National symbols of Belgium

As one of the smallest countries in Europe, Belgium is located in western Europe between France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Germany. The capital city Brussels is significant in Europe as the city is the de facto capital of the European Union. The official languages of Belgium are Dutch, French, and German. It is a diverse country in terms of ethnicity as there are Flemish, Walloon, and Mixed/Other originated people in the country. The population is mainly Christian, with some Islamic minorities. As a founding member of the European Union, Belgium uses Euro as its currency. The country code is +32, and the official domain is “.be.”

Belgium’s country motto is “Unity Gives Strength.” The country’s founder is Leopold I Of Saxe-Coburg, the country’s first king in 1831. The day he ascended to the throne on the 21st of July is still celebrated as the national day. On the other hand, the national hero is Ambirorix, who became an important figure in the 19th century because of his resistance against Julius Caesar, as written in Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico. The country’s national colors are black, yellow, and red, shown in the flag as vertical bands from left to right, respectively.

The national animal of Belgium is the lion which is shown on the emblem of the country. Another symbol is the Common Kestrel which is the national bird. Red Poppy is another symbol and the national flower, while Taxus baccata is the national tree of the country. Moules-Frites, the main dish of mussels and fries, is the most famous dish and another symbol of the country, along with Jenever, the juniper-flavored traditional liquor, as the national drink. When it comes to national dresses, the smock and beret are worn by men, while the classic huntress dress is favored by Belgian women. National Memorial To The Belgian Jew Martyrs is one of the symbolic monuments of Belgium, along with the Congress Column as the national mausoleum.

Emily Verhaaren is the national poet and art critic who lived during the 19th century. The saxophone is considered to be the national instrument, and the national dance is called BalFolk. The little creatures, Gnomes, are the mythical creatures and significant symbols of Belgium. Lastly, Brussels Airlines is the national airline.