Brussels

Brussels,[a] officially the Brussels-Capital Region,[b][12][13] is a region of Belgium comprising 19 municipalities, including the City of Brussels, which is the capital of Belgium.[14] The Brussels-Capital Region is located in the central portion of the country and is a part of both the French Community of Belgium[15] and the Flemish Community,[16] but is separate from the Flemish Region (Flanders), within which it forms an enclave, and the Walloon Region (Wallonia), located less than 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) to the south.[17][18]

Brussels grew from a small rural settlement on the river Senne to become an important city-region in Europe. Since the end of the Second World War, it has been a major centre for international politics and home to numerous international organisations, politicians, diplomats and civil servants.[19] Brussels is the de facto capital of the European Union, as it hosts a number of principal EU institutions, including its administrative-legislative, executive-political, and legislative branches (though the judicial branch is located in Luxembourg, and the European Parliament meets for a minority of the year in Strasbourg).[1][20][c] Because of this, its name is sometimes used metonymically to describe the EU and its institutions.[21][22] The secretariat of the Benelux and the headquarters of NATO are also located in Brussels.[23][24]

Brussels is the most densely populated region in Belgium, and although it has the highest GDP per capita,[25] it has the lowest available income per household.[26] The Brussels Region covers 162 km2 (63 sq mi) and has a population of over 1.2 million.[27] Its five times larger metropolitan area comprises over 2.5 million people, which makes it the largest in Belgium.[28][29][30] It is also part of a large conurbation extending towards the cities of Ghent, Antwerp, and Leuven, known as the Flemish Diamond, as well as the province of Walloon Brabant, in total home to over 5 million people.[31] As Belgium's economic capital and a top financial centre in Western Europe with Euronext Brussels, Brussels is classified as an Alpha global city.[32] It is also a national and international hub for rail, road and air traffic,[33] and is sometimes considered, together with Belgium, as Europe's geographic, economic and cultural crossroads.[34][35][36] The Brussels Metro is the only rapid transit system in Belgium. In addition, both its airport and railway stations are the largest and busiest in the country.[37][38]

Historically Dutch-speaking, Brussels saw a language shift to French from the late 19th century.[39] Since its creation in 1989, the Brussels-Capital Region has been officially bilingual in French and Dutch,[40][41] although French is the majority language and lingua franca.[42] Brussels is also increasingly becoming multilingual. English is spoken widely and many migrants and expatriates speak other languages as well.[42][43]

Brussels is known for its cuisine and gastronomic offer (including its local waffle, its chocolate, its French fries and its numerous types of beers),[44] as well as its historical and architectural landmarks; some of them are registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.[45] Principal attractions include its historic Grand-Place/Grote Markt (main square), Manneken Pis, the Atomium, and cultural institutions such as La Monnaie/De Munt and the Museums of Art and History. Due to its long tradition of Belgian comics, Brussels is also hailed as a capital of the comic strip.[3][46]