State
Belgium
country in western Europe
- This boundary
- 1830–1945
- Founded
- 1830
- Capital
- Brussels
- Government
- federal parliamentary monarchy, federation
- Languages
- Dutch, French, German
- Preceded by
- United Kingdom of the Netherlands
Overview
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the south, and the North Sea to the west. Belgium covers an area of 30,689 km2 (11,849 sq mi) and has a population of more than 11.8 million; its population density of 383/km2 (990/sq mi) ranks 22nd in the world and sixth in Europe. The capital and largest metropolitan region is Brussels; other major cities are Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, Liège, Bruges, Namur, and Leuven.
All rulers (6)
- Leopold I of Belgium1831–1865
- Érasme-Louis Surlet de Chokier1831
- Leopold II of Belgium1865–1909
- Albert I of Belgium1909–1934
- Leopold III of Belgium1934–1951
- Prince Charles, Count of Flanders1944–1950
Records (307)
- 54 BCE — Ambiorix's RevoltBattle
- 54 BCE — Siege of NamurBattle
- 53 BCE — Battle of AduatucaBattle
- 716 CE — Battle of AmblèveBattle
- 891 CE — Battle of LeuvenBattle
- 992 CE — Kortrijk UprisingRebellion
- 1015 — Battle of FlorennesBattle
- 1054 — Siege of LilleSiege
- 1128 — Battle of AxpoeleBattle
- 1128 — Siege of LilleSiege
- 1167 — Bruges TreatyTreaty
- 1204–1378 — Liège-Brabant WarsWar
- 1213 — Battle of DammeNaval battle
- 1213 — Battle of SteppesBattle
- 1213 — Land Battle of DammeBattle
- 1225 — Treaty of MelunTreaty
- 1297 — Battle of FurnesBattle
- 1302 — Battle of the Golden SpursBattle
- 1303 — Siege of TournaiSiege
- 1337 — Battle of CadzandBattle
- 1340 — Siege of TournaiSiege
- 1356 — Battle of ScheutBattle
- 1356 — Siege of BrusselsSiege
- 1357 — Treaty of AthTreaty
- 1360 — Brussels Guilds RevoltRebellion
- 1364 — Brussels Guilds RevoltRebellion
- 1375 — treaty of BrugesTreaty
- 1379–1385 — Revolt of GhentRebellion
- 1381 — Battle of NeveleBattle
- 1382 — Battle of RoosebekeBattle
- 1382 — Battle of BeverhoutsveldBattle
- 1383 — Siege of YpresSiege
- 1385 — Peace of TournaiTreaty
- 1385 — Battle of L'ÉcluseBattle
- 1408 — Battle of OthéeBattle
- 1424–1425 — Siege of MonsCampaign
- 1449–1453 — Revolt of GhentRebellion
- 1452 — Battle of BazelBattle
- 1452 — Siege of OudenaardeSiege
- 1452 — Battle of NeveleBattle
- 1452 — Battle of LokerenBattle
- 1453 — Battle of GavereBattle
- 1465 — Battle of MontenakenBattle
- 1467 — Battle of BrustemBattle
- 1474 — Treaty of UtrechtTreaty
- 1492 — Peace of CadzandTreaty
- 1513 — Siege of DoornikSiege
- 1521 — Siege of TournaiSiege
- 1540 — Revolt of GhentRebellion
- 1542 — Siege of CorroySiege
- 1567 — Battle of OosterweelBattle
- 1568 — Battle of JodoigneBattle
- 1572 — Siege of MonsSiege
- 1572 — Battle of HautrageBattle
- 1574 — Battle of LilloNaval battle
- 1577 — Union of BrusselsTreaty
- 1578 — Battle of GemblouxBattle
- 1578 — Battle of RijmenamBattle
- 1578 — Siege of BincheSiege
- 1578 — Siege of NivellesSiege
- 1578 — Siege of ZichemSiege
- 1579 — Union of ArrasTreaty
