Belgium

Where the name comes from

Belgium recalls Gallia Belgica, the Roman province named after the Belgae of northern Gaul; the Belgae’s name has an uncertain origin.

First people

Farmers settled here around 5000 BC, and in Roman times the land was home to the Belgae, who were not simply today’s Belgians.¹

Known for

Belgium is known for chocolate, waffles and beer, and Brussels hosts the main institutions of the European Union and NATO.²

Outside contact

Julius Caesar conquered the Belgae in the 50s BC; later, Spanish, Austrian, French and Dutch rulers held the land in turn.¹

The modern country

Belgium broke away from the Netherlands in 1830, after Catholics and liberals opposed Dutch royal rule. Later reforms made it a federation of regions and language communities, so Dutch, French and German speakers share one state.^3,4