occupation of the [[Ruhr]] in 1923.