- 1579 — Battle of BorgerhoutBattle
- 1579 — Battle of BaasrodeBattle
- 1581 — Siege of TournaiSiege
- 1582 — Siege of LierSiege
- 1583 — French FuryBattle
- 1583–1584 — Siege of GhentSiege
- 1584–1585 — Fall of AntwerpSiege
- 1584 — Capture of AalstBattle
- 1584–1585 — Siege of BrusselsSiege
- 1595 — Siege of HuySiege
- 1597 — Battle of TurnhoutBattle
- 1600 — Battle of NieuwpoortBattle
- 1604 — Siege of OstendSiege
- 1604 — Siege of SluisSiege
- 1622 — Battle of FleurusBattle
- 1635 — Battle of Les AvinsBattle
- 1635 — Siege of LeuvenBattle
- 1638 — Battle of KalloBattle
- 1646 — Siege of BerguesSiege
- 1655 — Siege of LandreciesSiege
- 1658 — Siege of YpresSiege
- 1667 — Siege of TournaiSiege
- 1667 — Siege of CharleroiSiege
- 1668 — Siege of TournaiSiege
- 1672 — Siege of CharleroiSiege
- 1674 — Battle of SeneffeBattle
- 1678 — Battle of Saint-DenisBattle
- 1678 — Siege of YpresSiege
- 1683 — Siege of CourtraiSiege
- 1689 — Battle of WalcourtBattle
- 1690 — Battle of FleurusBattle
- 1691 — Battle of LeuzeBattle
- 1691 — Siege of MonsSiege
- 1691 — French bombardment of LiègeBattle
- 1692 — Battle of SteenkerqueBattle
- 1692 — Siege of NamurSiege
- 1693 — Battle of LandenBattle
- 1693 — Siege of CharleroiSiege
- 1694 — Siege of HuySiege
- 1695 — Siege of NamurSiege
- 1695 — Capitulation of DiksmuideSiege
- 1697 — Siege of AthBattle
- 1702 — Siege of VenloBattle
- 1702 — Capture of LiègeSiege
- 1703 — Battle of EkerenBattle
- 1704 — Siege of NamurSiege
- 1705 — Battle of ElixheimBattle
- 1705 — Siege of ZoutleeuwSiege
- 1706 — Battle of RamilliesBattle
- 1708 — Battle of OudenardeBattle
- 1708 — Battle of WijnendaleBattle
- 1708 — Siege of GhentSiege
- 1708 — Siege of BrusselsSiege
- 1745 — Battle of FontenoyBattle
- 1745 — Battle of MelleBattle
- 1745 — Siege of TournaiSiege
- 1745 — Fall of GhentSiege
- 1745 — Siege of OstendSiege
- 1745 — Siege of AthSiege
- 1746 — Battle of RocouxBattle
- 1746 — Siege of BrusselsSiege
- 1746 — Siege of NamurSiege
- 1746 — Siege of MonsSiege
- 1747 — Battle of LauffeldBattle
- 1789 — Liège RevolutionRevolution
- 1789 — Battle of TurnhoutBattle
- 1789 — Four Days of GhentBattle
- 1790 — Battle of FalmagneBattle
- 1792 — Battle of JemappesBattle
- 1792–1795 — Flanders CampaignCampaign
- 1792 — Battle of MarquainBattle
- 1792 — Battle of QuiévrainBattle
- 1792 — Battle of AnderlechtBattle
- 1792 — Siege of NamurSiege
- 1792 — Siege of AntwerpBattle
- 1793 — Battle of NeerwindenBattle
- 1793 — Battle of ArlonBattle
- 1793 — Battle of MeninBattle
- 1793 — Battle of CourtraiBattle
- 1793 — Battle of FurnesBattle
- 1793 — Siege of NieuwpoortSiege
- 1794 — Battle of FleurusBattle
- 1794 — Battle of TournayBattle
- 1794 — Battle of SprimontBattle
- 1794 — Battle at CourtraiBattle
- 1794 — Siege of YpresSiege
- 1794 — Battle of ArlonBattle
- 1794 — Battle of MouscronBattle
- 1794 — Battle of HoogledeBattle
- 1794 — Battle of GosseliesBattle
- 1794 — Battle of GrandrengBattle
- 1794 — Battle of LambusartBattle
- 1794 — Battle of ErquelinnesBattle
- 1798 — First Battle of LeuvenBattle
