For such a small country, Belgium has been a major European battleground over the centuries.
Occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II, it has experienced an economic boom in the last 50 years to become a model Western European liberal democracy.
Brussels is home to the headquarters of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato).

• Capital City: Brussels
  
• Population: 10.3 million (UN, 2003)
  
• Major languages: Dutch, French, German
  
• Major religion: Christianity
  
• Life expectancy: 76 years (men), 82 years (women) (UN)
  
• Monetary unit: 1 Euro = 100 cents
  
• Main exports: Machinery and electrical equipment, chemicals, vehicles, metals, diamonds
  
• Average annual income: US $23,850 (World Bank, 2001)
  
• Internet domain: .be
  
• International dialling code: +32
  

The Belgian press is self-regulated by the Federation of Editors - to which all editors of major newspapers belong. A small number of media groups owns the main newspaper titles.

THE MEDIA

• The Press
  
  • Het Nieuwsblad
    
  • Le Soir
    
  • De Standaard
    
  • De Financieel Economische Tijd - business daily
    
  • De Morgen
    
  • La Libre Belgique
    
  • Grenz-Echo - in German
    
    
    
    
• Television
  
  • RTBF - French-language public broadcaster; operates RTBF 1 and RTBF 2, and international satellite channel
    
  • VRT - Flemish public broadcaster; services include TV1
    
  • VTM - Flemish commercial broadcaster
    
  • RTL - French-language commercial broadcaster
    
    
    
• Radio
  
  • RTBF - French-language public broadcaster; stations include La Premiere, Radio 21, and external service RTBF International
    
  • VRT - Flemish public broadcaster; stations include Radio 1, Studio Brussel and external service Radio Vlaanderen International (RVI)
    
  • Belgischer Rundfunk (BRF) - German-language broadcaster