Population of Belgium: size, density, ethnic composition. Population of Belgium: size, density, ethnic composition Who is a Belgian

Urbanization

Belgium has a high population density (342 people per 1 km²), second in this parameter in Europe only to the Netherlands and some dwarf states, such as Monaco. The highest population density in the country is observed in the area bounded by the cities of Brussels - Antwerp - Ghent - Leuven (the so-called “Flemish diamond”, Dutch Vlaamse ruit). The lowest population density is in the Ardennes Mountains (Luxembourg province).

As of 2006, the Flemish region had a population of approximately 6,078,600 inhabitants (population density 459.4 people/km², Eurostat 2007). The most populated cities are Antwerp (457,749), Ghent (230,951) and Bruges (117,251).

Wallonia had a population of 2,3,413,978 inhabitants (population density 205.1 persons/km², Eurostat 2007). The most populous cities are Charleroi (201,373), Liege (185,574) and Namur (107,178).

Brussels has a population of 1,018,804 people (population density 6458.7 people/km², Eurostat 2007) in 19 metropolitan district municipalities, two of which have more than 100,000 inhabitants.

The total population of the major cities mentioned is approximately 2.3 million people. In total, there are 13 cities in the country with a population of more than 85 thousand people.

The rural population density in Belgium for 2005 is 34.76 people/km².

Age structure of the population of Belgium

0-14 years: 16.1% (boys - 892,995, girls - 857,373);

15-64 years old: 66.3% (men - 3,480,072, women - 3,419,721);

65 years and older: 17.6% (men - 760,390, women - 1,047,447).

Average age

Overall: 40.8 years [ ] ;

Male: 39.6 years;

Female: 42.1 years (indicators for 2009).

Population growth

The population grew by 0.7% from 2007 to 2008.

The birth rate in Belgium is 11.7 births per 1,000 inhabitants.

There are 9.5 deaths per 1000 inhabitants.

Natural population growth in 2008 was 2.2% (23,392 people).

Net migration in Belgium is 1.22 migrants per 1000 inhabitants (2008 data).

Territorial differences in growth dynamics: (Eurostat data for 2007):

Brussels-Capital District - 6.7% (7 thousand people);

Flanders - 1.6% (10.1 thousand people);

Wallonia - 0.9% (2.9 thousand people).

Sex ratio

At birth: 1.04 male/female

Under 15 years: 1.04 male/female

15-64 years: 1.02 male/female

65 years and over: 0.71 male/female

Ratio of the total number: 0.96 male/female (according to 2009 data)

Infant mortality rates

Overall rate: 4.62 deaths/1000 births

Male: 5.2 deaths/1000 births

Female: 4.01 deaths/1000 births (based on 2006 data)

average life expectancy

Overall: 79.22 years

Male: 76.06 years

Female: 82.53 years (as of 2009)

Total Fertility Rate

On average, Belgian women have 1.64 children, according to 2006 data. The same figure for 1994 was estimated at 1.5 children.

Ethnic composition of the population

The two main groups that make up the country's population are the Flemings (about 58% of the population, 6 million people) and the Walloons (about 31% of the population, 3.4 million people). 11% are representatives of other nationalities. The Flemings live in the five northern provinces of Belgium (see Flanders) and speak the Dutch language and its many dialects (see Flemish). The Walloons live in the five southern provinces that make up Wallonia, speaking French, Walloon and several other languages. The fragmentation index value (F) is 0.50.

After independence, Belgium was a French-oriented state, and the only official language at first was French, although the Flemings always formed the majority of the population. Even in Flanders, French remained for a long time the only language of secondary and higher education.

Russians in Belgium

According to official statistics, by the end of 2008, there were 7,176 Russian citizens living in Belgium who did not have Belgian citizenship. Some 3,407 Russian citizens received Belgian citizenship between 1992 and 2007. Some 10,244 citizens of former Soviet countries received Belgian citizenship between 1990 and 2007. Official statistics until 1990 only counted citizenship through naturalization, while citizenship by application was much more common.

The above data does not take into account asylum-seeking and undocumented immigrants other than those who were naturalized and granted Belgian citizenship between 1990 and 2007.

Compatriots in Belgium

In 2010, an unofficial count by two independent methods made it possible to estimate the number of Russian speakers permanently residing in Belgium at 50,000 (±2000). In 2014, the third method allowed us to refine the estimate to 51,000 (±1000) people.

Colonies of emigrants abroad

There is little emigration due to the high standard of living in Belgium. Descendants of emigrants of the 19th-20th centuries. - in the USA - 360 thousand, Canada - 175 thousand, Argentina - about 100 thousand.

Religious composition of the population

The majority of believers (about 70% of the population) are Catholics. Islam (250 thousand people), Protestantism (about 70 thousand), Judaism (35 thousand), Anglicanism (40 thousand) and Orthodoxy (20 thousand) are also officially recognized.

Family characteristics

Average family size (persons): in 1866 - 4.6, in 1981 - 2.7.

Size and stability of the marriage group: monogamy, allowing for divorce.

Socially recognized fertility standards: the birth rate, as in other EU countries, is falling (in 2001 - 1.65 and 1.47), the majority of children are born in families with both parents. The number of children born out of wedlock is growing, 22% in 2001.

Family as a factor of social control

Family plays a major role in the lives of Belgians. Duty to family is the Belgian's top priority. Most people continue to live in the cities where they grew up, which helps keep families together.

Recently, the number of families with one working family member has been growing, but these are, as a rule, single parents who raise a child on their own. However, the number of such families is still lower than the EU average (12%).

Professional structure

According to data for 2009, among the total employed population (thousand people): self-employed persons - 720, hired workers - 3718, including in agriculture - 29, in industry - 571, in construction - 206, in the service sector - 2911, including trade, transport, communications - 895, finance, real estate, rent, consulting - 615, public service, education - 788, other services - 614 (source - National Bank of Belgium).

Notes

1. Database - Eurostat(English) . ec.europa.eu.
2. Eurostat - Tables, Graphs and Maps Interface (TGM) table(English) . ec.europa.eu.
3. Archived copy (undefined) (unavailable link). Retrieved July 17, 2008. Archived June 25, 2007.

In 57 BC, as a result of the conquests of Julius Caesar, the lands that are today the territory of Belgium became part of the Roman Empire. The Romans named the new province, inhabited by Celtic tribes, Gallia Belgica.

