Transport in Belgium is facilitated with well-developed road, air, rail and water networks. The rail network has 2,950 km (1,830 mi) of electrified tracks. There are 118,414 km (73,579 mi) of roads, among which there are 1,747 km (1,086 mi) of motorways, 13,892 km (8,632 mi) of main roads and 102,775 km (63,861 mi) of other paved roads. There is also a well-developed urban rail network in Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and Charleroi. The ports of Antwerp and Bruges-Zeebrugge are two of the biggest seaports in Europe. Brussels Airport is Belgium's biggest airport.
Charleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. The city is situated in the valley of the Sambre, in the south-west of Belgium, not far from border with France. By 1 January 2008, the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of 1,462 square kilometres (564 sq mi) with a total population of 522,522 by 1 January 2008, ranking it as the 5th most populous in Belgium after Brussels, Antwerp, Liège, and Ghent. The inhabitants are called Carolorégiens or simply Carolos.
Namur is a city and municipality in Wallonia, Belgium. It is the capital both of the province of Namur and of Wallonia, hosting the Parliament of Wallonia, the Government of Wallonia and its administration.
The Sambre is a river in northern France and in Wallonia, Belgium. It is a left-bank tributary of the Meuse, which it joins in the Wallonian capital Namur.
Royal Charleroi Sporting Club, often simply known as Charleroi or Sporting Charleroi, is a Belgian professional football club based in the city of Charleroi, in the province of Hainaut. Charleroi plays in the Belgian Pro League and their current spell at the highest level in Belgian football has started in the 2012–13 season. Charleroi was founded in 1904 and they first reached the first division in 1947–48. Their highest finish was runner-up in the 1968–69 season. They have also twice reached the Belgian Cup final, losing in 1977–78 to Beveren and in 1992–93 to Standard Liège.
The Belgian Third Division B was one of the two leagues at the third level of the Belgian football league system, the other one being the Belgian Third Division A. This division existed from the 1952–53 until 2015–16 seasons and was played every year with 18 clubs from 2009. Prior to this, the third level in the Belgian football league system was called Promotion and was divided into four leagues of 16 clubs each and prior to the 1931–32 season, the Promotion was divided into three leagues. Due to restructuring, the Third Division was replaced by Belgian Second Amateur Division which plays as three leagues of 16 clubs each from the 2016–17 season.
The University of Namur or Université de Namur (UNamur) is a Jesuit private university in Namur, in the French Community of Belgium. Both teaching and research in the university are carried out by six faculties.
Cédric Fauré is a French former professional footballer who played as a striker. He is manager of Belgian club Union Namur.
Steve Verelst is a Belgian football player who plays in the defensive midfield. He currently plays for Union Royale Namur on loan from R. Charleroi S.C. He previously played for Charleroi in the Belgian First Division.
Ludovic Capelle is a Belgian former professional road racing cyclist. He was professional from 1998 until 2009, riding for Ville de Charleroi–New Systems (1998–2000), AG2R Prévoyance (2001–2002), Landbouwkrediet–Colnago (2003–2005), Roubaix–Lille Métropole (2007), Rietumu Banka–Riga (2008) and Continental Team Differdange (2009). He rode the 2001 Tour de France and recorded victories at Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen (2003), Dwars door Vlaanderen (2004) and Grand Prix d'Isbergues (2004).
The 2008–09 season of the Belgian First Division was the 106th season of top-tier football in Belgium. The regular season began on 16 August 2008 and ended on 16 May 2009. Standard Liège were the defending champions.
Daniel Calvo is a Spanish football striker who plays for Léopold FC. Before playing at Namur, he played one match for Anderlecht and 17 for Charleroi in the Belgian Pro League. He then moved to Kortrijk in 2003, where he stayed until 2010. In this period, he promoted with Kortrijk from the Belgian Third Division back to the Belgian Pro League. After a one-season spell with OH Leuven, he then moved to UR Namur.
Royal Association Athlétique Louviéroise La Louvière is a Belgian professional football club based in La Louvière, in the province of Hainaut. The club, founded in 2009 out of a merger, competes in Belgian National Division 1, the third tier of Belgian football.
Geoffrey Ghesquière is a Belgian footballer who plays for Olympic Charleroi.
VivaCité is a Belgian public service radio station operated by RTBF. The station launched on 29 February 2004 from the merger of regional network Fréquence Wallonie and Brussels station Bruxelles Capitale. VivaCité is the French-language equivalent of VRT Radio 2.
Charleroi-Central railway station, officially Charleroi-Central, is the main railway station serving Charleroi, Hainaut, Belgium. It is operated by the National Railway Company of Belgium (SNCB/NMBS). It was formerly called Charleroi-South railway station until December 2022.
Charleroi-West railway station, officially Charleroi-West, is a secondary railway station serving Charleroi, Hainaut, Belgium. It is one of two railway stations located in downtown Charleroi, the other one being the much larger Charleroi-Central railway station. It is operated by the National Railway Company of Belgium (SNCB/NMBS).
Namur railway station, officially Namur, is the main railway station serving Namur, Belgium. The station is used by 18,600 people every day, making it the eighth-busiest station in Belgium and the busiest in Wallonia. It is operated by the National Railway Company of Belgium (SNCB/NMBS).
Didier Beugnies is a Belgian former professional footballer and later manager.
Mehdi Boukamir is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Charleroi. Born in Belgium, he represents Morocco at youth international level.
