query: which country is located directly east of belgium?

title: Belgium

text: Belgium Belgium officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Western Europe bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the southwest, and the North Sea to the northwest. It covers an area of and has a population of more than 11.4 million. The capital and largest city is Brussels; other major cities are Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi and Liège. The sovereign state of Belgium is a federal constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of governance. Its institutional organisation is complex and is structured on both regional and linguistic grounds. It

title: Belgium

text: in the Formula One World Championship. Belgium also has a strong reputation in, motocross with the rider Stefan Everts. Sporting events annually held in Belgium include the Memorial Van Damme athletics competition, the Belgian Grand Prix Formula One, and a number of classic cycle races such as the Tour of Flanders and Liège–Bastogne–Liège. The 1920 Summer Olympics were held in Antwerp. The 1977 European Basketball Championship was held in Liège and Ostend. Belgium Belgium officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Western Europe bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast,

title: Foreign relations of Belgium

text: Foreign relations of Belgium Belgium is a country in Europe and member of major international organizations like the European Union and NATO which are both headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. As a federal state, the Communities and Regions have their own foreign relations and are able to conclude treaties themselves. Because of its location at the crossroads of Western Europe, Belgium has historically been the route of invading armies from its larger neighbours. With virtually defenceless borders, Belgium has traditionally sought to avoid domination by the more powerful nations which surround it through a policy of mediation. The Concert of Europe

title: Foreign relations of Belgium

text: others, Israel and the United States, since complaints were filed against high-ranking politicians and officials of both countries. The law was therefore repealed in 2003. Belgium maintains significant bilateral relations with several countries. The kingdom of Belgium recognises 4 types of incoming visits in Belgium. They are ranked in precedence and protocol. Foreign relations of Belgium Belgium is a country in Europe and member of major international organizations like the European Union and NATO which are both headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. As a federal state, the Communities and Regions have their own foreign relations and are able to conclude treaties

title: History of Belgium

text: Versailles following World War I. German is the third official language of Belgium. On Belgian territory Neanderthal fossils were discovered at Engis in 1829–30 and elsewhere, some dating back to at least 100,000 BCE. The earliest Neolithic farming technology of northern Europe, the so-called LBK culture, reached the east of Belgium at its furthest northwesterly stretch from its origins in southeast Europe. Its expansion stopped in the Hesbaye region of eastern Belgium around 5000 BCE. The Belgian LBK is notable for its use of defensive walls around villages, something which may or may not have been necessary because of the

title: Jewish Museum of Belgium

text: Jewish Museum of Belgium The Jewish Museum of Belgium (, ) is a museum in Brussels, Belgium, focusing on the history of the Jews in Belgium. The museum has a collection of items which relate to Jewish customs from Europe, Asia and Africa, dating back as far as the 18th Century and mostly from the region to the east of river Rhine and countries around the Mediterranean. The Jewish Museum of Belgium has 750 objects of judaica, 1,250 works of art and an archive of 20,000 photographs, 5,000 posters, compact discs, LPs and compact cassettes. The Jewish Museum also has

title: History of Belgium

text: Belgium – seemingly a "sluggish" and "culturally dormant" bastion of traditionalism – would leap to the forefront of the industrial revolution on the Continent. Nevertheless, Belgium was the second country, after Britain, in which the industrial revolution took place. It developed into an open economy focused on industrial exports with strong ties between the banking sector and the basic industry. Belgium set the pace for all of continental Europe, while leaving the Netherlands behind. Industrialization took place in Wallonia (French-speaking southern Belgium), starting in the middle of the 1820s, and especially after 1830. The availability of cheap coal was a

title: Geography of Luxembourg

text: Geography of Luxembourg Luxembourg is a small country located in the Low Countries, part of North-West Europe It borders Belgium for to the west and north, France () to the south, and Germany () to the east. Luxembourg is landlocked, separated from the North Sea by Belgium. The topography of the country is divided very clearly between the hilly Oesling of the northern third of the Grand Duchy and the flat Gutland, which occupies the southern two-thirds. The country's longest river is the Sauer, which is a tributary of the Moselle, the basin of which includes almost all of Luxembourg's

title: Beer in Belgium

text: of beer are available at most supermarkets, off-licences located throughout the country generally offer a far wider selection, albeit at somewhat higher prices. Belgium exports 60% of its beer. Some draught-beer brands produced by AB InBev – Stella Artois, Hoegaarden and Leffe – are available in several European countries. Aside from these, mostly bottled beer is exported across Europe. Cafés, exclusively or primarily offering Belgian beers, exist beyond Belgium in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France, the United Kingdom and the United States, amongst others. Some beer festivals outside Belgium have a Belgian beer bar as an alternative to local products.

title: Economy of Belgium

text: Economy of Belgium The modern, private enterprise economy of Belgium has capitalised on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. The first country to undergo an industrial revolution on the continent of Europe in the early 19th century, Belgium developed an excellent transportation infrastructure of ports, canals, railways, and highways to integrate its industry with that of its neighbors. Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous Flanders in the north, around Brussels and in the two biggest Walloon cities, Liège and Charleroi, along the sillon industriel. Belgium imports raw materials and semi-finished goods

title: Geography of Belgium

text: have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges. The main cities in Belgium in terms of population are Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi and Liège. Other notable cities include Bruges, Namur, Leuven, Mons and Mechelen. Geography of Belgium Belgium is a federal state located in Western Europe, bordering the North Sea. Belgium shares borders with France (556 km), Germany (133 km), Luxembourg (130 km) and the Netherlands (478 km). Belgium comprises the regions of Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. Total renewable water resources: 18.3 cu km (2011) Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

title: Economy of Belgium

text: following table shows the main economic indicators in 1980–2017. Inflation below 2 % is in green. Economy of Belgium The modern, private enterprise economy of Belgium has capitalised on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. The first country to undergo an industrial revolution on the continent of Europe in the early 19th century, Belgium developed an excellent transportation infrastructure of ports, canals, railways, and highways to integrate its industry with that of its neighbors. Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous Flanders in the north, around Brussels and in the two biggest

title: Human trafficking in Belgium

text: Human trafficking in Belgium Belgium is a source, destination, and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to trafficking in persons, specifically forced labor and forced prostitution. Victims originate in Eastern Europe, Africa, East Asia, as well as Brazil and India. Some victims are smuggled through Belgium to other European countries, where they are subjected to forced labor and forced prostitution. Male victims are subjected to forced labor and exploitation in restaurants, bars, sweatshops, horticulture sites, fruit farms, construction sites, and retail shops. There were reportedly seven Belgian women subjected to forced prostitution in Luxembourg in 2009. According to

