Belgium and Transport in Bucharest: Difference between pages

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'''[[Bucharest]]''' boasts the largest transport network in Romania, and one of the largest in [[Europe]]. The Bucharest transport network is made up of a [[Bucharest Metro|metro]] network and a surface transport network. Although there are multiple connection points, the two systems operate independently of each other, are run by different organisations (the metro is run by [[Metrorex]] and the surface transport network by [[Regia Autonomă de Transport Bucureşti|RATB]]) and use separate ticketing systems, often making transfer between the systems difficult. Due to this, the two transport systems were unified in January 2007, and the Bucharest Metropolitan Transport Board established and a single ticketing system.
{{otheruses}}{{featured article}}
{{Infobox Country
| native_name= ''Koninkrijk België'' {{spaces|2}}{{resize|75%|([[Dutch language|Dutch]])}}<br/>''Royaume de Belgique'' {{spaces|2}}{{resize|75%|([[French language|French]])}}<br/>''Königreich Belgien'' {{spaces|2}}{{resize|75%|([[German language|German]])}}
| conventional_long_name= Kingdom of Belgium
| common_name= Belgium
| image_flag= Flag of Belgium.svg
| image_coat= Belgium cofa.PNG
| symbol_type= Coat of arms
| national_motto= ''Eendracht maakt macht''{{spaces|2}}<small>([[Dutch language|Dutch]])</small><br/>''L'union fait la force''{{spaces|2}}<small>([[French language|French]])</small><br/>''Einigkeit macht stark''{{spaces|2}}<small>([[German language|German]])<br/>"Strength through Unity" (lit. "Unity creates Strength", "Unity makes one strong")</small>
|image_map = Location Belgium EU Europe.png
|map_caption = {{map_caption|location_color=dark green|region=[[Europe]]|region_color=dark grey|subregion=the [[European Union]]|subregion_color=light green|legend=Location Belgium EU Europe.png}}
| national_anthem= [[The Brabançonne|The "Brabançonne"]]
| official_languages= [[Dutch language|Dutch]], [[French language|French]], [[German language|German]]
| demonym= Belgian
| capital= [[Brussels]]
| latd= 50
| latm= 51
| latNS= N
| longd= 4
| longm= 21
| longEW= E
| largest_settlement_type= metropolitan area
| largest_settlement= [[Brussels Capital Region]]
| government_type= [[Parliamentary system|Parliamentary democracy]] and [[Constitutional monarchy]]
| leader_title1= [[Belgian monarchy|King]]
| leader_title2= [[List of Prime Ministers of Belgium|Prime Minister]]
| leader_name1= [[Albert II of Belgium|Albert II]]
| leader_name2= [[Yves Leterme]]
| area_km2= 30,528
| area_sq_mi= 11,787<!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
| area_rank= 139th
| area_magnitude= 1 E10
| percent_water= 6.4
| population_estimate= <span style="white-space:nowrap;">10,584,534<ref name=statbel1/><br/></span>
| population_estimate_year= 2007
| population_estimate_rank= 76th<small>&nbsp;[2005]</small>
| population_census= 10,296,350
| population_census_year= 2001
| population_density_km2= 344.32<!--Infobox template cannot properly show: ref name=statbel2-->
| population_density_rank= <small>2006</small>) (29th&nbsp;<small>[2005]</small>
| population_density_sq_mi= 892 <!--Do not remove [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
| GDP_PPP_year= 2007
| GDP_PPP= $377.215 billion<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2004&ey=2008&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=124&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=36&pr.y=0 | title=Belgium, economic data | publisher=International Monetary Fund | accessdate=2008-10-09}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_per_capita= $35,387<ref name="autogenerated1" />
| GDP_nominal_year = 2007
| GDP_nominal = $454.283 billion<ref name="autogenerated1" />
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = $42,617<ref name="autogenerated1" />
| Gini= 33
| Gini_year= 2000
| Gini_rank= 33rd
| Gini_category= <span style="color:#dede00">medium</span>
| HDI_year= 2005
| HDI= {{increase}} 0.946
| HDI_rank= 17th
| HDI_category= <span style="color:#009900">high</span>
| sovereignty_type= [[Belgian Revolution|Independence]]
| sovereighty_note= from the [[United Kingdom of the Netherlands|Netherlands]]
| established_event1= Declared
| established_date1= 4 October 1830
| established_event2= [[Treaty of London, 1839|Recognized]]
| established_date2= 19 April 1839
| accessionEUdate= 25 March 1957
| EUseats= 24
| currency= [[Euro]] ([[Euro sign|€]])<sup>1</sup>
| currency_code= EU
| time_zone= [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset= +1
| time_zone_DST= [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST= +2
| cctld= [[.be]]
| calling_code= 32
| footnote1= Before 1999: [[Belgian franc]].
| footnote2= The [[.eu]] domain is also used, as it is shared with other [[European Union]] member states.
}}


<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:tramgrassbucharest.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[RATB]] tram line #35]] -->
The '''Kingdom of Belgium''' {{Audio-IPA|en-us-Belgium.ogg|[ˈbɛldʒəm]}} is a [[country]] in [[Western Europe|northwest Europe]]. It is a founding member of the [[European Union]] and hosts its headquarters, as well as those of other major [[international organization]]s, including [[NATO]].<ref>Footnote: Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many international organizations, including [[ACCT]], [[AfDB]], [[AsDB]], [[Australia Group]], [[Benelux]], [[Bank for International Settlements|BIS]], [[Convention on Cybercrime|CCC]], [[Council of Europe|CE]], [[CERN]], [[Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council|EAPC]], [[EBRD]], [[European Investment Bank|EIB]], [[Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union|EMU]], [[ESA]], [[EU]], [[FAO]], [[Group of Ten (economic)|G-10]], [[IAEA]], [[IBRD]], [[ICAO]], [[International Criminal Court|ICC]], [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|ICRM]], [[International Development Association|IDA]], [[Inter-American Development Bank|IDB]], [[International Energy Agency|IEA]], [[IFAD]], [[International Finance Corporation|IFC]], [[IFRCS]], [[IHO]], [[International Labour Organization|ILO]], [[IMF]], [[International Maritime Organization|IMO]], [[IMSO]], [[Intelsat]], [[Interpol]], [[IOC]], [[International Organization for Migration|IOM]], [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]], [[ITU]], [[MONUC]] (observers), [[NATO]], [[Nuclear Energy Agency|NEA]], [[Nuclear Suppliers Group|NSG]], [[Organization of American States|OAS]] (observer), [[OECD]], [[OPCW]], [[OSCE]], [[Permanent Court of Arbitration|PCA]], [[UN]], [[UNCTAD]], [[UNECE]], [[UNESCO]], [[UNHCR]], [[United Nations Industrial Development Organization|UNIDO]], [[UNMIK]], [[UNMOGIP]], [[UNRWA]], [[UNTSO]], [[UPU]], [[West African Development Bank|WADB]] (non-regional), [[WEU]], [[WHO]], [[WIPO]], [[WMO]], [[WTrO]], [[Zangger Committee|ZC]].</ref> Belgium covers an area of 30,528 km² (11,787 square miles) and has a population of about 10.5 million.


==Bucharest Metro==
Straddling the cultural boundary between [[Germanic Europe|Germanic]] and [[Latin Europe]], Belgium is home for two main linguistic groups, the [[Fleming]]s and the [[French Community|French-speakers]], mostly [[Walloons]], plus a tiny group of [[German-speaking Community of Belgium|German speakers]].
:''Main article: [[Bucharest Metro]]''


[[Image:Metro pipera bucharest RO.jpg|thumb|190px|Bucharest metro train ([[Bombardier]]) at Pipera Station]]
Geographically, Belgium's two largest regions are the [[Dutch language|Dutch]]-speaking region of [[Flemish Region|Flanders]] in the north, with 59% of the population, and the [[French language|French]]-speaking southern region of [[Wallonia]], inhabited by 31%. The [[Brussels-Capital Region]], officially bilingual, is a mostly French-speaking [[List of enclaves and exclaves#Subnational enclaves which are not exclaves|enclave]] within the [[Flemish Region]] and near the [[Walloon Region]], and has 10% of the population.<ref name=jacquesleclerc1>
{{cite web
|title=Belgique • België • Belgien—Région de Bruxelles-Capitale • Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest
|quote=C'est une région officiellement bilingue formant au centre du pays une enclave dans la province du Brabant flamand (Vlaams Brabant)
|work=L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde
|language=[[French language|French]]
|date=[[2007-01-18]]
|author=Leclerc, Jacques <!--NO LINK: this is not the wellknown general-->, membre associé du TLFQ
|publisher=Host: Trésor de la langue française au Québec (TLFQ), [[Université Laval]], [[Quebec]]
|url=http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/EtatsNsouverains/bruxelles-capitale.htm
|accessdate=2007-06-18}}<br/>*
{{cite web
|title=About Belgium
|quote=the Brussels-Capital Region is an enclave of 162&nbsp;km² within the Flemish region.
|publisher=Belgian Federal Public Service (ministry) / Embassy of Belgium in the Republic of Korea
|url=http://www.belgium.or.kr/page60.html
|accessdate=2007-06-21}}<br/>*
{{cite web
|title=Flanders (administrative region)
|quote=The capital of Belgium, Brussels, is an enclave within Flanders.
|work=Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia
|year=2007
|publisher=Microsoft
|url=http://uk.encarta.msn.com/encnet/refpages/RefArtTextonly.aspx?refid=781531490
|accessdate=2007-06-21}}<br/>*
{{cite web
|title=The FIT Invasions of Mons
|quote=The country is divided into three increasingly autonomous regions: Dutch-speaking [[Flanders]] in the north; mostly French-speaking [[Brussels]] in the center as an enclave within Flanders, and French-speaking [[Wallonia]] in the south, including the German-speaking ''Cantons de l'Est'').
|year=1999 |month=October
|author=McMillan, Eric
|work=Capital translator, Newsletter of the <span style="font-size:92%;">NCATA</span>, Vol. 21, No. 7, p. 1
|publisher=National Capital Area Chapter of the American Translators Association (<span style="font-size:87%;">NCATA</span>)
|url=http://www.ncata.org/doc/Oct99.pdf
|format=PDF
|accessdate=2007-06-21}}<br/>*
{{cite web
|title=Language Facilities in the Brussels Periphery
|quote=Brussels is a kind of enclave within Flanders—it has no direct link with Wallonia.
|author=[http://perswww.kuleuven.be/~u0025631/ Van de Walle, Steven], lecturer at University of Birmingham Institute of Local Government Studies, School of Public Policy
|publisher=[[Katholieke Universiteit Leuven|KULeuven]]—Leuvens Universitair Dienstencentrum voor Informatica en Telematica
|url=http://perswww.kuleuven.be/~u0025631/pdf/RANDBRUS.pdf
|format=PDF
|accessdate=2007-06-21}}</ref> A small [[German-speaking Community of Belgium|German-speaking Community]] exists in eastern Wallonia.<ref name=germanspeakingcommunity1>
{{cite web
|title=The German-speaking Community
|publisher=The German-speaking Community
|url=http://www.dglive.be/EN/Desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-1263/2264_read-27181/
|accessdate=2007-05-05}} The (original) [http://www.dglive.be/DesktopDefault.aspx/tabid-84/186_read-448/ version in German language] (already) mentions 73,000 instead of 71,500 inhabitants.</ref> Belgium's linguistic diversity and related political and cultural conflicts are reflected in the [[history of Belgium|political history]] and a complex [[Communities and regions of Belgium|system of government]].<ref name=bbcnews1>
{{cite web
|title=Language dispute divides Belgium
|author=Morris, Chris<!--NO LINK unless it goes to a British TV journalist-->
|publisher=BBC News
|date=[[2005-05-13]]
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4545433.stm
|accessdate=2007-05-08}}</ref><ref name=paulderidder>
{{cite web
|title=Langues majoritaires, langues minoritaires, dialectes et NTIC
|date=[[2001-09-25]]
|language=[[French language|French]]
|author=Petermann, Simon, Professor at the University of Liège, Wallonia, Belgium—at colloquium ''IX<sup>e</sup> Sommet de la francophonie—Initiatives 2001—Ethique et nouvelles technologies, session 6 Cultures et langues, la place des minorités'', [[Bayreuth]]
|url=http://www.initiatives.refer.org/Initiatives-2001/_notes/sess604.htm
|accessdate=2007-05-04}}</ref>


Bucharest has a fairly extensive subway system consisting of four lines: M1, M2, M3 and M4, and run by [[Metrorex]]. In total, the network is 63km long and has 45 stations, with 1.5km average distance between stops. It is one of the fastest ways to get around the city.
The name 'Belgium' is derived from ''[[Gallia Belgica]]'', a [[Roman province]] in the northernmost part of [[Gaul]] that was inhabited by the ''[[Belgae]]'', a mix of [[Celts|Celtic]] and [[Germanic peoples|Germanic]]<!--keep link on 1 word, else needs elsewhere linking again--> peoples.<ref>
{{cite book
|title=Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire
|author=Bunson, Matthew
|year=1994
|pages=p. 169
|edition=Hardcover 352pp
|publisher=Facts on File, New York
|isbn=0 8160 2135 X [Paperback 512pp, ISBN 0-8160-3182-7; Revised edition (2002), Hardcover 636pp, ISBN 0-8160-4562-3]}}<!--reference 2007-08-15 borrowed from WP article 'Gallia Belgica', version 2007-05-12 id=128931276, at "Agrippa made the divisions on what he perceived to be distinctions in language, race and community—Gallia Belgica was meant to be a mix of Celtic and Germanic peoples."; not doublechecked--></ref><ref>Footnote: The Celtic and/or Germanic influences on and origin(s) of the Belgae remains disputed. Further reading e.g.
{{cite web
|title=Ethnic and Cultural Identity
|work=Barbarians on the Greek Periphery?—Origins of Celtic Art
|year=1997 |month=May
|author=Witt, Constanze Maria
|publisher=Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities, [[University of Virginia]]
|url=http://www3.iath.virginia.edu/Barbarians/Essays/ethnic_main.html
|accessdate=2007-06-06}}</ref> Historically, Belgium, [[the Netherlands]] and [[Luxembourg]] were known as the [[Low Countries]], which used to cover a somewhat larger area than the current [[Benelux]] group of states. From the end of the [[Middle Ages]] until the 17th century, it was a prosperous centre of commerce and culture. From the 16th century until the Belgian revolution in 1830, many battles between European powers were fought in the area of Belgium, causing it to be dubbed "the battlefield of Europe"<ref name=diplomatbe1>
{{cite web
|title=Belgian economy
|work=Belgium
|publisher=Belgian Federal Public Service (ministry) of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation
|url=http://www.diplomatie.be/en/belgium/belgiumdetail.asp?TEXTID=49019
|accessdate=2007-05-21}}</ref> and "the cockpit of Europe"<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Rezention zu (Review of) Cook, Bernard: Belgium. A History ISBN 0-8204-5824-4
|date=[[2003-02-17]]
|quote=die Bezeichnung Belgiens als „the cockpit of Europe” (James Howell, 1640), die damals noch auf eine kriegerische Hahnenkampf-Arena hindeutete
|language=[[German language|German]]
|author=Haß, Torsten, Head of the [[:de:Fachhochschule Kehl|Fachhochschule (University of Applied Sciences) of Kehl]] Library, [[Kehl]], Germany
|publisher=FH-Zeitung (journal of the [[Fachhochschule]])
|url=http://www.fh-kehl.de/zeitung/rezensionen/2003/cook,belgium.htm
|accessdate=2007-05-24}}{{Dead link|date=October 2008}}—The book reviewer, Haß, attributes the expression in English to [[James Howell]] in 1640. Howell's original phrase "the cockpit of Christendom" became modified afterwards, as shown by:<br/>&nbsp;&nbsp;
{{cite web
|title=The Hydra No.1 New Series (November 1917)—Arras And Captain Satan
|author=Carmont, John
|work=War Poets Collection
|publisher=Napier University’s Business School
|url=http://www.napier.ac.uk/warpoets/Hydraissues/Hyn01/hyn01a03.html
|accessdate=2007-05-24}}—and as such coined for Belgium:<br/>&nbsp;&nbsp;
{{cite web
|title=Nuttall Encyclopaedia of General Knowledge—Cockpit of Europe
|quote=Cockpit of Europe, Belgium, as the scene of so many battles between the Powers of Europe.
|author=Wood, James
|year=1907
|url=http://www.fromoldbooks.org/Wood-NuttallEncyclopaedia/c/cockpitofeurope.html
|accessdate=2007-05-24}} (See also [[The Nuttall Encyclopaedia]])</ref>—a reputation strengthened by both World Wars. Upon its independence, Belgium eagerly participated in the [[Industrial Revolution]],<ref name="Fitzmaurice">
{{cite web
|title=New Order? International models of peace and reconciliation—Diversity and civil society
|author=[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/dd/report9/report9h.htm Fitzmaurice, John], at the [[Secretariat-General of the European Commission]], taught at the [[Université Libre de Bruxelles]]
|year=1996
|publisher=Democratic Dialogue ''Northern Ireland's first think tank'', Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
|url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/dd/report9/report9d.htm
|accessdate=2007-08-12}}</ref><ref name="EUbusiness">
{{cite web
|title=Belgium country profile
|date=[[2006-08-27]]
|publisher=[http://www.eubusiness.com/aboutus EUbusiness], Richmond, UK
|url=http://www.eubusiness.com/Belgium/belgium-country-profile/
|accessdate=2007-08-12}}</ref> and, at the end of the nineteenth century, possessed several [[Belgian colonial empire|colonies in Africa]].<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Chapter 27. The Age of Imperialism (Section 2. The Partition of Africa)
|work=World History II
|author=Karl, Farah ''(text)''; Stoneking, James'' (course)''
|year=1999
|publisher=Appomattox Regional Governor's School (History Department), Petersburg, VA, USA
|url=http://www.args.k12.va.us/academics/history/Stoneking/chapters/world2/world27.pdf
|format=PDF
|accessdate=2007-08-16}}{{Dead link|date=October 2008}}</ref> The second half of the 20th century was marked by the rise of communal conflicts between the Flemings and the Francophones fuelled by [[culture of Belgium|cultural differences]] on the one hand and an [[economy of Belgium|asymmetrical economic evolution]] of Flanders and Wallonia on the other hand. [[2007–2008 Belgian government formation|These currently still active conflicts]] have caused far-reaching [[state reform in Belgium|reforms of the unitary Belgian state into a federal state]]. There is constant speculation by observers that this process of devolution might lead to the [[partition of Belgium|partition of the country]].


