Continent | Europe |
---|---|
Region | Western Europe |
Coordinates | 50°50′N4°00′E / 50.833°N 4.000°E |
Area | Ranked 136th |
• Total | 30,689 km2 (11,849 sq mi) |
• Land | 99.36% |
• Water | 0.64% |
Coastline | 66.5 km (41.3 mi) |
Borders | Total land borders: 1,380/1,385 km |
Highest point | Signal de Botrange 695 m (2,280 ft) |
Lowest point | De Moeren −3 m (−10 ft) |
Longest river | Escaut 200 km |
Belgium is a federal state located in Western Europe and is divided into three regions: the Flemish Region (Flanders), the Walloon Region (Wallonia), and the Brussels Capital Region (Brussels).
Belgium borders the North Sea and shares borders with the countries of France (620 km), the Netherlands (450 km), Germany (162/167 km) and Luxembourg (148 km).
Total renewable water resources: 18.3 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 6.22 cu km/yr (12%/88%/1%)
per capita: 589.8 cu m/yr (2007)
Natural hazards: flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
Geography – note: crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat of both the EU and NATO
Longest Distances: 280 km SE-NW/ 222 km NE-SW
Belgium has an area of 30,689 km² (11,849 sq mi), with 16,901 km2 (6,526 sq mi) or 55.1% for the Walloon Region, 13,626 km2 (5,261 sq mi) or 44.4% for the Flemish Region, and 162 km2 (63 sq mi) or 0.5% for the Brussels Capital Region. [1]
Its land area is 30,494 km² (11,774 sq mi) or 99.36%, and its water area is 195 km² (75 sq mi) or 0.64%. Belgium has also 3,454 km² (1,334 sq mi) of sea territories in the North Sea; including this, its total territory is 34,143 km² (13,183 sq mi). [2]
By provinces, the area (of 30,689 km²) is distributed as such: [1]
For the purpose of total area, the Brussels-Capital Region should also be included, though no longer a province since the Brabant was split.
On 29 May 2000, 2,000 square meters were granted by the Netherlands to Belgium (a piece of land in Zelzate along the Ghent–Terneuzen Canal).
Compared to other countries, Belgium is 44% larger than Wales in the United Kingdom and about the size of Maryland in the United States. Belgium is actually used as an unusual unit of measurement in comparing country sizes. [3]
In November 2016, Belgium and the Netherlands agreed to cede small, uninhabited parcels of land to reflect a change in course of the river Meuse (or Maas, in Dutch). The land swap is to take effect as of 2018. [4]
Belgium has three main geographical regions: the coastal plain in the north-west, the central plateau, and the Ardennes uplands in the south-east. The coastal plain consists mainly of sand dunes and polders. Polders are areas of land, close to or below sea level that have been reclaimed from the sea, from which they are protected by dikes or, further inland, by fields that have been drained with canals. The second geographical region, the central plateau, lies further inland. This is a smooth, slowly rising area that has many fertile valleys and is irrigated by many waterways. Here one can also find rougher land, including caves and small gorges. The third geographical region, called the Ardennes, is more rugged than the first two. It is a thickly forested plateau, very rocky and not very good for farming, which extends into northern France and in Germany where it is named Eifel. This is where much of Belgium's wildlife can be found. Belgium's highest point, the Signal de Botrange is located in this region at only 694 metres (2,277 ft). Belgium has relatively few natural lakes and none of any great size.
Notable natural regions include the Ardennes, Campine and High Fens.
All of Belgium is drained into the North Sea, except the municipality of Momignies (Macquenoise), which is drained by the river Oise into the English Channel. Three major rivers flow into the sea: the Scheldt (200 km in Belgium, 350 km in total), the Meuse (183 km in Belgium, 925 km in total) and the Yser (50 km in Belgium, 78 km in total). Other rivers are the Rupel, Senne, Sambre, Lesse, Ourthe, Lys and Dijle. The main lakes include the Lake Genval, Lake Bütgenbach, Lake Eau d'Heure, Lake Gileppe, Lake Eupen and Lake Robertville.
Belgium has also many artificial waterways or canals, among others the Brussels–Scheldt Maritime Canal, the Brussels–Charleroi Canal, the Canal du Centre and the Albert Canal in Antwerp.
