History of Belgium

The Belgium 's history can be divided into several periods:



Content
[hide] *1 Prehistory  ==Prehistoric Times[ Edit] == Skull found in Spy Archaeological finds prove that in the prehistoric times, long before the Neolithicagricultural North-Western Europe was inhabited by the so-called Neanderthals. Flint tools of hunters and fishermen dating ca. 500,000 BC[1]  Also Flint industries from the latePaleolithic and skeletons from the Weichselian are found in various places. In the Neolithic (ca. 4000 b.c.) appeared the first agricultural villages with about 100 inhabitants. By the warmer climate and the melting of the ice cap settle itinerant groups in communities. So establishes the "Omalien-group", known for their band ceramics, in Haspengouw. By the development of these "villages" creates an agricultural economy.For example, others specialize in handicrafts (the michelsberg group) and stone industry (Spiennes). From 3500 to 2000 v. CHR. lived among other things in the Kempen, the silty part and the Meuse Valley cultures of the middle Neolithic.
 * 2 Roman times
 * 3 the Merovingian and Carolingian period
 * 4 the medieval principalities
 * 4.1 rise of the cities
 * Burgundian time 5
 * Habsburg time 6
 * 7 Spanish time
 * 8 Austrian time
 * 9 United States of Belgium
 * 10 French time
 * 11 UK time
 * 12 Independence
 * 13 colonial past
 * first world war 14
 * 15 interwar period
 * World War II 16
 * 17 period 1945-1970
 * 17.1 Royal question and school fight
 * 17.2 Independence of the colonies
 * 17.3 language laws
 * 18 the last quarter of the 20th century
 * 18.1 Crisis
 * 18.2 State reforms
 * 19 Events from 1999
 * 20 see also
 * 21 external link
 * 22 References

In the Middle Bronze age of ca. 1500 to 1100 b.c. was among other things in Flanders and the campine, among other things, the Famenne group established. On the basis of several burial forms are the various other groups are differentiated. During the iron age were the Hallstatt culture (700-500 BC) and the Celtic La Tène culture the most important. At this time there were also some enhanced market-and trade places and hill forts. In addition, there was a distinction between warriors and the general population, probably under the influence of invading Celts. Between the Rhine and the Seine, a region between Germania and Gaul (Celts), established the Belgiansthemselves. They formed a buffer in the constant battle between the Germans and the Celts.

The Coal forest (green colored)The Coal forest covered most of Central Belgium. The Sonian forest, Hallerbos, Buggenhout forest, the Kravaalbos and the Egenhovenboscomplex, Heverlee wood and Meerdaal forest are still remains of this "primal"-forest. The tender Belgians hunt in this forest, they live on herbs and fruits and a primitive agriculture and animal husbandry.This type of mixed agriculture (autarchic agriculture) is still typical of today's Belgium. The family is the basic structure of this society. In addition, it creates a caste system with the nobility, the clergy, the free and the serfs. ==Roman times[ Edit] == Belgica just before the annexation (52 BC).Belgica I and Belgica II So called by the Romans the Celtic Belgae were between 57 and 51 BC by Julius Caesar. Though there were some rebellions against the Roman domination until the first century ad under Emperor Augustus was Belgica (so named since 16-13 BC), a Roman province. Only under Emperor Claudius performed the actual romanization on.

There came a gradual blending of the indigenous culture with Roman influences in terms of language, road and housing construction, city construction, shipping, clothing and religion. The cultural conversion was also promoted by the construction of a number of roads, of which the most important was the Boulogne-Cologne Roman road, and by the auxiliaries for the Roman army, who had to deliver the subject tribes.

