Belgium–Germany relations

Belgian–German relations

Germany
Belgium

Belgian-German relations refer to interstate relations between Belgium and Germany. Both of these are neighbouring countries and share a common 204 kilometer long landborder.[1] Both nations are members of NATO, the European Union and the Eurozone.

Belgium has an embassy in Berlin,[2] a consul in Cologne und honorary consulate in Duisburg, Frankfurt am Main, Munich, Aachen, Hamburg, Stuttgart, and Bremen, while Germany has an Embassy in Brussels. There are honorary consuls in Liège, Hasselt, Antwerp, and Eupen.

Some German cities (like Hanau and Cologne) are or were traditional centres of Belgian Protestant Diaspora. German is besides Dutch and French also the third official language in Belgium. The German-speaking Community of Belgium is the smallest of the three political communities in Belgium.

History

The modern area of Belgium together with Germany have been part of the Holy Roman Empire for centuries until the end of the 18th century. The first king of Belgium, which became independent in 1830, was Leopold I in 1831, who hailed from the aristocratic family of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. All Belgian kings until today stem from his lineage.

References

  1. ↑ publisher. "Länder & Regionen - Regionales - Geografie - Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis)". www.destatis.de.
  2. ↑ "Addresses of Belgian Embassies and Consulates abroad". 23 March 2016.



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