The Belgian climate, like most of northwest Europe, [5] is maritime temperate, with significant precipitation in all seasons (Köppen climate classification: Cfb; the average temperature is 3 °C (37.4 °F ) in January, and 18 °C (64.4 °F) in July; the average precipitation is 65 mm (2.6 in) in January, and 78 mm (3.1 in) in July). [6] Belgium usually has cool winters but temperatures as low as −16 °C (3 °F) have been registered and summers are comfortably warm but temperatures can occasionally rise as high as 30 °C (86 °F).
Climate data for Uccle (Brussels-Capital Region) 1991–2020 | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 15.3 (59.5) | 20.0 (68.0) | 24.2 (75.6) | 28.7 (83.7) | 34.1 (93.4) | 38.8 (101.8) | 39.7 (103.5) | 36.5 (97.7) | 34.9 (94.8) | 27.8 (82.0) | 20.6 (69.1) | 16.7 (62.1) | 39.7 (103.5) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.1 (43.0) | 7.1 (44.8) | 10.9 (51.6) | 15.0 (59.0) | 18.4 (65.1) | 21.2 (70.2) | 23.2 (73.8) | 23.0 (73.4) | 19.5 (67.1) | 14.9 (58.8) | 9.9 (49.8) | 6.6 (43.9) | 14.7 (58.4) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 3.7 (38.7) | 4.2 (39.6) | 7.1 (44.8) | 10.4 (50.7) | 13.9 (57.0) | 16.7 (62.1) | 18.7 (65.7) | 18.4 (65.1) | 15.2 (59.4) | 11.3 (52.3) | 7.2 (45.0) | 4.3 (39.7) | 10.9 (51.7) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 1.4 (34.5) | 1.5 (34.7) | 3.5 (38.3) | 6.0 (42.8) | 9.2 (48.6) | 12.0 (53.6) | 14.1 (57.4) | 13.9 (57.0) | 11.3 (52.3) | 8.1 (46.6) | 4.6 (40.3) | 2.1 (35.8) | 7.3 (45.2) |
Record low °C (°F) | −21.1 (−6.0) | −18.3 (−0.9) | −13.6 (7.5) | −5.7 (21.7) | −2.2 (28.0) | 0.3 (32.5) | 4.4 (39.9) | 3.9 (39.0) | 0.0 (32.0) | −6.8 (19.8) | −12.8 (9.0) | −17.7 (0.1) | −21.1 (−6.0) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 75.5 (2.97) | 65.1 (2.56) | 59.3 (2.33) | 46.7 (1.84) | 59.7 (2.35) | 70.8 (2.79) | 76.9 (3.03) | 86.5 (3.41) | 65.3 (2.57) | 67.8 (2.67) | 76.2 (3.00) | 87.4 (3.44) | 837.2 (32.96) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 18.9 | 16.9 | 15.7 | 13.1 | 14.7 | 14.1 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.1 | 16.1 | 18.3 | 19.4 | 189.9 |
Average snowy days | 3.8 | 4.9 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 3.7 | 17 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 84.1 | 80.6 | 74.8 | 69.2 | 70.2 | 71.3 | 71.5 | 72.4 | 76.8 | 81.5 | 85.1 | 86.6 | 77.0 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 59.1 | 72.9 | 125.8 | 171.3 | 198.3 | 199.3 | 203.2 | 192.4 | 154.4 | 112.6 | 65.8 | 48.6 | 1,603.7 |
Average ultraviolet index | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Source 1: Royal Meteorological Institute [7] [8] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Weather Atlas; [9] 2019 July record high from VRT Nieuws [10] |
Climate data for Antwerp (1981–2010 normals), sunshine 1984–2013 | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.2 (43.2) | 7.0 (44.6) | 10.8 (51.4) | 14.4 (57.9) | 18.4 (65.1) | 20.9 (69.6) | 23.2 (73.8) | 23.1 (73.6) | 19.7 (67.5) | 15.3 (59.5) | 10.1 (50.2) | 6.6 (43.9) | 14.7 (58.5) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 3.4 (38.1) | 3.7 (38.7) | 6.8 (44.2) | 9.6 (49.3) | 13.6 (56.5) | 16.2 (61.2) | 18.5 (65.3) | 18.2 (64.8) | 15.1 (59.2) | 11.3 (52.3) | 7.0 (44.6) | 4.0 (39.2) | 10.6 (51.1) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 0.7 (33.3) | 0.5 (32.9) | 2.8 (37.0) | 4.8 (40.6) | 8.8 (47.8) | 11.7 (53.1) | 13.8 (56.8) | 13.2 (55.8) | 10.6 (51.1) | 7.4 (45.3) | 4.1 (39.4) | 1.5 (34.7) | 6.7 (44.1) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 69.3 (2.73) | 57.4 (2.26) | 63.8 (2.51) | 47.1 (1.85) | 61.5 (2.42) | 77.0 (3.03) | 80.6 (3.17) | 77.3 (3.04) | 77.2 (3.04) | 78.7 (3.10) | 79.0 (3.11) | 79.5 (3.13) | 848.4 (33.40) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 12.3 | 10.6 | 12.0 | 9.2 | 10.6 | 10.4 | 10.2 | 9.9 | 10.3 | 11.4 | 12.9 | 12.8 | 132.7 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 57 | 77 | 122 | 177 | 208 | 202 | 214 | 202 | 144 | 116 | 62 | 47 | 1,625 |
Source: Royal Meteorological Institute [11] |
