Emma
Welcome to Belgium!
Welcome to my Belgian website! Throughout the website, you will learn all about one of my favorite things: chocolate! You will discover Belgium's chocolate history and how it is made. You will also read about modern Belgian chocolates and the people who make them. I hope you have fun reading and learning about everything Belgian chocolate has to offer. Enjoy the website!
Belgium
Belgium is a small but beautiful country known for its architecture, friendly people, and best of all, its food.
Belgium is found in the western part of Europe in the Benelux region. This region also includes the Netherlands and Luxembourg, which are two of the countries Belgium borders. Belgium's only coastline is on the North Sea.
Twenty percent of the 11,780 square miles Belgium covers is occupied by forests such as the hilly Ardennes forest. The rest of the country's land is generally flat. Unfortunately, flat land is not enough to make Belgium a powerful country for agriculture. Only about one-fourth of the land is suitable for farming.
Belgium typically has mild weather. In the summer, temperatures range from fifty-four degrees to seventy-two degrees. In the winter, temperatures usually stay above thirty-two degrees. Snow doesn't fall very often in Belgium. On the other hand, large amounts of rain and fog make Belgium a very damp and temperate place.
Belgium is considered a federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy. This means that Belgium is a democracy. However, the country has a king or queen instead of an elected leader. The current ruler is Albert II.
Belgium does not currently have any major issues with other countries, but it is affecting those that surround it. Humans are greatly influencing Belgium through things like urbanization and transportation. Air and water pollution are beginning to take their toll on Belgium as well as its neighboring countries. These countries are necessary for the survival of all small countries, including Belgium.
Since Belgium has so few natural resources, it relies heavily on other areas of the world for importing goods. Belgium's GDP, or gross domestic product, is thirty-one thousand eight hundred dollars per capita. The unemployment rate is 8.1 percent. Most jobs in Belgium involve machinery. Its industries include engineering, metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, and scientific instruments.
Belgium's educational system is fairly similar to that of the United States. Children are required to begin school when they are six, but ninety percent of Belgians attend some sort of nursery school before then. Kids must stay in school until they are sixteen. They can then choose whether or not they want to continue their education at a school like the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium's largest university. Classes are normally taught in the language spoken by the area the school is in.
Belgium has three official languages. Sixty percent of its citizens speak Dutch. Forty percent speak French, and less than one percent speak German. English is not an official language, but many Belgians have learned to speak it because of tourism.
Belgium has beautiful weather and beautiful landscapes. People there spend most of their time outside. Some common activities include kayaking, canoeing, horse-riding, and fishing. One of the most popular things to do is bike-riding. Paths that run through the Ardennes forest have been created for cyclists, pedestrians, and even wheelchair users.
Belgium is a very artistic country. It is influenced by Austria, Spain, France, and the Netherlands. These European influences have placed a lot of art in Belgium. The aspects of this artistic culture are shown through its museums, architecture, and even its food! Belgium is famous for its mussels, Belgian fries, and waffles, but it is probably best known for its desserts.
Overall, Belgium is a country filled with gorgeous landscapes, outgoing people, and...lots and lots of chocolate!