Founded in 1830, Belgium is a young State in a old country.

After the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the Belgian and Dutch provinces are united in one state, the kingdom of the Neterlands governed by William I.

On 23rd September 1830, the révolution  broke out in Brussels. The provisional Government announced the independence on 4th October1830and on 3rd November of the same year 30000 voters elected the national Congress. This Congress approved on 7th February 1831 a very progressive constitution at that time.

Leopold de Saxe-Cobourg-Gotha became the first king of Belgians in 1831. In 1865, his sonLeopold II succeeded him.

The First World War: In spite of the impose neutrality on belgoum by the great power at the time of its constitution, the First World War has takenn a heavy toll on the country. The Belgian army, under Albert the first's command, stopped nevertheless the Germans in front of Yser.

From 1936, Belgium has a neutral policy again, but once more, Germany invaded the country in May 1940. After 18 fighting days, Leopold III decided to capitule.

This decision led to a breaking point with the government ad its source of the royal question, which arose after the Liberation. In 1951, Loopold III is forced to abdicate in favour of his son, Baudouin the First.

Intensified by the royal question in the days following the war and scholastic question (1958), the community rivalries are exacerbated during sixties.

It leads up to the constitution al reform of 1970 ath the end of it the central State sells a part of its cultural skills to the great communities (Flemish and French), which obtain a Parliament.

In 1980, a new institutional revision equips Flemish, French and German speaking communities with a regional autonomy, socioeconomic skills a parliament and a own executive.

In 1993, a new constitutional revision widens the means ab-nd the skills of the communities and the regions of Brussel-Capital obtains the same status as the Walloon and Flemish regions.

At the time of the King Baudoin's death, 31st  July 1993, the King Albert II i succeede  him and became the sixth King of Belgians.

http://www.belgium.be