Belgium's highest point is the Signal de Botrange at 694 metres above the sea level. Other hills in Belgium include the Kemmelberg (159 m high) and the Koppenberg (77 m high) both known as part of the route of the cycle races Gent–Wevelgem and the Tour of Flanders respectively.
This is a list of the extreme points of Belgium, the points that are farther north, south, east, west, high or low than any other location.
The Belgian National Geographic Institute calculated that the central point of Belgium lies at coordinates 50°38′28″N4°40′05″E / 50.64111°N 4.66806°E , in Nil-Saint-Vincent-Saint-Martin in the municipality of Walhain. [12]
Natural resources in Belgium include construction materials, silica sand and carbonates. Belgium used to have coal mines. As of 2012, the land use was as follows:
As of 2007, the estimated area of irrigated land was of 233.5 km2.
Because of its high population density and location in the centre of Western Europe, Belgium faces serious environmental problems. A 2003 report [13] suggested that the water in Belgium's rivers was of the lowest quality in Europe, and bottom of the 122 countries studied. The environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanisation, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding, and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighbouring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges.
In Belgium forest cover is around 23% of the total land area, equivalent to 689,300 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, up from 677,400 hectares (ha) in 1990. In 2020, naturally regenerating forest covered 251,200 hectares (ha) and planted forest covered 438,200 hectares (ha). For the year 2015, 47% of the forest area was reported to be under public ownership, 53% private ownership and 0% with ownership listed as other or unknown. [14]
The main cities in Belgium in terms of population are Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi and Liège. Other notable cities include Bruges, Namur, Leuven, Mons and Mechelen.
Armenia is a landlocked country in the South Caucasus region of the Caucasus. The country is geographically located in West Asia, within the Armenian plateau. Armenia is bordered on the north and east by Georgia and Azerbaijan and on the south and west by Iran, Azerbaijan's exclave Nakhchivan, and Turkey.
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country 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. It covers an area of 30,689 km2 (11,849 sq mi) and has a population of more than 11.7 million, making it the 22nd most densely populated country in the world and the 6th most densely populated country in Europe, with a density of 383/km2 (990/sq mi). Belgium is part of an area known as the Low Countries, historically a somewhat larger region than the Benelux group of states, as it also included parts of northern France. The capital and largest metropolitan region is Brussels; other major cities are Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, Liège, Bruges, Namur, and Leuven.
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.
Brabant is a traditional geographical region in the Low Countries of Europe. It may refer to:
Flanders is the Dutch-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, language, politics, and history, and sometimes involving neighbouring countries. The demonym associated with Flanders is Fleming, while the corresponding adjective is Flemish, which can also refer to the collective of Dutch dialects spoken in that area, or more generally the Belgian variant of Standard Dutch.
Antwerp Province, between 1815 and 1830 known as Central Brabant, is the northernmost province both of the Flemish Region, also called Flanders, and of Belgium. It borders on the North Brabant province of the Netherlands to the north and the Belgian provinces of Limburg, Flemish Brabant and East Flanders. Its capital is Antwerp, which includes the Port of Antwerp, the second-largest seaport in Europe. It has an area of 2,876 km2 (1,110 sq mi), and with over 1.92 million inhabitants as of January 2024, is the country's most populous province. The province consists of three arrondissements: Antwerp, Mechelen and Turnhout. The eastern part of the province comprises the main part of the Campine region.
