Belgium

A constitutional monarchy which is of note in various parts of the multiverse.

Capital Brussels. Bordered by Germany, France, Netherlands and Luxembourg - in OTL it forms the Benelux group with the last two.

Much of the earlier history of the region can be found under The Netherlands, with which the region that was to become Belgium was long united. There were also periods of occupation by the Habsburgs and by France: the area was occupied by the French during the revolutionary and Napoleonic periods, while the Battle of Waterloo was fought on what was to become Belgium soil.

The country, having been part of the Netherlands, became independent in 1830, the inhabitants being inspired by the revolution of that year in France. There was a varying level of discontent - between classes, religious and linguistic groups. Part of the problems in Belgium arise from the strong geographical correlation between religious, linguistic and geographic regions - Dutch speaking Flemings and French speaking Walloons, with the province of Brabant, which includes Brussels, being the only mixed region.

Leopold II was responsible for the creation of, and exploitation of, the Congo Free State: the exploitation and mismangagement led to much opposition in Belgium and elsewhere (Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness relates to the Congo, and Roger Casement was involved in reporting on the region). The region was eventually granted independence in 1960 and is now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In the modern era Belgium is periodically subject to rivalry between the Flemings and Walloons, and separatist tendencies: reports of its potential demise are, in OTL, greatly exaggerated.