In the 4th century AD the decline of Rome led to the transfer of control of Gaul to the Franks, a Germanic tribe that the weakened empire used as mercenaries.

Early Middle Ages

By 431, the Franks created their own empire with their own royal dynasty (Merovingians) and capital. Clovis I managed to defeat the last Roman ruler, Afranius Syagrius, and annex the north of Gaul to his kingdom. The lands of the new empire occupied part of the territory of modern France, Belgium and southwestern Germany. After some time, Clovis converted to Christianity, receiving the support of the Church.

After the death of Clovis, the kingdom was divided into several parts, ruled by the sons of the late king. The Frankish lands were again united into a single state during the reign of Pepin the Short, who imprisoned the last of the Merovingians in a monastery in 751. Pepin became the founder of a new dynasty - the Carolingians.

Charlemagne, who succeeded his father in 768, reigned for almost half a century, creating an empire that covered almost all of continental Europe, with the exception of Spain and Scandinavia. For most of his reign, Charles was engaged in the conquest of new lands, however, he did a lot to develop trade and the arts. The use of Belgian rivers as shipping routes for organized trade began during his reign.

After the death of Charlemagne, the empire was divided into three parts. Under the terms of the Treaty of Verdun, concluded in 843, each of Charles’s three grandchildren received part of the land under their control: the western part went to Charles the Bald, the central part went to Lothair, and the eastern part went to Ludwig the German. Most of modern Belgium was Lothair's inheritance, and only a narrow strip of land north and west of the Scheldt River belonged to Charles the Bald.

The northwestern part of Belgium belonged to Charles the Bald only nominally; in fact, it was ruled by Baldwin the Iron Hand, who became the first Count of Flanders. Having married Charles's daughter, Baldwin began building fortified cities to protect his lands from the depredations of the Normans. Ghent was built first (867), then Bruges and Ypres.

X-XIV centuries

The southeast of modern Belgium became part of the Duchy of Lower Lorraine under the rule of German kings. In 977, the Duke of Lorraine built a fortress on the Senne River, which later became the basis of Brussels.

At the beginning of the new millennium, Norman raids gradually ceased, and the situation in the most important kingdoms of Europe stabilized, which became the reason for an unprecedented flourishing of trade. By importing wool from England and processing it into quality cloth for sale on the continent, the Flemish cities grew richer and increased their influence in the region. By 1300, Ghent, Bruges and Ypres had effectively become autonomous entities, freed from count control.

Of course, this state of affairs did not please the aristocracy, which tried to regain control over such attractive sources of wealth. In turn, France tried in every possible way to bring Flanders back under its influence, which only formally continued to be included in its composition.

The clash took place in 1302. At the Battle of Courtrai, the Flemings defeated the French troops. However, growing rivalry between the cities led to fragmentation, and by 1329 they had lost their independence and Flanders had once again fallen under French control, which in turn displeased England.

The British stopped supplying wool to Flanders, and rivalry with France resulted in the Hundred Years' War of 1337-1453, during which Flemish cities repeatedly tried to regain their independence.

In 1384, Flanders became part of the Duchy of Burgundy as the inheritance of the wife of Philip the Bold, who ruled Burgundy.

XV-XVIII centuries

During the time of Philip the Good (1419-1467), Flanders flourished as part of Burgundy. Philip gained control of the southeastern regions, including Brussels, Namur and Liege. He suppressed the independence of the cities by imposing central rule from Brussels, and strengthened the region's economy. Philip's reign brought prosperity to the country, which contributed to the flourishing of culture. A whole galaxy of talented artists appeared: Robert Campin, Jan van Eyck, Rogier van der Weyden.

After the death of Charles the Bold (son of Philip the Good), who left no male heirs, the Duchy of Burgundy was transferred to the French crown. Thus, the lands of modern Belgium came under the control of the Habsburgs.

Under Charles V, who became Holy Roman Emperor, Belgium was part of his vast possessions, and after the division of the Empire it became part of the Spanish Crown. Belgian territories were part of the Union of 17 Provinces (Benelux territory and part of northern France).

The accession of Charles V's son Philip II to the throne in 1555 led to a crisis as the new king's strident Spanish Catholicism coincided with the rise of Protestantism in Europe. Social unrest in the cities was met with sharp and severe repression by the authorities. In 1581, Philip II was deposed. The emerging Republic of the United Provinces constantly fought for its independence over the next decades. Catholic regions in the south remained loyal to Spain, becoming known as the Spanish Netherlands.

In 1648, in accordance with the Treaty of Münster, Spain recognized the independence of the Republic and agreed to block navigation on the Scheldt River. As a result, Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges lost their trade dominance in the region.

Under the terms of the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, the Spanish Netherlands ceded to Austria. The Austrian rulers, like the Spanish kings before, had little interest in the new territories, whose economy was in decline. The provinces were governed by governors through Brussels.

Joseph II, who ascended the throne in 1780, tried to carry out a number of reforms, including administrative ones, which abolished national autonomy. These attempts led to an uprising, and by 1788 all the territories of the Belgian provinces were almost completely liberated from Austrian influence.

French period and Kingdom of the Netherlands

After the Great Revolution, the monarchies of Europe declared war on France, however, by 1794 the French managed to expel the invaders from their land and go on the offensive. As a result of the victory over the Austrians at Fleuruse, Belgian territories passed to France.

Napoleonic reforms eliminated the class-feudal order and contributed to the adoption of progressive legislation. Ship traffic on the Scheldt River was restored, and the French market opened for Belgian goods.

After the overthrow of Napoleon, by decision of the Congress of Vienna, the historical territories of the Netherlands were united into one common state - the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Although the southern provinces received some economic benefits, for the most part the government of the new state acted in the interests of the north. The Flemings' dissatisfaction with the reforms and privileges of the Dutch led to the unification of Catholics and liberals into a united national front.

Independence and Recent History

The bourgeois revolution of 1830 in Brussels led to the final independence of Belgium. At the London Conference that same year, the largest countries in Europe recognized the sovereignty of the new state.

Under the reign of the first king of Belgium, Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, economic prosperity began.

During the First World War, almost the entire country was occupied by German imperialist troops. After the defeat of Germany, under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, Belgium received part of the German territories and African colonies.

In 1940, Nazi Germany again invaded the territory of the state.

