1930's flag
On August 26, 1830, the day after rioting at the Brussels Opera and the start of the Belgian Revolution, the flag of France was flown from the city hall of Brussels. It was clumsy so it was replaced by the color red, yellow, and black horizontal stripes made at a nearby fabric store, similar to the one used during the Brabantian Revolution. To this the article 193 of the Constitution of Belgium describes the colors of the Belgian as red, yellow, and black instead of black, yellow, and red. On January 23, 1831, the stripes were changed from horizontal to vertical lines. On October 12, the flag got its modern form, with the black placed at the side of the flag. It is recommended that the change was to
clearly distinguish the flag of Belgium from the flag of the Netherlands,
which also has three horizontal stripes. It was mainly important during naval
battles. Some think the change to vertical lines was a sign of kindness with
the French.
Modern day flag
Now, the national flag of Belgium contains three equal vertical bands: black, yellow, and red. The colors were taken from the Duchy of Brabant, and the vertical design maybe based on the flag of France.
Location
Belgium is a country located in Western Europe. It is between the Netherlands to the north, Germany and Luxembourg to the east, France to the south, and the North Sea to the west. Belgium has an area of 30,510 square kilometers (about the size of Maryland), and includes 280 square kilometers of inland waterways. It has 66 kilometers of coastline and its borders total 1,385 kilometers. Belgium shares 620 kilometers with France, 167 kilometers with Germany, 148 kilometers with Luxembourg, and 450 kilometers with the Netherlands.
Climate and Terrain
Climate: Mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy.
Terrain: Flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast.
Terrain: Flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast.
Language
Dutch-speaking (50%)
French-speaking (49%)
German-speaking (1%)
French-speaking (49%)
German-speaking (1%)
Religion
Catholics: 58%
Other Christians: 7%
Muslims: 5%
Other Religions: 2%
Non-religious: 27%
Not stated: 1%
Other Christians: 7%
Muslims: 5%
Other Religions: 2%
Non-religious: 27%
Not stated: 1%