==Surface transport==
==History==
Surface transport in Bucharest is run by [[Regia Autonoma de Transport Bucuresti|Regia Autonomă de Transport Bucureşti]] (RATB) and consists of an extensive network of buses, trolleybuses, trams and light metros. The RATB network is one of the most dense in [[Europe]], and the fourth largest on the continent,
{{main|History of Belgium}}
carrying about 1.7 million passengers daily on 121 bus lines, 30 tram lines, 3 light metro lines and 20 trolleybus lines. At times, however, it does suffer from severe crowding.
[[Image:Map-1477 Low Countries.png|thumb|left|200px|The [[Seventeen Provinces]] (orange, brown and yellow areas) and the [[Bishopric of Liège]] (green)]]
[[Image:Bucharest trams 1.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Long line of [[RATB]] trams]]
In the 1st century BC, the [[Roman Republic|Romans]], after defeating the local tribes<!--not necessarily 'indigenous' as several sources (incl. De Bello Gallico) indicate influences from across the Rhine; the for Belgium relevant group of tribes is mentioned in the lead-->, created the province of Gallia Belgica. A [[Migration Period|gradual immigration]] by Germanic [[Franks|Frankish]] tribes during the 5th century, brought the area under the rule of the [[Merovingian]] kings. A gradual shift of power during the 8th century led the kingdom of the Franks to evolve into the [[Carolingian Empire]]. The [[Treaty of Verdun]] in 843 divided the region into [[Middle Francia|Middle]] and [[Western Francia]] and therefore into a set of more or less independent [[fiefdom]]s which during the [[Middle Ages]] were [[vassal]]s either of the [[King of France]] or of the [[Holy Roman Emperor|Roman Emperor]]. Many of these fiefdoms were united in the [[Burgundian Netherlands]] of the 14th and 15th centuries. [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Charles V]] extended the [[personal union]] of the [[Seventeen Provinces]] in the 1540s, making it far more than a personal union by the [[Pragmatic Sanction of 1549]], and increased his influence over the [[Prince-Bishopric of Liège]].<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Chapter II: Habsburg Rule in the Netherlands
|work=History of Holland
|author=Edmundson, George
|publisher=The University Press, Cambridge. Republished: Authorama
|year=1922
|url=http://www.authorama.com/history-of-holland-4.html
|accessdate=2007-06-09}}</ref>


RATB is a reasonably efficient and a very frequently-used way of getting around Bucharest. As with the Metro, the system is going under a period of renewal. Highlights of the renewal include the introduction of a new light metro service, aside from trams, as well as wheelchair-accessible buses and trolleybuses.
The [[Eighty Years' War]] (1568–1648) divided the area into the northern [[Republic of the Seven United Provinces of the Netherlands|United Provinces]] (''Belgica Foederata'' in [[Latin]], the "Federated Netherlands") and the [[Southern Netherlands]] (''Belgica Regia'', the "Royal Netherlands"). The latter were ruled successively by the [[Habsburg Spain|Spanish]] and the [[History of Austria#Charles VI and Maria Theresa (1711-1780)|Austrian]] [[Habsburg]]s and comprised most of modern Belgium. This was the theatre of most [[Franco-Spanish War (1635)|Franco-Spanish]] and [[War of the Austrian Succession|Franco-Austrian wars]]<!--disambiguation page intended: "most" wars of that list--> during the 17th and 18th centuries.<ref>Footnote: Further reading: [[Early Modern France#France in the 17th and 18th centuries|France in the 17th and 18th centuries]]</ref> Following the [[French Revolutionary Wars: Campaigns of 1794|campaigns of 1794 in the French Revolutionary Wars]], the Low Countries — including territories that were never nominally under Habsburg rule, such as the Prince-Bishopric of Liège — were annexed by the [[French First Republic]], ending Austrian rule in the region. The reunification of the Low Countries as the [[United Kingdom of the Netherlands]] occurred at the dissolution of the [[First French Empire]] in 1815. The 1830 [[Belgian Revolution]] led to the establishment of an independent, [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]], and neutral Belgium under a [[Provisional Government of Belgium|provisional government]] and a [[national Congress of Belgium|national congress]]. Since the installation of [[Leopold I of Belgium|Leopold I]] as king in 1831, Belgium has been a [[constitutional monarchy]] and [[parliamentary democracy]]. Although the franchise was initially restricted, [[universal suffrage]] for men was introduced in 1893 (with [[plural voting]] until 1919), and for women in 1949. The main political parties of the 19th century were the [[Catholic Party (Belgium)|Catholic Party]] and the [[Liberal Party (Belgium)|Liberal Party]], with the [[Belgian Labour Party]] emerging towards the end of the century. [[French language|French]] was originally the single official language adopted by the [[nobility]] and the [[bourgeoisie]]. It progressively lost its overall importance as [[Dutch language|Dutch]] became recognized as well. This recognition became official 1898. In 1967 a Dutch version of the [[Belgian Constitution|Constitution]] was legally accepted.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Ethnic structure, inequality and governance of the public sector in Belgium
|author=[http://www.unrisd.org/80256B3C005BC203/(httpPeople)/417C5EAAE7060027C1256F2000472415?OpenDocument Kris Deschouwer]
|publisher=United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (<span style="font-size:87%;">UNRISD</span>)
|month=January
|year=2004
|url=http://www.unrisd.org/UNRISD/website/document.nsf/ab82a6805797760f80256b4f005da1ab/ec506a59176be044c1256e9e003077c3/$FILE/Deschou.pdf
|format=PDF
|accessdate=2007-05-22}}</ref>


===Buses===
[[Image:Wappers belgian revolution.jpg|thumb|left|250px|''Episode of the Belgian Revolution of 1830'' (1834)<br/>by [[Egide Charles Gustave Wappers]],<br/>in the Ancient Art Museum, Brussels.]]
:''See also: [[List of bus routes in Bucharest]]''
The [[Berlin Conference]] of 1885 gave the [[Congo Free State]] to [[Leopold II of Belgium|King Leopold II]] as his private possession. From around 1900 there was growing international concern at the savage treatment of the Congolese population under Leopold II, for whom the Congo was primarily a source of revenue from ivory and rubber. In 1908 this outcry led the Belgian state to assume responsibility for the government of the colony, henceforth called the [[Belgian Congo]].<ref>
{{cite book
|title=The State of Africa
|pages=pp. 95–96(?)
|edition=Hardcover 608pp
|date=[[2005-06-06]]
|author=Meredith, Mark
|publisher= Free Press
|isbn=0-7432-3221-6}}<!--Original 2007-06-21 entry here as publisher=Simon & Schuster, year=2006, pages=95–96, isbn=978-0-7432-3222-7: ref not found on that date--></ref>


The RATB bus network is the most dense out of all the transport types in Bucharest. In fact, RATB's advertisements state that one can never be more than five minutes walking distance from a bus stop. There are 121 bus lines, most of which operate in the Municipality of Bucharest. However, there are also a few bus lines which provide services to the towns and villages which border Bucharest, in [[Ilfov county]], and whose populations usually commute to Bucharest for work. In mid-2005, the lines that linked the city to the peripheral area were licensed out to independent transportation providers, but in early 2006, they were placed once again under the control of RATB due to a wide range customer complaints about the private operators.
Germany invaded Belgium in 1914 as part of the [[Schlieffen Plan]], and much of the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] fighting of [[World War I]] occurred in western parts of the country. Belgium took over the [[German colonies]] of [[Ruanda-Urundi]] (modern day [[Rwanda]] and [[Burundi]]) during the war, and they were mandated to Belgium in 1924 by the [[League of Nations]], of which Belgium was a founding member. The [[Treaty of Versailles]] subjected several border towns that had been ceded to Prussia in 1815, most notably [[Eupen]] and [[Malmedy]], to a controversial [[plebiscite]], which led to their return to Belgium in 1925, thereby causing the presence of a small German community. Belgium was again invaded by [[Germany]] in 1940 during the [[Blitzkrieg]] offensive, and occupied until its liberation by [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] troops in the winter of 1944–1945. The [[Belgian Congo]] gained independence in 1960 during the [[Congo Crisis]];<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1304803 The Congolese Civil War 1960-1964]</ref> [[Ruanda-Urundi]] followed two years later.


====Fleet====
After [[World War II]], Belgium joined [[NATO]] as a founder member, and formed the [[Benelux]] group of nations with [[the Netherlands]] and [[Luxembourg]]. Belgium became one of the six founding members of the [[European Coal and Steel Community]] in 1951, and of the [[European Atomic Energy Community]] and [[European Economic Community]], established in 1957. The latter is now the [[European Union]], for which Belgium hosts major administrations and institutions, including the [[European Commission]], the [[Council of the European Union]], and the extraordinary and committee sessions of the [[European Parliament]].
RATB's bus fleet is made up of more than 1400 vehicles, of which around 45% are wheelchair-accessible ([[low floor]]) and around 12% are air-conditioned.<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://transportbucuresti.trei.ro/autobuze/Parc_autobuze.htm Parc autobuze RATB] (''RATB bus fleet''), BucureştiTransport (fan site by Dr2005)</ref> The fleet is currently undergoing a substantial process of renewal. In December [[2005]], RATB completed a contract for 500 [[Mercedes-Benz O530 Citaro|Mercedes Citaro]] low-floor, wheelchair-accessible buses. The buses were delivered between June 2006 and April 2007. In January 2008, the first of a further series of 500 Citaro low-floor buses was put into service. These buses are the first air-conditioned vehicles in RATB's fleet. As of October 2008, wheelchair-accessible vehicles currently run on 38 routes. As of October 2008, the fleet is made up of the following models:


<gallery>
==Government and politics==
Image:Bucharest Citaro bus 4608.jpg|{{access icon}} '''[[Mercedes-Benz O530 Citaro|Mercedes Citaro 2]]''' (air conditioned)<br />''183 vehicles''
{{main|Politics of Belgium}}
Image:Bucharest Citaro bus 3.jpg|{{access icon}} '''[[Mercedes-Benz O530 Citaro|Mercedes Citaro]]'''<br />''500 vehicles''
{{seealso|Belgian federal parliament|Belgian federal government|Political parties in Belgium}}
Image:Bucharest RocarDeSimon bus 1037.jpg|'''[[Rocar De Simon U412]]'''<br />''325 vehicles''
{{further|[[List of Belgian monarchs]], [[List of Belgian Prime Ministers]], [[Foreign relations of Belgium]]}}
Image:Bucharest DAF bus 2.jpg|'''[[DAF SB220]]'''<br />''232 vehicles''
Belgium is a [[constitutional monarchy|constitutional]], [[popular monarchy]] and a [[parliamentary system|parliamentary democracy]].
Image:Bucharest older bus.jpg|'''[[Ikarus Bus|Ikarus 260]]'''<br />''58 vehicles''
Image:Bucharest DAC bus 1.jpg|'''[[Rocar DAC 112 UDM]]'''<br />''27 vehicles''
Image:Bucharest Iveco bus 1.jpg|'''[[Iveco|Iveco TurboCity-U 480]]'''<br />''40 vehicles''
Image:Bucharest DAF Berkhof bus.jpg|'''DAF Berkhof'''<br />''2 vehicles
Image:Bucharest HESS bus 1.jpg|'''HESS'''<br />''1 vehicle''
Image:Bucharest RocarAutodromo bus 1.jpg|'''Rocar Autodromo'''<br />''1 vehicle''
</gallery>


Citaro buses are mainly used on central and trunk bus routes, being the main bus type in use in Bucharest. [[Rocar De Simon U412]] and [[DAF SB220]] are being relegated to lower traffic routes, shuttles, suburban routes, or routes perceived by RATB to run through higher risk areas. Ikarus and DAC buses only serve short or shuttle routes, and will be removed from the fleet (and subsequently scrapped) by March 2008.
In the 19th century it was necessary to speak French to get ahead, and those who could only speak Dutch effectively became second-class citizens. Late that century, and continuing into the 20th century, the [[Flemish movement]] evolved to counter this situation. Following [[World War II]], Belgian politics became increasingly dominated by the autonomy of its two main language communities. Intercommunal tensions rose and even the [[Partition of Belgium|unity of the Belgian state]] became scrutinized.<ref name=bbcnews1/> Through constitutional reforms in the 1970s and 1980s,
[[regionalism (politics)|regionalization]] of the [[unitary state]] led to a three-tiered [[federation]]: federal, regional, and community governments were created, a compromise designed to minimize linguistic, cultural, social and economic tensions.<ref>[http://www.flanders.be/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=MVG_FL/Template/MVG_FL_Html_Detail&cid=1072097196838&enablelasturl=1&p=1053963211306 ]{{Dead link|date=June 2008}}</ref>


===Trolleybuses===
[[Image:Yves Leterme campagne foto.jpg|thumb|Prime Minister [[Yves Leterme]]]]
:''See also: [[List of trolleybus routes in Bucharest]]''
{{commonscat|Trolleybuses in Bucharest|Trolleybuses in Bucharest}}
[[Trolleybuses]] supplement buses on the RATB network, which operates 19 trolleybus lines, mainly on high-usage routes. During the 1990s, the fleet was updated with modern trolleybuses manufactured by [[Ikarus Bus|Ikarus]], in light blue and yellow livery, which have acoustic station announcements and digital display screens. These trolleybuses now make up the majority of the fleet. In early 2007, wheelchair-accessible [[Irisbus Citelis]] trolleybuses were introduced on routes [[RATB route 61|61]], [[RATB route 62|62]], [[RATB route 69|69]], [[RATB route 70|70]], [[RATB route 71|71]], [[RATB route 86|86]], [[RATB route 90|90]], [[RATB route 91|91]] and [[RATB route 92|92]].


====Fleet====
The federal [[bicameralism|bicameral]] parliament is composed of a [[Belgian Senate|Senate]] and a [[Belgian Chamber of People's Representatives|Chamber of Representatives]]. The former is made up of 40 directly elected politicians and 21 representatives appointed by the [[Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium|3 community parliaments]], 10 [[Belgian Senate#Coopted Senators|coopted senators]] and the children of the king, as [[Belgian Senate#Senators by Right|senators by Right]] who in practice do not cast their vote. The [[Chamber]]'s 150 representatives are elected under a [[proportional voting]] system from 11 [[Arrondissements of Belgium|electoral districts]]. Belgium is one of the few countries that has [[compulsory voting]], and thus holds one of the highest rates of [[voter turnout]] in the world.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=The Dynamics of Electoral Participation—Table 10.1 Average turnout in free elections to the lower house in 40 countries, 1961–1999
|pages=p.&nbsp;32
|year=2001
|author=Franklin, Mark N., [[Trinity College (Connecticut)|Trinity College, Connecticut]]
|url=http://citeseer.ist.psu.edu/cache/papers/cs/25027/http:zSzzSzwww2.trincoll.eduzSz~mfranklizSzParticipation.pdf/franklin01dynamics.pdf
|format=PDF
|accessdate=2007-05-29}}</ref>


<gallery>
The [[Monarchy of Belgium|King]] (currently [[Albert II of Belgium|Albert II]]) is the [[head of state]], though with limited [[Royal Prerogative|prerogatives]]. He appoints ministers, including a [[Prime Minister]], that have the confidence of the [[Chamber of Representatives]] to form the [[federal government]]. The numbers of Dutch- and French-speaking ministers are equal as prescribed by the [[Constitution]].<ref name=constitution1>
Image:Bucharest Citelis trolleybus 5302.jpg|{{access icon}} '''[[Irisbus Citelis]]''' bus on [[RATB route 69|Route 69]] (150 vehicles)
{{cite web
Image:Bucharest Ikarus trolleybus 2.jpg|'''Ikarus 415T''' trolleybus on Route 70 (200 vehicles)
|title=Belgium—Constitution—Title III Powers, Chapter II The Senate, Article 72 <nowiki>[</nowiki>King's Descendants<nowiki>]</nowiki>&nbsp;; and Title III, Chapter III King and Federal Government, Section I The King&nbsp;; and Section II The Federal Government, Article 99 <nowiki>[</nowiki>Composition of Government<nowiki>]</nowiki>
Image:Bucharest Rocar-Autodromo trolleybus.jpg|'''RocarAutodromo''' trolleybus on Route 91 (1 vehicle)
|work=International Constitutional Law
Image:Bucharest Rocar trolleybus 1.jpg|'''Rocar''' trolleybus on Route 90 (12 vehicles)
|publisher=Institut für öffentliches Recht, [[University of Berne]], [[Switzerland]]
Image:Bucharest DAC trolleybus 7444.jpg|'''DAC''' trolleybus on Route 97. Withdrawn model.
|date=[[1994-02-17]]
</gallery>
|url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/law/icl/be00000_.html
|accessdate=2007-05-20}} Or both:<br/>*
{{cite web
|title=Title III On Power, Chapter II On the Senate, Art. 72
|work=The Constitution of Belgium
|publisher=The Federal Parliament of Belgium
|date=[[1997-01-21]]
|url=http://www.fed-parl.be/gwuk0004.htm
|accessdate=2007-05-20}} And<br/>*
{{cite web
|title=Title III On Power, Chapter III On the King and the Federal Government, Section I On the King&nbsp;; and Section II On the Federal Government, Art. 99
|work=The Constitution of Belgium
|publisher=The Federal Parliament of Belgium
|date=[[1997-01-21]]
|url=http://www.fed-parl.be/gwuk0006.htm#E11E6
|accessdate=2007-05-20}}</ref> The judicial system is based on [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]] and originates from the [[Napoleonic code]]. The [[Court of Cassation (Belgium)|Court of Cassation]] is the court of last resort, with the [[Court of Appeal]] one level below.


