The Campine coalfield is in the east. The climate is cool and wet, with warm summers. Manufacturing industries such as steel, textiles, engineering, and chemicals dominate the economy, but service industries are of increasing importance due to the location of the EU's headquarters in Brussels. Other than coal, Belgium has no natural resources, and processes imported raw materials. Major exports include steel, chemicals, motor vehicles, and foodstuffs.
Agriculture is limited to production for the domestic market.
Belgium takes its name from the Belgae, one of the peoples of ancient Gaul, but by the 5th century immigrations from the north had resulted in a large settled German population. After several centuries under the Franks the region split into independent duchies and, especially in Flanders, free merchant cities. They were later absorbed into the Spanish empire, and in 1713 passed to Austria. Belgium was occupied by France in 1795 during the French Revolutionary wars. Following the defeat of Napoleon, Belgium became one of the provinces of the kingdom of The Netherlands in 1815.