Regions and provinces of Belgium
Belgium is geographically divided into 3 federal regions; 2 regions are each divided into 5 provinces, together 10. The Belgian population is also divided along the language lines into three communities: the French speaking CommunautÃÂé FranÃÂçaise (French Community), the Dutch speaking Vlaamse Gemeenschap (Flemish Community), and the German speaking Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft (Germanophone Community).
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2 Flemish Region 3 Walloon Region |
The Brussels-Capital Region (Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest in Dutch, RÃÂégion de Bruxelles-Capitale in French, Die Region BrÃÂüssel-Hauptstadt in German) or Brussels Region is centrally located and completely surrounded by the province of Flemish Brabant. With a surface area of 162 km² (0.53% of Belgium) it is the smallest of the three regions. It contains Brussels, which acts both as federal and regional capital, and is comprised 19 municipalities. Its official languages are both Dutch and French. The Brussels Capital Region contains only one administrative district, the Brussels Capital District.
Although many believe that the capital of Belgium is the City of Brussels municipality, the Belgian Constitution makes it clear that the capital of Belgium is Brussels in the broad meaning of the term (cf. Art. 194 and 166 of the Constitution).
See also: List of municipalities of the Brussels Capital Region
The Flemish Region or Flanders (Vlaams Gewest or Vlaanderen in Dutch) occupies the northern part of Belgium. The official language is Dutch, although French may be used by the inhabitants of six so-called municipalities with facilities (faciliteitengemeenten in Dutch, communes ÃÂàfacilitÃÂé in French) around the Brussels Capital Region. It has a surface area of 13522 km² (44.29% of Belgium) and is divided into 5 provinces which contain a total of 308 municipalities. Remarkably, the city of Brussels, which is not part Flanders, does act as its capital.
See also: List of Flemish municipalities
The Walloon Region or Wallonia (RÃÂégion Wallonne or Wallonie in French) occupies the southern part of Belgium. The official languages are French and German (only used in nine eastern municipalities near the German border, which were given to Belgium after WWI). It has a surface area of 16844 km² (55.18% of Belgium) and is also divided into 5 provinces which contain a total of 262 municipalities. Its capital is Namur.
See also: List of Walloon municipalities
Brussels-Capital Region
Main article: Brussels-Capital RegionFlemish Region
Main article: Flanders
West Flanders has a surface area of 3151 km² (23.30% of Flanders; 10.33% of Belgium), and is divided into eight administrative districts which contain 64 municipalities.
East Flanders has a surface area of 2991 km² (22.12% of Flanders; 9.81% of Belgium), and is divided into six administrative districts which contain 65 municipalities.
Antwerp has a surface area of 2860 km² (21.15% of Flanders; 9.38% of Belgium), and is divided into three administrative districts which contain 70 municipalities.
Flemish Brabant has a surface area of 2106 km² (15.57% of Flanders; 6.91% of Belgium), and is divided into two administrative districts which contain 65 municipalities.
Limburg has a surface area of 2414 km² (17.85% of Flanders; 7.92% of Belgium), and is divided into three administrative districts which contain 44 municipalities.Walloon Region
Main article: Wallonia
Walloon Brabant has a surface area of 1093 km² (6.49% of Wallonia; 3.58% of Belgium), and contains only one administrative district with 27 municipalities.
Namur has a surface area of 3664 km² (21.75% of Wallonia; 11.99% of Belgium), and is divided into three administrative districts which contain 38 municipalities.
Liege has a surface area of 3844 km² (22.82% of Wallonia; 12.58% of Belgium), and is divided into four administrative districts which contain 84 municipalities.
Luxembourg has a surface area of 4443 km² (26.38% of Wallonia; 14.54% of Belgium), and is divided into five administrative districts which contain 44 municipalities.
Regions and provinces of Belgium'''
Flanders: Antwerp | East Flanders | Flemish Brabant | Limburg | West Flanders
Wallonia: Hainaut | LiÃÂège | Luxembourg | Namur | Walloon Brabant
Brussels