===Trams and light metro===
Belgium's political institutions are complex; most political power is organized around the need to represent the main cultural communities. Since around 1970, the significant national Belgian [[political party|political parties]] have split into distinct components that mainly represent the political and linguistic interests of these communities. The major parties in each community, though close to the [[centrism|political centre]], belong to three main groups: the [[right-wing politics|right-wing]] [[Liberals]], the [[Social conservatism|socially conservative]] [[Christian democracy|Christian Democrats]], and the [[Social democracy|Socialists]] forming the [[left-wing politics|left-wing]]. Further notable parties came into being well after the middle of last century, mainly around [[List of political parties in Belgium#Linguistic parties|linguistic]], [[nationalism|nationalist]], or [[worldwide green parties|environmental]] themes, and recently smaller ones of [[Liberalism in Belgium#Timeline|some specific liberal]] nature.
{{commonscat|Trams in Bucharest|Trams in Bucharest}}


RATB operates a complex system of trams and light metros in the Municipality of Bucharest. Beside tens of tram lines, there are currently three light metro lines (numbered 32, 35 and 41), all of which run in the western part of Bucharest. Light metros use more modern rolling stock than trams and also run on separate designated corridors for faster travel times. The light metro service is expected to be expanded by upgrading existing tram lines to light metro status. The next line to be upgraded is expected to be Line 21.
A string of Christian Democrat coalition governments from 1958 was broken in [[Belgian general election, 1999|1999]] after the first [[dioxin]] crisis, a major food contamination scandal.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Dioxin contamination scandal hits Belgium: Effects spread through European Union and beyond
|work=World Socialist Web Site (<small>WSWS</small>)
|publisher=International Committee of the Fourth International (<small>ICFI</small>)
|author=Tyler, Richard <!--Do ''not'' link to fictional character or The Daily Telegraph's Enterprise Editor, this R.T.=WSWS correspondent-->
|date=[[1999-06-08]]
|url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/1999/jun1999/belg-j08.shtml
|accessdate=2007-05-25}}—Follow-up on occasion of 2nd dioxin crisis: [http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?id=65481-belgium-netherlands-dioxin α]</ref><ref>
{{cite press release
|title=Food Law News—EU&nbsp;: <small>CONTAMINANTS</small>—Commission Press Release (IP/99/399) Preliminary results of EU-inspection to Belgium
|date=[[1999-06-16]]
|author=[[European Commission]]
|publisher=School of Food Biosciences, University of Reading, UK
|url=http://www.foodlaw.rdg.ac.uk/news/eu-99-40.htm
|accessdate=2007-05-29}}</ref> A 'rainbow coalition' emerged from six parties: the Flemish and the French-speaking Liberals, Social Democrats, Greens.<ref>
{{cite news
|title=Belgium's "rainbow" coalition sworn in
|publisher=BBC News
|date=[[1999-07-12]]
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/392004.stm
|accessdate=2007-05-20}}</ref> Later, a 'purple coalition' of Liberals and Social Democrats formed after the Greens lost most of their seats in the [[Belgian general election, 2003|2003 election]].<ref>
{{cite web
|title=La Chambre des représentants—Composition (''Composition of the Chamber of Representatives'')
|date=[[2006-03-09]]
|publisher=The Chamber of Representatives of Belgium
|language=[[French language|French]]
|url=http://www.lachambre.be/kvvcr/pdf_sections/pri/fiche/10F.pdf
|format=PDF
|accessdate=2007-05-25}}<!--REF FAILS TO CONFIRM TEXT (counting seats does not exclude possibility of Ecolo/NVA/FN as 5th etc parties)--></ref> The government led by [[Prime Minister]] [[Guy Verhofstadt]] from 1999 to 2007 achieved a balanced budget, some tax reforms, a labour-market reform, scheduled [[Nuclear energy policy#Europe|nuclear phase-out]], and instigated legislation allowing more stringent [[War Crimes Law (Belgium)|war crime]] and more lenient [[soft drugs|soft drug usage]] prosecution. Restrictions on withholding [[euthanasia#Belgium|euthanasia]] were reduced and [[same-sex marriage in Belgium|same-sex marriage]] legalized. The government promoted active diplomacy in Africa<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Rwanda
|work=tiscali.reference
|publisher=Tiscali UK
|url=http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/hutchinson/m0019846.html
|accessdate=2007-05-27}} The article shows an example of Belgium's recent African policies.</ref> and opposed the invasion of Iraq.<ref>{{cite news
|title=Belgian demand halts NATO progress
|publisher=CNN News
|date=[[2003-02-16]]
|url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/02/16/sprj.irq.nato.belgium.ap/
|accessdate=2007-06-16}}</ref> Verhofstadt's coalition fared badly in the [[Belgian general election, 2007|June 2007 elections]]. Since then the country has been experiencing a long-lasting [[2007 Belgian government formation|political crisis]].<ref>{{cite news
|title= The Belgian crisis in detail
|publisher=Majorityrights
|date=[[2007-11-20]]
|url= http://majorityrights.com/index.php/weblog/comments/the_belgian_crisis_in_detail/
|accessdate=2007-11-22}}</ref> This crisis is such that many observers have speculated on a possible [[partition of Belgium]]. From the 21 December 2007 until 20 March 2008 the [[Verhofstadt III Government]] was in office. This coalition of the [[CD&V|Flemish]] and [[Humanist Democratic Centre|Humanist Democratic Centre (Francophone Christian Democrats)]], the [[VLD|Flemish]] and [[Mouvement Réformateur|Francophone Liberals]] together with the [[Socialist Party (francophone Belgium)|Francophone Social Democrats]] was an interim government until 20 March 2008. On that day a new government, led by [[CD&V|Flemish Christian Democrat]] [[Yves Leterme]], the actual winner of the federal elections of June 2007, was sworn in by the king. On 15 July 2008 Leterme announced the resignation of the [[Leterme I Government|cabinet]] to the king, as no progress in [[state reform in Belgium|constitutional reforms]] has been made.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7506640.stm BBC news, july 15th, 2008]</ref>


====Fleet====
In its 2007 [[Reporters Without Borders|Worldwide Press Freedom Index]], [[Reporters Without Borders]] ranked Belgium (along with [[Finland]] and [[Sweden]]) 5th out of 169 countries.<ref>[http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=24025 Reporters Without Frontiers, 2007]</ref>


<gallery>
==Communities and regions==
<!-- Unsourced image removed: Image: BucurLF.jpg|'''Bucur LF''' tram -->
{{main|Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium}}
Image:Bucharest V2A-T tram.jpg|'''V2A''' tram
{{seealso|Language legislation in Belgium|Municipalities with language facilities}}
Image:Bucharest V2S tram.jpg|'''V2S''' tram
{| style="float:right"
Image:Bucharest V3A tram 6.jpg|'''V3A-93M''' tram
| valign="top" |
Image:Tramway 32 Buc.JPG|'''V3A-93''' tram
[[Image:Communities of Belgium.svg|thumb|Communities:<br/>{{legend|#fab274|[[Flemish Community]]}}
Image:Bucharest V3A tram 8.jpg|'''V3A-H''' tram
<span style="margin:0px; padding-bottom:1px; font-size:90%; display:block;"><span style="background-color:#fab274; color:#fab274;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color:#f2536b; color:#f2536b;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;Flemish & French Community</span>
Image:Bucharest Tatra tram 1.jpg|'''[[Tatra T4]]''' tram
{{legend|#f2536b|[[French Community of Belgium|French Community]]}}{{legend|#40bb6a|[[German-speaking Community of Belgium|German-speaking Community]]}}]]
Image:Bucharest Tram 11.jpg|'''Rathberger''' tram, no longer in use.
| valign="top" |
</gallery>
[[Image:Regions of Belgium.svg|thumb|Regions:<br/>{{legend|#fab274|[[Flemish Region]]}}{{legend|#2385d2|[[Brussels|Brussels-Capital Region]]}}{{legend|#f2536b|[[Walloon Region]]}}]]
|}
Based on the four language areas defined in 1962–63, consecutive [[state reform in Belgium|revisions]] of [[Constitution of Belgium|the country's constitution]] in 1970, 1980, 1988 and 1993 established a unique federal state with segregated political power into three levels:<ref name=rolandwillemyns>
{{cite journal
|title=The Dutch-French Language Border in Belgium
|journal=Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development
|volume=Vol. 23
|issue=Nos. 1&2
|year=2002
|pages=pp. 36–49
|author=Willemyns, Roland, [[Vrije Universiteit Brussel]], Germanic Languages
|url=http://www.multilingual-matters.net/jmmd/023/0036/jmmd0230036.pdf
|accessdate=2007-06-22}}</ref><ref>Footnote: Each municipality of the Kingdom is part of one of the four [[Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium|language areas (''taalgebieden'' in Dutch, ''Sprachgebiete'' in German), occasionally called linguistic regions (''régions linguistiques'' in French)]]. See the three legal versions of the Constitution:<br/>*
{{cite web
|title=Titel I: Het federale België, zijn samenstelling en zijn grondgebied
|quote=Art.&nbsp;4 België omvat vier taalgebieden
|language=[[Dutch language|Dutch]]
|date=[[2007-05-15]] last update of web page
|work=De Belgische Grondwet
|publisher=Belgian Senate
|url=http://www.senate.be/doc/const_nl.html#t1
|accessdate=2007-05-31}}<br/>*
{{cite web
|title=Titel I: Das föderale Belgien, seine Zusammensetzung und sein Staatsgebiet
|quote=Art.&nbsp;4 Belgien umfaßt vier Sprachgebiete
|language=[[German language|German]]
|date=[[2007-05-15]] last update of web page
|work=Die Verfassung Belgiens
|publisher=Belgian Senate
|url=http://www.senate.be/deutsch/const_de.html#t1
|accessdate=2007-05-31}}<br/>*
{{cite web
|title=Titre Ier: De la Belgique fédérale, de ses composantes et de son territoire
|quote=Art.&nbsp;4 La Belgique comprend quatre régions linguistiques
|language=[[French language|French]]
|date=[[2007-05-15]] last update of web page
|work=La Constitution Belge
|url=http://www.senate.be/doc/const_fr.html#t1
|publisher=Belgian Senate
|accessdate=2007-05-31}}<br/>&nbsp; English translation, not recently updated and without legal value:<br/>*
{{cite web
|title=Title I: On Federal Belgium, its components and its territory
|quote=Art.&nbsp;4 Belgium has four linguistic regions
|date=[[1997-01-21]] last update of main 'the Constitution' page on web site
|work=the Constitution
|publisher=Belgian Senate
|url=http://www.fed-parl.be/gwuk0001.htm#E12E1
|accessdate=2007-05-31}}</ref>
# The [[Belgian federal government|federal government]], based in Brussels.
# The three language communities:
#* the [[Flemish Community]] (Dutch-speaking);
#* the [[French Community of Belgium|French (i.e., French-speaking) Community]];
#* the [[German-speaking Community of Belgium|German-speaking Community]].
# The three regions:
#* the [[Flemish Region]], subdivided into five [[provinces of Belgium|provinces]];
#* the [[Walloon Region]], subdivided into five provinces;
#* the [[Brussels-Capital Region]].


===Minibuses===
The constitutional language areas determine the official languages in their municipalities, as well as the geographical limits of the empowered institutions for specific matters. Although this would allow for seven parliaments and governments, when the Communities and Regions were created in 1980, Flemish politicians decided to merge both; thus in the Flemish Region a single institutional body of parliament and government is empowered for all except federal and specific municipal matters.<ref name="OneFlemishBody">Footnote: The Constitution set out seven institutions each of which can have a parliament, government and administration. In fact there are only six such bodies because the Flemish Region merged into the Flemish Community. This single Flemish body thus exercises powers about Community matters in the bilingual area of Brussels-Capital and in the Dutch language area, and about Regional matters only in the latter.</ref> The overlapping boundaries of the Regions and Communities have created two notable peculiarities: the territory of the [[Brussels-Capital Region]] (which came into existence nearly a decade after the other regions) is included in both the Flemish and French Communities, and the territory of the German-speaking Community lies wholly within the [[Walloon Region]]. Conflicts between the bodies are resolved by the [[Constitutional Court of Belgium]]. The structure is intended as a compromise to allow different cultures to live together peacefully.<ref name="Fitzmaurice"/>


In Romania, they are called "maxi-taxi", minibuses supplied the need of affordable public transportation at a time when some local administrations dismantled the community-owned systems of buses and or trolley cars. In Bucharest, a few lines went inside the main city in the last years of communism, their line numbers starting with 500, operated by RATB ancestor, ITB. In the 1990's, the lines were ceded to private companies. The boom came in 2003 when the city-owned RATB lost the right to maintain suburban commuter buses which linked main city with the villages around it, and the minibuses replaced the buses on popular suburban lines, such as the ones to [[Afumaţi, Ilfov|Afumaţi]] or [[Măgurele]].
The Federal State's authority includes justice, defence, federal police, social security, nuclear energy, monetary policy and public debt, and other aspects of public finances. State-owned companies include the [[Belgian Post Group]] and [[National Railway Company of Belgium|Belgian Railways]]. The [[Federal Government]] is responsible for the obligations of Belgium and its federalized institutions towards the [[European Union]] and [[NATO]]. It controls substantial parts of public health, home affairs and foreign affairs.<ref name=fedgov1>
{{cite web
|title=The Federal Government's Powers
|work=.be Portal
|publisher=Belgian Federal Government
|url=http://www.belgium.be/eportal/application?origin=navigationBanner.jsp&event=bea.portal.framework.internal.refresh&pageid=indexPage&navId=6188
|accessdate=2007-05-23}}{{Dead link|date=October 2008}}</ref> The budget – without the debt – controlled by the federal government amounts to about 50% of the national fiscal income. The federal government employs ca. 12% of the civil servants.<ref>{{cite book
|quote=In 2002, 58.92 % of the fiscal income was going to the budget of the federal government, but more than one third was used to pay the interests of the public debt. Without including this post, the share of the federal government budget would be only 48.40% of the fiscal income. There are 87,8% of the civil servants who are working for the Regions or the Communities and 12,2% for the Federal State.
|author=Charles-Etienne Lagasse
|title=Les nouvelles institutions politiques de la Belgique et de l'Europe''
|publisher=Erasme
|location=Namur
|year=2003
|page=289
|isbn=2-87127-783-4}}</ref>


As of 2006, RATB resumed sub-urban operations maxi-taxi. Furthermore, services are no longer allowed to enter the city center, and, only 11 maxi-taxi lines are allowed to both start and terminate within Bucharest's city limits: <ref>[http://www1.pmb.ro/pmb/primar/cpresa/2006/comunicate/com_2006-07-27_a.htm Comunicat Primar General<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>:
Communities exercise their authority only within linguistically determined geographical boundaries, originally oriented towards the individuals of a Community's language: culture (including audiovisual media), education, and the use of the relevant language. Extensions to personal matters less directly connected with language comprise health policy (curative and preventive medicine) and assistance to individuals (protection of youth, social welfare, aid to families, immigrant assistance services, etc.).<ref name=fedgov2>
{{cite web
|title=The Communities
|work=.be Portal
|publisher=Belgian Federal Government
|url=http://www.belgium.be/eportal/application?origin=navigationBanner.jsp&event=bea.portal.framework.internal.refresh&pageid=indexPage&navId=2686
|accessdate=2007-05-23}}{{Dead link|date=October 2008}}</ref>