title: Hinduism in Belgium

text: breeding loan program that Indonesia ever had in Europe. Hinduism in Belgium Hinduism is a minority religion in Belgium. There are estimated to be about 6,500 Hindus in the country, which includes 1,500 Hare Krishnas and 5,000 other Hindus. This does not count Buddhists, who are treated as a different religious community by the Belgian government. Hindu religious or monastic orders that are active in Belgium are ISKCON and the Brahma Kumaris. There is only one Hindu temple of any size in the country. Spread over 135 acres, the temple was consecrated in 2009. There are about 7,000 people of

title: Belgium–Indonesia relations

text: tobacco and machinery equipments. Belgium’s investment to Indonesia in 2008 was 16,6 million Euro in 2 projects. On the period between 1990-2007, Belgium’s total investment to Indonesia is worth 263 million Euro in 49 projects, concentrated in plantations, tiles and glass, steel, pharmacy, garment and textile sectors. Belgium is the only country in Europe that possess Indonesian-themed Park, "The Kingdom of Ganesha", first opened on 20 May 2009 by Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Culture Jero Wacik. The park that occupies 6.2 hectares of land is the first Indonesian Park in Europe, located at Pairi Daiza Conservation Park, Brugelette, Belgium.

title: Geography of Belgium

text:
Geography of Belgium Belgium is a federal state located in Western Europe, bordering the North Sea. Belgium shares borders with France (556 km), Germany (133 km), Luxembourg (130 km) and the Netherlands (478 km). Belgium comprises the regions of Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. Total renewable water resources: 18.3 cu km (2011) Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
"total:" 6.22 cu km/yr (12%/88%/1%)
"per capita:" 589.8 cu m/yr (2007) Natural hazards: flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes Geography - note: crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of

title: Belgium

text: Fund for Nature, the territory of Belgium belongs to the ecoregion of Atlantic mixed forests. Because of its high population density, industrialization and its location in the centre of Western Europe, Belgium still faces some environmental problems. However, due to consistent efforts by the various levels of government in Belgium, the state of the environment in Belgium is gradually improving. This led to Belgium being ranked as one of the top 10 countries (9 out of 132) in terms of environmental protection trends, and to Belgium being ranked in 2012 as the 24th country out of 132 for environmental protection.

title: Which Way Is East

text: Which Way Is East Which Way is East is a double CD album of duets by jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd and percussionist Billy Higgins recorded in January 2001 and released in 2004 on the ECM label. The album contains the last recordings by Higgins before he died in May 2001. The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4½ stars stating "there is crackling energy, humor, warmth, and a complete commitment to expressing what may indeed be beyond real expression. Not since John Coltrane and Rashied Ali's "Interstellar Space" — though they sound nothing alike — has there been

title: Which Way Is East

text: a duet recording of such unfettered communication. Highly recommended". The All About Jazz review by John Kelman stated "While Higgins' passing, at the relatively youthful age of sixty-five, was tragic, we should feel fortunate that Lloyd had the foresight to bring him to his home in January 2001, for this series of impromptu, intimate and ultimately revealing duets". Other professional reviews for the same website were also highly favourable with Mark F. Turner stating "the music is a wondrous journey on many levels. Fervently recommended" Mark Corroto stated "The last recording by Higgins is worth savoring". Which Way Is East

title: Elections in Belgium

text: to vote on the national level. Over time, voting rights were extended and eventually made compulsory. In the second half the 20th century, political parties split along linguistic lines and the number of parties increased. In 1979, the European Parliament became a directly elected supranational body and as a result of the federalisation of the country, the Communities and Regions of Belgium also got their own legislatures which have been directly elected since 1993. Belgium has a multi-party system, with numerous political parties in which no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work

title: Luxembourg (Belgium)

text: Luxembourg (Belgium) Luxembourg (; ; ; ; ) is the southernmost province of Wallonia and of Belgium. It borders on (clockwise from the east) the country of Luxembourg, France, and the Belgian provinces of Namur and Liège. Its capital is Arlon (, ), in the south-east of the province. It has an area of , making it the largest Belgian province. At around 250,000 residents, it is also the least populated province, making it a relatively sparsely populated province in an otherwise very densely populated country. It is significantly larger (70%) and much less populous than the neighbouring Grand Duchy

title: London Country North East

text: was sold to Arriva Shires & Essex. Having previously acquired the successors to the former London Country North West, London Country South West and London Country South East companies as well as County Bus & Coach, Arriva now owned all of the former London Country Bus Services apart from the St Albans operation. London Country North East London Country North East was a bus operator in South East England and London. It was formed from the split of London Country Bus Services in 1986 and operated a fleet of around 350 buses from six garages, with its headquarters located in

title: Law of Belgium

text: that of the Brussels-Capital Region which is called an "ordinance" ("ordonnantie, ordonnance"). Law of Belgium The Belgian Law (; ) is very similar to that of neighbouring France, as a result of Belgium having adopted the Napoleonic code which governs French society. It also derives from the Constitution of Belgium and the European Convention on Human Rights. Due to a series of state reforms in Belgium, the country has been transformed from a unitary to a federal state. Consequently, in addition to the federal level, the communities and regions have legislative authority in certain matters. Federal legislation is called a

title: Media of Belgium

text: Media of Belgium The media in Belgium is characterized by its diversity due to the linguistic divide in the country. Radio and television regulation are regional competencies. In 1998, Belgium had 79 FM radio stations, 7 AM stations and 1 SW station, serving 8.075 million radios owned in the country. Transmission is primary by terrestrial broadcast antenna. Analoque transmissions are provided by Norkring Belgium, Broadcast Partners, D'Hont Noël and TVVV Sound. Digital transmissions are provided by Norkring Belgium. Digital cable operators and internet providers also provide radio signals. Satellite transmission is provided by TV Vlaanderen. Public radio in Belgium is

title: London Country South East

text: London Country South East London Country South East (LCSE) was a bus operator in South East England and London. It was formed from the split of London Country Bus Services in 1986 and operated a fleet of around 170 buses from four garages, with its headquarters located in Northfleet. It was rebranded as Kentish Bus in 1987 and used this name for most of its existence. Its former garages and operations now form part of Arriva Southern Counties and Arriva London. In the run-up to deregulation, London Country Bus Services was broken into four smaller companies on 7 September 1986.