- 1798 — Battle of HerentalsBattle
- 1798 — combat de MalinesBattle
- 1798 — Battle of BornemBattle
- 1798 — Battle of MolBattle
- 1798 — Battle of MeerhoutBattle
- 1798 — Battle of PollareBattle
- 1798 — Battle of HasseltBattle
- 1798 — Siege of DiestSiege
- 1798 — Mechelen Peasants' WarRebellion
- 1814 — Treaty of GhentTreaty
- 1814 — Battle of HoogstratenBattle
- 1814 — Siege of AntwerpSiege
- 1814 — Battle of CourtraiBattle
- 1815 — Battle of WaterlooBattle
- 1815 — Battle of LignyBattle
- 1815 — Battle of Quatre BrasBattle
- 1815 — Battle of WavreBattle
- 1815 — Waterloo CampaignCampaign
- 1830 — Battle of BerchemBattle
- 1830 — Battle of WalemBattle
- 1830 — Siege of VenloSiege
- 1830–1833 — Belgian–Dutch WarWar
- 1830 — Battle of AntwerpBattle · Netherlands ▸ Belgium
- 1831 — Ten Days' CampaignCampaign
- 1831 — Battle of LeuvenBattle
- 1831 — Battle of HasseltBattle
- 1831 — Treaty of the Eighteen ArticlesTreaty
- 1831 — Battle of HouthalenBattle
- 1831 — Battle of KermtBattle
- 1832 — Siege of AntwerpBattle
- 1843 — Treaty of MaastrichtTreaty
- 1865 — Battle of la LomaBattle
- 1866 — Battle of IxmiquilpanBattle
- 1886 — Belgian strike of 1886Uprising
- 1901 — Boxer ProtocolTreaty
- 1901 — Belgium-Korea Treaty of 1901Treaty
- 1902 — Brussels Sugar ConventionTreaty
- 1907 — Wetteren textile workers strike of 1907Uprising
- 1914 — Battle of LiègeBattle
- 1914 — First Battle of YpresBattle
- 1914–1919 — Battle of the FrontiersBattle
- 1914 — Siege of AntwerpBattle
- 1914 — Battle of CharleroiBattle
- 1914 — Battle of MonsBattle
- 1914 — Battle of the YserBattle
- 1914 — German invasion of Belgium (1914)Campaign
- 1914 — Battle of HaelenBattle
- 1914 — Battle of MessinesBattle
- 1914 — Siege of NamurSiege
- 1914 — Battle of DinantBattle
- 1914–1915 — Burning of LouvainBattle
- 1914 — Battle of RossignolBattle
- 1914 — Massacre of TaminesMassacre
- 1914 — Action of ElougesBattle
- 1914–1918 — Battles of YpresBattle
- 1914 — Battle of RaboséeBattle
- 1914 — Battle of BuggenhoutBattle
- 1914 — Battle of VirtonBattle
- 1914 — Convention of KontichTreaty
- 1914 — Myth of LangemarckBattle
- 1914 — Battle of Beerst-BloteBattle
- 1914 — Battle of RetinneBattle
- 1914 — Battle of NeteBattle
- 1914 — Battle of BerlareBattle
- 1914 — Battle of DiksmuideBattle
- 1914 — Battle of FlandersBattle
- 1914 — Battle of GheluveltBattle · United Kingdom ▸ Germany
- 1914 — Battle of LangemarkBattle · United Kingdom ▸ Germany
- 1914 — Battle of LiegeBattle · Germany ▸ Belgium
- 1914 — Battle of Nonne BoschenBattle · United Kingdom ▸ Germany
- 1914 — Battle of TirlementBattle · Germany ▸ Belgium
- 1914 — Battle of YpresBattle · United Kingdom, France ▸ Germany
- 1915 — Second Battle of YpresBattle
- 1915 — Battle of Hill 60Battle
- 1915 — Battle of Kitcheners' WoodBattle
- 1915 — Battle of FrezenbergBattle
- 1915 — Battle of Bellewaarde (1st)Battle · United Kingdom, Belgium, France ▸ Germany
- 1915 — Battle of Bellewaarde (2nd)Battle · Germany ▸ United Kingdom
- 1915 — Battle of GravenstafelBattle · United Kingdom, Canada, France ▸ Germany