In the post-war period, Brussels gradually assumed the role of the “capital” of Europe - it is the headquarters of the European Community and NATO, as well as the main European center of international business. In 1957, Belgium formed the Benelux union together with the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Perhaps the most significant of the post-war developments was the growing autonomy of the various regions. In 1977, the country was divided into three administrative regions: Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. In 1980, this division was enshrined in the Constitution.

Belgium is located in northwestern Europe and borders France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. In the northwest it is washed by the North Sea.

Most of the country is flat, but abundantly dissected by hills and low hilly ridges. Despite its small size, the country's territory is clearly divided into three natural landscape zones: the coastal lowland plain surrounded by dunes and dissected by polders in the northwest, the low central plateau (High Fenn) and the Ardennes Upland in the southeast of the country. Cultivated landscapes predominate. The highest point is Botrange (694 m, Ardennes).

The total area of ​​the country is 30.5 thousand square meters. km.

Little Belgium boasts its varied landscape - in the north there are dune landscapes of the seaside, in the central part there is a green hilly plain, in the south there are the green lowlands of the Ardennes.

The country has three official languages ​​- Flemish (close to Dutch, has several dialects), German and French (distinguished by characteristic local pronunciation and a large number of dialect words).

In many large cities and resort areas on the coast, English is spoken almost fluently.

Population in Belgium divided into three major linguistic communities. North of the country - Flanders speaks Dutch, South of Belgium - Vallogne French-speaking

One in ten Belgians is bilingual, and the majority of the population have some knowledge of a second language. About 1% of Belgians are German-speaking, the German community is concentrated in the eastern part of the province of Liege, in 9 communes in Saint-Vith and Eupen.

Brussels is made up of 19 bilingual communes, although the French-speaking population predominates. In the 19th and early 20th centuries. The French-speaking population was in the lead in the life of the country.

Gradually, the Flemings achieved recognition as a separate ethnic community, first on their own lands, and then on a national scale. Flanders received autonomy status.
Most Belgians are Catholics. Although the number of parishioners in Walloon is declining, in Flanders and the Ardennes it remains approximately constant. Protestants live mainly in Brabant and Ghent. The Jewish community is concentrated in Brussels and Antwerp.

Political structure of Belgium

Federal constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the king. The legislative body is a bicameral parliament (House of Representatives and Senate), legislative acts are formed jointly by parliament and the monarch.

Administrative division - 3 regions (Flemish, Walloon and Brussels Capital Region) and 10 provinces. Regions are endowed with extensive autonomous rights and are governed by local executive authorities (assemblies).

The capital of Belgium is Brussels- at the same time it is the capital of the region with its own government and parliament; the headquarters of the Council of Ministers of the European Community, NATO and other international organizations is located here.

The largest cities are Brussels (970 thousand), Antwerp (480 thousand), Ghent (234 thousand), Liege (201 thousand).

Belgium, located in Western Europe, is a country with a characteristically high standard of living, based on political and social stability, linguistic diversity and a multinational population.

The combination of these factors, coupled with a highly developed infrastructure, an extensive international communication network, and the presence of qualified consultants with international experience, has contributed to the fact that Belgium has been able to become a major center of international financial activity.

An important aspect of obtaining a residence permit in any country is the legitimacy (legality) of this procedure from the standpoint of the legislation of both the country where the residence permit is obtained and the legislation of the country of which the person seeking to obtain a residence permit is a citizen.

When obtaining a residence permit, an applicant who is the manager of a company may incur additional costs associated with the services of lawyers, accountants, and notaries. State fees and charges amount to 3,000-4,000 Euro.

When opening an account in a number of banks, a deposit is required. Its size can range from an average of 1000 Euros.

Belgium is an ideal travel route for tourists from disadvantaged countries who often come to spend their holidays in Belgium. That is, from countries where a calm, measured, stable life is an unaffordable luxury even for very rich people. In Belgium you forget about the everyday hustle and bustle and stress, troubles, problems.

Most popular among tourists Antwerp. Here you should definitely visit the Rubens House Museum. Gorgeous Antwerp Zoo- one of the best in the world. Antwerp is a port city; a visit to its waterfront is highly recommended.

Holidays in Belgium are like a history lesson. The center of Brussels is similar to the centers of many ancient cities in Western Europe. It has preserved many medieval buildings, such as the Gothic town hall (XV century) and the cathedral (XIII - XV centuries). The famous Mannequin Mannequin Statue of the Pissing Boy also stands here.

Official holidays and weekends in Belgium:

• January 1-2 - New Year.
• March 31-April 1 - Easter.
• May 1-2 - Spring and Labor Festival.
• May 9 - Ascension of the Lord.
• May 19 is Holy Trinity Day.
• May 20 - Spiritual Day.
• July 21 - King's Oath Day, National Remembrance Day.
• August 15 - Exaltation.
• September 27 is a national holiday.
• November 1 - All Saints' Day.
• November 15 is Royal Dynasty Day, a national holiday.
• December 25 - Christmas.

In addition, the country has many beautiful holidays with interesting national traditions, which are celebrated no less widely.

The Belgians are distinguished by their overflowing cheerfulness, innate love of life, sense of humor, as well as stubbornness and persistent reluctance to express their opinions directly to their faces, because fate throughout their history has forced them to be secretive and patient.

Belgium cannot be classified as a resort country, but it also has places to relax in nature. The most famous resort in Belgium is Spa, located in the east of the kingdom, near Liege. In the city, famous for its mineral water springs, in addition to balneological health centers, there is the “Museum of the City of Waters” and a gallery with works of artists depicting local landscapes.

Along the entire coast of the North Sea stretch sandy beaches length of about 70 km with the resorts Knokke, De Haan, Westende, Oostende. The swimming season lasts from mid-June to mid-September.

The most famous resort is Ostend(Oostende), its beaches and dunes are the ideal place to spend a hot day and a romantic evening. In the city aquarium you can look at the underwater world of the North Sea. In Ostend you can visit the sailing ship Mercator, on which all historical details have been preserved.

A little west of Ostenede there is another resort Flemish coast- Middelkerk. The northeasternmost town on the coast is a top-class resort - Knokke-Heist. It is known for its special beaches, pine groves, terraces and gardens, as well as golf courses, swimming pools and casinos.

Landscapes and wildlife are preserved in many nature reserves and national parks: Belcelles, Haut-Fan, Kalmthout, Shevton, St. Hubert and the bird sanctuary on the Zwin coast.