title: London Country North East

text: London Country North East London Country North East was a bus operator in South East England and London. It was formed from the split of London Country Bus Services in 1986 and operated a fleet of around 350 buses from six garages, with its headquarters located in Hatfield. The company was the last subsidiary of National Bus Company to be privatised, being sold to the AJS Group on 22 April 1988. Later in the same year it was split into County Bus & Coach and Sovereign Bus & Coach. In the run-up to deregulation, London Country Bus Services (LCBS) was

title: Media of Belgium

text: numerous media and telecommunication sub-sectors. These are: Intellectual property rights in Belgium are managed by SABAM. Media of Belgium The media in Belgium is characterized by its diversity due to the linguistic divide in the country. Radio and television regulation are regional competencies. In 1998, Belgium had 79 FM radio stations, 7 AM stations and 1 SW station, serving 8.075 million radios owned in the country. Transmission is primary by terrestrial broadcast antenna. Analoque transmissions are provided by Norkring Belgium, Broadcast Partners, D'Hont Noël and TVVV Sound. Digital transmissions are provided by Norkring Belgium. Digital cable operators and internet providers

title: Belgium in World War I

text: Belgium also received a small slice of territory in the east of the country (known as Eupen-Malmedy) from Germany, which remains part of the country to this day. Its demands for a slice of Zeeland in the Netherlands (which had remained neutral during the conflict), were rejected and led to ill-will. Britain was willing to guarantee Belgian borders only if it committed to neutrality, which Albert rejected. Instead, Belgium became a junior partner with France in an occupation of part of Germany under a 1920 Treaty. As outlined in the Treaty of Versailles, Belgium was also given a League of

title: Cinema of Belgium

text: Cinema of Belgium Cinema of Belgium refers to the film industry based in Belgium. Belgium is essentially a bi-lingual country divided into the Flemish (Dutch-speaking) north and the French-speaking south. There is also a small community of German speakers in the border region with Germany. Belgium is further a federal country made up of three regions (the Flemish Region, the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region) and three language communities (the Flemish Community (Dutch-speaking), the French (i.e., French-speaking) Community and the German-speaking Community). Due to these linguistic and political divisions it is difficult to speak of a national, unified Cinema

title: Law of Belgium

text: Law of Belgium The Belgian Law (; ) is very similar to that of neighbouring France, as a result of Belgium having adopted the Napoleonic code which governs French society. It also derives from the Constitution of Belgium and the European Convention on Human Rights. Due to a series of state reforms in Belgium, the country has been transformed from a unitary to a federal state. Consequently, in addition to the federal level, the communities and regions have legislative authority in certain matters. Federal legislation is called a "law" whereas regional legislation is called a "decree" ("decreet, décret"), except for

title: Cinema of Belgium

text: Mathijs, Ernest (ed.), "The cinema of the Low Countries", Wallflower Press, London, 2004. Mosley, Philip, "Split screen: Belgian cinema and cultural identity", State University of New York Press, Albany, 2001. Cinema of Belgium Cinema of Belgium refers to the film industry based in Belgium. Belgium is essentially a bi-lingual country divided into the Flemish (Dutch-speaking) north and the French-speaking south. There is also a small community of German speakers in the border region with Germany. Belgium is further a federal country made up of three regions (the Flemish Region, the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region) and three language communities

title: Culture of Belgium

text: and Benoît Peeters ("Les Cités Obscures") are among the most read cartoonists. Belgium is home to some of the most important European comics magazines and publishers, with Dupuis ("Spirou" magazine), Le Lombard ("Tintin" magazine) and Casterman. Some of the most impressive museums in Belgium are The Royal Museum for Fine Arts, in Antwerp, which has an admirable collection of works by Peter Paul Rubens, the Groeningemuseum, in Bruges, with the Flemish Primitives, the MAS (Museum Aan De Stroom) which is located on 't eilandje is the biggest museum in Belgium, and the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium in

title: East Honolulu, Hawaii

text: East Honolulu, Hawaii East Honolulu is a census-designated place (CDP) located in Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the CDP had a population of 49,914, making it the 2nd most populated CDP in Hawaii, behind Honolulu. East Honolulu is centered on (21.2891, -157.7173). According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which is land and , or 33.22%, is water. East Honolulu consists of the area directly east of the center of Honolulu, beginning at the Wai'alae Country Club and extending east to Makapu'u Point, the easternmost point

title: Luxembourg (Belgium)

text: London dealing with the consequences of the Belgian Revolution of 1830, de facto in 1839, after William I, King of the Netherlands and Grand-Duke of Luxembourg, agreed to its decisions and thus the province was given to the newly created Kingdom of Belgium. Luxembourg province is divided into five administrative districts () containing a total of 44 municipalities (). Luxembourg (Belgium) Luxembourg (; ; ; ; ) is the southernmost province of Wallonia and of Belgium. It borders on (clockwise from the east) the country of Luxembourg, France, and the Belgian provinces of Namur and Liège. Its capital is Arlon

title: Partition of Belgium

text: Berhendt, a specialist of constitutional law at the University of Liège. According to Berhendt, a hypothetical partition of Belgium is constrained by the fact that no political party is ready to split Belgium at the cost of separating from the numerous international organizations to which Belgium is affiliated. These constraints are such that a splitting of the country would require the modification and ratification of a huge number of treaties. The interpenetration of the Belgian entities is so complicated that, in comparison, the peaceful splitting of Czechoslovakia appears quite simple. According to Berhendt several scenarios are therefore impossible: a unilateral

title: East of Eden (Big Country song)

text: B-side, "Prairie Rose", is a cover of the 1974 song by Roxy Music. Upon release, Karen Swayne of "Number One" said: ""East of Eden" is as powerful and majestic as anything they've done." Vici MacDonald of "Smash Hits" commented: "The production on this record is truly awful. The instruments blur into one muddy, thrashing mass, completely submerging any hapless tune which might be struggling to escape." East of Eden (Big Country song) "East of Eden" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released in 1984 as the lead single from their second studio album "Steeltown". It was written

title: Flag of Belgium

text: state visit to another country or on vacation outside Belgium, There have been exceptions to this rule, but in general presence or absence of the flag is a reasonably reliable indicator of whether or not the king is in the country. As Belgium is a federal state, the flag of Belgium and the flags of the communities or regions in principle occupy the same rank. Nonetheless, when flags are raised and lowered or carried in a procession, the national flag takes precedence over all the others. The order of precedence is: If there is a visiting head of state, that

title: Belgium–Philippines relations

text: Belgium–Philippines relations Belgium–Philippines relations refers to the bilateral relations between Belgium and the Philippines. Belgium has an embassy in Manila and the Philippines has an embassy in Brussels. Connections between Belgium and the Philippines can be traced back in the Colonial era during the reign of Leopold II of Belgium. Leopold II who just ascended the Belgian throne in 1865 lobbied Queen Isabella II of Spain to cede the Philippines, Spain's sole colony in the Far East, to Belgium in his search to acquire a colony for his country. Formal diplomatic relations between Belgium and the Philippines was established on

