International

Beach of Ostend is one of Europe's most beautiful beaches

21 December 2018

In Belgium, Ostend is known as the 'Queen of Seaside Resorts'.

Belgium top in Europe for battery recycling

14 November 2018

Belgium is the European country which recycles the highest percentage of batteries.

Belgians awarded a "very high" proficiency score for their English skills

14 November 2018

According to the latest report from the Education First English Proficiency Index (EF EPI), Belgium is ranked 11th place out of 88 countries and regions, despite a significant gap between Dutch and Fr

Belgium respects atheism

12 November 2018

In a study covering 196 countries, Belgium has achieved the top spot, along with the Netherlands and Taiwan, of the best countries to live for atheists and free-thinkers.

The Grand-Place celebrates 20 years as a UNESCO World Heritage site

05 November 2018

In 1998, the Grand-Place in Brussels was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

A small country with big ambitions!

Covering some 30,000 km², Belgium is not a big country but through its history and its geographic location it has always held an important place in the world, aware that without bridges to others, it would be unrealistic to want to build a fairer and more prosperous world.

For Belgium, effective action on crucial issues such as peace and security, human rights and the promotion of the rule of law, can only be carried out in a multilateral context. Belgium is therefore a founding Member State of many of the great international institutions such as the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the Council of Europe.

Belgium makes a significant contribution to the work of these institutions, while Brussels is home to the headquarters of several of them and many Belgian politicians have assumed important responsibilities while heading up such organisations.

Based on the open and pragmatic Belgian character, Belgian foreign policy covers universal values, focused on democracy, dialogue and regional integration between countries that may have been in conflict. So as human rights improve and poverty declines and a country opens up to a democratic process, if the economy picks up, development cooperation and economic action can be complementary!