Belgium, despite its relatively small size, boasts a complex and intricate territorial organization. The federation is divided into three primary regions, 10 provinces, 3 linguistic communities, and 4 linguistic zones.
The central region of Belgium is Brussels, which is designated as a separate zone due to its significant economic importance for the country and its distinct language policy. The status of Brussels as a separate region is also essential because the city serves as the capital of the European Union.
The northern region of Belgium is known as the Flemish region, encompassing West Flanders, East Flanders, Antwerp, Limburg, and Flemish Brabant. What unites this region is the use of Dutch as the official language, which is often referred to as Flemish in this part of the country.
The southern region of Belgium is known as the Walloon region, further divided into five provinces: Liège, Walloon Brabant, Luxembourg, Hainaut, and Namur. The primary language spoken by the local population here is French. Each region of Belgium has its own central city.
When examining the details of Belgium's territorial organization, you may encounter regional designations like Low Belgium, Middle Belgium, and High Belgium. This division has arisen from the country's segmentation into three geographical zones. The first, the coastal zone, has elevations no higher than 100 meters above sea level, the second reaches up to 200 meters, and the third can attain heights of up to 500 meters.
