In 1914, as World War I began, Hundreds of thousands of Belgians consequently lost their lives, and a considerable amount came from Flanders - which is known for its vast Poppy fields, and the flowers have since become an emblem of human life lost in that tragic war. In 1960, Belgium played an ambiguous role during the Congo crises, which ultimately lead to the independence of Congo.

Then in 2003 the country became only the second ever to legalize same-sex marriages. In late 1944, Belgium was liberated by the Allied Forces of You're free to use the data below for personal or commercial applications. European centers for commerce, industry and art. In-depth, easy-to-use guides filled with expert advice. In fact, the streetlights make the roads easily seen from space at night. The Next 10 Countries: The World's Most Likely New Nations, Federal Parliamentary Democracy Under A Constitutional Monarchy. The latest articles, galleries, quizzes and videos. This is a subset of all 12,677 places in Belgium (and only some of the fields) that you'll find in our World Cities Database. Although a short-lived dynasty, Clovis I managed to convert the area into Christianity. 25 Highest Income Earning Countries In The World, 25 Countries Who Don't Invest Much In Agriculture, The 10 Least Densely Populated Places in the World.

This tension pushed Belgium from a unitary state into a federal state with communities, regions and language areas, and to this day it remains a matter of great debate as reforms are still being made. Not at all deterred, Germany began their infiltration of the country on May 10, 1940, sparking the Battle of Belgium.

Naturally this jump started the economy, and amongst many rebuildings around the country, this was the time that Belgium's well-known highway system was constructed. Although the city of Antwerp was battered and bruised, the port remained intact. French-speaking Wallonia and Dutch-speaking Flanders were at the forefront of this language war. One of During this rule, many cities in Belgium, including Ypres, Ghent, Bruges, Brussels and Antwerp played the role as major All was not completely lost in Belgium, as during the war it overtook Ruanda-Urundi (present-day Rwanda and Burundi) from Germany, as well as several other African territories, and after the war annexed the Prussian districts of Eupen and Malmedy. © 2010-2020. At Rough Guides, we understand that experienced travellers want to get truly off-the-beaten-track. Rough Guides® is a trademark owned by Apa Group with its headquarters at Mill Street, London SE1 2BA, United Kingdom, This site is owned by Apa Digital AG, Bahnhofplatz 6, 8854 Siebnen, Switzerland. Below is a list of 48 prominent cities in Belgium. Allied with Britain pre-war, the two countries, along with France, were able to stop the German progression. However, after the defeat of the Vikings in the 8th century, the lands were split under the Treaty of Verdun and reconvened into the Merovinigian and Carolingian dynasties, before ultimately being divided into Europe's great destinations, Belgium is known for its art, cathedrals, medieval cities and castles, fine chocolates, beers, gourmet foods and friendly, hospitable people. Spain around 752 AD, King Charlemagne reigned over a large chunk of Europe, including the area of present-day Belgium. In 1999 the Euro was introduced, replacing the Belgian franc. Germans remained in Belgium, and ruled through a General Governorate. Many gradual shifts of power occurred over the years, and by year 1433, most of Belgium was ruled by Philip the Good as part of the Duchy of Burgundy. Each row includes a city's latitude, longitude, region and other variables of interest. A low-lying country in the Benelux, Belgium sits at the crossroads of Western Europe. As the Holy Roman Empire began to lose control in the 11th and 12th centuries, present-day Belgium found itself divided into seven independent states. How Much Are Movie Tickets Around The World? Major Cities Map of Belgium page, view Belgium political, physical, country maps, satellite images photos and where is Belgium location in World map. Learn more about the data fields and how we source our data. Home (Maps) | Database License | Privacy | Database Releases | Database Order Lookup | Resources Travelers to Belgium can't get enough of Bruges, a beautiful Medieval city that is sometimes called the "Venice of the North.". Whether visiting the sombre Menin Gate memorial; exploring Mons, the 2015 Capital of Culture; or soaking up creative Belgium from Bruegel to Brel, use our map of Belgium below to plan your trip.