1. L’Histoire de la Belgique
Par: Samuel LeBus

2. Overview 3 Official Languages: French, Dutch, German
Nickname: Battleground of Europe
Motto: “L’union fait la force” (Unity makes strength)
Anthem: “La Brabançonne”

3. Economy Official currency: Euro 38th in world for GDP (PPP)
20th in world for GDP (PPP) per capita

4. Political Structure
Divided into 3 regions: Flanders (Dutch), Wallonia (French), Brussels-Capital (Bilingual)
Federal Constitutional Monarchy
Parliamentary system of governance
Made up of 6 different levels of government
Current Prime Minister (51st): Charles Michel

5. Kings of Belgium in Order
Leopold I
Leopold II
Albert I
Leopold III
Baudouin I
Albert II
Philippe I (Current)
Elisabeth (Next in line)

6. Major Cities by Population
Brussels (Capital)
Antwerp
Liège
Ghent
Charleroi

7. Pre-1830’s
Belgium had been controlled at different times by Spain, Austria-Hungary, France, and the Netherlands
Napoleon Surrenders at Waterloo, south of Brussels, in 1815
Independence from the Netherlands on October 4, 1830

8. Belgian Revolution, 1830’s
Started after a performance of Auber’s La Muette de Portici sparked patriotic singing and riots
Independence declared October 4, 1830
Leopold I inaugurated as the first King of Belgians on July , a national holiday
Belgium required to be neutral per the Treaty of London 1839

9. Belgian Colonial Possessions
Belgian Congo 1880’s-1960
Sparked by interest from King Leopold II
Ruanda-Urundi
Gained from German war reparations after WW1

10. World War 1, 1914-1918 Germany invades neutral Belgium in 1914
Brings the United Kingdom into the war
Belgium occupied from
Liberated in 1918, King Albert I returns as war hero
1920 Olympic games held in Antwerp

11. World War 2, 1940-1945 Invaded by Nazi Germany in 1940
Occupied from
Free Belgian Forces escape to Britain; Brigade Piron
Site of the Ardennes Offensive
Belgium liberated by allied forces in late 1944

12. Post-WW2, 1945-Present Member of: Benelux Customs Union, 1948
NATO, 1949
European Economic Community, 1957
Benelux Economic Union, 1960
Schengen Area, 1985
European Union, 1993
Eurozone, 1999

13. Flanders vs. Wallonia Northern region Southern region Dutch speaking
French speaking
Richer
Poorer
More Industrial
More Agricultural

14. Language Wars French main language of government from 1830-1945
Flemish movement more prolific after 1945, Dutch language gains equality with French in government
Linguistic border between Flanders and Wallonia defined in 1963
Transition to a federal system through a series of 6 state reforms ( ) due to sectional conflicts based on language

15. FIN