There were many new places, including Trier, Cologneand Tongeren , Tournai. Often these had the suffix '(i) acum' or ' domain ' (e.g. in Cortoriacum), 'castra' or ' camp ' (e.g. in Kester), or ' castellum ' or ' Castle ' (e.g. in Kassel). These places but also smaller communities (vici) were an outlet for the products of the Northern Gallic agriculture and native crafts. Thus was born there is a thriving trade with Italy and the rest of Gallia, which increasingly became. Also there were large farms in Haspengouw(villae) and coastal fishing villages and salt companies. Also the textile industry was very set up and there were large herds of sheep kept for wool. Horses were bred and sold by the Treveri. Other economic activities were chopping wood, coal burning, iron, zinc, and limestone mining.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">From the Rhine Franconian warriors 256 stakes and was completely destroyed many towns and villages were plundered and Gallia. Emperors Constantine and Juliandrove them around 280, but eventually around 296 made a Covenant with the Saliërs and they were as defenders of the State border between Nijmegen and the Sea appointed.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">From ca. 297 by the Emperor Diocletian split Belgica was in Belgica Prima (capital with Trier) in the Southeast and Belgica Secunda (capital Reimswith) in the West. TheGermania Inferior located in the North-East (with main city of Cologne) was already at the end of the first century of Belgica loosened.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Under pressure of the Huns into the Germanic tribes remained, however, in the 3rd century. That is why the Romans started building new limes, namely the Litus Saxonicum '<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2" len="184" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[2]  and the forts along the coast belt along the main roads between the coast and the Rhine. So there were forts in mainly oudenburg, Bavay, Kortrijk, Velzeke,Asse, Elewijt, Tienen, Tongeren, Maastricht and Cologne. When the area north of this last line had to be specified, could resist these limes for some time and remain occupied the area to the South of it. The language border would owe its existence. ==The Merovingian and Carolingian period<span class="mw-editsection" len="380" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Initially formed the Salian Franks no unit. They were only United under the dynasty of the Merovingians, named after King Merovech. The most important of this family was probably Clovis I I, which moved to the capital Paris and Tournai allowed himself to convert to Christianity. Its most important successors, Dagobert Iand Clotaire I, brought further unit in the Frankish Empire. In 639, however, the Empire was divided into Austrasia and Neustria, whose boundary ran right through the current Belgium.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In 496, following the battle between the Merovingians and the Alamanni, at the battle of Tolbiac, Clovis and he converted, this led the Christianization of Western Europe in the low countries in, by essentially the missionaries Willibrord and Amandus. All the villages as the Center had a church. These churches were sometimes very big or basilicas, such as the Sint-Gertrudis-Church of Nivelles and the Sint-Baafs to Ghentand Sint-Pieters, both founded by Amandusin 676 . In 675 was the Abbey of Stavelot-Malmédy founded by Remaclus. So are there between 630 and 740 50 abbeys founded in Romance-Belgium.

