Belgium

For such a small country, Belgium has been a major European battleground over the centuries.

Occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II, it has experienced an economic boom in the last 50 years to become a model Western European liberal democracy.

Brussels houses the headquarters of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato). Consequently, it is also polyglot home to a vast number of international diplomats and civil servants.

The country stretches from the dunes of the northern coastline through the Flemish lowlands and on to the forests of the rolling Ardennes hills in the south.

Belgium is a federal state consisting of three regions: Flanders in the north where the official language is Dutch; Wallonia in the south where French is the official language and Brussels, the capital, where French and Dutch share official language status. There is also a small German-speaking minority of some 70,000 in Wallonia.

The regions enjoy a wide degree of autonomy, particularly in the educational and cultural spheres. This was extended under the 1993 constitution.

Belgium also has a small colonial legacy in Africa: in Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo - once Zaire.

It attracted international attention following the US-led war on Iraq in 2003 because of a controversial law empowering Belgian courts to try foreigners for war and human rights crimes, regardless of where the crimes were committed. The law led to suits against numerous high-profile international figures before undergoing radical revision.

Belgium is noted for strong culinary traditions and is particularly famous for its fine chocolate and array of beers.