Flag of Belgium

Belgium is a Western European state. It is bounded to the North by the Netherlands; to the East by the Netherlands, Germany and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg; to the South by France; to the West by France and the North Sea.

With an area of 30.528 km2 and a population of 10.4 million (2009), this country is a parliamentary federal democracy, which is part of a constitutional monarchy. There are 10 provinces and 3 regions (Brussels, Flanders, Wallonia). The capital of Belgium is Brussels. Other major cities : Ghent, Charleroi, Bruges, Liege, Antwerp, Namur, Mons.