Ardennes offer many places to relax, for example surrounded by rocks with beautiful grottoes Dinant, above which rise the mysterious walls of the citadel. Reserve St. Hubert, where in the square near the Church of St. Gilles you seem to be in the times of the pilgrims. In winter it is a ski resort. In September, here, not far from the abbey, founded in the 7th century, the international Hunter's Day takes place (St. Hubert, patron saint of hunting). The pride of Belgium is the large Ardennes forest on the border with Germany and Luxembourg. In the Ardennes you can find many holiday destinations surrounded by ancient castles and beautiful mountain landscapes.

The country is literally the center of historical monuments and architectural structures, many of which are scattered throughout almost the entire territory of Belgium. Every city in Belgium has ancient cathedrals or fortresses, castles or medieval guild buildings, preserving the memory of the wealth of medieval trading Flanders and the Walloon counties.

Brussels, the capital of ancient Brabant, is the cultural and political center of the country and the European Community. The Belgians call the old part of the city the “Pentagon”, as it is surrounded by circular boulevards built on the site of old defensive structures. Most city tours start from the capital's largest square, the Grand Place (Grotemarkt or Great Square), where the old town hall of the Hotel de Ville is located with the famous weather vane (15th century) depicting St. Michael slaying the dragon. Here Broadhus is also located with the Brussels City Museum and a whole block of ancient buildings, each of which has its own name.

Not far from the Grand Place, on Rue Etuve, there is the famous fountain, the “calling card of the city” - Mannequin Pis (“Pissing Boy”, 17th century) and the Palais des Nations (parliament). To the west of the Grand Place is the Bourse (1873), one of the most prestigious stages in Europe - the Monnet Opera, Place Rogier, the Church of St. Catherine on the square of the same name, surrounded by old houses of the 17th-18th centuries, as well as picturesque, always crowded by the people Central Boulevards. On the site of the old canal, just behind the Church of St. Catherine, there is a wonderful pedestrian area with the delightful Church of John the Baptist (17th century) and two small rectangular ponds surrounded by numerous fish restaurants.

One of the city's most famous historical landmarks is the Royal Galleries of St. Hubert between the Marché aux Herbes and Ecuyer streets. This is the first architectural complex in Europe with covered galleries (1847), today surrounded by dozens of art salons, cafes, restaurants and theaters. No less popular among city guests are the Cathedral of St. Michael (XIII-XVI centuries) and the “Classical Quarter”, on the territory of which there are such famous monuments as Palace Square with the Royal Palace and the Palace of Academies, Royal Square, the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, Coquelberg the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, the Church of St. James and the huge Palace of Justice.

On the small Museum Square, indeed surrounded on all sides by museums, there is the palace of Charles of Lorraine and the famous “Proval” - an illuminated well in which part of the exhibits of the Museum of Modern Art is exhibited. To the south of the Place Royale are the quarters of the Grand and Petit Sablon, where it is worth visiting the Egmont Palace (18th century), the Minim Church (1715) and the beautiful Gothic church of Notre-Dame des Victoires du Sablon (16th century). .

The "Brussels Park" is extremely famous - a former hunting park of the royal dynasty, and today - a classic park in the French style, containing on its territory several picturesque ponds, the Royal Palace, the Palace of Justice, the headquarters of the Brussels Lambert bank, the Parliament complex (1780 g.), Park Theater and many beautiful landscaped areas.

In the south-eastern, business part of the city, the quarter of the Marie-Louise and Ambiorix squares, as well as the Soigne and Cambra forests, are interesting. Thousands of tourists are attracted by the Cambras Abbey (XIII-XVIII centuries, today the National Geographic Institute and the Cambras Higher School of Fine Arts are located here) in the area of ​​the Ixelles Ponds, as well as the Cambras Square and the De Poche Theater.

In the north-east of Brussels, interesting are the Botanical Garden (1829), a number of beautiful neoclassical buildings on Rue Meridien and Place Quetelet, the Church of Sainte-Marie (1845), the ancient Malebek covered market (now the city concert hall is located here), the "Turkish area" between Rue Josephate and Rue Philomene, the churches of St. Mary and St. Henri, Park Joseph and many beautiful buildings descending the hill along Rue Eugene Demulder, Boulevard Lambermont and Avenue Houar-Amoir.

The western part of Brussels is famous for the Notre-Dame de Laiken church and the small Laiken cemetery - a real museum of cemetery art, the palace of Leopold II (XVIII century) with the unique Royal Orangeries (XIX century), the Bruparc ensemble, as well as the famous Atomium - enlarged in several million times a model of an iron molecule, around which is the Mini-Europe park (area - 2.5 hectares), where you can see all the famous cathedrals of the Old World - from the Leaning Tower of Pisa to Big Ben. The Oceanadium, a year-round tropical swimming pool, is located nearby.

In Anderlecht The Erasmus Museum of Rotterdam (16th century) on Chapitre Street, Birsel Castle (14th century), the royal castle of Gaasbeek, Astrid Park and the famous Constant Vanden Stock stadium attract attention.

Among the many museums in Brussels, the most interesting are the Royal Museum of Fine Arts with an extensive collection of masterpieces of world art from Rubens to Magritte, the Municipal Museum in the building of the Royal Palace (XVI-XVIII centuries), the Royal Museum of the Army and Military History, the private Automobile Museum in the "Cincentennial Park" ", Museum of Classical Art with a magnificent collection of Flemish artists, Museum of Modern Art, Instrumental Museum, Porcelain Museum in the Royal Greenhouses, Museum of the Belgian Dynasty, Royal Central African Museum (13 km east of the city), Wax Museum, Horta Museum, Royal Museum of History and Arts (one of the richest collections of Egyptian and ancient antiquities, Chinese and pre-Columbian art of America), the Menier Museum, the small museum of Ixelles, the Victoccan Book Museum, the Aeronautics Museum, the Museum of Musical Instruments (more than 6 thousand exhibits), the Cantillon brewery and etc.

Antwerp- the main city of the province of the same name and the second largest port in Europe, as well as the world's largest diamond cutting center. But there are also many cultural and antique monuments concentrated here - the Royal Museum of Art, the Mayer van den Bergh Museum ("Jewelry Museum") - one of the most interesting and rich museums in Antwerp, the Plantin-Moretus Museum, the Brabo Fountain (19th century), the Cathedral Our Lady, the churches of St. James and St. Charles Borromean, the royal castle of Gaasbeek, the oldest building in the city - the Sten fortress (now the Maritime Museum), the church of St. Charles and James, the Museum of Modern Art, the Middelheim Sculpture Museum, Museums of Folk Art and Ethnography, Museum "Dwelling of the Virgins", Museum of Folklore, Museum Vleeshuis (Museum of Archeology and Applied Arts), Opera and Flanders Ballet, Diamond Museum and the famous Antwerp Zoo. Also, thousands of tourists are attracted by the pedestrian street Hoogstraat, the house of the nobleman Rokoks (XVII century), the central square of the Grote Markt, the picturesque embankment and the South Terrace of the Scheldt and Linkerover (the left bank of the Scheldt, built according to the design of Corbusier).

