SW CL-207 Belgium - België - Belgique

Belgium is a federal monarchy in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters as well as those of several other major international organisations such as NATO. Belgium covers an area of 30,528 square kilometres (11,787 sq mi), and it has a population of about 11 million people.

Belgium is home to two main linguistic groups: the Dutch-speaking, mostly Flemish community (which constitutes about 59% of the population), and the French-speaking, mostly Walloon population (which comprises 41% of all Belgians). Additionally, there is a small group of German-speakers who are officially recognized.  Belgium has a unique form of a federal state with segregated political power into three levels:

1.The federal government, based in Brussels (the capital).

2.The three language communities:  the Flemish Community (Dutch-speaking);
                                                           the French Community (French-speaking);
                                                           the German-speaking Community.
3.The three regions:    the Flemish Region, subdivided into five provinces;
                                    the Walloon Region, subdivided into five provinces;
                                    the Brussels-Capital Region

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