* 701 (Cora [[Pantelimon]] - Autogara [[Obor]])
Regions have authority in fields that can be broadly associated with their territory. These include economy, employment, agriculture, water policy, housing, public works, energy, transport, the environment, town and country planning, nature conservation, credit, and foreign trade. They supervise the provinces, municipalities, and intercommunal utility companies.<ref name=fedgov3>
* 703 (Str. Marin Grigore, [[Berceni]] - Str. N.D. Cocea, [[Ferentari]])
{{cite web
* 705 (Str. Pogoanelor, Berceni - Bd. Camil Ressu, [[Titan]])
|title=The Regions
* 707 (Rostar, [[Rahova]] - Str. Piscu Crasani, [[Militari]])
|work=.be Portal
* 708 (Str. Pucheni, Ferentari - Str. Boja, Militari)
|publisher=Belgian Federal Government
* 709 (Str. Luncii, [[Giuleşti]] - Cimitirul [[Ghencea]])
|url=http://www.belgium.be/eportal/application?origin=navigationBanner.jsp&event=bea.portal.framework.internal.refresh&pageid=indexPage&navId=2690
* 710 (Prelungirea [[Ghencea]] - [[Crângaşi]] - Str. [[Chitila]] Triaj)
|accessdate=2007-05-23}}{{Dead link|date=October 2008}}</ref>
* 714 (XXL [[Fundeni]] - [[Tei]] - Selgros, [[Băneasa]])
* 715 (Şos. Andronache, [[Colentina]] - Titan - Str. Zeţari, Ferentari)
* 716 (Pod [[Grozăveşti]] - Piaţa Progresul, Berceni)
* 717 (Str. Niţu Vasile, Berceni - Str. Fizicienilor - Cora Pantelimon)


==CFR Trains==
In several fields, the different levels each have their own say on specifics. With education, for instance, the autonomy of the Communities neither includes decisions about the compulsory aspect nor allows for setting minimum requirements for awarding qualifications, which remain federal matters.<ref name=fedgov1/> Each level of government can be involved in scientific research and international relations associated with its powers.<ref name=fedgov2/><ref name=fedgov3/> The treaty-making power of the Region's and Communities' Governments is the broadest of all the Federating units of all the Federations all over the world.<ref>{{cite web
|language=French
|quote=La Belgique constitue ainsi le seul exemple clair du transfert d’une partie de la compétence « affaires étrangères » à des entités fédérées. (Transl.: Belgian is the only example of a transfer of a part of the power "foreign policy" to federating units
|author=Charles-Etienne Lagasse
|date=May 17-18, 2004
|publisher=Kazan Institute of Federalism
|title=Federalism in Russia, Canada and Belgium: experience of comparative research
|url=http://www.kazanfed.ru/en/actions/konfer8/6/
}}</ref><ref>{{cite book
|language=French
|quote=[Le fédéralisme belge] repose sur une combinaison unique d'équipollence, d'exclusivité et de prolongement international des compétences. (Transl.: [Belgian federalism] is based on an unique combination of equipollent and exclusiv powers prolonged ont the international scene.)
|author=C.E. Lagasse
|title=Les nouvelles institutions de la Belgique et de l'Europe
|page=603}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|language=French
|quote=Dans l’organisation de ces autonomies, la Belgique a réalisé une « première » mondiale : afin d’éviter la remise en cause, par le biais de la dimension internationale, de compétences exclusives transférées aux entités fédérées, les communautés et régions se sont vu reconnaître une capacité et des pouvoirs internationaux. (Transl.: Belgian was the first country who gave the treaty-making policy to the Federating units)
|author=Philippe Suinen
|title=Une Première mondiale
|work=[[Le Monde Diplomatique]]
|month=October | year=2000
|url=http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2000/10/SUINEN/14406.html
}}</ref>


Bucharest is served by a commuter railway network operated by [[Caile Ferate Romane|CFR]], the Romanian national railways. Although commuter trains no longer serve national routes, commuter train services are not so good. As an alternative, at each city exit there are private bus stations to get travelers to the towns in villages nearby. As a rule, this buses are found at the exit closest to their serviced area. The commuter trains run either from the main station, [[Gara de Nord]] or from 6 minor stations (Gara Basarab, Gara Obor, Gara Chitila, Gara Progresu, Gara Titan and Gara Pantelimon). Their main purpose is not regular travelling, instead they were meant to service major factories and industrial platforms with workers, and generally run early in the morning and in the afternoon. Commuter trains currently run to [[Olteniţa]], [[Giurgiu]], [[Urziceni]], [[Lehliu Gară]] and [[Titu]]. There are also weekend tourist trains from Bucharest to [[Snagov]], starting either at Gara de Nord or Gara Baneasa.
==Geography, climate, and environment==
{{main|Geography of Belgium}}
[[Image:Diksmuide - Polders - IJzer.jpg|thumb|left|160px|[[Polder]]s along the [[Yser]] river.]]


There are no urban trains (similar to [[RER]] lines in Paris) in Bucharest, even though a commuter ring railway in currently in construction around Bucharest, to supplement the [[Bucharest Metro]].
Belgium shares borders with [[France]] ({{nowrap|620 km}}), [[Germany]] ({{nowrap|167 km}}), [[Luxembourg]] ({{nowrap|148 km}}) and the [[Netherlands]] ({{nowrap|450 km}}). Its total area, including surface water area, is 33,990 [[square kilometre]]s; land area alone is 30,528&nbsp;km². Belgium has three main geographical regions: the coastal plain in the north-west and the central plateau both belong to the [[Anglo-Belgian Basin]]; the [[Ardennes]] uplands in the south-east are part of the [[Variscan orogeny|Hercynian orogenic belt]]. The [[Paris Basin (geology)|Paris Basin]] reaches a small fourth area at Belgium's southernmost tip, [[Gaume|Belgian Lorraine]].<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Belgium—The land—Relief
|work=Encyclopædia Britannica online
|year=© 2007
|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Chicago, IL, USA
|url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9109741/Belgium#24981.toc
|url2=https://edit.britannica.com/getEditableToc?tocId=24981
|accessdate=2007-07-03}}</ref>


''See also [[Căile Ferate Române]]''
The coastal plain consists mainly of sand dunes and [[polder]]s. Further inland lies a smooth, slowly rising landscape irrigated by numerous waterways, with fertile valleys and the northeastern sandy plain of the [[Campine]] (''Kempen''). The thickly forested hills and plateaus of the [[Ardennes]] are more rugged and rocky with caves and small [[gorge]]s, and offer much of Belgium's wildlife but little agricultural capability. Extending westward into France, this area is eastwardly connected to the [[Eifel]] in Germany by the [[High Fens]] plateau, on which the [[Signal de Botrange]] forms the country's highest point at 694&nbsp;metres (2,277&nbsp;[[foot (unit of length|ft]]).<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Geography of Belgium
|year=<!--unknown-->
|publisher=123independenceday.com
|url=http://www.123independenceday.com/belgium/geography.html
|accessdate=2007-08-10}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|title=Life—Nature
|year=2005
|publisher=Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
|url=http://kp.org.pl/n2k/pdf/15.pdf
|format=PDF <small>3.8&nbsp;MB</small>
|accessdate=2007-08-10}}</ref>


==Road network==
[[Image:Ardennen.jpg|thumb|160px|right|Ardennes|Wooded landscape of [[Ardennes]].]]
The climate is [[Oceanic climate|maritime temperate]], with significant precipitation in all seasons ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Cfb''). The average temperature is lowest in January at 3&nbsp;°[[Celsius|C]] (37&nbsp;°[[Fahrenheit|F]]), and highest in July at 18 &nbsp;°C (64 &nbsp;°F). The average precipitation per month varies between 54&nbsp;millimetres (2.1&nbsp;[[inch|in]]) in February or April, to 78&nbsp;millimetres (3.1&nbsp;in) in July.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Climate averages—Brussels
|publisher=Euro<span style="font-size:87%;">WEATHER</span>/Euro<span style="font-size:87%;">METEO</span>, Nautica Editrice Srl, Rome, Italy
|url=http://www.euroweather.net/english/climate/city_EBBR/id_GT/meteo_brussels%20belgium
|accessdate=2007-05-27}}</ref> Averages for the years 2000 to 2006 show daily temperature minimums of {{nowrap|7 °C}} ({{nowrap|45 °F}}) and maximums of {{nowrap|14 °C}} ({{nowrap|57 °F}}), and monthly rainfall of 74&nbsp;millimetres (2.9&nbsp;[[inch|in]]); these are about 1 degree [[Celsius]] and nearly 10 millimetres above last century's normal values, respectively.<ref name=statbel2>
{{cite web
|title=Kerncijfers 2006—Statistisch overzicht van België
|pages=pp. 9–10
|language=[[Dutch language|Dutch]]
|publisher=Belgian Federal Government Service (ministry) of Economy—Directorate-general Statistics Belgium
|url=http://statbel.fgov.be/pub/d0/p007y2006_nl.pdf
|format=PDF <small>1.8&nbsp;MB</small>
|accessdate=2007-05-08}}</ref>


The city's municipal road network is centred around a series of high-capacity boulevards (6 to 10 lanes), which generally radiate out from the city centre to the outskirts and are arranged in geographical axes (principally north-south, east-west and northwest-southeast). The principal and thus most congested boulevards are [[Calea Victoriei]], Bulevardul Unirii and Mihai Bravu Boulevard, which is the longest in Bucharest and forms a sort of semicircle around the northeastern part of the old district. The city also has two ring roads, one internal (Mihai Bravu is part of it) and one external, which are mainly used for cars that bypass the city as well as trucks, which aren't allowed in the city centre. Aside from the main roads, the city also has a number of secondary roads, which connect the main boulevards. In the historical city centre, particularly the [[Lipscani]] area, many streets are cobbled and are classified as pedestrian zones.
[[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], Belgium is shared between the Atlantic European and Central European provinces of the [[Circumboreal Region]] within the [[Boreal Kingdom]].<ref>[[Takhtajan, Armen]], 1986. Floristic Regions of the World. (translated by T.J. Crovello & A. Cronquist). University of California Press, Berkeley.</ref> According to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF]], the territory of Belgium belongs to the [[ecoregion]] of [[Atlantic mixed forests]].<ref>[http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa0402_full.html Atlantic mixed forests (PA0402)], World Wildlife Fund, 2001.</ref>


[[Image:Bucharest at night.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A busy Bucharest boulevard at night]]
Because of its high [[population density]], location in the centre of Western Europe, and inadequate political effort, Belgium faces serious [[Environment of Belgium|environmental problems]]. A 2003 report suggested Belgian rivers to have the lowest water quality of the 122 countries studied.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Sewage-laden Belgian water worst in world
|last=Pearce |first=Fred
|publisher=[[New Scientist]]
|date=[[2003-03-05]]
|url=http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn3458
|accessdate=2006-05-09}}</ref>
In the 2006 pilot [[Environmental Performance Index]], Belgium scored 75.9% for overall environmental performance and was ranked lowest of the EU member countries , though it was only 39th of 133 countries.<ref>[http://www.yale.edu/epi/2006EPI_Report_Full.pdf Pilot 2006 Environmental Performance Index] – Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy and Columbia University Center for International Earth Science Information Network</ref>


The city's roads are usually very crowded during rush hours, due to an increase in car ownership in recent years. Every day, there are more than one million vehicles travelling within the city limits.<ref>[http://www.videanu.ro/?id=6 Governing programme of Adriean Videanu, General Mayor of Bucharest]</ref> This has resulted in wearing of the upper layer of tarmac on many of roads in Bucharest, particularly secondary roads which are now used in an equal amount, this being identified as one of Bucharest's main infrastructural problems. The [[pothole]] problem is notorious enough to have inspired a song by the band [[Taxi (band)|Taxi]] with a chorus ''"Cratere ca-n Bucureşti, nici pe luna nu gaseşti!"'' ("Craters like in Bucharest you won't even find on the moon").<ref>Simona Tudorache, [http://www.curierulnational.ro/?page=articol&editie=658&art=47774 Taxi a iesit cu Politica in strada], ''Curierul Naţional'', [[23 October]] [[2004]].</ref> However, in recent years, there has been a comprehensive effort on behalf of the City Hall to boost improvement of road infrastructure, mainly by resurfacing and widening roads, and repairing footpaths. According to the City Hall's development plan, nearly 2000 roads are expected to be rehabilited by [[2008]].<ref>[http://www.videanu.ro/program/index.php?pag=program&cap=13-6 Rehabilitation of Urban Roads, Phase II], from the site of the General Mayor of Bucharest, [[Adriean Videanu]]</ref>
==Economy==
{{main|Economy of Belgium}}
[[Image:Ougree 16.jpg|thumb|300px|Steelmaking along the [[Meuse River]] at [[Ougrée]], near [[Liège (city)|Liège]]]]
Belgium's economy and its [[transportation in Belgium|transportation infrastructure]] are integrated with the rest of Europe. Its location at the heart of a highly industrialized region helps made it 2007 the world's 15th largest trading nation.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2078rank.html
|title=Rank Order - Exports
|work=CIA - The 2008 world factbook
|quote=15[th]: Belgium $322,200,000,000 (2007 est.)
|accessdate=2008-10-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2087rank.html
|title=Rank Order - Imports
|work=CIA - The 2008 world factbook
|quote=15[th]: Belgium $323,200,000,000 (2007 est.)
|accessdate=2008-10-05}}</ref> The economy is characterized by a highly productive work force, high [[GNP]], and high exports [[per capita]].<ref name=diplomatbe1/> Belgium's main imports are food products, machinery, rough diamonds, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, clothing and accessories, and textiles. Its main exports are automobiles, food products, iron and steel, finished diamonds, textiles, plastics, petroleum products, and nonferrous metals. The Belgian economy is heavily service-oriented and shows a dual nature: a dynamic [[Flanders|Flemish]] economy and a [[Wallonia|Walloon]] economy that lags behind.<ref name="Fitzmaurice"/><ref>
{{cite web
|title=Wallonia in 'decline' thanks to politicians
|publisher=Expatica Communications BV
|date=2005-03-09
|url=http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=48&story_id=17824
|accessdate=2007-06-16}}</ref> One of the founding members of the European Union, Belgium strongly supports an [[open economy]] and the extension of the powers of EU institutions to integrate member economies. In 1999, Belgium adopted the [[Euro]], the single European currency, which fully replaced the [[Belgian franc]] in 2002. Since 1922, Belgium and [[Luxembourg]] have been a single trade market within a [[customs union|customs]] and [[currency union]]: the [[Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union]].


Bucharest is one of the principal junctions of [[Roads in Romania|Romania's national road network]], which links the city to all of Romania's major cities as well as to neighbouring countries such as [[Hungary]], [[Bulgaria]] and [[Ukraine]]. Romania's two motorways currently in operation, the [[A1 freeway (Romania)|A1]] and the [[A2 motorway (Romania)|A2]] which links the capital with the country's ports and seaside resorts on the [[Black Sea]].
[[Image:€2 commemorative coin Belgium 2006.jpg|thumb|160px|left|[[€2 commemorative coins#2006 coinage|Commemorative €2 coin]] depicting the [[Atomium]], a monument built for [[Expo '58]], the 1958 [[Brussels]] [[World's Fair]]. Designed by [[André Waterkeyn]], it forms the shape of a [[Crystal structure#Unit cell|unit cell]] of an [[iron]] [[crystal]] magnified 165 billion times.]]
Belgium was the first continental European country to undergo the [[Industrial Revolution]], in the early 1800s.<ref name=erih>
{{cite web
|title=Industrial History Belgium
|publisher=European Route of Industrial Heritage
|url=http://en.erih.net/index.php?pageId=114
|accessdate=2007-05-08}}</ref> [[Liège (city)|Liège]] and [[Charleroi]] rapidly developed mining and steelmaking, which flourished until the mid-20th century in the [[Sambre]]–[[Meuse river|Meuse]] valley, the [[sillon industriel]], and [[Wallonia#The second industrial Power of the World|made of Belgium from 1830 to 1880 the second industrial power of the world]].<ref>{{cite book
|author=Jean-Pierre Rioux
|title=La révolution industrielle
|language=French
|publisher=Seuil
|location=Paris
|date=1989
|page=105}}</ref> However, by the 1840s the textile industry of [[Flanders]] was in severe crisis and the region experienced famine from 1846–50.


