Belgium is a highly developed industrial and agricultural country. The leading industries are metal working, machine building, chemical and food processing. In agriculture priority in the development is given to stock breeding for meat and dairy production.

The building of the town hall in the Belgian capital started in 1402. The most impressive central tower is 96 m high.

The Atomium in the Heysel exhibition park in Brussels, built for the World’s Fair in 1958 has become the symbol of the city. The gigantic aluminium construction with height of 180 m represents a model of the crystal lattice of alpha-iron, magnified 165 million times. Next to the Atomium is the Mini-Europe park. It is one of the tourist attractions in Brussels. On an area of about two hectares are exhibited more than 100 models of historical and architectural monuments, implemented at a scale of 1:25, which represent the European Union countries.

The magnificent city of Ghent in Western Belgium used to be the largest city in Medieval Europe. A number of canals between the Sheldt and the Lys River divide the city into small islands, connected with more than 200 bridges.

In 1948 Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg formed Benelux – an economic alliance, which established a common market and free movement of people, capitals and services in the three countries.