- 1915 — Battle of Hill 60, FlandersBattle · Germany ▸ United Kingdom
- 1915 — Battle of St JulienBattle · Germany ▸ United Kingdom, Canada
- 1915 — Battle of YpresBattle
- 1916 — Battle of Mont SorrelBattle
- 1917 — Third Battle of YpresBattle
- 1917 — Battle of MessinesBattle
- 1917 — Battle of Polygon WoodBattle
- 1917 — First Battle of PasschendaeleBattle
- 1917 — Battle of Pilckem RidgeBattle
- 1917 — Battle of PoelcappelleBattle
- 1917 — Battle of the Menin Road RidgeBattle
- 1917 — Second Battle of PasschendaeleBattle
- 1917 — Battle of BroodseindeBattle
- 1917 — Operations on the Gheluvelt Plateau, July–August 1917Battle
- 1917 — Battle of LangemarckBattle
- 1917 — Action of the Cockcroft, 19 August 1917Naval battle
- 1917 — Action of 22 August 1917Naval battle
- 1917 — Capture of WesthoekBattle
- 1917 — Capture of Wurst FarmBattle
- 1917 — Battle of LangemarkBattle · United Kingdom ▸ Germany
- 1917 — Battle of Menin RoadBattle · United Kingdom ▸ Germany
- 1917 — Battle of Passchendaele (1st)Battle · Germany ▸ United Kingdom
- 1917 — Battle of Passchendaele (2nd)Battle · United Kingdom, Canada ▸ Germany
- 1917 — Battle of Pilkem RidgeBattle · United Kingdom ▸ Germany
- 1917 — Battle of YpresBattle
- 1918 — Battle of the LysBattle
- 1918 — Zeebrugge RaidNaval battle
- 1918 — Fifth Battle of YpresBattle
- 1918 — Battle of CourtraiBattle
- 1918 — Battle of the Lys and the EscautBattle
- 1918 — Battle of MarkemBattle
- 1918 — Battle of ReigersvlietBattle
- 1918 — Battle of FlandersBattle · United Kingdom, France, Belgium ▸ Germany
- 1918 — Battle of KemmelBattle · France ▸ Germany
- 1918 — Battle of OstendBattle · Germany ▸ United Kingdom
- 1918 — Battle of SambreBattle · United Kingdom, United States, France, Belgium, Canada, Australia, New Zealand ▸ Germany
- 1918 — Battle of ZeebruggeBattle · Germany ▸ United Kingdom
- 1919 — 1919 Blankenberge Police Station BombingCoup
- 1920 — Franco-Belgian Accord of 1920Treaty
- 1922 — Nine-Power TreatyTreaty
- 1925 — Locarno TreatiesTreaty
- 1932 — Ouchy ConventionTreaty
- 1940 — Battle of FranceBattle
- 1940 — Dunkirk evacuationNaval battle
- 1940 — German invasion of BelgiumBattle
- 1940 — Battle of Fort Eben-EmaelBattle
- 1940 — Battle of HannutBattle
- 1940 — Battle of GemblouxBattle
- 1940 — Battle of the LysBattle
- 1940 — Battle of the Ypres-Comines CanalBattle
- 1940 — Battle of LeuvenBattle
- 1940 — Battle of GijzenzeleBattle
- 1940 — Battle of Bree and BocholtBattle
- 1941 — Siege of SaïoSiege
- 1944 — Normandy landingsBattle
- 1944 — Malmedy massacreMassacre
- 1944 — Battle of the ScheldtBattle
- 1944 — Operation GreifBattle
- 1944 — Siege of BastogneSiege
- 1944 — Battle of St. VithBattle
- 1944 — Elsenborn RidgeBattle
- 1944 — Battle of GeelBattle
- 1944 — Battle of Lanzerath RidgeBattle
- 1944 — Wereth 11 MassacreMassacre
- 1944 — Battle of MoerbruggeBattle
Facts from Wikidata (CC0), HCED (CC0) and Cliopatria (CC BY 4.0); overview excerpted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).