title: Partition of Belgium

text: level, promotes the partition of Belgium and a union of Wallonia and Brussels with France. Several small parties with no or very few seats at the parliament campaign explicitly for the unity of the Belgian state. The conservative Belgian Union promotes a stronger federal government and a return to the Belgian unitary state which existed in the 1960s. The far-left Workers' Party of Belgium also supports the unity of Belgium since it considers the federalisation of the country as an employers' attack at the welfare state and the unity of the trade unions. The Francophone far-right Front National is also

title: Haren, Belgium

text: located several kilometres to the east. Between 1932 and 1997 Haren was the location of a Renault automobile factory, which in 1969, for the first time, produced more than 100,000 cars in a single year. At that time it was concentrating on the assembly of Renault 4 and Renault 6 models, mostly for sale in Benelux, Germany and Scandinavia. Renault also assembled AMC's Rambler automobiles there for sale in European markets. Haren, Belgium Haren (Dutch and French, sometimes written "Haeren" in French) is an old municipality of Brussels in Belgium, that was merged into the municipality of the City of

title: Battle of Belgium

text: defence policies, troop movement information, communications, fixed defence dispositions, intelligence and air reconnaissance arrangements available to the French military attaché in Brussels. The Allied plan to aid Belgium was the Dyle Plan; the cream of the Allied forces, which included the French armoured divisions, would advance to the Dyle river in response to a German invasion. The choice of an established Allied line lay in either reinforcing the Belgians in the east of the country, at the Meuse–Albert Canal line, and holding the Scheldt Estuary, thus linking the French defences in the south with the Belgian forces protecting Ghent and

title: Environment of Belgium

text: Environment of Belgium The environment of Belgium is generally affected by the high population density in most of the country. However, due to consistent efforts by the various levels of government in Belgium, the state of the environment in Belgium is gradually improving. These efforts have led to Belgium being ranked as one of the top 10 countries (9 out of 132) in terms of environmental protection trends. However, water quality still suffers from a relatively low, yet increasing percentage of sewage waste-water treatment, and from historical pollution accumulated in sediments. Air quality is generally good to average, but is

title: Music of East Tennessee

text: country music. The sessions are documented at the East Tennessee Historical Society's East Tennessee History Center, which is also located in Knoxville. The Oak Ridge Boys, of Oak Ridge, are one the oldest and best-known musical acts from East Tennessee. Since the 1940s, they have sung country and southern gospel music hits. Dolly Parton, from Sevierville, is a country and gospel music legend. Her theme park, Dollywood (located in nearby Pigeon Forge), features live music performances, and is home to the Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame. Parton's western-themed Dixie Stampede, a dinner theater restaurant, (also in Pigeon Forge),

title: Belgium–India relations

text: Apart from the Embassy of Belgium, New Delhi, The Belgian Government has further opened two Consulates-General and two Honorary Consulates: in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad. The Mumbai Consulate General is located at Bandra-Kurla Complex, the Chennai Consulate General at Khader Nawaz Khan Road - Nungambakkam, the Kolkata Honorary Consulate at Camac Street( Abanindranath Thakur Sarani ), while the latest one, opened on April 26, 2017, is at GIFT City, Ahmedabad. Opening the Honorary Consulate made Belgium the first country to do so at India's first International Financial Services Centre(IFSC). The Embassy of India, Brussels is located at Chaussee de

title: History of Belgium

text: the Flemish nationalists, ushered in the sixth state reform which provided for major institutional changes and additional transfers of competences from the federal level to the Communities and the Regions. Among other changes, the Senate ceased to be directly elected to become an assembly of regional parliaments, the Brussels-Capital Region was granted constitutive autonomy, and the Regions received economic, employment and family welfare competences as well as greater fiscal autonomy. Belgium was one of the founders of the European Common Market. Between 1999 and 2002, the Euro gradually replaced the Belgian franc (the currency of Belgium since 1830) at the

title: History of Belgium

text: force the German government to agree to continue reparation payments. The Occupation of the Ruhr led the Dawes Plan which allowed the German government more leniency in paying reparations. The League of Nations in 1925 made Belgium the trustee for the former German East Africa which bordered the Belgian Congo to the east. It became Rwanda-Urundi (or "Ruanda-Urundi") (modern day Rwanda and Burundi). Although promising the League it would promote education, Belgium left the task to subsidised Catholic missions and unsubsidised Protestant missions. As late as 1962, when independence arrived, fewer than 100 natives had gone beyond secondary school. The

title: Geography of Belgium

text: in the North Sea. On 29 May 2000, 2,000 square meters were granted by the Netherlands to Belgium (a piece of land in Zelzate along the Ghent–Terneuzen Canal). Compared to other countries, Belgium is 44% larger than Wales in the United Kingdom and about the size of Maryland in the United States. Belgium is actually used as an unusual unit of measurement in comparing country sizes. In November 2016, Belgium and the Netherlands agreed to cede small, uninhabited parcels of land to reflect a change in course of the river Meuse (or Maas, in Dutch). The land swap is to

title: Belgium in World War II

text: which nearly 25,000 were killed. Most of the country was liberated by the Allies between September and October 1944, though areas to the far east of the country remained occupied until early 1945. In total, approximately 88,000 Belgians died during the conflict, a figure representing 1.05 percent of the country's pre-war population, and around 8 percent of the country's GDP was destroyed. During the 1930s, Belgium was still recovering from the destruction of World War I. Economically, Belgium was experiencing high unemployment in the aftermath of the Great Depression of 1929, and by 1932 unemployment stood at 23.5 percent though

title: Belgium in World War II

text: greater public awareness. Belgium in World War II Despite being neutral at the start of World War II, Belgium and its colonial possessions found themselves at war after the country was invaded by German forces on 10 May 1940. After 18 days of fighting in which Belgian forces were pushed back into a small pocket in the north-east of the country, the Belgian military surrendered to the Germans, beginning an occupation that would endure until 1944. The surrender of 28 May was ordered by King Leopold III without the consultation of his government and sparked a political crisis after the

title: Belgium in World War II

text: Belgium in World War II Despite being neutral at the start of World War II, Belgium and its colonial possessions found themselves at war after the country was invaded by German forces on 10 May 1940. After 18 days of fighting in which Belgian forces were pushed back into a small pocket in the north-east of the country, the Belgian military surrendered to the Germans, beginning an occupation that would endure until 1944. The surrender of 28 May was ordered by King Leopold III without the consultation of his government and sparked a political crisis after the war. Despite the

title: Belgium–Netherlands border

text: Belgium–Netherlands border The Belgium–Netherlands border separates Belgium and the Netherlands and is 450 km long. Belgium and the Netherlands are part of the Schengen Area. This means there are no permanent border controls at this border. On the Belgian side, the border is shared by four Flemish provinces (out of the five in the Flemish Region). From west West Flanders, East Flanders, Antwerp and Limburg (Belgium). A small part is shared by the Walloon province of Liège, which also includes the German-speaking East Cantons. At the Dutch side, the border is shared by three provinces: Zeeland, North Brabant and Limburg.

