Brussels (French Bruxelles, Dutch Brussel) is the capital of Belgium. It is also the name of one of the three regions constituting the Belgian federation. The Brussels Capital Region consists of only 1 district (the Brussels Capital District) in which there are 19 municipalities: Anderlecht, Brussels (city), Elsene / Ixelles, Etterbeek, Evere, Ganshoren, Jette, Koekelberg, Oudergem / Auderghem, Schaarbeek / Schaerbeek, Sint-Agatha-Berchem / Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Sint-Gillis / Saint-Gilles, Sint-Jans-Molenbeek / Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Sint-Joost-ten-Node / Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe / Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Sint-Pieters-Woluwe / Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, Ukkel / Uccle, Vorst / Forest, Watermaal-Bosvoorde / Watermael-Boitsfort
The three main institutions of the EU, the European Commission, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament, have their headquarters in Brussels, as do NATO and the Western European Union.
The language frontier divides Belgium into a northern, Dutch-speaking, region and a southern, French-speaking, region. The Brussels region is officially bilingual. The city, which is geographically situated in the south of Flanders, was mostly Dutch-speaking until the end of the 19th century. Over the years, however, more and more French-speaking civil servants and businessmen settled in Brussels and today the majority of its population speaks French.
Highlights: Grote Markt / Grand-Place, Atomium, Manneken Pis, Belgian cuisine
See also: List of Minister-Presidents of Brussels