Year of EU entry: Founding member / Capital city: Brussels / Population: 10.5 million

Belgium is a federal state divided into three regions: Dutch-speaking Flanders in the north, the French-speaking Wallonia in the south and Brussels, the bilingual capital where both French and Dutch are spoken. There is also a small German-speaking minority in the eastern part of the country. Brussels hosts several international organisations: most of the European institutions are located there as well as the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) headquarters.

Among the best known Belgians are Georges Rémi (Hergé), creator of the “Tintin” books, writers Georges Simenon and Hugo Claus, composer and singer Jacques Brel and cyclist Eddy Merckx.

Belgium is famous for its chocolates and beers, which are appreciated the world over. A favourite Belgian dish is mussels and “French fries”.