Regions and provinces of Belgium |
Belgium is geographically divided into three federal regions; two of which regions
are each divided into five provinces, making a total of ten provinces. The Belgian
population is also divided along the language lines into three communities: the French speaking Communauté Française (French Community), the Dutch speaking Vlaamse Gemeenschap
(Flemish Community), and the German speaking Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft (Germanophone Community). And,
formally, Belgium comprises as well four linguistic regions: the French language region, the Dutch-language region, the bilingual
region of Brussels-Capital and the German-language region.
Brussels-Capital Region
Main article: Brussels-Capital Region
The Brussels-Capital Region (Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest in Dutch, Région de
Bruxelles-Capitale in French, Die Region Brüssel-Hauptstadt in German) or Brussels Region is
centrally located and completely surrounded by the province of Flemish
Brabant and thus by the Flemish Region. With a surface area of 162
km² (0.53% of Belgium) it is the smallest of the three regions. It contains Brussels, which acts both as federal and regional capital, and in total 19 municipalities. Its official languages
are both Dutch and French. The Brussels Capital Region contains only one administrative district, the Brussels Capital District.
However, for many administrative and juridical purposes (e.g. electoral purpose), it forms a district with surrounding Flemish areas (something considered by some as contrary to the Belgian Constitution).
Although many believe that the capital of Belgium is the City of
Brussels municipality, the Belgian Constitution makes it clear that the capital of Belgium is Brussels in the broad meaning of the term (cf. Art. 194 and 166 of the Constitution).
See also: Municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region
Flemish Region
Main article: Flanders
The Flemish Region or Flanders (Vlaams Gewest or Vlaanderen in Dutch) occupies the northern part of Belgium. It has a surface area of 13522
km² (44.29% of Belgium) and is divided into 5 provinces which contain a total of 308 municipalities.
The official language is Dutch but French may be used for administrative purpose in the so-called "municipalities with
linguistic facilities" around the Brussels Capital Region and on the border with Wallonia.
Brussels, which is geographically not part of the Flemish Region though
considered by some as part of Flanders for all its Flemish inhabitants and local institutions, is also the capital of Flanders.
The Flemish Region has no institutions on its own and is, as a political and administrative concept, something rather
theoretical. Its competencies were transferred to the unified Flemish institutions
that combine both regional and community competencies. As a result, the Flemish region has not a single civil servant of its own,
no legislative council etc. It is therefore the unified institutions that exert all its power and competencies (see also:
Vlaams Parlement). And,
as the Flemings from Brussels are just as well Flemings as the others, it became a
purely internal choice of the Flemish Community in Belgium to establish its capital in Brussels.
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- West Flanders has a surface area of 3151 km² (23.30% of Flanders; 10.33% of Belgium), and is divided into eight
administrative districts which contain 64 municipalities.
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- East Flanders has a surface area of 2991 km² (22.12% of Flanders; 9.81% of Belgium), and is divided into six administrative
districts which contain 65 municipalities.
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- Antwerp has a surface area of 2860 km² (21.15% of Flanders; 9.38% of Belgium), and is divided into three administrative
districts which contain 70 municipalities.
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- Flemish Brabant has a surface area of 2106 km² (15.57% of Flanders; 6.91% of Belgium), and is divided into two administrative
districts which contain 65 municipalities.
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- Limburg has a surface area of 2414 km² (17.85% of Flanders; 7.92% of Belgium), and is divided into three administrative
districts which contain 44 municipalities.
See also: List of Flemish
municipalities
Walloon Region
Main article: Wallonia
The Walloon Region or Wallonia (Région Wallonne or Wallonie in French)
occupies the southern part of Belgium. It has a surface area of 16844 km² (55.18% of Belgium) and is also divided into 5
provinces which contain a total of 262 municipalities. Its capital is Namur.
The official languages are French and German (only used in nine eastern municipalities near the German border,
which were "given" to Belgium after WWI), though Dutch may be used for administrative purpose in the so-called municipalities with
linguistic facilities on the border with Flanders.
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- Hainaut has a surface area of 3800 km² (22.56% of Wallonia; 12.44% of Belgium), and is divided into seven administrative
districts which contain 69 municipalities.
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- Walloon Brabant has a surface area of 1093 km² (6.49% of Wallonia; 3.58% of Belgium), and contains only one administrative
district with 27 municipalities.
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- Namur has a surface area of 3664 km² (21.75% of Wallonia; 11.99% of Belgium), and is divided into three administrative
districts which contain 38 municipalities.
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- Liege has a surface area of 3844 km² (22.82% of Wallonia; 12.58% of Belgium), and is divided into four administrative
districts which contain 84 municipalities.
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- Luxembourg has a surface area of 4443 km² (26.38% of Wallonia; 14.54% of Belgium), and is divided into five administrative
districts which contain 44 municipalities.
See also: List of Walloon
municipalities
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