Changes

See also [[History of the Netherlands]]

See also [[History of the Netherlands]]

Historically, Belgium and the [[Netherlands]] were known as the Low Countries.  From the end of the Middle Ages until the middle of the sixteenth century, the Low Countries, and Flanders in particular, were  a prosperous center of commerce and culture. From the fourteenth century onward they were governed by Dukes of [[Burgundy]] and later by the [[Hapsburg]] emperor [[Charles V]]. From the middle of the sixteenth century until the [[Belgian revolution]] of 1830, Belgium changed hands several times. After coming under the rule of the Dukes of Burgundy and, through marriage, passing into the possession of the Hapsburgs, Belgium was occupied by the Spanish (1519-1713) and the Austrians (1713-1794).  

Historically, Belgium and the [[Netherlands]] were known as the Low Countries.  From the end of the Middle Ages until the middle of the sixteenth century, the Low Countries, and Flanders in particular, were  a prosperous center of commerce and culture. From the fourteenth century onward they were governed by Dukes of [[Burgundy]] and later by the [[Hapsburg]] emperor [[Charles V]]. From the middle of the sixteenth century until the [[Belgian revolution]] of 1830, Belgium changed hands several times. After coming under the rule of the Dukes of Burgundy and, through marriage, passing into the possession of the Hapsburgs, Belgium was occupied by the Spanish (1519–1713) and the Austrians (1713–1794).  

Belgium has been an independent state since 1830.

Belgium has been an independent state since 1830.

===High culture===

===High culture===

Cultural life in Belgium had long stagnated but a revival among Walloons began with the new French language literary and artistic review, ''La Jeune Belgique'' (1881–97). World class writers in French include the great romantic and symbolist poet Maurice Maeterlinck (1862-49, Nobel Prize 1911), dramatists Michel de Ghelderode (1898-1962) and Henri Michaux (1899-1984), and the poet and playwright Émile Verhaeren (1855-1916), one of the founders of symbolism. Inspector Maigret, the creation of  Georges Simenon (1903–89), won a wide following in translation. James Ensor (1860-1949) was an influential Expressionist painter and printmaker. Félicien Rops (1833–98) won acclaim as graphic artists, as did surrealist painters Paul Delvaux (1897-1994) and René Magritte (1898-1967). Few Flemish artists achieved comparable international renown, and indeed many Walloon artists moved to France.

Cultural life in Belgium had long stagnated but a revival among Walloons began with the new French language literary and artistic review, ''La Jeune Belgique'' (1881–97). World class writers in French include the great romantic and symbolist poet Maurice Maeterlinck (1862–49, Nobel Prize 1911), dramatists Michel de Ghelderode (1898–1962) and Henri Michaux (1899–1984), and the poet and playwright Émile Verhaeren (1855–1916), one of the founders of symbolism. Inspector Maigret, the creation of  Georges Simenon (1903–89), won a wide following in translation. James Ensor (1860–1949) was an influential Expressionist painter and printmaker. Félicien Rops (1833–98) won acclaim as graphic artists, as did surrealist painters Paul Delvaux (1897–1994) and René Magritte (1898–1967). Few Flemish artists achieved comparable international renown, and indeed many Walloon artists moved to France.

==World War I==

==World War I==

Another important constitutional reform occurred in the summer of 1993, changing Belgium from a unitary to a federal state. It also reformed the bicameral parliamentary system and provided for the direct election of the members of community and regional legislative councils. The bilingual Brabant province, which contained the Brussels region, was split into separate Flemish and Walloon Brabant provinces. The revised Constitution came into force in 1994.  

Another important constitutional reform occurred in the summer of 1993, changing Belgium from a unitary to a federal state. It also reformed the bicameral parliamentary system and provided for the direct election of the members of community and regional legislative councils. The bilingual Brabant province, which contained the Brussels region, was split into separate Flemish and Walloon Brabant provinces. The revised Constitution came into force in 1994.  

A parliamentary democracy, Belgium has been governed by successive coalitions of two or more political parties. The centrist Christian Democratic Party often provided the Prime Minister. The June 13, 1999 general election saw a significant drop in overall Christian Democratic support. Driven in part by resentment over a mishandled dioxin food-contamination crisis just before the June 1999 election, Belgian voters rejected Jean Luc Dehaene's longstanding coalition government of Christian Democrats and Socialists and voted into power a coalition led by Flemish Liberal Leader Guy Verhofstadt. The first Verhofstadt government (1999-2003) was a six-party coalition between the Flemish and Francophone Liberals, Socialists, and Greens. It was the first Liberal-led coalition in generations and the first six-party coalition in 20 years. It also was the first time the Greens had participated in Belgium's federal government. In the most recent general election in May 2003, the Greens suffered significant loses, while the Socialists posted strong gains and the Liberals also had modest growth in electoral support. Liberal Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt reconstituted the coalition as a four-party government in July 2003, with only the Liberals and Socialists in power.

A parliamentary democracy, Belgium has been governed by successive coalitions of two or more political parties. The centrist Christian Democratic Party often provided the Prime Minister. The June 13, 1999 general election saw a significant drop in overall Christian Democratic support. Driven in part by resentment over a mishandled dioxin food-contamination crisis just before the June 1999 election, Belgian voters rejected Jean Luc Dehaene's longstanding coalition government of Christian Democrats and Socialists and voted into power a coalition led by Flemish Liberal Leader Guy Verhofstadt. The first Verhofstadt government (1999–2003) was a six-party coalition between the Flemish and Francophone Liberals, Socialists, and Greens. It was the first Liberal-led coalition in generations and the first six-party coalition in 20 years. It also was the first time the Greens had participated in Belgium's federal government. In the most recent general election in May 2003, the Greens suffered significant loses, while the Socialists posted strong gains and the Liberals also had modest growth in electoral support. Liberal Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt reconstituted the coalition as a four-party government in July 2003, with only the Liberals and Socialists in power.