title: History of Belgium

text: empire in the Belgian Congo, which the government took over after a major scandal in 1908. Belgium was neutral but its strategic location as a pathway to France made it an invasion target for Germany in 1914 and 1940. Conditions under the occupation were severe. In the postwar period Belgium was a leader in European unification, as a founding member of what has become the European Union. Brussels is now host to the headquarters of NATO and is the "de facto" capital of the European Union. The colonies became independent in the early 1960s. Politically the country was once polarized

title: Hinduism in Belgium

text: Hinduism in Belgium Hinduism is a minority religion in Belgium. There are estimated to be about 6,500 Hindus in the country, which includes 1,500 Hare Krishnas and 5,000 other Hindus. This does not count Buddhists, who are treated as a different religious community by the Belgian government. Hindu religious or monastic orders that are active in Belgium are ISKCON and the Brahma Kumaris. There is only one Hindu temple of any size in the country. Spread over 135 acres, the temple was consecrated in 2009. There are about 7,000 people of Indian origin in Belgium. A section of immigrants from

title: Languages of Belgium

text: and East Flemish. Standard Dutch, as spoken in Belgium, is mostly influenced by Brabantian. There are literary traditions in both the East Flemish and West Flemish dialects. Limburgish is a language spoken mainly in north-eastern Belgium and the south-eastern Netherlands, in the Belgian and Dutch provinces of Limburg. It is closely related to Dutch but has more German influences. Low Dietsch is a Germanic language or dialect in the north-east of the Belgian province of Liege, in the kernel area of the historical (and linguistically mixed) Duchy of Limburg. It is spoken in towns and villages such as Plombières "(Bleiberg)",

title: Reichskommissariat of Belgium and Northern France

text: landings, so the existence of the territory was short. Following the liberation, the territory was retrospectively annexed directly into Germany (although no longer under "de facto" German control) as three separate "Reichsgaue": "Reichsgau Flandern", "Wallonien" and the Brussels district Reichskommissariat of Belgium and Northern France The "Reichskommissariat" of Belgium and Northern France was a German civil administration ("Zivilverwaltung") which governed German-occupied Belgium during World War II. The "Reichskommissariat" replaced an earlier military government, the Military Administration in Belgium and Northern France, established in the same territory in 1940. On 18 July 1944, the first Gauleiter, Josef Grohé, was named the

title: Albert I of Belgium

text: prepared himself strenuously for the task of kingship. In his youth, Albert was seriously concerned with the situation of the working classes in Belgium, and personally travelled around working class districts incognito, to observe the living conditions of the people. Shortly before his accession to the throne in 1909, Albert undertook an extensive tour of the Belgian Congo, which had been annexed by Belgium in 1908 (after having been previously owned by King Leopold II of Belgium as his personal property), finding the country in poor condition. Upon his return to Belgium, he recommended reforms to protect the native population

title: German invasion of Belgium

text: Journals Websites German invasion of Belgium The German invasion of Belgium was a military campaign which began on 4 August 1914. Earlier, on 24 July, the Belgian government had announced that if war came it would uphold its historic neutrality. The Belgian government mobilised its armed forces on 31 July and a state of heightened alert () was proclaimed in Germany. On 2 August, the German government sent an ultimatum to Belgium, demanding passage through the country and German forces invaded Luxembourg. Two days later, the Belgian Government refused the demands and the British Government guaranteed military support to Belgium.

title: German invasion of Belgium

text: German invasion of Belgium The German invasion of Belgium was a military campaign which began on 4 August 1914. Earlier, on 24 July, the Belgian government had announced that if war came it would uphold its historic neutrality. The Belgian government mobilised its armed forces on 31 July and a state of heightened alert () was proclaimed in Germany. On 2 August, the German government sent an ultimatum to Belgium, demanding passage through the country and German forces invaded Luxembourg. Two days later, the Belgian Government refused the demands and the British Government guaranteed military support to Belgium. The German

title: History of Belgium

text: political process. Between 1892 and 1961, there were 20 major strikes, including 7 general strikes. Many of these had overtly political motives, like the 1893 General Strike that helped achieve universal suffrage. On several occasions, Belgian general strikes escalated into violence. In 1893, soldiers fired on the striking crowd, killing several. Karl Marx wrote, "There exists but one country in the civilised world where every strike is eagerly and joyously turned into a pretext for the official massacre of the Working Class. That country of single blessedness is Belgium!" Nevertheless, Belgium created a welfare net particularly early, thanks in part

title: History of the Jews in Belgium

text: resistance movement Front de l'Indépendance, was the largest Jewish defence movement in Belgium during the war. Some Belgium Jews who fled Belgium in 1940 were deported on transports from Drancy, France. A total of 28,900 Belgian Jews perished between 1942 and 1945. Belgium was the only occupied country in which a transport (Train XX) was halted to give deportees a chance to escape. The National Monument to the Jewish Martyrs of Belgium is in Brussels. More than twenty thousand names of Belgian Jewish victims are inscribed on the walls of the Monument, some of whom were killed on Belgian territory,

title: East of Eden (Big Country song)

text: East of Eden (Big Country song) "East of Eden" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released in 1984 as the lead single from their second studio album "Steeltown". It was written by Big Country and produced by Steve Lillywhite. "East of Eden" reached No. 17 in the UK, and No. 12 in Ireland. Speaking to "Number One" in 1984, Adamson said of the song: "It's a questioning song, a song about always having to look for any hope or inspiration." A music video was filmed in Glasgow to promote the single, directed by Mike Brady. The single's

title: IKOB International Art Centre East Belgium

text: German artist Stefanie Klingemann as the first winner. The award is endowed with 5,000 €. The following artists were nominated for the IKOB Art Award 2011: Tatjana Gerhard, Brigitte Reisz, Vera Hilger, Judith Krebbekx, Kati Heck. An international jury selected Kati Heck as the winner. IKOB International Art Centre East Belgium The ikob - Museum of Contemporary Art, founded in 1993 by Francis Feidler (director of the ikob until December 2012), is a museum of contemporary art in the German-speaking city of Eupen in Belgium, nearby the German and Dutch borders.Its program focuses on emerging and leading contemporary art through