==Airports==
After [[World War II]], [[Ghent]] and [[Antwerp]] experienced a rapid expansion of the chemical and [[petroleum]] industries. The [[1973 oil crisis|1973]] and [[1979 oil crisis|1979 oil crises]] sent the economy into a recession; it was particularly prolonged in [[Wallonia]], where the [[steel industry]] had become less competitive and experienced serious decline.<ref name=usdepartmentofstate1>
{{cite web
|title=Background Note: Belgium
|publisher=[[US Department of State]], Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs
|year=2007 |month=April
|url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2874.htm
|accessdate=2007-05-08}}</ref> In the 1980s and 90s, the economic centre of the country continued to shift northwards and is now concentrated in the populous [[Flemish Diamond]] area.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Het belang van de Vlaamse Ruit vanuit economisch perspectief ''The importance of the Flemish Diamond from an economical perspective''
|language=[[Dutch language|Dutch]]
|author=Vanhaverbeke, Wim
|url=http://edata.ub.unimaas.nl/www-edocs/loader/file.asp?id=264
|publisher=Netherlands Institute of Business Organization and Strategy Research, [[University of Maastricht]] (Faculty of Economics and Business Administration), [[The Netherlands]]
|accessdate=2007-05-19}}{{Dead link|date=October 2008}}</ref>


Bucharest has two international airports:
By the end of the 1980s, Belgian [[macroeconomic policies]] had resulted in a cumulative government debt of about 120% of [[GDP]]. As of 2006, the budget was balanced and public debt was equal to 90.30% of GDP.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=The World Factbook—(Rank Order—Public debt)
|date=[[2007-04-17]]
|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2186rank.html
|publisher=CIA
|accessdate=2007-05-08}}</ref> In 2005 and 2006, real GDP growth rates of 1.5% and 3.0%, respectively, were slightly above the average for the Euro area. Unemployment rates of 8.4% in 2005 and 8.2% in 2006 were close to the area average.<ref name=nbb>
{{cite web
|title=Key figures
|publisher=[[National Bank of Belgium]]
|url=http://www.nbb.be/pub/00_00_00_00_02/?l=en&t=ho
|accessdate=2007-05-19}}{{Dead link|date=October 2008}}</ref>


*[[Henri Coandă International Airport]], located north of the Bucharest metropolitan area, in the town of Otopeni, Ilfov. Currently the airport has one terminal divided into three inter-connected buildings (International Departures Hall, International Arrivals Hall and the Domestic Flights Hall - at the ground level of the Arrivals Hall - ). The International Departures Hall consists of 36 check-in desks, one finger with 10 gates (5 equipped with jetways), while the Domestic Hall has an extra four gates. Today's International Arrivals Hall is actually the old Otopeni terminal, while the new Departures Hall, including the finger and the airbridges was built and inaugurated in 1997. A second finger with 7 jetways is under construction and a new building terminal on the east side is in project phase. The airport received 3.513.576 passengers in 2006 and the airport is expected to handle 4.5 million passengers in 2007.
From 1832 until 2002, Belgium's currency was the [[Belgian franc]]. Belgium switched to the [[euro]] in 2002, with the first sets of euro coins being minted in 1999. While the standard [[Belgian euro coins]] designated for circulation show the portrait of King Albert II, this does not happen for [[Euro gold and silver commemorative coins (Belgium)|commemorative coins]], where designs are freely chosen.


*[[Aurel Vlaicu International Airport]] is situated only 8 km north of the Bucharest city center and is accessible by RATB buses 131, 335 and Airport Express 783, RATB tramway 5 and taxi. An extension of Line M2 of the Bucharest Metro to Aurel Vlaicu International, which will link it to the Main Train Station and the larger Henri Coandă International Airport, was approved in June 2006 and is currently in its planning stage.
==Demographics==
{{main|Demographics of Belgium}}
[[Image:Be-map.png|thumb|left|200px|Main areas and places in Belgium]]
At the start of 2007 nearly 92% of the Belgian population were national citizens, and around 6% were citizens from other [[European Union]] member countries. The prevalent foreign nationals were [[Italian people|Italian]] (171,918), [[French people|French]] (125,061), [[Dutch people|Dutch]] (116,970), [[Morocco|Moroccan]] (80,579), [[Spanish people|Spanish]] (42,765), [[Turkish people|Turkish]] (39,419), and [[German people|German]] (37,621).<ref>
{{cite web
|title=European Migration Network—Annual Statistical Report on migration and asylum in Belgium (Reference year 2003)—section A. 1) b) Population by citizenship & c) Third country nationals, 1 January 2004
|year=2006 |month=April
|author=Perrin, Nicolas, [[Université Catholique de Louvain|UCLouvain]], Study Group of Applied Demographics (Gédap)
|pages=pages 5–9
|publisher=Belgian Federal Government Service (ministry) of Interior—Immigration Office
|url=http://www.dofi.fgov.be/nl/statistieken/belgian%20migration%20point/punt%208%20Belgian%20Statistical%20Report%20on%20Asylum%20and%20Migration%202003.pdf
|format=PDF
|accessdate=2007-05-28}}</ref><ref>[http://ecodata.mineco.fgov.be/mdn/Vreemde_bevolking.jsp De vreemde bevolking<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


===Urbanisation===
==Sea transport==
[[Image:2007 07 Belgium Brussels 06 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Brussels]], the capital of Belgium and largest metropolitan area in the country.]]
Almost all of the Belgian population is urban—97% in 2004.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Quelques résultats des précédents recensements—Indicateurs de logement (1991)
|publisher=Belgian Federal Government Service (ministry) of Economy—Directorate-general Statistics Belgium
|year=© 1998/2007
|language=[[French language|French]] switchable to [[Dutch language|Dutch]]
|url=http://statbel.fgov.be/census/previous_fr.asp
|accessdate=2007-05-08}}</ref> The population density of Belgium is 342 per square kilometre (886 per square mile)—one of the highest in Europe, after that of the Netherlands and some microstates such as [[Monaco]]. The most densely inhabited area is the [[Flemish Diamond]], outlined by the [[Antwerp]]–[[Leuven]]–[[Brussels]]–[[Ghent]] agglomerations. The Ardennes have the lowest density. As of 2006, the [[Flemish Region]] had a population of about 6,078,600, with [[Antwerp]] (457,749), Ghent (230,951) and [[Bruges]] (117,251) its most populous cities; Wallonia had 3,413,978, with [[Charleroi]] (201,373), [[Liège]] (185,574) and [[Namur (city)|Namur]] (107.178) its most populous. [[Brussels]] houses 1,018,804 in the [[Capital Region]]'s 19 municipalities, two of which have over 100,000 residents.<ref name=statbel1>
{{cite web
| title= Structuur van de bevolking—België / Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest / Vlaams Gewest / Waals Gewest / De 25 bevolkingsrijkste gemeenten (2000–2006)
| date= © 1998/2007
| language= [[Dutch language|Dutch]]
| publisher= Belgian Federal Government Service (ministry) of Economy—Directorate-general Statistics Belgium
| url= http://statbel.fgov.be/figures/d21_nl.asp#2
| format= asp
| accessdate= 2007-05-23
}}</ref>


Although it is situated on the banks of a river, Bucharest has never functioned as a port city, with other Romanian cities such as [[Constanţa]] and [[Brăila]] acting as the country's main ports. However, the [[Danube-Bucharest Canal]], which is 73 km long, is currently in construction and is around 60% completed. When finished, the canal will link Bucharest to the [[Danube River]] and, via the [[Danube-Black Sea Canal]], to the [[Black Sea]]. This transport corridor is expected to be a significant component of the city's transport infrastructure and increase sea traffic by a large margin.
===Languages===
{{main|Languages of Belgium}}


==Notes==
Belgium has three official languages, which are, in order from the greatest speaker population to the smallest, [[Dutch language|Dutch]] (in a Belgian context often colloquially called ''[[Flemish]]''), [[French language|French]], and [[German language|German]]. A number of non-official, minority languages are spoken as well.


<references/>
As no [[census]] exists, there is no official statistical data regarding the distribution or usage of Belgium's three official languages or their [[dialect]]s. However, various criteria, including the language(s) of parents, of education, or the second-language status of foreign born, may provide suggested figures. An estimated 59%<ref>Footnote: Native speakers of [[Dutch language|Dutch]] living in [[Wallonia]] and of [[French language|French]] in [[Flanders]] are relatively small minorities that furthermore largely balance one another, hence counting all inhabitants of each unilingual area to the area's language can cause only insignificant inaccuracies (99% can speak the language). Dutch: Flanders' 6.079 million inhabitants and about 15% of Brussels' 1.019 million are 6.23 million or 59.3% of the 10.511 million inhabitants of Belgium (2006); German: 70,400 in the German-speaking Community (which has [[Municipalities with language facilities|language facilities]] for its less than 5% French-speakers), and an estimated 20,000–25,000 speakers of German in the Walloon Region outside the geographical boundaries of their official Community, or 0.9%; French: in the latter area as well as mainly in the rest of Wallonia (3.414 &minus; 0.093 = 3.321 million) and 85% of the Brussels inhabitants (0.866 million) thus 4.187 million or 39.8%; together indeed 100%;</ref> of the Belgian population speaks [[Dutch language|Dutch]] (often referred to as [[Flemish]]), and [[French language|French]] is spoken by 40%. Total Dutch speakers are 6.23 million, concentrated in the northern [[Flemish Region|Flanders]] region, while French speakers comprise 3.32 million in [[Walloon Region|Wallonia]] and an estimated 0.87 million or 85% of the officially bilingual [[Brussels-Capital Region]].<ref name=ericcorijn>Flemish Academic Eric Corijn (initiator of [http://www.charta91.be/ Charta 91]), at a colloquium regarding Brussels, on [[2001-12-05]], states that in Brussels there is 91% of the population speaking French at home, either alone or with another language, and there is about 20% speaking Dutch at home, either alone (9%) or with French (11%)—After ponderation, the repartition can be estimated at between 85 and 90% French-speaking, and the remaining are Dutch-speaking, corresponding to the estimations based on languages chosen in Brussels by citizens for their official documents (ID, driving licenses, weddings, birth, sex, and so on); all these statistics on language are also available at Belgian Department of Justice (for weddings, birth, sex), Department of Transport (for Driving licenses), Department of Interior (for IDs), because there are no means to know ''precisely'' the proportions since Belgium has abolished 'official' linguistic censuses, thus official documents on language choices can only be estimations. For a web source on this topic, see e.g. [[#General online sources|General online sources: Janssens, Rudi]]</ref><ref name=britishcouncil>
{{cite web
|title=Belgium Market background
|quote=The capital Brussels, 80–85 percent French-speaking, ...
|publisher=[[British Council]]
|url=http://www.britishcouncil.org/eumd-information-background-belgium.htm
|accessdate=2007-05-05}}—Strictly, the capital is the municipality [[Brussels|(City of) Brussels]], though the Brussels-Capital Region might be intended because of its name and also its other municipalities housing institutions typical for a capital.</ref> The [[German-speaking Community of Belgium|German-speaking Community]] is made up of 73,000 people in the east of the [[Walloon Region]]; around 10,000 German and 60,000 Belgian nationals are speakers of [[German language|German]]. Roughly 23,000 more of German speakers live in municipalities near the official Community.<ref name=germanspeakingcommunity1/><ref>
{{cite web
|title=Citizens from other countries in the German-speaking Community
|publisher=The German-speaking Community
|url=http://www.dglive.be/EN/Desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-1408/2267_read-27184/
|accessdate=2007-05-05}}<br/>*
{{cite web
|title=German (Belgium)—Overview of the language
|publisher=Mercator, Minority Language Media in the European Union, supported by the [[European Commission]] and the [[University of Wales]]
|url=http://www.aber.ac.uk/cgi-bin/user/merwww/index.pl?rm=lang_detail;id=112;lang=1
|accessdate=2007-05-07}}<br/>*
{{cite web
|title=Belgique • België • Belgien—La Communauté germanophone de Belgique
|work=L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde
|language=[[French language|French]]
|date=[[2006-04-19]]
|author=Leclerc, Jacques <!--NO LINK: this is not the well-known general-->, membre associé du TLFQ
|publisher=Host: Trésor de la langue française au Québec (TLFQ), [[Université Laval]], [[Quebec]]
|url=http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/AXL/europe/belgiqueger.htm
|accessdate=2007-05-07}}</ref>

[[Image:Brussels signs.jpg|thumb|200px|Bilingual signs in Brussels.]]

Both the [[Flemish|Dutch spoken in Belgium]] and the [[Belgian French]] have minor differences in [[vocabulary]] and [[semantic]] nuances from the varieties spoken respectively in the [[Netherlands]] and [[France]]. Many [[Flemish people]] still speak [[Dutch dialects|dialects of Dutch]] in their local environment. [[Walloon language|Walloon]], once the main [[regional language]] of [[Wallonia]], is now only understood and spoken occasionally, mostly by elderly people. Wallonia's [[dialect]]s, along with those of [[Picard language|Picard]],<ref name=ethnologue>
{{cite web
|title=Languages of Belgium
|work=Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 15th edition
|author=Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.)
|year=2005
|publisher=[[SIL International]] Dallas, Texas, USA
|url=http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=BE
|accessdate=2007-05-07}}</ref> are not used in public life.

===Education===
{{seealso|Education in Belgium}}
Education is compulsory from six to eighteen for Belgians, but many continue to study until about 23 years of age. Among [[OECD]] countries in 2002, Belgium had the third-highest proportion of 18–21-year-olds enrolled in [[postsecondary education]], at 42%.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Table 388. Percentage of population enrolled in secondary and postsecondary institutions, by age group and country
|work=Digest of Education Statistics—Tables and Figures
|chapter=Chapter 6. International Comparisons of Education
|year=2005, data: 2002
|publisher=[[National Center for Education Statistics]], [[Institute of Education Sciences]] (<span style="font-size:87%;">IES</span>), [[US Department of Education]]
|url=http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d05/tables/dt05_388.asp
|accessdate=2007-06-06}}</ref> Though an estimated 98% of the adult population is [[literate]], concern is rising over [[functional illiteracy]].<ref name=ethnologue/><ref>
{{cite web
|title=I. Monitoring Human Development: Enlarging peoples's choices... —5. Human poverty in OECD, Eastern Europe and the CIS
|work=Human Development Indicators
|year=2000
|pages=pp. 172–173
|publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]] (<span style="font-size:87%;">UNDP</span>)
|url=http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2000/en/pdf/hdr_2000_back1.pdf
|format=PDF
|accessdate=2007-06-06}}{{Dead link|date=October 2008}}</ref>
The [[Programme for International Student Assessment]], coordinated by the [[OECD]], currently ranks Belgium's education as the 19th best in the world, being significantly higher than the OECD average.<ref>http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/42/8/39700724.pdf</ref>

Highly politicized conflicts between freethought and Catholic segments of the population during the 1950s caused a split in educational organization. A secular branch of schooling is controlled by the Community, the province, or the municipality, while religious, mainly [[Catholic school|Catholic branch]] education, is organized by religious authorities, although [[subsidy|subsidized]] and supervised by the Community.<ref name=deley>
{{cite web
|title=Humanists and Muslims in Belgian Secular Society (Draft version)
|year=2000
|author=De Ley, Herman
|publisher=Centrum voor Islam in Europe (Centre for Islam in Europe), [[Ghent University]]
|url=http://www.flwi.ugent.be/cie/CIE/deley10.htm
|accessdate=2007-06-07}}</ref>

===Religion===
{{seealso|Religion in Belgium}}
[[Image:SteGudule.jpg|thumb|150px|[[St. Michael and Gudula Cathedral]] in Brussels.]]
Since the country's independence, [[Roman Catholicism]], counterbalanced by strong [[freethought]] movements, has had an important role in Belgium's politics.<ref>See for example [[s:en:Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Belgium|Belgium]] entry of the [[Catholic Encyclopedia]]</ref> However Belgium is largely a [[secular]] country as the ''[[laicite|laicist]]'' [[Constitution of Belgium|constitution]] provides for freedom of religion, and the government generally respects this right in practice. During the reign of [[Albert I of Belgium|Albert I]] and [[Baudouin I of Belgium|Baudouin]], the monarchy has had a reputation of deeply-rooted Catholicism.