The South of the low countries with Episcopal seats and abbeys ca. 7th century.The abbeys formed the impetus for larger settlements.<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The power of the Kings took off rapidly and the mayors of the Palace, the operators of the Royal property, started to consolidate their dominant position. In 719 , Charles Martel signing to Mayor of the Palace of the entire Frankish Kingdom. He extended the Empire and is famous for his victory over the Muslims at the battle of Poitiers. After the death of King Theuderic IV he practiced in his own name the Royal power. His son Peppijn the short put off the last Merovingian King in 751 . The Carolingian dynasty came to power. This dynasty was called to Charles Martel, as honor for his triumph at the battle of Poitiers. The son of Pepin the short, Charlemagne, was the most powerful ruler of the Frankish Empire, made the capital of Aachen, it expanded even further between the Pyrenees and the Elbe and on 25 december 800 was crowned Emperor by Pope Leo III.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In the 7th century many villages, often strategically located in a monastery, Abbey, reinforcement, road or river. The suffixes 'heim' (home) (in e.g. 'stockheimReckheim' and ' '), 'virus' (settlement) (inDudzele e.g. ' and 'London') and ' gem ' (place) (in e.g. 'ZedelgemWaregem' and ' ') disclaim it. Under the reign of Charlemagne and his successorLouis the pious (814-840), there was calm and peace in this region and thrived the (agricultural) economy high on. ==The medieval principalities<span class="mw-editsection" len="368" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">After the death of Louis the pious was the Empire in 843 divided between his three sons with the Treaty of Verdun; This gave rise to Western, Central or East FranciaandLorraine . The River formed the border between Western and Middle Francia. With the exception of the County of Flanders so the current Belgium belonged to lower Lorraine.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">According to the feudalism there were graves appointed, to control a Shire . By incursions of the Normans and the decline of central authority, however, gained this power. This Office was hereditary and they could expand their areas. This gave rise to the County of Flanders, Duchy of Brabant, County of Hainaut and the Wage, Lorraine principalities Principality of Liège, Limburg, Luxembourg and Namur. Later, these areas, with the exception of the prince-bishopric of Liège, from the fourteenth century in Burgundian hands. Then came the Spanish and Austrian Habsburgs to power. ===Rise of the cities<span class="mw-editsection" len="360" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === Oude Burg stepped Gables in BrugesGrand place of Arras. <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">From ca. 1050 broke a period of economic growth, especially in Northwest Europe. It concerned mainly Champagnehere, Flanders and Brabant. Important was the trade in the Flemish cloth, the export of natural stone and the mining of coal (Liège, starting from 1195). The financial markets caused a trade, which also attracted foreign merchants. The people United in a Hanseatic and guilds. In this way arose the Flemish Hanseatic, the Chief cities and the German Hanseatic.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">By the economic boom the population rose strongly and could more people working in trade and industry, what the rise of the cities in the hand worked. There were also innovations in agriculture, production and trade and the Belgian coast was reclaimed. There was carried out to all corners of Europe. The Liege weapon production also conquered Europe in this period. This success brought the existing caste system slowly fell. the new means of communication was the vernacular instead of Latin the overriding.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">From the beginning of the fourteenth century Europe was hit by a number of crises, including the great famine of 1315-1317. The population was grown so strong that one had become vulnerable to crop failures. Starting from the middle of the fourteenth century, the plague or "black death" sure that a third of the population died. For three hundred years came the plague every 12-20 years back. However, the future Belgian regions to suffer less from the economic recession than other regions. As published inLiège the first blast furnaces and was an important trading town Bruges . This city was due to its strategic location (she was via the Zwin connected to the North Sea and so the rest of Europe) has become so big and rich that they are ' the Venice of the North ' was. The belfry and cloth Hall bear witness to this. Of course when the Zwin silted Brugge lost its economic meaning. That meaning was acquired by Antwerp, Brussels and Leuven. ==Burgundian time<span class="mw-editsection" len="357" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == Mary of Burgundy (right Standing) <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">By the marriage of Margaret III, Countess of Flanders and the Flemish Countess Philip the bold in 1384 the County of Flanders came under the Burgundians. Two of his three surviving sons were John the fearless and Antoon van Brabant and Limburg. William VI of Holland was his son-in-law. Janszoon Philip the good United also theNames, Brabant-Limburg, Hainaut, Holland, Zeeland, Frieslandand Utrecht and Cambrai , Luxembourg.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In the Burgundian time Flanders after Italy was the most urbanized region of Europe. It was even richer than Burgundy itself. Cities like Ghent and Brussels grew further out and were decorated. Among other town halls were built. A good example is the Brussels Grand place. ==Habsburg time<span class="mw-editsection" len="354" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">By inheritance, the Burgundian countries under Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. In the Netherlands, he expanded his power with Tournai, Utrecht , Drenthe andOverijsselwith Groningen, Guelders and Zutphen. He made these areas with the pragmatic sanction (1549) to indivisible, called the seventeen provinces. They were also the Netherlands or again called Belgica . For the Board, he proposed to the States General and landvoogde as Margaret of Austria and Mary of Hungaryafter her death. On 25 October 1555 Charles V did abdication in Brussels; the Dutch areas came his son Philip II and the Holy Roman Empire to his brother Ferdinand. ==Spanish time<span class="mw-editsection" len="351" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Meanwhile, Protestantism also shot it in de Nederlanden root. Philip II sent Alva to the Netherlands to counter this with bloody persecutions and let Count Count Egmont and Hoorn beheading on the Grand place of Brussels. This led to an uprising, which culminated in the eighty years ' war and that eventually led to a dichotomy of the Netherlands in a part that remained under Spanish rule (the southern Netherlands) and in a part in which the Spanish rulers finally lost their power base (the northern Netherlands). The South came under the administration of Archdukes Albert and Isabella. The North had in 1588 named Republic of the seven United Netherlands. In 1635, he allied himself with France, then both took parts at the borders. So the French Artois names in French Flanders, the current, and the Dutch under Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange North Brabant and Limburg. As a result, originated in the 17th century the current North and South borders (1648 peace of Westphalia Treaty of Utrecht , 1713). ==Austrian time<span class="mw-editsection" len="356" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == The Austrian Netherlands <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In the time of the war of the Spanish Succession the Southern Netherlands came back into Dutch hands. The Netherlands were not reunited, because the Treaty of Utrecht (1713) the southern Netherlands came in Austria . The Austrian Netherlands were now approximately from the current (without Principality of Liège) Belgium, Luxembourg and some adjacent areas. The Austrian Netherlands remained from 1713 to 1794. The first two Austrian princes, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor and Empress Maria Theresia, carried out their cautious reforms gradually by. ==United States Of Belgium<span class="mw-editsection" len="368" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Emperor Joseph II, nicknamed the Emperor-koster, ruled as an enlightened despot over a spread throughout Europe, including the Habsburg Empire southern low countries, and was also Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. He wanted to centralize its administration and the often ancient Principality of rights of each City and replaced by new uniform legislation. Because he his enlightened authoritarian imposed reforms, but at a high rate to impose tried different walks of life felt threatened in their position. In 1789 they came in revolt: the Brabant revolution. As a result, the Southern Netherlands declared itself independent, only the Austrian Duchy of Luxembourg remained. (The Principality of Liège, directly part of the Holy Roman Empire, made formally not part of the Netherlands, although also there came a similar rebellion: the Liege revolution.)