title: Miss Belgium

text: Nieuws sarcastically put the headline "Miss Belgium doesn't speak Dutch. Our country is in a deep crisis". Miss Belgium Miss Belgium is a national beauty pageant in Belgium. The winner of Miss Belgium automatically represents her country at the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants. The Boldface indicates winner of the Miss Universe or Miss World pageant The election of Alizee Poulicek, a native speaker of French and Czech, has even been linked to the 2007–08 Belgian government formation. The reason is that, during the traditional language test, she failed to speak or understand Dutch. The audience even booed her

title: East Country Yard Show

text: East Country Yard Show East Country Yard Show was an exhibition of contemporary art organized by Henry Bond and Sarah Lucas. It was on view between 31 May—22 June 1990. The exhibition was a "seminal" London group show which was significant in the subsequent development of the Young British Artists. The show was presented in a large empty warehouse, the "East Country Yard" building, in South Dock, Rotherhithe within the Surrey Commercial Docks complex. The docks were closed in 1969, and by 1990 were being redeveloped by a plethora of property development companies. One of them, "Skillion"—who had purchased several

title: Telecommunications in Belgium

text: Telecommunications in Belgium Communications in Belgium are extensive and advanced. Belgium possesses the infrastructure for both mobile and land-based telecom, as well as having significant television, radio and internet infrastructure. The country code for Belgium is BE. Mail regulation is a national competency. Postal service in Belgium is in many cases performed by Belgian Post Group, a semi-private public company. Competitors include DHL and UPS. Postal codes in Belgium consist of four digits which indicate regional areas, e.g. "9000" is the postal code for Ghent. The telephone system itself is highly developed and technologically advanced, with full automation in facilities

title: Directly Operated Railways

text: Directly Operated Railways Directly Operated Railways was a holding company set up by the Department for Transport in the United Kingdom in July 2009 to run rail franchises should it become necessary to bring them into public ownership. Its function was taken over by a partnership of Arup Group, Ernst & Young and SNC-Lavalin Rail & Transit in November 2015. Subsidiary East Coast Main Line Company trading as East Coast, took over the running of services on the InterCity East Coast franchise from 13 November 2009 following the government assuming control of the franchise from National Express East Coast after

title: Belgium, Wisconsin

text: of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over. The village shares the Cedar Grove-Belgium School District with Cedar Grove. The Cedar Grove-Belgium High School is the local high school. Belgium, Wisconsin Belgium is a village located in the Town of Belgium in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,245 at the 2010 census. The first settlement at Belgium was made in 1848. A large share of the early settlers being natives of Belgium caused the name to be selected. A post office called Belgium has been in operation since 1857. Belgium is located

title: Provinces of Belgium

text: Provinces of Belgium The country of Belgium is divided into three regions. Two of these regions, the Flemish Region or Flanders, and Walloon Region, or Wallonia, are each subdivided into five provinces. The third region, the Brussels-Capital Region, is not divided into provinces, as it was originally only a small part of a province itself. Most of the provinces take their name from earlier duchies and counties of similar location, while their territory is mostly based on the departments installed during French annexation. At the time of the creation of Belgium in 1830, only nine provinces existed, including the province

title: Environment of Belgium

text: Flanders is 82.5 Mton during the period 2008-2012. Although Belgium still faces challenges such as river water pollution, on average, the water quality is improving quickly, mainly because of increasing waste-water treatment. In recent years, salmon and trout is seen again in Belgium's main rivers. Moreover, according to the EU Commission (2015 report), the water quality at the Belgian coast was ranked excellent in over two out of three locations (i.e. 17) where samples were taken. Belgium has a relatively flat but diverse landscape and a variety of soils throughout the country. Belgium has cooler and wetter conditions compared to

title: New Belgium Brewing Company

text: in 1991 and emphasizes eco-friendly practices and employee ownership in its marketing materials. It is located in northeast Fort Collins near the Cache la Poudre River on the grounds of the former Great Western Sugar plant. In 1998 New Belgium Brewing made it a goal to offset 100% of its electricity through the city's wind-power program. Rather than directly using wind-generated power, the brewery elects to pay an increased rate for their electrical energy, which is supplied by the City of Fort Collins Utilities to ensure it comes from the cleanest source possible. About 15% of the brewery's power comes

title: Belgium, Wisconsin

text: Belgium, Wisconsin Belgium is a village located in the Town of Belgium in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,245 at the 2010 census. The first settlement at Belgium was made in 1848. A large share of the early settlers being natives of Belgium caused the name to be selected. A post office called Belgium has been in operation since 1857. Belgium is located at (43.500735, -87.846897). According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land. Belgium is two miles (3 km) west of Lake Michigan, adjacent to

title: N5 road (Belgium)

text: the battlefield of Quatre-Bras/Ligny N5 road (Belgium) The N5 is a road in Belgium connecting the small ring in Brussels and Philippeville via Charleroi (commonly named till the ring of Charleroi). This road could be one of the deadliest of the country. This is not only due to the traffic density and the old fashioned road safety features, but also because many country roads are joining onto a high speed lane, namely the tractors harvesting sugar beet. It has also been part of the history of Belgium in the Battle of Waterloo, during which the Imperial French Army went through

title: N5 road (Belgium)

text: N5 road (Belgium) The N5 is a road in Belgium connecting the small ring in Brussels and Philippeville via Charleroi (commonly named till the ring of Charleroi). This road could be one of the deadliest of the country. This is not only due to the traffic density and the old fashioned road safety features, but also because many country roads are joining onto a high speed lane, namely the tractors harvesting sugar beet. It has also been part of the history of Belgium in the Battle of Waterloo, during which the Imperial French Army went through this path to join

title: Belgium (town), Wisconsin

text: Belgium (town), Wisconsin Belgium is a town in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,513 at the 2000 census. The Village of Belgium is located within the town. The unincorporated communities of Decker, Holy Cross, Lake Church, and Sauk Trail Beach are located in the town. The unincorporated community of Dacada is located partially in the town. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.8 square miles (95.3 km²), of which, 35.7 square miles (92.6 km²) of it is land and 1.1 square miles (2.7 km²) of it (2.88%) is water.