For art lovers, Antwerp is primarily associated with the name of the great Peter Paul Rubens. Rubens lived in Antwerp most of his life. One of the main city shrines of Antwerp is Rubens's house. Rubens' works can be seen in the most famous Antwerp church - the Cathedral of Our Lady (Onse Live Vraukerk) and in many other churches in Antwerp, including the Church of St. Jacob, where the artist is buried.

The Royal Museum of Fine Arts is the city's largest art gallery. It is based on paintings that once belonged to the guild of St. Luke - an association of artists founded in 1442. The Guild dissolved in 1773, after which the paintings by Rubens, Jordanes and other famous Dutch masters of the 16th-17th centuries that were in its possession were transferred to the museum. Part of the collection was taken from Antwerp during the French occupation of 1794-96, but after the fall of Napoleon it returned to the museum.

In 1841, thanks to the invaluable donation of the former burgomaster Florent van Ertborn, the museum’s collection was replenished with paintings by the so-called “Flemish primitivists” - representatives of the “golden age” of Dutch painting by van Eyck, van der Weyden, Hans Memling and works by other ancient masters, including the genius of the Italian Renaissance Antonello da Messina.

The museum also presents Belgian artists of the New Age, including the famous Rene Magritte.

Unlike most art galleries, the rooms of the Royal Museum are distinguished not by numbers, but by letters. Room Q houses paintings by the most revered masters of 15th-century Dutch painting. There you can see two masterpieces by Jan van Eyck and the famous triptych by Rogier van der Weyden “The Seven Sacraments”. In the next room, the visitor will admire the creations of Hans Memling. Another room will delight you with a wonderful collection of paintings by the famous 16th-century Antwerp artist. Quentin Massys (the Belgians call him Metsys), and fans of the magnificent 17th century will undoubtedly spend a lot of time in the halls of Rubens and Van Dyck.

In the Meir district there are many shopping establishments, as well as the ancient Royal Palace (XVIII century), the Borenbond tower - the first skyscraper in Belgium, the Bourse, the churches of St. James (XVII century) and St. Augustine, the beautiful rotunda of the Burla Theater and Schoonmarkt (old shoe market).

In the north of the old town, several old swimming pools and the Church of St. Paul are interesting. The southern quarter is famous for the beautiful Leopold-Waalplats and Marnixplats squares, the esplanade of the Museum of Fine Arts, the Flemish and Walloon embankments, literally bustling with cultural life. There are art galleries here, and the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Museum of Photography are located in an old grain warehouse on Levenstraat.

The city has a great variety of restaurants, bars, pubs, nightclubs and other entertainment venues. The “entertainment district” of Central Square and the railway station are especially popular.

On the outskirts of Antwerp, interesting are the modern cultural complex "Singel", the House of Guyette (designed by Corbusier) and the Borgerhout town hall with 47 bells on Morkensplein. There are two castles in Derne, one of which, Sterkhof, houses the Museum of Arts and Crafts, and one of the most beautiful parks in Belgium, famous for its ponds and centuries-old trees. In Middelheim Park there is an open-air museum, where landscape compositions and an entire exhibition of modern sculpture are spread out on a giant lawn. The ancient "Fort VII" (1860) was turned into a natural park-reserve inhabited by dozens of species of local flora and fauna.

City Lear famous for its astronomical clock, the ancient Zimmer Tower and the ring of fortifications from the 16th century. Nearby is the Kalmthout Nature Reserve (861 hectares), which protects a relict landscape of sand dunes ("lands") surrounded by heathland and pine forest.

Ghent, the capital of East Flanders, ranks first in the country for the number of magnificent ancient buildings.

Ghent is a real pearl of Flanders, and indeed of the whole of Belgium, which has carried through the centuries the atmosphere and charm of the Middle Ages. In the center of the city, buildings and streets from the time of the economic prosperity of Flanders have been preserved to this day, to which it owed much to Ghent - this proud and rebellious city. Unlike Bruges, which to this day remains a medieval museum city, Ghent lives and develops. It is the fourth most important city in Belgium (250 thousand inhabitants). It retains its economic importance for Flanders to this day. Thanks to its important seaport and convenient location (in the center of the country), it was Ghent that became the venue for the regular holding of the well-known fair "Flanders Technology" (Flanders Technologies). The city is also home to the Belgian State University.

The heart of the city is the reservoir, from which the Veldstraat street branches off. One of the symbols of the city is also located here - the St. Michael's Bridge, spanning the Lys Canal, as well as the watchtower and Lakenhalle (indoor Cloth Market, 15th century) on the Belforstraat enfilade, as well as the picturesque embankments of Graslei and Korenlei, lined with medieval guild buildings. The oldest quarter of Ghent, preserved almost in its original state, Patershall, is built up with houses from the 16th-11th centuries, which today house restaurants, antique shops and other shopping establishments.

The main attractions of Ghent are the Cathedral of St. Bavo (XII century) with paintings by Van Eyck, the Church of St. Nicholas, the street of ancient houses of Grasley, the University Library Tower (64 m.), St. Peter's Abbey (XVII century) on the slopes " mountains "Blandeinberg, the main square of the city - Vrijdagmarkt ("Friday Market"), the Van der Mers Palace (XVIII century), the Royal Palace on Breidelstraat, surrounded by the magnificent houses of the aristocracy, the Town Hall on Hoogpoort, the old fortified Rabot lock, the castles of Count Philip ( XII century) and Gerard the Devil (XII century), the Church of St. James, the old "beguinage" (nunnery of the Order of the Beguines) of St. Elizabeth around the church of the same name, the Church of St. Michael, Beiloke Abbey (XIV-XVIII centuries, now the Archaeological Museum is located here), the Museum of Modern Art with an extensive collection of "old Flemings" (XV-XVI centuries), a festive hall and the old printing house "Voruit" and the austere building of the Opera on Brabantdam.