Symbolically and materially, the Roman Catholic Church remains in a favourable position. Belgium's concept of 'recognized religions'<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hrwf.net/belgium/ext/human_rights_in_belgium_2001.pdf
|title=2001 Annual Report on Human Rights in Belgium}}</ref> set a path for [[Islam]] to follow to acquire the treatment of [[Jewish]] and [[Protestant]] religions. While other minority religions, such as [[Hinduism]], do not yet have such status, [[Buddhism]] took the first steps toward legal recognition in 2007.<ref name=deley/><ref name=oldenburg>
{{cite web
|author=Bousetta, Hassan; Gsir, Sonia; Jacobs, Dirk
|title=Active Civic Participation of Immigrants in Belgium—Country Report prepared for the European research project POLITIS, Oldenburg
|year=2005
|publisher=[[Carl von Ossietzky]] University, Oldenburg IBKM
|quote=In many respects, the Catholic Roman Church remains in a very advantageous situation both symbolically and materially. The long and troublesome process that eventually lead to the recognition of Islam is also illustrative of the ambiguity of the relations between the Belgian
State and religions. For 25 years, Islam has been maintained in an unfair position in comparison to other religions.
|url=http://www.uni-oldenburg.de/politis-europe/download/Belgium.pdf
|format=PDF
|accessdate=2007-05-08}}</ref><ref name=metro>
{{cite news
|title=België gaat plat op zijn buik voor China (Belgium bends over backwards for China)
|language=[[Dutch language|Dutch]]
|date=[[2007-05-10]]
|publisher=[[Metro (Belgian newspaper)]]
|issue=#1455
|pages=page 2
|quote=''[Upon the [[Dalai Lama]] for the second time in two years canceling a visit to Belgium after being informed by the Belgian government of [[Government of the People's Republic of China|Peking]]'s diplomatic pressure, quote newspaper:]'' Uittredend Senaatsvoorzitster Anne-Marie Lizin reageert teleurgesteld: 'Gezien het belang van de vergadering waaraan u wilde deelnemen en gezien de redenen van uw beslissing, betreur ik dat ik u niet kan ontvangen in ons land, een land dat openstaat voor iedereen, ongeacht de religieuze overtuiging, en dat net een eerste stap heeft gezet in de erkenning van het'<small>[sic]</small> 'boeddhistische filosofie'. (Lawfully resigning at the end of the government's legislation, President of the Senat Anne-Marie Lizin reacts disappointedly: 'In view of the importance of the meeting you wanted to attend and in view of the reasons of your decision, I regret not being able to receive you in our country, a country open for everyone regardless of religious conviction, and which has just set a first step towards the recognition of the Buddhist philosophy.')
|url=http://www.metrotime.be/digipapernl.html?pag=2&kdate=2007-05-10
|accessdate=2007-05-10}} Alternative urls:[http://www.metrotime.be/digipaperArticlenl.html?storyId=3947981 α], [http://www.metrotime.be/Belgie_gaat_plat_op_br_zijn_buik_voor_China.html β], pdf <small>1.1&nbsp;MB</small>:[http://www.metrotime.be/UserFiles/DigiPaper/nl/20070510/2/MVLMP-0-20070510-02.pdf γ]{{Dead link|date=October 2008}}<!--Retrieved same date--></ref> According to the ''2001 Survey and Study of Religion'',<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Belgium
|work=International Religious Freedom Report 2004
|year=2004
|publisher=US Department of State, [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]]
|url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35444.htm
|accessdate=2007-05-28}}</ref> about 47% of the population identify themselves as belonging to the Catholic Church, while Islam is the second-largest religion at 3.5%. A 2006 inquiry in Flanders, considered to be a more religious region than Wallonia, showed that 55% considered themselves religious, and that 36% believed that God created the world.<ref>Inquiry by 'Vepec', 'Vereniging voor Promotie en Communicatie' (Organisation for Promotion and Communication), published in Knack magazine 22 November2006 p. 14 [The Dutch language term 'gelovig' is in the text translated as 'religious', more precisely it is a very common word for believing in particular in any kind of God in a [[monotheism|monotheistic]] sense, and/or in some [[afterlife]]].</ref>

According to the most recent [[Eurobarometer|Eurobarometer Poll]] 2005,<ref name=EUROBAROMETER>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf|title=Eurobarometer on Social Values, Science and technology 2005 – page 11|accessdate=2007-05-05}}</ref> 43% of Belgian citizens responded that "they believe there is a god", whereas 29% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 27% that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god, or life force".

It is estimated that between 3 to 4% of the Belgian population is [[Islam by country|Muslim]] (98% [[Sunni]]) (350 000 to 400 000 people).<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,901021216-397459,00.html The Many Faces Of Islam], TIME</ref><ref>[http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0516/p06s01-woeu.html 'Belgian Malcolm X' seeks office]</ref> The majority of Belgian Muslims live in the major cities, such as [[Antwerp]], [[Brussels]] and [[Charleroi]]. The largest group of immigrants in Belgium are Moroccans, with 264,974 people. The Turks are the third-largest group, and the second-largest Muslim ethnic group, numbering 159,336.<ref>[http://www.hln.be/hlns/cache/det/art_467734.html?wt.bron=categorieArt3 Voor het eerst meer Marokkaanse dan Italiaanse migranten]{{Dead link|date=October 2008}}</ref> There is also a tiny [[Hindu]] and [[Sikh]] population.

==Science and technology==
[[Image:mercator.jpg|thumb|110px|[[Gerardus Mercator]]]]
{{main|Science and technology in Belgium}}
Contributions to the development of science and technology have appeared throughout the country's history. The sixteenth century [[Early Modern]] flourishing of Western Europe included [[cartography|cartographer]] [[Gerardus Mercator]], [[anatomy|anatomist]] [[Andreas Vesalius]], [[herbalist]] [[Rembert Dodoens]], and [[mathematics|mathematician]] [[Simon Stevin]] among the most influential scientists.

The quickly developed and dense Belgian railroad system caused major companies like [[La Brugeoise et Nivelles SA.|La Brugeoise et Nivelles]] (now the BN division of [[Bombardier Transportation]]) to develop specific technologies, and the economically important [[History of coal mining#Belgium|very deep coal mining]] in the course of the [[First Industrial Revolution]] has required highly reputed specialized studies for [[Mining engineering|mine engineers]].

The end of the nineteenth century and the twentieth saw important Belgian advances in [[applied science|applied]] and [[pure science]]. The chemist [[Ernest Solvay]] and the engineer [[Zenobe Gramme]] ([[École Industrielle de Liège]]) gave their names to the [[Solvay process]] and the [[Gramme dynamo]], respectively, in the 1860s. [[Georges Lemaître]] ([[Catholic University of Leuven]]) is credited with proposing the [[Big Bang]] theory of the origin of the universe in 1927. Three [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine|Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine]] were awarded to Belgians: [[Jules Bordet]] ([[Université Libre de Bruxelles]]) in 1919, [[Corneille Heymans]] ([[University of Ghent]]) in 1938, and [[Albert Claude]] (Université Libre de Bruxelles) and [[Christian De Duve]] (Université Catholique de Louvain) in 1974. [[Ilya Prigogine]] (Université Libre de Bruxelles) was awarded the [[Nobel Prize in Chemistry]] in 1977.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Rembert Dodoens: iets over zijn leven en werk—Dodoens' werken
|date=Revised 20 December, 2005
|work=Plantaardigheden—Project Rembert Dodoens (Rembertus Dodonaeus)
|language=[[Dutch language|Dutch]]
|quote=... het Cruijdeboeck, dat in 1554 verscheen. Dit meesterwerk was na de bijbel in die tijd het meest vertaalde boek. Het werd gedurende meer dan een eeuw steeds weer heruitgegeven en gedurende meer dan twee eeuwen was het het meest gebruikte handboek over kruiden in West-Europa. Het is een werk van wereldfaam en grote wetenschappelijke waarde. De nieuwe gedachten die Dodoens erin neerlegde, werden de bouwstenen voor de botanici en medici van latere generaties. ''(... the Cruijdeboeck, published in 1554. This masterpiece was, after the Bible, the most translated book in that time. It continued to be republished for more than a century and for more than two centuries it was the mostly used referential about herbs. It is a work with world fame and great scientific value. The new thoughts written down by Dodoens, became the building bricks for botanists and [[physician]]s of later generations.)''
|publisher=Stichting Kruidenhoeve/Plantaardigheden, Balkbrug, the Netherlands
|url=http://plantaardigheden.nl/dodoens/over_dodoens/leven_en_werk.htm#dodoens
|accessdate=2007-05-17}}<br/>*
{{cite web
|title=Simon Stevin
|author=O'Connor, J. J.; Robertson, E. F.
|publisher=School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, Scotland
|year=2004
|url=http://www-groups.dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/~history/Biographies/Stevin.html
|quote=Although he did not invent decimals (they had been used by the Arabs and the Chinese long before Stevin's time) he did introduce their use in mathematics in Europe.
|accessdate=2007-05-11}}<br/>*
{{cite web
|title=Abstract (*)
|quote=The importance of A. Vesalius' publication'' 'de humani corporis fabrica libri septem' ''cannot be overestimated.
|publisher=S. Karger AG, Basel
|url=http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB/produkte.asp?Aktion=ShowPDF&ProduktNr=223979&Ausgabe=225203&ArtikelNr=13462
|accessdate=2007-05-11}} (*) Free abstract for pay-per-view article by
{{cite journal
|title=The Low Countries - 16th/17th century
|author=De Broe, Marc E.; De Weerdt, Dirk L.; Ysebaert, Dirk K.; Vercauteren, Sven R.; De Greef, Kathleen E.; De Broe Luc C.
|work=Origins of Renal Physiology
|journal=American Journal of Nephrology
|year=1999
|volume=19
|issue=2
|pages=pp. 282–9
|pmid=10213829
|doi=10.1159/000013462
|url=http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB/produkte.asp?Aktion=ShowPDF&ArtikelNr=13462&Ausgabe=225203&ProduktNr=223979&filename=13462.pdf
|format=PDF}}<br/>*
{{cite web
|title='A Day Without Yesterday': Georges Lemaitre & the Big Bang
|date=[[2000-03-24]]
|pages=pp. 18–19
|author=Midbon, Mark, [[University of Wisconsin-Madison]]
|publisher=[[Commonweal]], republished: Catholic Education Resource Center (<span style="font-size:87%;">CERC</span>)
|url=http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/science/sc0022.html
|accessdate=2007-06-07}}</ref>

==Culture==
{{main|Culture of Belgium}}
Cultural life is nowadays concentrated within each language community and a variety of barriers have made a shared cultural sphere less pronounced.<ref name="Fitzmaurice"/><ref>
{{cite web
|title=Belgium—Arts and cultural education
|work=Compendium of Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe, 8th edition
|publisher=Council of Europe / ERICarts
|year=2007
|url=http://www.culturalpolicies.net/web/belgium.php?aid=831
|accessdate=2007-05-08}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|title=Belgique
|work=European Culture Portal
|publisher=[[European Commission]]
|year=2007
|url=http://ec.europa.eu/culture/portal/sites/members/belgium_en.htm
|accessdate=2007-05-10}}</ref> There has been since the 1970s no bilingual universities except the [[Royal Military Academy (Belgium)|Royal Military Academy]], no common media,<ref>{{cite web
|title=Frontière linguistique, frontière politique, une presse en crise
|language=French
|author=Adrien Gonthier
|publisher=[[Le Monde Diplomatique]]
|year=2003
|url=http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2003/05/GONTHIER/10142
|accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref> and no single large cultural or scientific organization in which both main communities are represented. The forces that once held the Belgians together—Roman Catholicism and economic and political opposition to the Dutch—are no longer strong.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Mumford
| first = David
| authorlink = David Mumford
| title = The World Today Series
| publisher = [[NY Times]]
| series = Western Europe/2007
| year = 2008
| isbn = 1-887985-89-1 }}</ref>
Despite its [[partition of Belgium|political and linguistic divisions]] that have been strongly changing during the centuries, the region corresponding to today's Belgium has seen the flourishing of major artistic movements that have had tremendous influence on European art and culture.

===Fine arts===
{{seealso|list of Flemish painters|list of Belgian painters}}
[[Image:Jan van Eyck 091.jpg|thumb|left|170px|''[[Portrait of a Man in a Turban]]'' (oil on board, c.&nbsp;1433)<br/>by [[Jan van Eyck]], <br/>in [[National Gallery, London]].]]
Contributions to painting and architecture have been especially rich. The [[Mosan art]], the [[Early Netherlandish painting|Early Netherlandish]],<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Low Countries, 1000–1400 AD
|work=Timeline of Art History
|publisher=[[Metropolitan Museum of Art]]
|year=2007
|url=http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/07/euwl/ht07euwl.htm
|accessdate=2007-05-10}}</ref> the [[Dutch and Flemish Renaissance painting|Flemish Renaissance]] and [[Baroque painting]],<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Low Countries, 1400–1600 AD
|work=Timeline of Art History
|publisher=[[Metropolitan Museum of Art]]
|year=2007
|url=http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/08/euwl/ht08euwl.htm
|accessdate=2007-05-10}}</ref> and major examples of [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]], [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]], [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance]] and [[Baroque architecture]]<ref>Several examples of major architectural realisations in Belgium belong to [[UNESCO]]'s [[World Heritage List]]:
{{cite web
|title=Belgium
|work=Properties inscribed on the World Heritage List
|publisher=[[UNESCO]]
|url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/be
|accessdate=2007-05-15}}</ref> are milestones in the history of art. While the 15th century's art in the Low Countries is dominated by the religious paintings of [[Jan van Eyck]] and [[Rogier van der Weyden]], the 16th century is characterized by a broader panel of styles such as [[Pieter Brueghel the Elder|Peter Breughel]]'s landscape paintings and [[Lambert Lombard]]'s representation of the antique.<ref>{{cite book
|language=French
|first=Jacques
|last=Hendrick
|title=La peinture au pays de Liège
|year=1987
|location=Liège
|publisher=Editions du Perron
|isbn=2-87114-026-X
|page=24}}</ref> Though [[Flemish Baroque painting|Baroque style]] of [[Peter Paul Rubens]] and [[Anthony van Dyck]] flourished in the early 17th century in the Southen Netherlands,<ref>{{cite book
|language=German
|first=Herwig
|last=Guratzsch
|title=Die große Zeit der niederländische Malerei
|year=1979
|publisher=Verlag Herder
|location=Freiburg im Beisgau
|page=7}}</ref> it gradually declined thereafter.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Low Countries, 1600–1800 AD
|work=Timeline of Art History
|publisher=[[Metropolitan Museum of Art]]
|year=2007
|url=http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/09/euwl/ht09euwl.htm
|accessdate=2007-05-10}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|title=Art History: Flemish School: (1600–1800)—Artists: (biography & artworks)
|date=[[2006-02-05]]
|publisher=World Wide Arts Resources
|url=http://wwar.com/masters/movements/flemish_school.html
|accessdate=2007-05-10}}—A general presentation of the Flemish artistic movement with a list of its artists, linking to their biographies and artworks</ref>
<!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[Image:MagrittePipe.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''[[The Treachery of Images]]'' <br/> (oil on canvas, c.&nbsp;1928-29) by [[René Magritte]] <br/> in [[Los Angeles County Museum of Art]].]] -->
During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries many original [[romanticism|romantic]], [[expressionism|expressionist]] and [[surrealism|surrealist]] Belgian painters emerged, including [[James Ensor]], [[Constant Permeke]] and [[René Magritte]]. The avant-garde [[COBRA (avant-garde movement)|CoBrA movement]] appeared in the 1950s, while the sculptor [[Panamarenko]] remains a remarkable figure in contemporary art.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Belgian Artists: (biographies & artworks)
|date=[[2006-02-05]]
|publisher=World Wide Arts Resources
|url=http://wwar.com/masters/nationalities/belgian.html
|accessdate=2007-05-10}}—List of Belgian painters, linking to their biographies and artworks</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|author=Baudson, Michel
|title=Panamarenko
|publisher=Flammarion (Paris), quoted at presentation of the ''XXIII Bienal Internacional de São Paulo''
|year=1996
|url=http://www1.uol.com.br/bienal/23bienal/universa/iueopa.htm
|accessdate=2007-05-10}}{{Dead link|date=October 2008}}</ref> The multidisciplinary artist [[Jan Fabre]] and the painter [[Luc Tuymans]] are other internationally renowned figures on the contemporary art scene. Belgian contributions to architecture also continued into the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, including the work of [[Victor Horta]] and [[Henry van de Velde]], who were major initiators of the [[Art Nouveau]] style.<ref>
[http://www.senses-artnouveau.com/brussels.php Brussels, capital of Art Nouveau (page 1)],
{{cite web
|title=ib. (page2)
|year=2007
|publisher=[http://www.senses-artnouveau.com/about_us.php Senses Art Nouveau Shop], Brussels
|url=http://www.senses-artnouveau.com/brussels.php?page=2
|accessdate=2007-05-11}} (for example)</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|title=Major Town Houses of the Architect Victor Horta (Brussels)
|work=[[UNESCO]]'s [[World Heritage List]]
|publisher=UNESCO
|url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1005
|quote=The appearance of Art Nouveau in the closing years of the 19th century marked a decisive stage in the evolution of architecture, making possible subsequent developments, and the Town Houses of Victor Horta in Brussels bear exceptional witness to its radical new approach.
|accessdate=2007-05-16}}</ref>

The [[vocal music]] of the [[Franco-Flemish School]] developed in the southern part of the Low Countries and was an important contribution to Renaissance culture.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Western music, the Franco-Flemish school
|quote=Most significant musically was the pervasive influence of musicians from the Low Countries, whose domination of the musical scene during the last half of the 15th century is reflected in the period designations the Netherlands school and the Franco-Flemish school.
|work=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]
|year=2007
|url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-15698/Western-music
|accessdate=2007-05-15}}</ref> The nineteenth and twentieth centuries witnessed the appearance of major violinists, such as [[Eugène Ysaÿe]] and [[Arthur Grumiaux]], while [[Adolphe Sax]] invented the [[saxophone]] in 1846. The composer [[Cesar Franck|César Franck]] was born in [[Liège (city)|Liège]] in 1822. Belgium has also produced [[Belgian music|music]] of contemporary note. Jazz musician [[Toots Thielemans]] and singer [[Jacques Brel]] have achieved global fame. In rock/pop music, [[Telex (band)|Telex]], [[Front 242]], [[K's Choice]], [[Hooverphonic]], [[Zap Mama]], [[Soulwax]] and [[Deus (band)|dEUS]] are well known.<ref>Two comprehensive discussions of rock and pop music in Belgium since the fifties:<br/>*
{{cite web
|title=The Timeline—A brief history of Belgian Pop Music
|year=2007 |month=March
|work=The Belgian Pop & Rock Archives
|publisher=[http://www.muziekcentrum.be/english/about/static.asp?Id=298 Flanders Music Centre], Brussels
|url=http://houbi.com/belpop/timeline.htm
|accessdate=2007-06-07}}<br/>*
{{cite web
|title=Belgian Culture—Rock
|year=© 2006
|publisher=[http://www.belgianexperts.com/aboutus.php Vanberg & DeWulf Importing]
|url=http://www.belgianexperts.com/rock.php
|accessdate=2007-05-11}}</ref>

[[Image:Emile Verhaeren04.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Poet [[Emile Verhaeren]] by [[Pierre Gandon]].]]
Belgium has produced several well-known [[Belgian literature|authors]], including the poet [[Emile Verhaeren]] and novelists [[Hendrik Conscience]], [[Georges Simenon]], [[Suzanne Lilar]] and [[Amélie Nothomb]]. The poet and playwright [[Maurice Maeterlinck]] won the [[Nobel Prize in literature]] in 1911. ''[[The Adventures of Tintin]]'' by [[Hergé]] is the best known of [[Franco-Belgian comics]], but many other major authors, including [[Peyo]] ([[The Smurfs]]), [[André Franquin]], [[Edgar P. Jacobs]], and [[Willy Vandersteen]] brought the [[Belgian comics|Belgian cartoon strip industry]] on a par with the U.S.A. and Japan.