In 2013 King [[Albert II]] resigned. Since then [[Philippe of Belgium]] is the king of Belgium.

In 2013 King [[Albert II]] resigned. Since then [[Philippe of Belgium]] is the king of Belgium.

With Belgian independence in 1830 Europe had a new state and a new historiography, which explored the constitutional liberties of this young state. Its historians unanimously considered the Burgundian state a prefiguration of independent Belgium and most attacked the Burgundian dukes as French princes responsible for repressing Belgian identity. From the 1890s on, however, opinion changed, as typified by Henri Pirenne. Historians now praised the dukes for having ensured the maintenance of the state and the precedence of the common good over the local interests of municipalities and the principalities. Pirenne gave the most highly finished interpretation, which expressed an anxiety with regard to the social and linguistic tensions in Belgium at a time when peace seemed increasingly endangered in Europe.<ref>Philippe Carlier, "Contribution a l'etude de l'unification Bourguignonne dans l'historiographie Nationale Belge de 1830 a 1914," [Contribution to the Study of the Burgundian Unification in Belgian Historiography, 1830-1914]. ''Belgisch Tijdschrift Voor Nieuwste Geschiedenis'' 1985 16(1-2): 1-24. Issn: 0035-0869</ref>

With Belgian independence in 1830 Europe had a new state and a new historiography, which explored the constitutional liberties of this young state. Its historians unanimously considered the Burgundian state a prefiguration of independent Belgium and most attacked the Burgundian dukes as French princes responsible for repressing Belgian identity. From the 1890s on, however, opinion changed, as typified by Henri Pirenne. Historians now praised the dukes for having ensured the maintenance of the state and the precedence of the common good over the local interests of municipalities and the principalities. Pirenne gave the most highly finished interpretation, which expressed an anxiety with regard to the social and linguistic tensions in Belgium at a time when peace seemed increasingly endangered in Europe.<ref>Philippe Carlier, "Contribution a l'etude de l'unification Bourguignonne dans l'historiographie Nationale Belge de 1830 a 1914," [Contribution to the Study of the Burgundian Unification in Belgian Historiography, 1830-1914]. ''Belgisch Tijdschrift Voor Nieuwste Geschiedenis'' 1985 16(1-2): 1-24. Issn: 0035-0869</ref>

The most influential historian of Belgium was medievalist [[Henri Pirenne]] (1862-1935), a Walloon who wrote a masterful multivolume history of Belgium and became a national hero. At the University of Liège he was a student of Godefroid Kurth (1847-1916), and served as professor of history at the University of Ghent (1886-1930).  A leader of Belgian passive resistance in World War I, the Germans held him (1916–18) as a hostage. Pirenne's ''Histoire de Belgique'' (7 vol., 1899–1932) stressed how traditional and economic forces had drawn Flemings and Walloons together. Pirenne, inspired by patriotic nationalism, presupposed a Belgian unity - social, political, and ethnic - which predated its 1830 independence by centuries.  Although a liberal himself, he wrote his seven volume history with such a masterly balance that Catholics, liberals and socialists could quote from it with equal respect in their newspapers or sometimes even in their political gatherings. Pirenne's history remains crucial to the understanding of Belgium's past, but his notion of a continuity of Belgian civilization forming the basis of political unity has lost favor, however, leaving many Belgian scholars to feel that the creation of their country was a historical accident.<ref>Jean Stengers, "La Belgique, Un Accident De L'histoire?" ''Revue de l'université De Bruxelles'' 1989 (3-4): 17-34. Issn: 0770-0962</ref> Pirenne's argument that the long Spanish rule in the Low Countries had little continuing cultural impact has likewise fallen, in the face of new as research since 1970 in the fields of cultural, military, economic, and political history.<ref>Geoffrey Parker, "New Light on an Old Theme: Spain and the Netherlands 1550-1650." ''European History Quarterly'' 1985 15(2): 219-236. Issn: 0265-6914</ref>

The most influential historian of Belgium was medievalist [[Henri Pirenne]] (1862–1935), a Walloon who wrote a masterful multivolume history of Belgium and became a national hero. At the University of Liège he was a student of Godefroid Kurth (1847–1916), and served as professor of history at the University of Ghent (1886–1930).  A leader of Belgian passive resistance in World War I, the Germans held him (1916–18) as a hostage. Pirenne's ''Histoire de Belgique'' (7 vol., 1899–1932) stressed how traditional and economic forces had drawn Flemings and Walloons together. Pirenne, inspired by patriotic nationalism, presupposed a Belgian unity - social, political, and ethnic - which predated its 1830 independence by centuries.  Although a liberal himself, he wrote his seven volume history with such a masterly balance that Catholics, liberals and socialists could quote from it with equal respect in their newspapers or sometimes even in their political gatherings. Pirenne's history remains crucial to the understanding of Belgium's past, but his notion of a continuity of Belgian civilization forming the basis of political unity has lost favor, however, leaving many Belgian scholars to feel that the creation of their country was a historical accident.<ref>Jean Stengers, "La Belgique, Un Accident De L'histoire?" ''Revue de l'université De Bruxelles'' 1989 (3-4): 17-34. Issn: 0770-0962</ref> Pirenne's argument that the long Spanish rule in the Low Countries had little continuing cultural impact has likewise fallen, in the face of new as research since 1970 in the fields of cultural, military, economic, and political history.<ref>Geoffrey Parker, "New Light on an Old Theme: Spain and the Netherlands 1550-1650." ''European History Quarterly'' 1985 15(2): 219-236. Issn: 0265-6914</ref>