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">This gave rise to the United States of Belgium (later called United Belgian States often) for a very short time as a Confederation of the old principalities. She was supported by the weakened Republic of the seven United Netherlands, which was aimed to a reunification between North and South. The United States will fail and disappear again soon by internal political divisions, the bad economic situation and lack of international recognition. The Convention of Reichenbach in 1790 edited a truce between Prussia and Austria, whereby Prussia stopped supporting anti-Habsburg revolts in Hungary and in the Netherlands. The Austrian authority could thereby again in december 1790 restored only under the supervision of a tact fuller operating Emperor Leopold II, brother and successor of Joseph II. But only for a few years. ==French time<span class="mw-editsection" len="351" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == Napoleon Bonaparte <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The French were already been in conflict with the Netherlands when she Artois and took the current French-Flanders . In 1792 they fall again in the southern Netherlands, the battle of Jemappes. They beat In July 1794 the Austrians finally with the battle of Fleurus; in 1795 the Austrian Netherlands if the nine Allied departments part of the French Republic. Organize to regions belonged to the pursuit of an organized State structure. To this end, they also started with the construction of roads (e.g.Napoleonsweg) and channels (e.g. Grand Canal du Nord).

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Meanwhile, Netherlands (the Batavian Republic) a vassal state of France and the Republic by Napoleon in 1806 replaces the Kingdom of Holland where he his brotherLouis Bonaparte as King drop it. Large parts of Dutch Limburg and Dutch Brabant belonged to the southern Netherlands, which were a part of France. Napoleon was dissatisfied with his brother and also the northern Netherlands in 1810 he decided to add the French Empire.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">On 12 October 1798, the Flemish farm population (the brigands) rebelled against the French occupying forces (sansculotten) under the slogan ' for. This rebellion is called the Farmers get . Rise to this rebellion were the high taxes, the anti-religious politics of closure of the churches associated with the persecution of the priests and the introduction of conscription by the occupier. The rebellion ended on 5 december 1798 when the peasant army on Ter Hilst (Hasselt) was defeated.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">After the battle of Leipzig Napoleon was exiled to Elba, but he managed to escape and to seize back power, while the allies were still working to determine the borders of Europe at the Congress of Vienna. In 1815 Napoleon was finally defeated at the battle of Waterloo. The French army was by the Dutch (Dutch and Belgians), the British and Prussian army reports. Napoleon was now forever exiled to Saint Helena.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">A small contingent under the Dutch flag (that fought with the British) was led by William II of the Netherlands and Van Bylandt. King William I was proud of the Dutch contribution and the courage of his son and built in honor of the Lion of Waterloo. The work took place between 1823 and 1826 and it stands on the place where Crown Prince Willem was wounded by a shot in his shoulder. ==UK time<span class="mw-editsection" len="356" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == The United Kingdom and its provinces; in personal Union with Luxembourg.North and South reunited under William I. <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The major powers signed on 21 June 1814 in London the XVIII articles, after which North and South Netherlands and Luxembourg were reunited to the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. This happened on the initiative of England that after the collapse of the French Empire a strong buffer State against France wild forms. In July of that year articles were accepted byWilliam I and on 21 september 1815 he laid out the constitutional oath as King of the Netherlands.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The policy of William I took care of a further economic and industrial development of the Belgian regions. He imposed a number of channels to stimulate the economy, expanded education and strove to make the Dutch the official language of Flanders. There were, however, major differences between North and South, which were separated for 200 years, see Belgian revolution. Especially the French-speaking Catholics oppose violently against the politics of the King. After 1825 Liberals and Catholics together and locks in 1828, the Union of the Catholic and liberal opposition to stand (unionism).

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Under the influence of the bad economic situation and the July Revolution in France it came on 25 August 1830 to riots in Brussels. From 27 August it was found in several places in rebellion. The Belgians were In Venlo under General Sasha even with chiming won. On september 23, pulled the Dutch Prince Frederick with the governmental army Brussels, but by the violent opposition of the Belgians was he forced to leave four days later. During these battles the provisional Government came into being. This Government on 4 October called the independence. On 7 February 1831 Constitution was approved. ==Independence<span class="mw-editsection" len="357" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == Episode des Journées de Septembre 1830 sur la Place de l ' Hôtel de Villa à Bruxelles,1835The original flag of Belgium, which Jottrand and Ducpétiaux designed in place of the French flag.<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">After a Conference on 4 november to London recognized the major powers on 20 december 1830 the separation between Netherlands and Belgium. Erasme Louis Surlet de Chokierwas on 24 February, the President of the National Congress, appointed as regent. On 4 June 1831, Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha by Congress to head of State chosen and on 21 July, he took the oath as the first King of the Belgians. A month later, a year after the start of the revolution, fell the Dutch army, now led by Crown Prince Willem, Belgium through Limburg and Turnhout (ten days campaign). Although the Dutch defeated the Belgian army at houthalen, Hasselt and Leuven the Dutch by France were forced to withdraw. It would still take until 1839 Belgium recognized the new King William I. Because however, Maastricht and Luxembourg remained occupied by the troops of the King, Willem demanded Limburg and Luxembourg. He was given the eastern part of Limburg and the German-speaking part of Luxembourg.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">After the independence it came under pressure again by the unionism opspelende contradictions. So actually the Catholics no longer wanted to work with the Liberals after a conviction from Rome of the Liberal character of Catholicism and the Liberals feared that the Church was going to have a great influence on public life. Through the intervention of King Leopold I and the Catholics remained unionism exist until 1846, with the rise of the Liberal Party, led by Walthère Frère-Orban immediately came to power after the elections of 1847. Soon crossed the contradictions between Liberals and Catholics has reared its head again and again was the education politics shakiness with flare up again around 1880 of the school struggle, which eventually won the Catholics; in 1884 they won the elections and they remained thirty years in power.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Belgium economic changed pretty quickly of an agricultural State in an industrial State with as important sectors mining and metal industry. The railway line Brussels-Mechelen, only 4 years after independence, was the first railway on the European continent. The construction of a railway network continued to rise with among other things the Iron Rhine. The foreign trade was stimulated and the banking and insurance sector took a high flight. However, the economic liberalism also made for poverty and miserable living conditions that resulted in the existing groups from a number of Socialist Belgian Labour Party (1885) who organized strikes and rebellions. This attention to the social conditions of the workers led to a number of social laws and the introduction of General multiple suffrage for men from 25 years in 1893. Especially the Liberals had to suffer under this development strongly.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">A new electoral system meant a relapse of the seat number of 61 in 1892 to 20 in 1894. From ca. 1860 the Flemish movement made sure the language problems on the political map to. The language legislation resulted in 1898 in the Gelijkheidswet. What the foreign and military politics remained concerned Belgium since 1831 to neutrality.In 1909, the draw system replaced by the individual conscription, and in 1913 by the General personal military service. This reform came too late to have any effect when Belgium on 2 August 1914 by a German ultimatum was involved in the first world war . ==Colonial past<span class="mw-editsection" len="358" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == Belgian Congo and some other Belgian colonies.<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Belgium was one of the few countries in Western Europe that still had no colonies and until the end of the nineteenth century. This is because Belgium at the time of the early colonization was not an independent country, but part of Austria, Netherlands, France or Spain. King Leopold II was a proponent of expansion abroad. Following the tours of Livingstone and Stanley he founded in 1876 the Association Internationale Africaine on. However, few supporters he got and took over thereupon Stanley in service. This would undertake an expedition to the Congo River, funded by the Association Internationale du Congo. Stanley had already signed an agreement with 450 tribal chiefs who had ceded the sovereignty over their territories. By the Berlin Conference of 1885, the Association recognized as a sovereign State. In april if Leopold as a head of State of the independent Congo free State action and even got financial support from the Parliament. In 1890 were even more areas were conquered and the both chambers a new loan. Condition was that the Belgium Congo State could take over as the Association would fail to repay the loan.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">At the high cost made to recover the colonization of the Congo, Leopold II wanted the rubberand ivory operation monopolize and put itself out against the Act of Berlin, which pleaded for free trade. There followed many protests resulting in a breakdown in a Crown domain (for the Congo State), a free trade zone and one for the trade closed area. A lot of consequence was the ruthless and often exert more potent effects violent economic exploitation of the local population, which, together with the strong popularity of indigenous and exotic diseases, led to a demographic catastrophe. The proposed acquisition of the Congo by Belgium in 1901 went not by State. In 1904, an International Commission of inquiry established by Leopold who had to report all abuses. The Commission confirmed the broad outlines of the violent nature of the economic exploitation, which was previously international sued (including by Morel and Casement, and also by the Socialist leader Emile Vandervelde). After the publication of the Commission report left Leopold on 3 June 1906 know that he was prepared to a transfer of sovereignty, on the Royal domain after. On november 28, 1907 was the Act of distance on 15 november 1908 and was signed the Congo state Belgian Congo under the new name officially a colony of Belgium. Congo was as many as 80 times larger than Belgium itself and had its capital at Leopoldville, now Kinshasa.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The claims of the Royal domain was undone in 1909 after Leopold's death. Here, too, grew after the Second World War the pursuit of independence, especially under the influence of the independence of Ghana (1957) and of De Gaulles liberal attitude to the colonies in French Africa. After on 4 January 1959 unexpectedly heavy riots outbreaks in Leopoldville, was a hasty decolonization initiated. Congo became independent on 30 June 1960. Just before the independence counted some 14 million inhabitants, including about 90,000 Congo Belgians. Congo, however, was not the only Belgian colony. Also heard as Ruanda-Urundi, Santo Tomás(Guatemala), Tianjin in China and the Isola Comacina to Belgium, even though these attempts were not very successful. Some other colonization attempts by the Belgians happened in Brazil, in the Canary Islands (Flemish Canary Nation) and the Azores (Flemish Islands). ==First World War<span class="mw-editsection" len="359" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == Soldiers in a trench. <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The first world war started for Belgium on 4 August 1914 with the invading German troops. The Belgians managed only to slow the advance of the Germans, but already in October the Belgian army had to withdraw to behind the Iron. A persistent myth has it that many Flemish soldiers died a useless death because they are the orders of the mostly French-speaking military command could not understand. Recent historical research has shown that this has occurred very rarely (Sophie De Schaepdrijver, the great war). On 29 October 1914 the Belgians put the iron surface under water to halt the Germans. For four years. The battle of the Yser was begun. In these circumstances was a front movement, which resisted themselves against this crooked situation at the front. King Albert, who refused to sacrifice its soldiers in futile offensives, remained in Belgium but the Government withdrew in the French Le Havre.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">There was little real resistance, as well as the number of people (the so-called activists) that collaborated with the German occupiers was but slight. At the end of september 1918 began the liberation offensive after which on the 11 november Armistice was closed. At the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 the neutrality position of Belgium was lifted, if a mandate about the Ruanda-Urundi and annexed the German territories of Eupen, Malmedy and Sankt Vith, the so-called East cantons. In the first world warlarge numbers of Belgians fled to the neutral Netherlands. To get more control over the border, in 1915 the German occupiers began with the construction of The Wire, a wire barrier with deadly electric voltage, along the border between Belgium and Netherlands. ==Interwar Period<span class="mw-editsection" len="351" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == Belgian requirements on Dutch territory.French poster from 1919 in which claims are put on the German areas (Pink), Luxembourg and Zeeland-Flanders and Limburg (red). The dark blue area along the sea and through the Westerschelde sea route to the smoking gives for Antwerp.<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">After the first world war had been not neutral Netherlands, Belgium found that because the German troops had to withdraw by Limburg. It demanded Zeeuws-Vlaanderen and Zuid-Limburg Was for their on. allegiance to the Queen (the Zeeuws-Flemish something less), but many other residents of Maastricht and Limburg citizens wanted to hear in Belgium.<sup class="noprint nopopups" len="308" style="line-height:1;"> [source? ] After mediation, it was agreed that eventually an Antwerp-Rhine Canal would be dug, partly on Dutch territory and on Dutch costs. Netherlands itself would eventually do not keep. Until the second world war would remain problematic the relationship with Belgium.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In 1919 the single universal suffrage was introduced, that would apply until 1948 only for men. It was now almost always rely on coalition Governments and in the period of the reconstruction after World War I to the beginning of the Second World War it came even frequently to a grouping of three so-called national parties, the Catholics, the Socialists and the Liberals. In all other cabinets until the second world war did the Catholics with either the Liberals or the Socialists as partner. Other parties that are manifested in the interwar period were the Flemish National Union (VNV), that more and more inclined to fascism and national socialism, and the Communist Party of Belgium (CPB: later KPB).