[[Cinema of Belgium|Belgian cinema]], often influenced by the [[Cinema of the Netherlands|Dutch]] or [[French cinema|French]], has brought a number of mainly Flemish novels to life on-screen.<ref>Notable Belgian films based on works by Flemish authors include: ''De Witte'' (author [[Ernest Claes]]) movie by Jan Vanderheyden & Edith Kiel in 1934, remake as ''De Witte van Sichem'' directed by [[Robbe De Hert]] in 1980; ''De man die zijn haar kort liet knippen'' ([[Johan Daisne]]) [[André Delvaux]] 1965; ''Mira'' ('De teleurgang van de Waterhoek' by [[Stijn Streuvels]]) [[Fons Rademakers]] 1971; ''[[Malpertuis]] (aka The Legend of Doom House)'' ([[Jean Ray]] [pen name of Flemish author who mainly wrote in [[French language|French]], or as John Flanders in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]]) [[Harry Kümel]] 1971<!--not 1973 as hereafter 'see also' link, it won the Cannes Festival in 1972-->; ''De loteling'' ([[Hendrik Conscience]]) Roland Verhavert 1974; ''Dood van een non'' ([[Maria Rosseels]]) Paul Collet & Pierre Drouot 1975; ''Pallieter'' ([[Felix Timmermans]]) Roland Verhavert 1976; ''De komst van Joachim Stiller'' ([[Hubert Lampo]]) [[Harry Kümel]] 1976; ''[[De Leeuw van Vlaanderen]]'' ([[Hendrik Conscience]]) [[Hugo Claus]] (a famous author himself) 1985; ''[[Daens (film)|Daens]]'' ('Pieter Daens' by [[Louis Paul Boon]]) [[Stijn Coninx]] 1992; see also [http://www.ledoux.be/nl/dvdmain.htm Filmarchief ''les DVD!s de la cinémathèque''] (in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]). Retrieved on [[2007-06-07]].</ref> Other Belgian directors include [[André Delvaux]], [[Stijn Coninx]], [[Luc Dardenne|Luc]] and [[Jean-Pierre Dardenne]]; well-known actors include [[Jan Decleir]] and [[Marie Gillain]]; and successful films include ''[[Man Bites Dog (film)|Man Bites Dog]]'' and ''[[The Alzheimer Affair]]''.<ref>A review of the Belgian cinema can be found at
{{cite web
|title=Cinema
|work=.be Federal Portal
|publisher=Federal government of Belgium
|year=2007
|url=http://www.belgium.be/eportal/application?languageParameter=en&pageid=contentPage&docId=6879
|accessdate=2007-05-13}}{{Dead link|date=October 2008}}</ref> In the 1980s, Antwerp's [[Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen|Royal Academy of Fine Arts]] produced important fashion trendsetters, known as the [[Antwerp Six]].<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Fashion and the ‘Antwerp Six’
|year=© 2004
|publisher=[http://fashionworlds.blogspot.com/2000_01_01_fashionworlds_archive.html Fashion Worlds], Dorset, UK
|url=http://fashionworlds.blogspot.com/2000_01_16_fashionworlds_archive.html
|accessdate=2007-05-13}}</ref>

===Folklore===
{{see also|Folklore of the Low Countries}}
[[Image:Binche MCL01.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The [[Gilles]] of [[Binche]], in costume, wearing wax masks]]
Folklore plays a major role in Belgium's cultural life: the country has a comparatively high number of [[procession]]s, [[cavalcade]]s, [[parade]]s, 'ommegangs' and 'ducasses',<ref>Footnote: The Dutch word 'ommegang' is here used in the sense of an entirely or mainly non-religious procession, or the non-religious part thereof—see also [[:nl:Ommegang|its article on the Dutch-language Wikipedia]]; the Processional Giants [http://www.visitbelgium.com/mediaroom/Ommegang.htm of Brussels], Dendermonde and Mechelen mentioned in this paragraph are part of each city's 'ommegang'. The French word 'ducasse' refers also to a procession; the mentioned Processional Giants of Ath and Mons are part of each city's 'ducasse'.</ref> '[[Kermesse (festival)|kermesse]]', and other local festivals, nearly always with an originally religious or [[mythology of the Low Countries |mythological background]]. The [[Carnival of Binche]] with its famous [[Gilles]], and the 'Processional Giants and Dragons' of [[Ath]], [[Brussels]], [[Dendermonde]], [[Mechelen]] and [[Mons]] are recognized by [[UNESCO]] as [[Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity]].<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Processional Giants and Dragons in Belgium and France
|publisher=[[UNESCO]]
|url=http://www.unesco.org/culture/intangible-heritage/05eur_uk.htm
|accessdate=2007-05-15}}</ref> Other examples are the Carnival of [[Aalst]]; the still very religious processions of [[procession of the Holy Blood|the Holy Blood]] in [[Bruges]], [[Virga Jesse]] in [[Hasselt]], and [[List of basilicas#Belgium|Hanswijk]] in Mechelen; the August 15 festival in [[Liège (city)|Liège]]; and the Walloon festival in [[Namur (city)|Namur]]. Originated in 1832 and revived in the 1960s, the [[Gentse Feesten]] have become a modern tradition. A major non-official holiday is the [[Saint Nicholas#Saint Nicholas the festive gift-giver|Saint Nicholas Day]], a festivity for children and, in Liège, for students.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Folklore estudiantin liégeois
|publisher=[[University of Liège]]
|url=http://www.ulg.ac.be/cms/c_36320/photographies-folklore-etudiant?hlText=Saint+Nicolas&hlMode=any&hlText=Saint+Nicolas&hlMode=any&hlText=Saint+Nicolas&hlMode=any
|language=[[French language|French]]
|accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref>

===Sports===
{{main|Sport in Belgium}}

The [[1920 Summer Olympics]] were held in Antwerp, Belgium.

[[Football in Belgium|Football (soccer)]] and [[cycling]] are the most popular sports in Belgium. With five victories in the [[Tour de France]] and numerous other cycling records, Belgian [[Eddy Merckx]] ranks #1 as the greatest cyclist of all time.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Great, but there are greater
|author=Majendie, Matt
|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]
|date=2005-04-18
|quote=[the Author's] top five [cyclists] of all time: 1 Eddy Merckx, 2 [[Bernard Hinault]], 3 [[Lance Armstrong]], 4 [[Miguel Indurain]], 5 [[Jacques Anquetil]]
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/3925265.stm
|format=stm
|accessdate=2007-09-20}}</ref> His hour speed record (set in 1972) stood for twelve years. [[Jean-Marie Pfaff]], a former Belgian [[goalkeeper]], is considered one of the greatest in the history of football.<ref>"[http://www.goalkeepersaredifferent.com/keeper/goalkeeping_greats.htm Goalkeeping Greats]" Goalkeepersaredifferent.com. Retrieved on June 29, 2008</ref> Belgium is currently bidding with the Netherlands to host the [[2018 World Cup]].<ref name="ESPN">[http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=385813&&cc=5739" Benelux trio to apply to host the 2018 World Cup], ESPN Soccernet Global, retrieved on May 22, 2008 from [[2018 FIFA World Cup]]</ref> Both countries previously hosted the [[UEFA European Football Championship]] in [[UEFA Euro 2000|2000]]. Belgium also hosted the European Football Championships in [[UEFA Euro 1972|1972]].

[[Kim Clijsters]] and [[Justine Henin]] both were [[WTA Awards|Player of the Year]] in the [[Women's Tennis Association]] as they were ranked the number one female tennis player.
The [[Spa-Francorchamps]] motor-racing circuit hosts the [[Formula One World Championship]] [[Belgian Grand Prix]]. The Belgian driver, [[Jacky Ickx]], won eight Grands Prix and six [[24 Hours of Le Mans]], and twice finished as runner-up in the Formula One World Championship. Belgium also has a strong reputation in [[motocross]]; world champions include [[Roger De Coster]], [[Joël Robert]], [[Georges Jobé]], [[Eric Geboers]], [[Joël Smets]] and [[Stefan Everts]].

===Cuisine===
{{main|Cuisine of Belgium}}
[[Image:Brussels waffle.jpg|right|thumb|150px|[[Waffles]] in [[Brussels, Belgium]].]]
Belgium is well known in the world over for its cuisine.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Eating Out in Belgium
|work=subsite www.hostelbelgium.com
|publisher=[http://www.hostelworld.com/aboutus.php Hostelworld.com], Dublin, Ireland
|year=2007
|url=http://www.hostelbelgium.com/countryinfo/eating.php/ChosenCountry.Belgium
|accessdate=2007-05-15}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|title=Belgium cuisine
|work=About.com: French Cuisine
|year=2007
|publisher=About, Inc., a part of The New York Times Company
|url=http://frenchfood.about.com/od/belgiancuisine/Belgian_Cuisine.htm
|accessdate=2007-05-15}}</ref> Many highly ranked Belgian restaurants can be found in the most influential gastronomic guides, such as the [[Michelin Guide]].<ref>
{{cite web
|title=The Michelin stars 2007 in Belgium
|publisher=[http://www.resto.be/ware/legal.jsp Resto.be <small>TM Dreaminvest</small>]
|year=2007
|url=http://www2.resto.be/bib_new.cfm?langue=uk
|accessdate=2007-05-15}}</ref> Belgians love [[Belgian waffle|waffles]] and [[french fries]]. Contrary to their name, french fries also originated in Belgium. The name "french fries" actually refers to the description of the manner in which the potato is cut. To "french" means to cut into slivers. The national dishes are "[[steak]] and fries with [[salad]]", and "[[mussel]]s with fries".<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Steak-frites
|publisher=Epicurious
|url=http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/views/40035
|accessdate=2007-08-12}} Republished from
{{cite book
|title=Everybody Eats Well in Belgium Cookbook
|year=1996 |month=October
|author=Van Waerebeek, Ruth; Robbins, Maria
|publisher=Workman Publishing
|id=ISBN 1-56305-411-6 (Paperback), ISBN 0-7611-0106-3 (Cloth)}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|title=Belgium
|publisher=Global Gourmet
|url=http://www.globalgourmet.com/destinations/belgium/backgrounder.html
|accessdate=2007-08-12}} Republished from
{{cite book
|title=Everybody Eats Well in Belgium Cookbook
|year=1996 |month=October
|author=Van Waerebeek, Ruth; Robbins, Maria
|publisher=Workman Publishing
|id=ISBN 1-56305-411-6 (Paperback), ISBN 0-7611-0106-3 (Cloth)}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|title=Mussels
|year=2005
|work=Visit Belgium
|publisher=Official Site of the Belgian Tourist Office in the Americas
|url=http://www.visitbelgium.com/mussels.htm
|accessdate=2007-08-12}}—Note: Contrarily to what the text suggests, the season starts as early as July and lasts through April.</ref>

Brands of Belgian [[chocolate]] and [[pralines]], like [[Callebaut]], [[Côte d'Or (brand)|Côte d'Or]], [[Chocolatier Neuhaus|Neuhaus]], [[Leonidas (chocolate maker)|Leonidas]], [[Guylian]] and [[Godiva Chocolatier|Godiva]], are world renowned and widely sold.

Belgium produces over [[Belgian beer|500 varieties of beer]]. The biggest [[Brewing|brewer]] in the world by volume is [[InBev]] based in Belgium.<ref>
{{cite press release
|title=InBev dividend 2006: 0.72 euro per share—<small>infobox:</small> About InBev
|quote=InBev is a publicly traded company ([[Euronext]]: INB) based in [[Leuven]], Belgium. The company's origins date back to 1366, and today it is the leading global brewer by volume.
|date=[[2007-04-24]]
|publisher=InBev
|url=http://www.inbev.com/press_releases/20070424.1.e.cfm
|accessdate=2007-05-31}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Belgium|Flag of Belgium.svg}}
<div style="font-size:100%;">
{{columns |width=33ex
|col1width=34.5ex
|col1 =
* [[List of Belgians]]
* [[List of Belgian municipalities by population|List of Belgian municipalities]]
* [[List of Belgium-related topics]]<br/><!--adjust till bottom of table--><br/><!--no bot fix-->
* [[:Category:Belgium-related lists]]
|col2 =
* [[Communications in Belgium]]
* [[Crime in Belgium]]
* [[Military of Belgium]]
* [[Sport in Belgium]]
* [[Transportation in Belgium]]
|col3 =
* [[Belgian nationality law]]
* [[Belgian passport]]
* [[Public holidays in Belgium]]
* [[Tourism in Belgium]]
}}
</div>

==References==
===Footnotes===
<!-- Do not add a scrollbox to these references. It breaks formatting, inhibits printing, and prevents users of screen readers from "viewing" an article's references.-->
{{Reflist|2}}

===General online sources===
{{sourcesstart}}
* {{cite web
|title=Belgium
|work=[[Encyclopædia Britannica Online]]
|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Chicago, IL, USA
|url=http://www.britannica.com/nations/Belgium
|accessdate=2007-06-07}}
* {{cite web
|title=Boordtabel
|year=2007
|language=[[Dutch language|Dutch]]
|publisher=[http://www.briobrussel.be/eng/default.asp?WebpageId=1 Centre for Information, Documentation and Research on Brussels (<span style="font-size:87%;">BRIO</span>)]
|url=http://www.briobrussel.be/ned/webpage4.asp?WebpageId=39
|accessdate=2007-06-02}} (mentioning other original sources)
* {{CIA_World_Factbook_link|be|Belgium}} Retrieved on [[2007-06-07]].
* {{cite web
|title=The Constitution
|date=[[1997-01-21]]
|publisher=Federal Parliament Belgium
|url=http://www.fed-parl.be/constitution_uk.html
|accessdate=2007-06-07}}
* {{cite web
|title=Country Portal - Europe—Belgium
|publisher=Belgian Federal Government Service (ministry) of Economy—Directorate-general Statistics Belgium
|url=http://statbel.fgov.be/port/cou_eu_en.asp#BE
|accessdate=2007-06-07}}
* {{cite web
|title=Die Stellung und Rolle der deutschsprachigen Minderheit in Ostbelgien innerhalb des belgischen Nationalstaats
|author=Fischer, Kathrin
|work=Kleiner Geländekurs in die <span style="font-size:87%;">EUREGIO</span> Maas-Rhein
|language=[[German language|German]]
|date=[[1999-07-21]]
|publisher=Geographical Institute of the [[Georg-August University of Göttingen|Georg-August University]] (Department Culture and Social Geography), Göttingen, Germany
|url=http://www.geogr.uni-goettingen.de/kus/personen/euregio/emr99-21.htm
|accessdate=2007-06-13}}
* {{cite web
|title=History of Belgium
|date=Last revised [[2007-05-30]]
|work=[http://www.zum.de/whkmla/index.html World History at KMLA]
|publisher=[http://www.zum.de/whkmla/about.html Korean Minjok Leadership Academy (<span style="font-size:87%;">KMLA</span>)]
|url=http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/lowcountries/xbelgium.html
|accessdate=2007-06-02}}
* {{cite web
|title=Brusselse Thema's 8—Taalgebruik in Brussel—Taalverhoudingen, taalverschuivingen en taalindentiteit in een meertalige stad
|language=[[Dutch language|Dutch]], summary ''The Use of Languages in Brussels'' pp. 227–250 in English
|date=[[2001-06-01]]
|author=[http://www.briobrussel.be/ned/webpage3.asp?WebpageId=30 Janssens, Rudi], [[Vrije Universiteit Brussel]]
|publisher=VUBPress, Brussels ISBN 90 5487 293 4—republished
|url=http://www.briobrussel.be/assets/bt8download.pdf
|format=PDF
|accessdate=2007-06-02}}
* {{cite web
|title=Belgique • België • Belgien
|work=[http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/index.shtml L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde]
|language=[[French language|French]]
|year=© 2006
|author=Leclerc, Jacques<!--NO LINK: this is not the wellknown general-->, membre associé du TLFQ
|publisher=Host: Trésor de la langue française au Québec (TLFQ), [[Université Laval]], [[Quebec]]
|url=http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/europe/belgiqueacc.htm
|accessdate=2007-06-02}}
* {{cite web
|title=Bye bye Belgium?
|date=[[2006-12-20]]
|author=Mnookin, Robert, Professor at [[Harvard Law School|HLS]]
|coauthors=Verbeke, Alain
|publisher=[[International Herald Tribune]], republished by [[Harvard Law School]]
|url=http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/2006/12/20_mnookin.php
|accessdate=2007-06-01}}—Reflections on nations and nation-state developments regarding Belgium
{{sourcesend}}

