Diving

DIVING BELGIUM INTRODUCTION

COUNTRY INFORMATION



Official name

Kingdom of Belgium


Capital

Brussels


Coordinates

50°50’ N, 4°00’ E


Location

Belgium is located in Western Europe and shares borders with the North Sea and the Netherlands on the north, Germany and Luxembourg on the east, and France on the west.


Area

Total area: 30 528 sq km
Land area: 30 278 sq km
Water area: 250 sq km


Land boundaries

1 358 km


Coastline

66.5 km


Administrative division

Belgium is divided into 3 regions: Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels.


Political system

Belgium is a federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy. Monarch is the chief of state. Monarchy is hereditary. Prime Minister, who is the head of government, is appointed by the monarch (usually, the leader of the majority party) and approved by Parliament. Parliament is bicameral and consists of the Senate (71 seats) and the Chamber of Deputies (150 seats).


Population

10 403 951


Ethnic groups

Flemish 58%, Walloon 31%, other 11%


Religions

Roman Catholic 75%, other 25%