Belgium

The Kingdom of Belgium is located at the crossroads of Latin and Germanic Europe. The northern part of the country, loosely referred to as Flanders (Vlaanderen), has a predominantly Dutch (Flemish)-speaking population; in the southern region, known as Wallonia (Wallonie), the principal language is French. From these two people Belgium has derived a rich cultural heritage, as well as a tradition of sectional antagonism that is still very much a feature of its national life. Belgium is a constitutional monarchy in northwestern Europe. One of the Low Countries, it is bounded by the North Sea, France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg.