World  > Europe  > Belgium
For a breakdown of information on Belgium - Europe, select from the following list(s):
Travel Information >>> Useful addresses General information Passport & visa Money Duty Free Public holidays Health Getting there Getting around Accommodation Sports and Activities Social profile Business profile Climate History & government Overview Maps	Regions and Cities >>> Resorts & Excursions - Overview Historic Cities The Coast and West Flanders The Ardennes
General Information Area: 30,528 sq km (11,787 sq miles). Population: 10,241,506 (official estimate 2000). Population Density: 335.5 per sq km. Capital: Brussels (Bruxelles, Brussel). Population: 959,318 (1999). GEOGRAPHY: Belgium is situated in Europe and bordered by France, Germany, Luxembourg and The Netherlands. The landscape is varied, the rivers and gorges of the Ardennes contrasting sharply with the rolling plains which make up much of the countryside. Notable features are the great forest of Ardennes near the frontier with Germany and Luxembourg and the wide, sandy beaches of the northern coast, which run for over 60km (37 miles). The countryside is rich in historic cities, castles and churches. Government: Constitutional monarchy. The Kingdom of Belgium was established in 1830. In 1993, Belgium became a federal state comprising three autonomous regions. Head of State: King Albert II since 1993. Head of Government: Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt since 1999. Language: The official languages are Flemish, French and German; Flemish is slightly more widely spoken than French. German is spoken by fewer than one per cent of the population. Religion: Mainly Roman Catholic, with small Protestant and Jewish communities. Time: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October). Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are of the round two-pin type. Telephone Fully automatic IDD. For operator services, dial 1324. Country code: 32. Outgoing international code: 00. There are call boxes in all major towns and country districts. Some coinless cardphones and credit card phones are also available. Telecards are available from newsagents, railway stations and post offices. Mobile telephone GSM 900 and 1800 networks provide coverage all over Belgium. Main operators include Proximus (website: www.proximus.be), KPN Orange (website: www.orange.be) and Mobistar (website: www.mobistar.be). Internet Internet cafes are widely available. ISPs include Belgacom (website: www.belgacom.net). Post Airmail takes two to three days to other West European destinations. Poste Restante facilities are available in main cities. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1600. Press Principal daily newspapers are Le Soir, La Meuse, La Lanterne (French) and Het Laatste Nieuws, De Standaard, Het Nieuwsblad, De Gentenaar (Flemish). There is an English-language magazine, The Bulletin, printed in Belgium. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.49 12.10 9.410 6.195 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 15.21 11.82 9.760 1.197 From www.columbusguides.com, Copyright © 2004 Highbury Columbus Travel Publishing Terms and Conditions apply.