Belgium

D

2

Literature

The National Theater (1945) in Brussels is supported by state subsidies. Belgium has contributed to both Flemish and French literature. Among the outstanding authors of the country are Philippe de Comines and Jean Froissart, who wrote in French during the Middle Ages. The works of Charles de Coster and Émile Verhaeren, both of whom wrote in French, and of Hendrik Conscience, who developed the Flemish novel, were popular during the 19th century. Poet and playwright Maurice Maeterlinck, who wrote in French, won the Nobel Prize in literature in 1911. See Flemish Literature; French Literature. Important Belgian writers of the later 20th century include the novelist, poet, and playwright Hugo Claus and novelists Françoise Mallet-Joris and Amélie Nothomb.

D

3

Art

During the 15th and 16th centuries, northern Europe was one of the centers of the Renaissance. Flemish painters Hubert van Eyck and Jan van Eyck, Hieronymus Bosch, and Pieter Bruegel the Elder were among the outstanding artists of this period. Dominant in the 17th century were Rubens and Sir Anthony van Dyck, who are regarded by many as two of the greatest Flemish painters. Among 20th-century painters and graphic artists of international fame are James Ensor, Paul Delvaux, and René Magritte. Belgian architect Victor Horta was one of the originators of the art nouveau style of architecture, which had an important influence on European architects of the 20th century. Modern Belgian architecture is represented by the designs of Henry van de Velde.

E

Recreation

Cycling is a popular recreational activity and competitive sport in Belgium. The country’s relatively flat terrain is well-suited to cycling, and trails and tracks abound. Belgium’s Eddie Merckx is considered one of the greatest cyclists of all times. Hiking, fishing, and canoeing are popular in the Ardennes in warmer months, with skiing and tobogganing drawing visitors to the region in the winter.

Belgium’s national sport is soccer, and its team is called the Diables Rouges (Red Devils). Tennis gained in popularity as two Belgian women players, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne, established themselves as stars in the early 2000s.

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Fairs and festivals play an important part in Belgian life. Fairs, usually known by the Flemish name of kermesse, are held in nearly all the cities and towns of the country during the summer months. On a larger scale, ten world’s fairs have been held in Belgium, the most recent in 1958. There are also many local festivals, often associated with religious observances. One of the most famous festivals is the three-day carnival at Binche, near Mons, held just before Lent. During the carnival, noisemaking and dancing are led by “Gilles,” men dressed in high, plumed hats and bright costumes. Another famous pageant is the Procession of the Holy Blood, held in Brugge in May. December 6 commemorates Saint Nicholas’s Day, an important children’s holiday.

IV

Economy of Belgium

Although the service economy has grown rapidly in Belgium, the country remains heavily industrialized, importing raw materials that are processed mainly for export. With about three-quarters of exports going to other European Union (EU) countries, Belgium’s economy is dependent upon its neighbors and the nation is a strong proponent of integrating European economies.

In the early 1980s and early 1990s a growing budget deficit, combined with high unemployment rates, hindered Belgium’s overall economic growth. To reduce its deficit, the government initiated an austerity program in the 1980s that cut spending while raising taxes, as well as beginning a program to transfer some state-owned enterprises to the private sector. By the early 2000s the government presented balanced budgets, and the economy was growing at a faster rate than the EU average. However, Belgium’s public debt remained huge, and unemployment remained high. The budget in 2006 anticipated revenues of $162.2 billion and expenditures of $163.1 billion. Gross domestic product (GDP) in 2007 totaled $452.8 billion. GDP is a measure of the total value of goods and services a country produces. Service industries account for 75 percent of Belgium’s GDP and employ 73 percent of the workers. Trade and transport rank among the country’s leading service industries.

Brussels is the headquarters of the European Union and of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and therefore home to many diplomats and foreign residents. Many firms and governments maintain offices in Brussels for access to European Community decision-makers, and the capital’s real estate, hotel, restaurant, and entertainment industries bring in sizable foreign earnings.

A

Agriculture

Belgium has favorable conditions for agriculture: moderate temperatures, evenly distributed precipitation, and a long growing season. For centuries much of Belgium, especially the Flanders plain, was an area of intensive cultivation. Today, about 28 percent of the country is under cultivation. Farming engages only 2 percent of the total labor force, but it produces sufficient quantities to make Belgium a net food exporter. About two-thirds of the farms are intensively cultivated units of less than 10 hectares (25 acres).

In 2007 the leading crops were sugar beets (5.7 million metric tons), potatoes (2.9 million), wheat (1.5 million), and barley (365,049). Other important crops included fruits, tomatoes, and flax. Livestock and dairy farming are major agricultural industries. In 2007 the livestock population of Belgium numbered some 6.3 million pigs, 2.6 million cattle, 155,515 sheep, and 43,250 horses.

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