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The recovery of the economy came only after 1925 again well under way. Until that time, in particular the continuing depreciation of the franc made for economic malaise.The cabinet-Jaspar (1926-1927) and franc devalue currency devaluation left gave the trade and industry strong impulses. To this economic rise quickly came to an end after the great depression in the 1930s. Only after a new devaluation of the franc in 1935 restored the economy itself again. In the years between the world wars was also addressed and social legislation that resulted in many right to strike (1921), an eight-hour working day (1921) and minimum wage (1936).

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Belgium joined the closed In 1925 Locarno treaties, making it in a broader system of collective security was included. After Germany Belgium returned back to the treaties stepped down from Office, a policy of neutrality. Now, however, could also not be prevented that ended up in a next world war Belgium. ==The Second World War<span class="mw-editsection" len="362" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">On may 10, 1940 German troops invaded Belgium without declaration of war within and Belgium capitulated on 28 May. King Leopold III stayed in Belgium, but the ministers weeks forward to France and then to London. The fully occupied Belgium Meanwhile got a military administration. After an initially hesitant beginning extended the resistance movement that has arisen from the outset after the winter of 1941 out quickly.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The Belgian economy was used by the Germans in warfare and there came a compulsory labour service. At the collaborationist parties heard the CNS, and the strongly pro-German Rex, Flemish SS and DeVlag. After the Allied breakout from Normandy, Brussels was liberated on september 3, 1944 and a few weeks later practically whole Belgium. After a short German counter attack in the battle of the bulge was the war for Belgium over. ==Period 1945-1970<span class="mw-editsection" len="357" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">After the second World War changed all the major parties by name. The Catholic party became the Christian people's Party (CVP), the BWP was the Belgian Socialist Party (BSP) and the Liberals formed their party in 1961 to create the party for freedom and progress (PVV). The Flemish nationalism came again in politics in 1954 by the volksunie (VU). In the 1980s came as a "green" parties Agalev and Ecolo in the Parliament and also the Vlaams Blok.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The name changes of the parties was not the only change. The major political currents are often represented by two parties, a Flemish and a French-speaking. By the controversy with regard to language-based subjects also often contradictions arise between the two sides in other areas.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">After the war there were two Governments of national unity first formed. After 1946 followed many coalition Governments with varying compositions and eenpartijregering briefly under the CVP (1950-1954). ===Royal question and school fight<span class="mw-editsection" len="370" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The philosophical contradictions stakes soon head on. the controversial attitude and any return of Leopold III as King led to the so-called Royal question. Add to this the Flemish-Walloon opposites and Belgium brought all of this on the edge of a civil war. This could only be prevented by the abdication of Leopold III in 1951 in favour of his son Baudouin.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Belgium quickly to recover from the economic knew war by among other things the Marshall plan, the Benelux and other European connections, the currency drove the rehabilitation of 1944 and on bringing the coal production and relatively intact industrial infrastructure. The school struggle flared up again when the Socialist-liberal Government-Van Acker II subsidise free (Catholic) education back screwed. In 1958, the School pactby the three national parties closed causing the rest returned in education country. Despite the economic progress remained there many people unemployed and only from 1959 performed law adopted after the improvement in the regional expansion. Economic scale, notably by the entry into force of the European Economic Community, made starting from 1960 for a period of economic boom. In 1966, a second regional issued expansiewet, which brought a new boom times. ===Independence of the colonies<span class="mw-editsection" len="373" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">At the end of the 50 's got the independence idea in the Belgian Congo ever clearer shape. Riots in Leopoldville forced the Belgian Government to the right of the Belgian Congo on to recognize independence (born January 13, 1959). Without significant opposition from the Government was Belgian – Congo 30 June 1960 on an independent State. Immediately vomiting there unrest from Belgium which necessitated a military intervention.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The mandate given to Belgium after the first world war over two provinces of German East Africa, Urundi (Urundi) and Rwanda had gotten off, ran on 1 July 1962 and the area was split into the independent StatesRwanda and Burundi (Burundi). On the foreign plane was operated and closed gradually the Benelux Belgium itself with various international organisations such as the Western European Union, the NATO and theEuropean coal and Steel Community (ECSC). ===Language Laws<span class="mw-editsection" len="350" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The Flemish movement strove after the interwar period to the principle that the regional language the official language provisions. Decennial censuses were held that language language and therefore had to determine the language area. Regardless of the possibility of manipulation, prevailed the fear that the social status of French would increase the Frenchification. The knibbelden to the Dutch language held censuses since 1921 language area. Therefore, the Flemish movement strove to an abolition of the language counts and the final adoption of the language border. The Flemish movement recovered somewhat after the termination of the school struggle and then the Flemish-Walloon relationships were addressed. So was the language border in 1962 and in 1963 the language legislation reviewed. The elections of 31 March 1968 gave many regionalist parties for profit on the seat. ==The last quarter of the 20th century<span class="mw-editsection" len="373" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == ===Crisis<span class="mw-editsection" len="346" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Belgium In the 1970s was also affected by the international economic crisis and was settled on the outdated economy. A restructuring of the textile-, coal-and steel industry was desperately needed. The closure of many companies and the loss of thousands of jobs was taken for granted. Unemployment grew from 3.4% in 1972 to 18.5% in 1983. This caused again for large budget deficits and an incessant increase in the national debt.The center-right governments-Martens performed from 1982 a strict clean-up policy to curb deficits and that policy started at the end of the 1980s to bear fruit: the budget deficit could be reduced and the unemploymentbegan to decline, thanks to the vitalising business. ===State Reforms<span class="mw-editsection" len="358" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Starting from 1970 was mainly politics dominated by the State reform. There followed economic decentralization and with a constitutional revision brought an end to the unitary Belgium. Belgium was divided into fourlinguistic areas, three cultural communities and three regions. The whole of the State reform however, stranded in October 1978 on Flemish CVPand constitutional objections raised by the opposition, the party of Wilfried Martens.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In 1980, the new Constitution still made under the zespartijenenregering of Wilfried Martens. Community autonomy was more spacious and region formation was created. But problems arose over the State aid to steel companies and the Walloon language in particular knowledge of political figures in the Flemish faciliteitsregeringen. The issue of Mayor José Happart Run 's in the fall of 1987 led to the resignation of the Government and the Government crisis of december 1988 to May 1989. All this was more or less the signal to bring forward the further reform of the State. A new constitutional amendment in 1988 gave the regions and communities more autonomy and financial freedoms. The parliamentary elections resulted in major shifts in the Belgian political world. All the major parties lost seats and profits went to the Vlaams Blok in Flanders and in Wallonia to Ecolo.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Premier Martens was succeeded by the Christian Democrat Jean-Luc Dehaene that in 1992 a Roman-red cabinet formed. Reducing the national debt was the main objective. The budget deficit (1.3%) was recorded in 1998 was reduced in such a way that Belgium in the European economic and Monetary Union.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">After a constitutional revision in 1993 Belgium became a Federal State in which the powers are divided between the Federal State, the communities and the regions. There were direct elections to the regional parliaments. The Brussels-capital region got its status in 1989. King Baudouin died In 1993 and was succeeded by his brother, Albert, new King of the Belgians. ==Events from 1999<span class="mw-editsection" len="365" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">At the legislative elections of 13 June 1999 members the Government parties a big loss as a result of the so-called dioxin crisis. Guy Verhofstadt, the later Prime Minister and Chairman of the VLD, was appointed formateur and brought a Government of Liberals, Socialists and Greens to stand. For the first time since 1958, there ruled without the CVP.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">During the Kosovo crisis in 1999 names 600 Belgian para commando's part in the NATO operation Allied Harbour, to protect the Kosovar refugees in Albania. In that same year, 1100 soldiers to Kosovo to participate in KFOR, the NATO peacekeeping force for Kosovo.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In december 1999, the Government announced Verhofstadt to again an active foreign policy, especially in Central Africa where among other things the old colony of Belgium, Congo, is located. As soon as there would be peace in the region, Belgium would work to support the reconstruction.