===Bibliography===
{{sourcesstart}}
* {{cite book
|title=A History of the Low Countries
|author=Arblaster, Paul
|edition=Hardcover 312pp
|date=[[2005-12-23]]
|series=Palgrave Essential Histories
|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan, New York
|isbn=1-4039-4827-5 [Also edition ([[2005-12-23]]), Paperback 312pp, Palgrave Macmillan, New York, ISBN 1-4039-4828-3]}}
* {{cite book
|title=History of the Low Countries
|author=Blom, J. C. H., Dutch State Institute for War Documentation, ed.; Lamberts, Emiel, Professor in Modern History [[Katholieke Universiteit Leuven|KULeuven]], ed.; Kennedy, James C., translator
|edition=Hardcover 503pp
|year=1999 |month=May
|publisher=Berghahn Books, Oxford/New York
|isbn=1-5718-1084-6 [Also newer edition ([[2006-06-29]]), Paperback 516pp, Berghahn Books, New York, ISBN 1-8454-5272-0]}}
* {{cite book
|title=A History of Belgium from the Roman Invasion to the Present Day
|author=[http://www.famousbelgians.net/cammaerts.htm Cammaerts, Émile L.]<!--NO WIKILINK to poor stub-->
|origyear=1913
|edition=357pp
|year=1921
|publisher=D. Appleton and Co, New York
|id={{OCLC|1525559}} {{ASIN|B00085PM0A}} [Also editions [1913], London, {{OCLC|29072911}}; (1921) D. Unwin and Co., New York {{OCLC|9625246}}; also published (1921) as ''Belgium from the Roman invasion to the present day'', The Story of the nations, 67, T. Fisher Unwin, London, {{OCLC|2986704}} {{ASIN|B00086AX3A}}]}}
* {{cite book
|title=Belgium: A History
|url=http://www.netlibrary.com/Details.aspx
|author=Cook, Bernard A., Professor of History at [[Loyola University New Orleans]], LA, USA
|edition=Paperback 205pp
|year=[http://isbndb.com/d/book/belgium_a02.html c2002] or [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0820458244 May 2004]
|series=Studies in Modern European History, Vol. 50
|publisher=Peter Lang Pub, New York
|isbn=0-8204-5824-4 Ib. e-book (2004) NetLibrary, Boulder, CO, USA, ISBN 0-8204-7283-2 [Also print edition ([http://isbndb.com/d/book/belgium_a_history.html 2004-06-30] or [http://www.peterlang.com/index.cfm?vID=67647&vLang=E&vHR=1&vUR=3&vUUR=4&vNoHB=True 2005]), ISBN 0-8204-7647-1]}}
* {{cite book
|title=The History of Belgium: Part 1. Cæsar to Waterloo
|url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1402167148/
|author=de Kavanagh Boulger, Demetrius C.
|edition=Paperback 493pp
|origdate=1902
|date=[http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1402167148 2001-06-28] or [http://isbndb.com/d/book/the_history_of_belgium.html 2006-03-30]
|series=Elibron Classics
|publisher=Adamant Media ([[Delaware corporation]]), Boston, MA, USA.
|isbn=1-4021-6714-8 [Facsimile reprint of a 1902 edition by the author, London]}}—{{cite book
|title=Ib. Part 2. 1815-1865. Waterloo to the Death of Leopold I
|author=Ib.
|edition=Paperback 462pp
|origyear=1909
|date=[http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/140216713X 2001-06-28] or [http://isbndb.com/d/book/the_history_of_belgium_a01.html 2006-03-30]
|series=Ib.
|publisher=Ib
|isbn=1-4021-6713-X [Facsimile reprint of a 1909 edition by the author, London]}}
* {{cite book
|title=The Politics of Belgium: A Unique Federalism
|author=Fitzmaurice, John
|edition=Paperback 284pp
|year=1996 |month=March
|series=Nations of the modern world
|publisher=Westview Press, Boulder, CO, USA
|isbn=0-8133-2386-X
|id={{OCLC|30112536}}}}
* {{cite book
|title=The Low Countries: History of the Northern and Southern Netherlands
|author=Kossmann-Putto, Johanna A.; Kossmann Ernst H.; Deleu Jozef H. M., ed.; Fenoulhet Jane, translator [of: (1987). ''De Lage Landen : geschiedenis van de Noordelijke en Zuidelijke Nederlanden''. Vlaams-Nederlandse Stichting Ons Erfdeel, Rekkem]
|edition=3rd Rev. edition Paperback 64pp
|origyear=1987<!--verified, though @libris (alibris.com) mentions 1987-->
|year=1993 |month=January
|publisher=Flemish-Netherlands [http://www.onserfdeel.be/en/info.asp Foundation "Stichting Ons Erfdeel"], Rekkem, Belgium
|isbn=9-0708-3120-1 [several editions in English, incl. (1997) 7th ed.]}}
{{sourcesend}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{commonscat|Public transport in Bucharest|Public transport in Bucharest}}
{{sisterlinks|Belgium}}
*[http://www.ratb.ro Official site of RATB (surface transport operator)]
: ''See also: section References, subsection [[#General online sources|General online sources]]''
*[http://www.metrorex.ro Official site of Metrorex (subway transport operator)]
{{wikiatlas|Belgium}}
*[http://www.ratb.metrouusor.com/ Site that contains all about RATB, depots, vehicles, news ]
* {{wikitravel}}
* [[s:en:Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Belgium|Belgium]], entry on the [[Catholic Encyclopedia|Catholic Encyclopedia 1913]], republished on [[Wikisource]]
* [http://www.monarchie.be/ Official site of Belgian monarchy]
* [http://www.Belgium.be/ Official site of the Belgian federal government]
* [http://www.visitbelgium.com/ Official Site of the Belgian Tourist Office in the Americas and GlobeScope],<br/>– its [http://www.visitbelgium.com/links.htm#toursitofficeinbelgium links to sites of Belgian Tourist Offices in Belgium]<br/>– its [http://www.visitbelgium.com/links.htm#globaloffices links to sites of Belgian Tourist Offices worldwide]
* [http://eudocs.lib.byu.edu/index.php/History_of_Belgium:_Primary_Documents History of Belgium: Primary Documents] ''EuroDocs: Online Sources for European History''
* [http://publicdiplomacy.wikia.com/wiki/Belgium Belgium], entry on the Public Diplomacy wiki monitored by the [[USC Center on Public Diplomacy]]
* [http://www.expatica.be/ Local news and features on Belgium], ''Expatica''

{{Belgium topics}}

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}}
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Revision as of 12:52, 13 October 2008

Bucharest boasts the largest transport network in Romania, and one of the largest in Europe. The Bucharest transport network is made up of a metro network and a surface transport network. Although there are multiple connection points, the two systems operate independently of each other, are run by different organisations (the metro is run by Metrorex and the surface transport network by RATB) and use separate ticketing systems, often making transfer between the systems difficult. Due to this, the two transport systems were unified in January 2007, and the Bucharest Metropolitan Transport Board established and a single ticketing system.


Bucharest Metro

Main article: Bucharest Metro
Bucharest metro train (Bombardier) at Pipera Station

Bucharest has a fairly extensive subway system consisting of four lines: M1, M2, M3 and M4, and run by Metrorex. In total, the network is 63km long and has 45 stations, with 1.5km average distance between stops. It is one of the fastest ways to get around the city.

Surface transport

Surface transport in Bucharest is run by Regia Autonomă de Transport Bucureşti (RATB) and consists of an extensive network of buses, trolleybuses, trams and light metros. The RATB network is one of the most dense in Europe, and the fourth largest on the continent, carrying about 1.7 million passengers daily on 121 bus lines, 30 tram lines, 3 light metro lines and 20 trolleybus lines. At times, however, it does suffer from severe crowding.

Long line of RATB trams

RATB is a reasonably efficient and a very frequently-used way of getting around Bucharest. As with the Metro, the system is going under a period of renewal. Highlights of the renewal include the introduction of a new light metro service, aside from trams, as well as wheelchair-accessible buses and trolleybuses.

Buses

See also: List of bus routes in Bucharest

The RATB bus network is the most dense out of all the transport types in Bucharest. In fact, RATB's advertisements state that one can never be more than five minutes walking distance from a bus stop. There are 121 bus lines, most of which operate in the Municipality of Bucharest. However, there are also a few bus lines which provide services to the towns and villages which border Bucharest, in Ilfov county, and whose populations usually commute to Bucharest for work. In mid-2005, the lines that linked the city to the peripheral area were licensed out to independent transportation providers, but in early 2006, they were placed once again under the control of RATB due to a wide range customer complaints about the private operators.

Fleet

RATB's bus fleet is made up of more than 1400 vehicles, of which around 45% are wheelchair-accessible (low floor) and around 12% are air-conditioned.[1] The fleet is currently undergoing a substantial process of renewal. In December 2005, RATB completed a contract for 500 Mercedes Citaro low-floor, wheelchair-accessible buses. The buses were delivered between June 2006 and April 2007. In January 2008, the first of a further series of 500 Citaro low-floor buses was put into service. These buses are the first air-conditioned vehicles in RATB's fleet. As of October 2008, wheelchair-accessible vehicles currently run on 38 routes. As of October 2008, the fleet is made up of the following models:

Citaro buses are mainly used on central and trunk bus routes, being the main bus type in use in Bucharest. Rocar De Simon U412 and DAF SB220 are being relegated to lower traffic routes, shuttles, suburban routes, or routes perceived by RATB to run through higher risk areas. Ikarus and DAC buses only serve short or shuttle routes, and will be removed from the fleet (and subsequently scrapped) by March 2008.

Trolleybuses

See also: List of trolleybus routes in Bucharest
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trolleybuses in Bucharest.

Trolleybuses supplement buses on the RATB network, which operates 19 trolleybus lines, mainly on high-usage routes. During the 1990s, the fleet was updated with modern trolleybuses manufactured by Ikarus, in light blue and yellow livery, which have acoustic station announcements and digital display screens. These trolleybuses now make up the majority of the fleet. In early 2007, wheelchair-accessible Irisbus Citelis trolleybuses were introduced on routes 61, 62, 69, 70, 71, 86, 90, 91 and 92.

Fleet

Trams and light metro

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trams in Bucharest.

RATB operates a complex system of trams and light metros in the Municipality of Bucharest. Beside tens of tram lines, there are currently three light metro lines (numbered 32, 35 and 41), all of which run in the western part of Bucharest. Light metros use more modern rolling stock than trams and also run on separate designated corridors for faster travel times. The light metro service is expected to be expanded by upgrading existing tram lines to light metro status. The next line to be upgraded is expected to be Line 21.

Fleet

  • V2A tram
    V2A tram
  • V2S tram
    V2S tram
  • V3A-93M tram
    V3A-93M tram
  • V3A-93 tram
    V3A-93 tram
  • V3A-H tram
    V3A-H tram
  • Tatra T4 tram
    Tatra T4 tram
  • Rathberger tram, no longer in use.
    Rathberger tram, no longer in use.

Minibuses

In Romania, they are called "maxi-taxi", minibuses supplied the need of affordable public transportation at a time when some local administrations dismantled the community-owned systems of buses and or trolley cars. In Bucharest, a few lines went inside the main city in the last years of communism, their line numbers starting with 500, operated by RATB ancestor, ITB. In the 1990's, the lines were ceded to private companies. The boom came in 2003 when the city-owned RATB lost the right to maintain suburban commuter buses which linked main city with the villages around it, and the minibuses replaced the buses on popular suburban lines, such as the ones to Afumaţi or Măgurele.

As of 2006, RATB resumed sub-urban operations maxi-taxi. Furthermore, services are no longer allowed to enter the city center, and, only 11 maxi-taxi lines are allowed to both start and terminate within Bucharest's city limits: [2]:

CFR Trains

Bucharest is served by a commuter railway network operated by CFR, the Romanian national railways. Although commuter trains no longer serve national routes, commuter train services are not so good. As an alternative, at each city exit there are private bus stations to get travelers to the towns in villages nearby. As a rule, this buses are found at the exit closest to their serviced area. The commuter trains run either from the main station, Gara de Nord or from 6 minor stations (Gara Basarab, Gara Obor, Gara Chitila, Gara Progresu, Gara Titan and Gara Pantelimon). Their main purpose is not regular travelling, instead they were meant to service major factories and industrial platforms with workers, and generally run early in the morning and in the afternoon. Commuter trains currently run to Olteniţa, Giurgiu, Urziceni, Lehliu Gară and Titu. There are also weekend tourist trains from Bucharest to Snagov, starting either at Gara de Nord or Gara Baneasa.

There are no urban trains (similar to RER lines in Paris) in Bucharest, even though a commuter ring railway in currently in construction around Bucharest, to supplement the Bucharest Metro.

See also Căile Ferate Române

Road network

The city's municipal road network is centred around a series of high-capacity boulevards (6 to 10 lanes), which generally radiate out from the city centre to the outskirts and are arranged in geographical axes (principally north-south, east-west and northwest-southeast). The principal and thus most congested boulevards are Calea Victoriei, Bulevardul Unirii and Mihai Bravu Boulevard, which is the longest in Bucharest and forms a sort of semicircle around the northeastern part of the old district. The city also has two ring roads, one internal (Mihai Bravu is part of it) and one external, which are mainly used for cars that bypass the city as well as trucks, which aren't allowed in the city centre. Aside from the main roads, the city also has a number of secondary roads, which connect the main boulevards. In the historical city centre, particularly the Lipscani area, many streets are cobbled and are classified as pedestrian zones.

A busy Bucharest boulevard at night

The city's roads are usually very crowded during rush hours, due to an increase in car ownership in recent years. Every day, there are more than one million vehicles travelling within the city limits.[3] This has resulted in wearing of the upper layer of tarmac on many of roads in Bucharest, particularly secondary roads which are now used in an equal amount, this being identified as one of Bucharest's main infrastructural problems. The pothole problem is notorious enough to have inspired a song by the band Taxi with a chorus "Cratere ca-n Bucureşti, nici pe luna nu gaseşti!" ("Craters like in Bucharest you won't even find on the moon").[4] However, in recent years, there has been a comprehensive effort on behalf of the City Hall to boost improvement of road infrastructure, mainly by resurfacing and widening roads, and repairing footpaths. According to the City Hall's development plan, nearly 2000 roads are expected to be rehabilited by 2008.[5]

Bucharest is one of the principal junctions of Romania's national road network, which links the city to all of Romania's major cities as well as to neighbouring countries such as Hungary, Bulgaria and Ukraine. Romania's two motorways currently in operation, the A1 and the A2 which links the capital with the country's ports and seaside resorts on the Black Sea.

Airports

Bucharest has two international airports:

  • Henri Coandă International Airport, located north of the Bucharest metropolitan area, in the town of Otopeni, Ilfov. Currently the airport has one terminal divided into three inter-connected buildings (International Departures Hall, International Arrivals Hall and the Domestic Flights Hall - at the ground level of the Arrivals Hall - ). The International Departures Hall consists of 36 check-in desks, one finger with 10 gates (5 equipped with jetways), while the Domestic Hall has an extra four gates. Today's International Arrivals Hall is actually the old Otopeni terminal, while the new Departures Hall, including the finger and the airbridges was built and inaugurated in 1997. A second finger with 7 jetways is under construction and a new building terminal on the east side is in project phase. The airport received 3.513.576 passengers in 2006 and the airport is expected to handle 4.5 million passengers in 2007.
  • Aurel Vlaicu International Airport is situated only 8 km north of the Bucharest city center and is accessible by RATB buses 131, 335 and Airport Express 783, RATB tramway 5 and taxi. An extension of Line M2 of the Bucharest Metro to Aurel Vlaicu International, which will link it to the Main Train Station and the larger Henri Coandă International Airport, was approved in June 2006 and is currently in its planning stage.

Sea transport

Although it is situated on the banks of a river, Bucharest has never functioned as a port city, with other Romanian cities such as Constanţa and Brăila acting as the country's main ports. However, the Danube-Bucharest Canal, which is 73 km long, is currently in construction and is around 60% completed. When finished, the canal will link Bucharest to the Danube River and, via the Danube-Black Sea Canal, to the Black Sea. This transport corridor is expected to be a significant component of the city's transport infrastructure and increase sea traffic by a large margin.

Notes

  1. ^ Template:Ro icon Parc autobuze RATB (RATB bus fleet), BucureştiTransport (fan site by Dr2005)
  2. ^ Comunicat Primar General
  3. ^ Governing programme of Adriean Videanu, General Mayor of Bucharest
  4. ^ Simona Tudorache, Taxi a iesit cu Politica in strada, Curierul Naţional, 23 October 2004.
  5. ^ Rehabilitation of Urban Roads, Phase II, from the site of the General Mayor of Bucharest, Adriean Videanu

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Public transport in Bucharest.
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