title: Prime Minister of Belgium

text: Prime Minister of Belgium The Prime Minister of Belgium (; ; ) or the Premier of Belgium is the head of the federal government in the Kingdom of Belgium. Although Leaders of Government (French: ) had been appointed since the independence of the country, until 1918 the King often presided over the Council of Ministers, so the modern era of the "Premiership" started after World War I with Léon Delacroix. The political importance of the King of the Belgians has decreased over time, whereas the position of Prime Minister has gradually become more important. Since the independence of Belgium in

text: IKOB International Art Centre East Belgium The ikob - Museum of Contemporary Art, founded in 1993 by Francis Feidler (director of the ikob until December 2012), is a museum of contemporary art in the German-speaking city of Eupen in Belgium, nearby the German and Dutch borders.Its program focuses on emerging and leading contemporary art through the constitution of a significant collection – in progress – and temporary exhibitions – in Dialog. Thus, functioning as a discursive platform for contemporary art with a multidisciplinary and thematic exhibition program, concerned with critical and socio-political issues, the ikob attempts to reflect the matter

title: Provinces of Belgium

text: provinces. The first article of the Belgian Constitution said: "Belgium is divided into provinces. These provinces are Antwerp, Brabant, West Flanders, East Flanders, Hainaut, Liège, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, except for the relations of Luxembourg with the German Confederation." As such, each of the modern provinces of Belgium (with the exception of Antwerp) takes its name from one of the medieval predecessors, whereas the borders largely correspond to those of the French departments, which in most cases differ substantially from the historical entities. In 1839, as part of the Treaty of London, half of the province of Limburg became part of

title: Energy in Belgium

text: Energy in Belgium Energy in Belgium describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in Belgium. It is governed by the energy policy of Belgium, which is split over several levels of government. For example, the regional level is responsible for awarding green certificates (except for offshore wind parks) and the national level for anything concerning nuclear power. As a member country of the European Union Belgium also complies to its energy policy. Primary energy is the amount of extractable energy present in fuels as they are found in nature. It is often expressed in tonnes of oil equivalent (toe)

title: Energy in Belgium

text: Winsway Coking Coal, an importer of coal to China from Mongolia that went public in Hong Kong 2010. Energy in Belgium Energy in Belgium describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in Belgium. It is governed by the energy policy of Belgium, which is split over several levels of government. For example, the regional level is responsible for awarding green certificates (except for offshore wind parks) and the national level for anything concerning nuclear power. As a member country of the European Union Belgium also complies to its energy policy. Primary energy is the amount of extractable energy present

title: Politics of Belgium

text: a growing environmental and left wing movement, that led to the foundation of the ecological parties Groen! and Ecolo. Especially in Flanders, the 1980s saw the growth of the far right, represented by the Vlaams Belang, which became one of the larger parties of the country in the 1990s. During the years surrounding the new millennium, an attempt at restructuring the political landscape took place, mainly taking the form of political cartels. Main Flemish parties: Main French-speaking parties: German-speaking parties: Belgium is a highly unionised country, and organised labour is a powerful influence in politics. About 53% of all private

title: Geography of Belgium

text: de Botrange at 694 meters above the sea level. Other hills in Belgium include the Kemmelberg (159 m high) and the Koppenberg (77 m high) both known as part of the route of the cycle races Gent–Wevelgem and the Tour of Flanders respectively. This is a list of the extreme points of Belgium, the points that are farther north, south, east, west, high or low than any other location. The Belgian National Geographic Institute calculated that the central point of Belgium lies at coordinates , in Nil-Saint-Vincent-Saint-Martin in the municipality of Walhain. Natural resources in Belgium include construction materials, silica

title: East Country Yard Show

text: large buildings but had not yet begun to develop them—was approached by Bond. Reviewing the show in Time Out the art critic David Lillington said, "The East Country Yard is a gigantic complex of old warehouses in which each artist has a 200-foot-long room." Equally, writing in his book "Lucky Kunst: The Rise and Fall of Young British Art", commentator Gregor muir said, "'East Country Yard' in South Dock, Docklands ... featured huge installations by Gary Hume and Anya Gallaccio, and could claim to have taken place in a space four times the size of Saatchi Gallery." Writing in The

title: Partition of Belgium

text: regional autonomy and decentralization of government (save for members of the Vlaams Belang party, who called for a splitting of the country and claim of a national identity, culture and institutions, and claim Belgium is an "unnatural" and "artificial" state, formed simply as a buffer between France and other European powers during 19th century conflicts), some public opinion polls performed during the communautary crisis showed that approximately 46% of Flemish people support secession from Belgium. Other surveys indicated only 12% of the Flemings want the end of Belgium, whereas 37% want more responsibilities to be devolved to communities and the

title: Partition of Belgium

text: France. Only 10% of the Walloons prefer an independent Walloon state. In contrast, the Brusselers were divided between a union with Wallonia (39%) and a city-state scenario (34%). On October 4, 2010, Bart De Wever (N-VA) departed from the negotiations. His exit put Elio Di Rupo's Plan B for Belgium, i.e. a partition of Belgium along the borderline of the French Community, under a new light and many, particularly in the French-speaking part of the country, started to speak openly about its concrete realization. Plan B is the continuation of Belgium with Brussels and Wallonia only and the departure of

title: Belgium–Philippines relations

text: July 4, 1946. During a visit to the Philippines in September 1995, Belgian State Secretary Reginald Moreels decided to designate the Philippines as a "partner country" meaning that the country is prioritized as a recipient of Belgian development assistance. This designation remained until April 2000. Since 1995, Belgium has given the Philippines more than 45 million Euros worth of grants and loans as economic and social development aid to the country. Belgium–Philippines relations Belgium–Philippines relations refers to the bilateral relations between Belgium and the Philippines. Belgium has an embassy in Manila and the Philippines has an embassy in Brussels. Connections

title: Nazareth, Belgium

text: word "magherhet" (thinness). The community was first recorded in 1259. The arms of Nazareth is a composition of two family crests: Nazareth, Belgium Nazareth () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Eke and Nazareth proper. On January 1, 2011, Nazareth had a total population of 11,252. The total area is 35.19 km² which gives a population density of 320 inhabitants per km². There are various hypotheses for the origin of the name "Nazareth", dated to a text of songs from 1259 CE. It is possible that Nazareth was named

title: Nazareth, Belgium

text: Nazareth, Belgium Nazareth () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Eke and Nazareth proper. On January 1, 2011, Nazareth had a total population of 11,252. The total area is 35.19 km² which gives a population density of 320 inhabitants per km². There are various hypotheses for the origin of the name "Nazareth", dated to a text of songs from 1259 CE. It is possible that Nazareth was named after the biblical city of Nazareth. It is also possible, but less likely, that Nazareth was originally a slip of the

title: History of Belgium

text: from Korea in 1955. On September 5, 1944, the Benelux Customs Union was created. It entered into force in 1948, and ceased to exist on 1 November 1960, when it was replaced by the Benelux Economic Union after a treaty signed in The Hague on February 3, 1958. The Benelux Parliament was created in 1955. The Treaty of Brussels, signed on 17 March 1948 by Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, and the United Kingdom, is considered the precursor to the NATO agreement, which Belgium became an official member of on April 4, 1949. The headquarters of NATO are located in

title: Aalst, Belgium

text: professional teams: Aalst, Belgium Aalst (; , Brabantian: "Oilsjt") is a city and municipality on the Dender River, northwest from Brussels. It is located in the Flemish province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the city of Aalst itself and the villages of Baardegem, Erembodegem, Gijzegem, Herdersem, Hofstade, Meldert, Moorsel and Nieuwerkerken. Aalst is crossed by the Molenbeek-Ter Erpenbeek in Aalst and Hofstade. The current mayor of Aalst is Christoph D'Haese, from the New-Flemish Alliance party. The town has a long-standing (folkloric) feud with Dendermonde (situated north along the river), which dates back from the Middle Ages.