Those who like to wander through museums will also find a lot of interesting things here - the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Modern Art, the Folklore Museum in the building of the old Kinderen Alein hospice, as well as the pedestrian street Veldstraat, on which old houses and private mansions of the 18th century. interspersed with fashionable shops, as well as the banks of the Scheldt transformed into magnificent gardens. Very close to the city lie the castles of Laarne (XIII-XVII centuries), Ooidonk (XV-XVI centuries) and Vondelgem, intended to protect Ghent.

Bruges, the main city of West Flanders and a famous medieval trading center, is a wonderful place to visit.

Thanks to its developed network of canals, Bruges is called the “Venice of the North,” although in reality there is quite little in common between the Italian and Belgian cities. Venice was built on islands in the lagoon of the Adriatic Sea. And Bruges is located deeper inland, at least for now - as scientists believe that sometime in the 5th century BC the coast of Flanders was repeatedly flooded by the North Sea. When the sea receded, it left behind numerous branches through which ships could reach the place where Bruges is located.

In the Middle Ages, during the "Golden Age" of Bruges, the route from the sea to the city was regularly widened and cleared so that large merchant ships could bring their cargo here. But starting from the 12th century, most of the cargo was left in satellite towns - Damme and Sluz, two small medieval towns that exist to this day, where special excursions are organized.

Inside the city, at the base of the Reie River, a whole network of canals was created that allowed merchants to deliver their goods to the huge building of the Water Halls in the main market.

Nowadays excursions are organized along the canals of Bruges on boats that vaguely resemble Venetian galleys. Moreover, the honorable right to conduct these excursions belongs only to four dynasties of carriers, each of which has its own boats.

The richest and most interesting part of the city is located between the station, the Main Square and the market. Interesting are the City Museum of Fine Arts (the famous Groninge Museum) and the Hans Memling Museum in the building of the Sint-Jans hospital, the old market square with buildings of the 13th century and a magnificent 83-meter watchtower (XIII-XV centuries), the large pedestrian Zand square, St. Salvator (XII-XIII centuries) with an extensive Cathedral Museum, the Gothic Church of Our Lady (122 m in height, XIV-XV centuries), Beguinage (XIII century) with Lake Minnewater ("lake of love"), the Church of St. James, St. Walpurgis, St. Anne, St. Giles and Jerusalem, Gruthuse Palace on Deiver Street, the Gothic ensemble of the Cloth Hall, the ancient city gates of Jeselpoort, Gentpoort and Smedenpoort, the Basilica of the Blood of Christ (15th century) and the Monastery of Angels, the city hall (XIV century), the Palace of Justice (Palace of the Union of Bruges) and the Basilica of Saint-Saens on Burg Square.

The official name of the Groninge Museum is the City Museum of Fine Arts. However, its second name is much more popular - the Groninge Museum, associated not only with the nearby Groninge straat - Groninge street, but also with the Groninge fields in the Belgian town of Kortrijk (Courtreux), where on July 11, 1302, the Flemish people's militia completely defeated the brilliant cavalry of the French king. The victory in this battle, which later became known as the “Battle of the Golden Spurs” (700 golden spurs of the French knights were hung as trophies in the Cathedral of Courtrai), is still a source of national pride for the Flemings.

From the 18th century, when the collection of the city museum began to take shape, to the present day, the museum's curators deliberately limit themselves to collecting paintings only by those artists who lived and worked in Bruges. Once the largest Flemish trading city, the residence of the court of the Dukes of Burgundy, Bruges can afford such luxury: in the 15th century, it was there that the artistic center of the Dutch school of painting, which is now called “Flemish primitivists” in the West, turned out to be.

The artists belonging to it are not as well known to Russian art lovers as, for example, the masters of the Italian Renaissance or French classicism, but in their skill and innovation, strict detailing combined with spirituality, this school is incomparable.

Its first and greatest representative is Jan van Eyck (legend attributes to him the invention of oil paints). In the Groninge Museum there are two of his paintings: a portrait of the artist’s wife, Margaretha van Eyck, and the famous “Madonna of Canon van der Paele”. The canon himself, who commissioned the painting, is traditionally depicted in the painting in the venerable company of the Mother of God herself, as well as St. Domitian and St. George.

Every detail in this picture is a true miracle, be it the inlaid floor, the multi-colored velvet carpet at the feet of the Madonna, the chain mail of St. George, where it is not so much the metal itself that is conveyed, but the glare of light on it.

Another great artist of the Dutch school of the 15th century is Hans Memling. In the museum you can see only one of his works - the altar of St. Christopher. But a few tens of meters from the Groninge Museum, in the chapel of the former hospital of St. John, now houses the Memling Museum, which houses six of his works created specifically for the hospital.

Among the masters of the "golden age" of Dutch painting presented in the Groninge Museum, Gerard David and Hugo van der Goes should also be mentioned. But it would be a big mistake to get carried away by big names and neglect the anonymous artists of Bruges of the 15th century - the level of the Dutch school of painting was so high in this era.

The art of the "Flemish primitivists" is without a doubt the most valuable part of the Groninge collection. However, a true connoisseur of painting will not be limited to it and will be rewarded with works of the Baroque and Classical eras, as well as an interesting collection of the Belgian school of the 20th century - both the expressionists of the beginning of the century and the artists of the “Cobra movement” of the second half.

Unique historical heritage sites include the Lace Making Center, the still operating St. Janus Mill (1770), as well as 80 bridges over picturesque canals and more than 2 thousand other attractions of the city.

"Hot city" Liege is the largest and one of the most ancient cities in Wallonia. Here, first of all, you should visit St. Lambert Square, the Palace of the Prince-Bishops, the Museum of Walloon Life and the Museum of Walloon Art, see the Town Hall and the Church of St. James, as well as the ancient symbol of the city's independence - the Perron (a fountain and a column with four lions ), which is located on the Marchais market square.

