Is Brussels a country? And other questions you were too afraid to ask
At a party, someone mentions Brussels. You nod. Inside, you have no idea what Brussels actually is. Is it a country? A city? The place that runs Europe? No, yes, and sort of. Here’s everything you need to know about Brussels but were too confused to ask. What is Brussels? Is Brussels a country? Nope,…
The Insane Story of Belgium’s Borders
Today, let’s talk about something that feels permanent: a country’s borders. We look at a map and assume those lines are set in stone—but what if I told you that for Belgium, the map has essentially been a rough draft for nearly 200 years? Belgium’s story will make you rethink everything you know about sovereignty.…
Where is Belgium, really?
Tucked into a compact corner of the continent, Belgium acts as the essential hinge between the Germanic and Latin worlds. To find Belgium is to find the center of gravity for Western power; it is the place where the world’s most influential diplomats gather to decide the future. It is a country that manages to…
The Belgian Flag: a symbol of Belgian surrealism
You’ve likely seen this flag a dozen times, and perhaps you’ve even mistaken it for the German tricolor. Don’t worry—once you’ve heard the surrealist history of the Belgian flag, you’ll never make that mistake again. With its three vertical stripes, the design seems simple enough: no emblems, no coats of arms, just a plain tricolor.…