title: Aalst, Belgium

text: Aalst, Belgium Aalst (; , Brabantian: "Oilsjt") is a city and municipality on the Dender River, northwest from Brussels. It is located in the Flemish province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the city of Aalst itself and the villages of Baardegem, Erembodegem, Gijzegem, Herdersem, Hofstade, Meldert, Moorsel and Nieuwerkerken. Aalst is crossed by the Molenbeek-Ter Erpenbeek in Aalst and Hofstade. The current mayor of Aalst is Christoph D'Haese, from the New-Flemish Alliance party. The town has a long-standing (folkloric) feud with Dendermonde (situated north along the river), which dates back from the Middle Ages. The first

title: History of Freemasonry in Belgium

text: one on the tablet of the Grand Orient of Belgium until 1898, when it ceded that position to the "Parfaite Union" lodge of Mons. Some lodges remained faithful to the Grand-Orient des Pays-Bas -, the "Septentrion" in Ghent did so until 1883 and only joined the Grand Orient of Belgium late on. The lodges in Liège, Huy and Verviers created the "Fédération maçonnique belge" before joining the Grand Orient of Belgium in 1854. The creation of a new Grand Lodge for the new country of Belgium had rapidly caused these lodges problems over article 135 in the Masonic statutes, which

title: German-speaking Community of Belgium

text: officially considered part of the German-speaking Community of Belgium: Bleiberg-Welkenraedt-Baelen in northeastern province of Liège and Arelerland (city of Arlon and some of its nearby villages in southeastern province of Belgian Luxembourg). However, in these localities, the German language is declining due to the expansion of French. The area known today as the East Cantons consists of the German-speaking Community and the municipalities of Malmedy and Waimes (), which belong to the French Community of Belgium. The East Cantons were part of the Rhine Province of Prussia in Germany until 1920 (as the counties (') of Eupen and Malmedy), but

title: German occupation of Belgium during World War I

text: in the far west of Belgium. Near this zone was the "Etappengebied" (Staging Zone), covering most of East and West Flanders along with parts of Hainaut and Luxembourg. The remainder of the country, was the largest of the zones, the "Generalgouvernement" (General Government), which covered the majority of the country and the French territories. Unlike the Operational and Staging Zones, the General Government was intended to be a total administration and so was markedly less repressive that the other two zones whose governance was based on military concerns alone. Civilians in the Operational and Staging Zones were officially classed as

title: Melle, Belgium

text: Melle, Belgium Melle () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the villages of Gontrode and Melle proper. On January 1, 2011, Melle had a total population of 10,873. The total area is 15.21 km² which gives a population density of 715 inhabitants per km². Melle was mentioned in documents in 830, although the archeological findings prove the region was inhabited long before that date. The name Melle has two possible derivations: the Celtic word "melina" means "brown water"; the prehistoric name "Melinos" means "honey yellow". The village of Melle consists of three

title: Languages of Belgium

text: enjoy official status. Article 4 does however divide the country into linguistic areas, which form the basis of the federal structure: "Belgium has four linguistic areas: The French-speaking area, the Dutch-speaking area, the bilingual area of Brussels Capital and the German-speaking area." Before the federal structure and the language legislation gradually introduced in the 20th century, French was generally the only language used by public authorities. For example, the Dutch version of the Constitution has enjoyed equal status to the original French one only since 1967, and the German version only since 1991. Of the inhabitants of Belgium, roughly 59%

title: History of Belgium

text: Lost Jockey", appeared in 1926. Paul Delvaux was also an extremely influential painter in this genre. Comic strips became extremely popular in Belgium during the 1930s. One of the most popular comics of the 20th century, Hergé's "The Adventures of Tintin" first appeared in 1929. The growth of comic strips was also accompanied by a popular art movement, exemplified by Edgar P. Jacobs, Jijé, Willy Vandersteen and André Franquin. Belgium tried to pursue a policy of unaligned neutrality before the war, but on May 10, 1940 the country was invaded by German forces. In the initial attacks, the fortifications which

title: Melle, Belgium

text: painted a door with house number 70 on the wall. Melle, Belgium Melle () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the villages of Gontrode and Melle proper. On January 1, 2011, Melle had a total population of 10,873. The total area is 15.21 km² which gives a population density of 715 inhabitants per km². Melle was mentioned in documents in 830, although the archeological findings prove the region was inhabited long before that date. The name Melle has two possible derivations: the Celtic word "melina" means "brown water"; the prehistoric name "Melinos"

title: Geology of Belgium

text: Geology of Belgium The geology of Belgium encompasses rocks, minerals and tectonic events stretching back more than 500 million years. Belgium covers an area of about 30507 square kilometers and was very instrumental in the development of geology. For instance, the extensive outcrops in Belgium became the standard reference points in stratigraphy in as early as the mid-19th century. Some of them are internationally recognized features related to the Carboniferous and the Devonian. These rocks were folded by two orogeny mountain building events --the Hercynian orogeny, and Caledonian Orogeny. Paleozoic basement rocks cover much of the country and are overlain

title: Politics of East Timor

text: their Portuguese counterpart. The country is still in the process of building its administration and governmental institutions. The Economist Intelligence Unit has rated East Timor as "flawed democracy" in 2016. The head of state of the East Timorese republic is the President, who is directly elected by popular vote for a five-year term and whose executive powers are somewhat limited by the constitution, though he or she is able to veto legislation, which can be overridden by the parliament. Following elections, the president usually appoints as the prime minister, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition. As head

title: Battle of Belgium

text: with the Belgians in defending the latter's eastern borders, enabling a German attack to be checked well forward of the French border. The French were dependent on how much cooperation they could extract from the Belgians. Such a situation deprived the French any prepared defences in Belgium to forestall an attack, a situation which the French had wanted to avoid as it meant engaging the German Panzer Divisions in a mobile battle. The French considered invading Belgium immediately in response to a German attack on the country. The Belgians, recognising the danger posed by the Germans, secretly made their own