<p lang="en" len="263" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">On 1 January 1999 the euro and franc was introduced from 1 January 2002 the euro completely replaced.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">On July 12, 2003 the Federal Government Verhofstadt II was formed with the VLD/MR and SP.a/PSwithout [http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?from=nl&to=en&a=http%3A%2F%2Fnl.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FGroen! Agalev]/Ecolo.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">After the elections of 10 June 2007 were successively Didier Reynders and Jean-Luc Dehaene was appointed informateur. Both failed in their mission because of the stalemate and the difficult relationship the community of CDH by Joëlle Milquet with the MR of Didier Reynders. Especially the Flemish demand for a further State reform and an unconditional splitting the constituency of Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde formateur Yves Leterme's task had to be dismantled. On Thursday 23 August 2007, offered his resignation to the King Albertformateur, which it has accepted. On 29 August 2007, the King after conversations with some ministers of State the CD & V-there is Herman Van Rompuy as ' Explorer ' referred to the community the Government negotiations to mines field from the gutter. At the end of september was formateur Yves Leterme for the third time, but at the end of november, his formation attempts finally brushed aside, because cdH-leader Joëlle Milquet refused to answers to Letermes ultimate 3 questions to continue with the negotiations. The unilateral adoption of the split of Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde earlier that month by the Flemish politicians in the room Commission had no right to do so, any more than the next alarm bell procedure that the Walloons sought because of conflicts of interest. After Letermes dismissal came up again in december Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, who just before Christmas a new interim Government on its feet brought to 23 March with Christian Democrats, Liberals and Socialists, after which the Leterme I finally could take the oath.

<p lang="en" len="391" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Yves Leterme as Prime Minister after his resignation was related to the Fortis case temporarily succeeded by Herman Van Rompuy, but after this last European became president, took over the post of Prime Minister Leterme.

<p lang="en" len="274" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In december 2011 (more than 500 days after the elections of June 2010) was Federal Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo .

<p lang="en" len="247" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">On 21 July 2013 Prince Filip was the seventh King of the Belgians.