No less interesting are the Church of St. Antoine, the Baroque Church of the Atonement, the ancient monastery of Frere-Miners with many interesting museums, the Le Temple courtyard and the picturesque Dead Ends, the “Liège miracle” - baptismal fonts with biblical scenes in the Church of St. Bartholomew (XII century) , the Church of St. Servais (XIII century), a large noisy crowd on the Bath embankment, St. Leonard's Bridge with the white and red house of Curtius, the Church of Saint-Denis (XV century), St. Paul's Cathedral on Vinav-d Square" Ile with the famous statue of the "Virgin of Delcourt" and the oldest passage in Belgium Lemonnier (1839). It is worth visiting Place Isère with the building of the Theater De la Place, the famous Diver circus in the En-Routure lane, the Franais bridge, the Parc d'Avroy , the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament on the hill of St. Martin with 12 medallions of Jean Delcourt, the Glass Museum (more than 9,000 exhibits), the Museum of Religious and Mozan Art, the Museum of Arms, the Ansembourg Museum, the Aquarium and Zoological Museum, the Chancha Puppet Museum and dozens of other historical monuments .

For five centuries, the former capital of the Spanish Netherlands and Beethoven's birthplace, Mechelen (Malines), has been famous for its bells and architecture. Of interest here are one of the oldest buildings in the city - Schepenhuis (1374), Town Hall (XV-XVI centuries), St. Rombout Cathedral, Margaret of Austria's Palace - Palace of Justice (XVI century), Royal Lyceum, Baroque Church of St. Peter , the palace of Margaret of York (now the city theatre), the Church of St. John, which houses the famous triptych by Rubens "The Adoration of the Magi", the Bishopric and Abbey of Saint-Tron, medieval shipyards, the Church of Our Lady of Hanswijk (1663), the Grand Beguinage with its beautiful church of the 17th century, City Museum (Busleiden family museum, 1500), Museum of Toys and Folklore, Museum of Traditional Crafts, etc.

One of the leading tourist centers in Belgium is the town of Waterloo, the site of the famous battle between Napoleon's army and Wellington's troops. All the city's attractions are dedicated to this event - Napoleon's headquarters, the Wellington Museum, Lion's Hill with the Visitor Center, Panorama, the Wax Museum and the Church of St. Joseph. No less interesting are the "city of churches" of Tournai, ancient Mons, medieval Binche, in which now they hold the famous Carnival, the birthplace of the Carolingian dynasty - Charleroi, the capital of Tudinia, the land of ancient abbeys, - Tuen, the oldest city in the country - Tongeren, “which also saw Julius Caesar” Namur, “the tin capital of the country” - Huy, the famous balneological resort of Spa, the first the capital of the Duchy of Brabant is Leuven, the old capital of imperial Flanders is Aalst, the “city of discarded cats” Ypres, the “Texas of Flanders” - Kortrijk and many other equally charming places.

The pride of the country - Great Ardennes Forest on the border with Germany and Luxembourg, where travelers will find Neptune's grotto, half an hour's drive south of Charleroi, the Thousand and One Nights grotto near La Roche, the rock of the Dinant citadel and many other picturesque places where, surrounded by almost virgin nature, ancient monasteries

belgium netherlands habsburg state

Division of the Netherlands at the end of the 16th century. Led to increased political, religious, cultural and economic divisions between north and south. The independent north, which had embraced Calvinism, with its social and cultural values ​​and traditions, experienced economic growth, while the war-ravaged south was under the rule of the Habsburgs and the Catholic Church. In addition, for a long time there was a linguistic difference between the sulfur provinces, where Dutch was spoken, and the southern ones, where French was spoken, which in turn exacerbated cultural differences.

The complete decline of the economy of the Spanish Netherlands, the destruction of economic ties, led to the fact that the once flourishing Flemish cities were abandoned. One of the most difficult periods has begun in the history of the country.

For a long time, the Spanish Netherlands served as an arena for the struggle between the Habsburgs and the Bourbons. In 1648, at the Peace of Westphalia, Spain ceded parts of Flanders, Brabant and Limburg to the United Provinces and agreed to close the mouth of the Scheldt River, as a result of which Antwerp actually ceased to exist as a seaport and trading center.

As part of the War of the "Spanish Succession" (1701-1714), Belgium (as part of the "Spanish Netherlands") became part of the Austrian Habsburg Empire. The transition of the Southern Netherlands to Austrian rule did not change the internal life of the provinces; national autonomy and traditional institutions of the local nobility continued to exist. The Austrian monarchs administered the provinces through governors in Brussels. Attempts to reform the internal structure of the Austrian Netherlands by Joseph II, who ascended the throne in 1780, were unsuccessful. The emperor's desire for strict centralization and the desire to go ahead in achieving his goals led to growing resistance to reforms from various segments of the population. The religious reforms of Joseph II, which undermined the foundations of the dominant Catholic Church, aroused opposition throughout the 1780s, and his reforms of the administrative system in 1787, which were supposed to deprive the country's inhabitants of local institutions of power and national autonomy, became the spark that led to the revolution .

In August 1789, the population of Brabant rebelled against the Austrian authorities, and as a result, in December 1789, almost the entire territory of the Belgian provinces was liberated from the Austrians. In January 1790, the National Congress proclaimed the creation of the independent state of the United Belgian States. However, the new government, consisting of representatives of the conservative aristocratic party "Nootists", who enjoyed the support of the Catholic clergy, was overthrown by Leopold II, who became emperor in February 1790 after the death of his brother Joseph II.

After the defeat of the Austrian Empire in the war with France, this territory came under French rule (1795-1814).

The period of French rule over the Netherlands had a huge impact on the development of national consciousness and the desire for national independence. Napoleon's reforms, such as the abolition of internal customs, the liquidation of workshops, and the entry of Belgian goods into the French market, had a positive impact on the economy of the Belgian provinces. However, constant recruitment for wars of conquest, rising taxes caused massive discontent among the Belgians, and the desire for national independence fueled anti-French sentiment. The main achievement of this period was the destruction of the estate-feudal order, the introduction of progressive French legislation, administrative and judicial structure. The French declared freedom of navigation on the Scheldt, which had been closed for 144 years.

After the final defeat of Napoleonic France, by the decision of the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the territory of Belgium was annexed to the Netherlands. The son of the last Stadtholder of the United Provinces, William V, Prince William of Orange, was proclaimed sovereign sovereign of the Netherlands under the name of William I.

The union with the Netherlands provided certain economic benefits to the southern provinces. The more developed agriculture of Flanders and Brabant and the prosperous industrial cities of Wallonia developed thanks to Dutch maritime trade, which gave southerners access to markets in the overseas colonies of the mother country. But in general, the Dutch government pursued economic policy exclusively in the interests of the northern part of the country. The already established Belgian industrial bourgeoisie by that time was dissatisfied with the dominance of the Dutch, predominantly commercial bourgeoisie.