Flemish Brabant is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Belgian provinces of Antwerp, Limburg, Liège, Walloon Brabant, Hainaut and East Flanders. Flemish Brabant also surrounds the Brussels-Capital Region. Its capital is Leuven. It has an area of 2,118 km2 (818 sq mi) which is divided into two administrative districts containing 65 municipalities. As of January 2024, Flemish Brabant had a population of over 1.19 million.
The Scheldt is a 435-kilometre-long (270 mi) river that flows through northern France, western Belgium, and the southwestern part of the Netherlands, with its mouth at the North Sea. Its name is derived from an adjective corresponding to Old English sċeald ("shallow"), Modern English shoal, Low German schol, West Frisian skol, and obsolete Swedish skäll ("thin").
Walloon Brabant is a province located in Belgium's French-speaking region of Wallonia. It borders on the province of Flemish Brabant and the provinces of Liège, Namur and Hainaut. Walloon Brabant's capital and largest city is Wavre.
The Ardennes, also known as the Ardennes Forest or Forest of Ardennes, is a region of extensive forests, rough terrain, rolling hills and ridges primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, extending into Germany and France.
Belgium is a federal state comprising three communities and three regions that are based on four language areas. For each of these subdivision types, the subdivisions together make up the entire country; in other words, the types overlap.
The Kingdom of Belgium is divided into three regions. Two of these regions, Flanders and Wallonia, are each subdivided into five provinces. The third region, Brussels, does not belong to any province, nor is it subdivided into provinces. Instead, it has amalgamated both regional and provincial functions into a single "Capital Region" administration.
Hainaut, historically also known as Heynault in English, is the westernmost province of Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium.
Machelen is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in the Flemish region of Belgium. The municipality comprises the towns of Diegem and Machelen proper. On 1 January 2006, Machelen had a total population of 12,500. The total area is 11.59 km2 (4.47 sq mi), which gives a population density of 1,078/km2 (2,790/sq mi). The official language of Machelen is Dutch, as in the rest of Flanders. A suburb of Brussels, Machelen directly borders the Brussels-Capital Region, specifically the Haren neighbourhood.
Wezembeek-Oppem is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in the Flemish region of Belgium, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) east of the centre of Brussels. The municipality only comprises the town of Wezembeek-Oppem proper. On January 1, 2016, Wezembeek-Oppem had a total population of 14,095. The total area is 6.82 km2 (2.63 sq mi), which gives a population density of 2,066/km2 (5,350/sq mi). It is essentially a suburb of Brussels and was a component of the short-lived Arrondissement of Brussels-Periphery, although it does not directly adjoin any part of the Brussels-Capital Region. The Brussels Ring (R0) orbital motorway bisects the municipality.
Articles related to Belgium include:
The Flemish Region, usually simply referred to as Flanders, is one of the three regions of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region. Covering the northern portion of the country, the Flemish Region is primarily Dutch-speaking. With an area of 13,626 km2 (5,261 sq mi), it accounts for only 45% of Belgium's territory, but 58% of its population. It is one of the most densely populated regions of Europe with around 500/km2 (1,300/sq mi).
Nil-Saint-Vincent-Saint-Martin is a Belgian village and district of the municipality of Walhain, Wallonia in the province of Walloon Brabant.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Belgium:
Water supply and sanitation in Belgium is provided by a large variety of organizations: Most of the 581 municipalities of Belgium have delegated the responsibility for water supply and sanitation to regional or inter-municipal utilities. There are more than 62 water supply utilities, including 2 regional, 30 inter-municipal and 30 municipal utilities. Another 100 mostly small municipalities provide services directly without having a legally of financially separate entity for water supply. Water is not scarce in Belgium and water supply is generally continuous and of good quality. However, wastewater treatment has long lagged behind and Brussels only achieved full treatment of its wastewater in 2007. In 2004 the European Court of Justice ruled condemning Belgium's failure to comply with the EU wastewater directive, and the ruling has not been fully complied with so far. Wallonia satisfies 55% of the national needs in drinking water while it counts only 37% of the population. Flanders and Brussels are dependent on drinking water from Wallonia, at a level of 40% and 98% respectively.
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