Because of its high population density and location in the centre of Western Europe, Belgium faces serious environmental problems. A 2003 report suggested that the water in Belgium’s rivers was of the lowest quality in Europe, and bottom of the 122 countries studied.

French Community of Belgium (fr. Communauté française de Belgique, niderl. Franse Gemeenschap van België) – one of three official communities of Belgium. This is an institution which is involved in the development of the French language in this country. Therefore works in the field of culture, education, science and international cooperation. Its coverage includes the greater part of Wallonia (with the exception of municipalities inhabited by a minority of German) and the Brussels-Capital Region.

In respect of the Community, the French used the names: the Wallonia-Brussels (Communauté Wallonie-Bruxelles), or the French Community Wallonia-Brussels (Communauté française Wallonie-Bruxelles), although none of them do not appear in the Belgian constitution. According to some the name suggests a link between the community and the French region of Wallonia, while they are two different institutions.

In 1999, Belgium had about 42 airports including 24 of the strips startowymi a hard surface including 6 with a length of more than 3000 m. The most important airports are Bruxellen-National (also known as the Brussels-Zaventem) in Brussels (16 180 passengers in 2005), and Charleroi-Gosselies (widely known as Brussels South Charleroi Airport – 1 873 349 passengers in 2005, only low-cost airline). The transport of goods by air central role played by airports and the Brussels-National-Liege Bierset

In Belgium, the euro was introduced in 2002. However, the first sets of coins were minted, as preparation, in 1999. Hence the first euro coins of Belgium have minted the year 1999 instead of 2002 like other countries in the eurozone. In order to conform to the common guidelines on the design of national faces of coins, Belgium has updated the design of the Belgian national face of euro coins to be produced from 2008; also adopted the new common map like the rest of the eurozone countries.

Belgium has a rich collection of collectors’ coins, with face value ranging from 10 to 100 euro. These coins are a legacy of an old national practice of minting of silver and gold commemorative coins. Unlike normal issues, these coins are not legal tender in all the eurozone. For instance, a €10 Belgian commemorative coin cannot be used in any other country.

While all Belgian coins designated for circulation show the portrait of King Albert II, this does not happen for commemorative coins, where designs are freely chosen.

Home to Europe’s best-preserved medieval buildings, Bruges is Belgium’s most visited town. Suspended in time 500 years ago by the silting of its river, this 13th-century city is blessed with two medieval cores, the Markt and the Burg, and some of the country’s most compelling art collections.

In the middle of summer Bruges teems with tourists; out of season its beauty is an easier delight to behold. The whole historic centre of Bruges was added to Unesco’s World Heritage List in 2000 and, in 2002, Bruges took centre stage as the European City of Culture.

There’s a reason radio DJs in Belgium love the Beatles’ 1969 classic Here Comes the Sun . The weather here is fickle, and when the sun comes out everyone celebrates. To avoid major dampness coupled with biting cold, plan a visit for May to September (ie late spring to early autumn). The disadvantages of this time include considerable crowds and, depending on where exactly you go, a scarcity of accommodation – Bruges is the most problematic in both these areas. Brussels, on the other hand, is actually quieter during summer (mid-July to mid-September), and some hotels cut prices.

In April the weather is more fickle than ever – you’ll be catching sun on a terrace cafe one minute and scuttling for cover the next. Wretched is the only word suitable for the mild winter weather from November to March: the days are grey and wet with occasional light snow. Correspondingly, tourist numbers plummet. If you pack the right clothes and keep in mind that the daylight hours will be short, you can make the most of uncrowded museums. The lion’s share of events take place over summer. Outside this time, there are a few quirky festivals to consider, the highlight being carnival celebrations.

Brussels (Dutch: Brussel, pronounced [ˈbrɵsəɫ];French: Bruxelles, pronounced [bʁysɛl]) is the largest city in Belgium, and the administrative heart of the European Union (EU). The City of Brussels in the Brussels-Capital Region is the country’s capital. Brussels has grown from a 10th century fortress town founded by Charlemagne’s grandson into a city of over one million inhabitants.

Brussels is also capital of the Brussels-Capital Region, of Flanders and of the French Community of Belgium. It is not, however, the capital of the Walloon Region (Wallonia), whose capital is Namur.

Depending on the context, the word Brussels may mean the largest municipality of the Brussels-Capital Region officially called the City of Brussels (ca. 140,000 inhabitants), the Brussels-Capital Region (1,067,162 inhabitants as of 1 February 2008) or, the metropolitan area of Brussels (from 2,100,000  to more or less 2,700,000 inhabitants).

Brussels is often considered the de facto capital of the European Union, and hosts key EU institutions such as the Commission, Partliament and the Council. Hence, many other pan-European organisations are also headquartered in the city. NATO is also based in Brussels.