Although the southern provinces had at least 50% more inhabitants than the northern ones, they had the same number of representatives in the States General and were given a small number of military, diplomatic and ministerial posts. The short-sighted policies of the Protestant King William I in the field of religion and education, which included granting equality to all faiths and the creation of a system of secular primary education, caused discontent in the Catholic south. In addition, Dutch became the official language of the country, strict censorship was introduced and the creation of various types of organizations and associations was prohibited. A number of laws of the new state caused massive discontent among the population of the southern provinces.

Flemish traders resented the advantages their Dutch counterparts had. The indignation was even greater among Walloon industrialists, who felt disadvantaged by Dutch laws that could not protect the nascent industry from competition.

In 1828, the two main Belgian parties, Catholics and Liberals, dissatisfied with the policies of William I, formed a united national front. This union, called "unionism", was maintained for almost 20 years and became the main engine of the struggle for independence.

The July Revolution of 1830 in France inspired the Belgians. On August 25, 1830, a series of spontaneous anti-Dutch protests began in Brussels and Liege, which then quickly spread throughout the south.

At first, not all Belgians favored complete political separation from the Netherlands; many agreed to a political compromise: instead of William I, his son, the popular Prince of Orange, was to become king, while others demanded only administrative autonomy. The growing influence of French liberalism and the Brabant national spirit, fueled by the brutal military action and repressive measures of William I, changed the situation.

When Dutch troops entered the southern provinces in September, they were greeted as invaders. What was merely an attempt to expel Dutch officials and troops became a concerted movement towards a free and independent state. Elections to the National Congress took place in November. Congress accepted the declaration of independence drawn up in October by the provisional government led by Charles Rogier and began work on a constitution. The constitution came into force in February. The country was declared a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parliament. Those who paid taxes of a certain amount had the right to vote, and wealthy citizens received the right to several votes. Executive power was exercised by the king and the prime minister, who had to be approved by parliament. Legislative power was divided between the king, parliament and ministers. The fruit of the new constitution was a centralized bourgeois state, which combined liberal ideas and conservative institutions, supported by an alliance of the middle classes and the nobility.

The question of who would be the king of Belgium became the subject of widespread international discussion and diplomatic battles (a conference of ambassadors was even convened in London). When the Belgian National Congress elected Louis Philippe's son, the new French king, as king, the British protested and the conference considered the proposal inappropriate. The first Belgian king was a relative of the then reigning English Queen Victoria - Leopold I.

The treaty to regulate the separation of Belgium from the Netherlands, drawn up at the London Conference, did not receive approval from William I, and the Dutch army again crossed the Belgian border. The European powers, with the help of French troops, forced her to retreat, but William I again rejected the revised text of the treaty. In 1833 a truce was concluded. Finally, in April 1839 in London, all parties signed agreements on the most important points on the boundaries and division of the internal financial debt of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Belgium was forced to pay part of the military expenses of the Netherlands, to cede parts of Luxembourg and Limburg and Maastricht.

In 1831, Belgium was declared by the European powers to be an "independent and eternally neutral state", although the Netherlands only recognized Belgium's independence and neutrality in 1839.

Britain fought to preserve Belgium as a European country, free from foreign influence. At the initial stage, Belgium was “helped” by the Polish revolution of 1830, since it diverted the attention of the Russians and Austrians - potential allies of the Netherlands, who otherwise could have helped William I re-occupy Belgium.

The revolution of 1830 liberated the country from centuries-old dependence, and Belgium became an independent state. The first 15 years of independence demonstrated the continuation of the policy of unionism and the emergence of the monarchy as a symbol of unity and loyalty. Almost until the economic crisis of the mid-1840s, the coalition of Catholics and liberals pursued a single domestic and foreign policy. Leopold I turned out to be a competent ruler, who also had connections and influence in European royal houses, especially good relations were established with his niece, Queen Victoria of England.

From the middle of the 19th century. capitalism is rapidly developing in Belgium, and by the end of the century it is turning into a highly developed industrial country. Mechanical engineering, the coal mining industry, and the construction of state railways and canals acquired a large scale in Belgium. The abolition of protectionism in 1849, the creation of a national bank in 1835, and the restoration of Antwerp as a center of trade all contributed to the rapid industrial expansion in Belgium.

By the middle of the 19th century. the liberal bourgeoisie could no longer act as a united front with Catholic conservatives. The subject of dispute was the education system. Liberals, who advocated official secular schools in which the course of religion was replaced by a course of morality, had a majority in parliament from 1847 to 1870. In the period from 1870 to 1914. (except for five years between 1879 and 1884) the Catholic Party was in power. Liberals managed to pass through parliament a law providing for the separation of schools from the church (1879). However, it was abolished by Catholics in 1884 and religious disciplines were returned to the primary school curriculum. The Catholics consolidated their power in 1893 by passing a law granting the right to vote to all adult men over 25, a clear win for the Catholic party.

In 1879, the Belgian Socialist Party was founded in Belgium, on the basis of which the Belgian Workers' Party (BWP) was formed in April 1885. She abandoned the revolutionary struggle, being strongly influenced by Proudhonism and anarchism, and chose the tactics of achieving her goals through parliamentary means.

In alliance with progressive Catholics and liberals, the BRP managed to push a number of democratic reforms through parliament. Laws were passed regarding housing, workers' compensation, factory inspection, and child and female labor. Strikes in industrial areas in the late 1880s brought Belgium to the brink of civil war. In many cities there were clashes between workers and troops, and there were killed and wounded. Unrest also spread to military units. The scale of the movement forced the clerical government to make some concessions. This concerned, first of all, amendments to the law on electoral rights and labor legislation.

The foundations of another conflict were laid by Belgium's participation in the colonial division of Africa during the reign of Leopold II (1864-1909). Like the major imperialist powers, Belgium embarked on the path of colonial conquest. The Congo Free State had no official relations with Belgium, and Leopold II persuaded the European powers at the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, where the question of the division of Africa was decided, to place him as autocratic monarch at the head of this independent state, and in 1885 Belgium established his power over the Congo.

A serious conflict arose between the Walloons and the Flemings. The Flemish demands were that French and Flemish be equally recognized as the state languages. A cultural movement arose and developed in Flanders, exalting the Flemish past and its glorious historical traditions. In 1898, a law was passed confirming the principle of “bilingualism”, after which the texts of laws, inscriptions on postage and revenue stamps, banknotes and coins appeared in two languages