Page 43 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

THE HIST OR Y OF BRUSSELS  41

International Status
With the end of its colonial rule over the
Congo in 1960, Belgium might have settled
as a small country dominated by far larger
neighbours. Instead, over the next 50 years
its stature was significantly boosted by its
position at the centre of growing a European
Union. Brussels, established in 1958 as the
headquarters for what was then the Euro-
pean Economic Community (EEC), became
synonymous for the political machinery
that holds 28 different countries and 500
million citizens together.
In 1967, NATO also moved to the Belgian
capital and over the years the city has
become home to dozens of multinational
corporations wanting to be close to the
heart of decision-making in Europe.
German troops raising the flag of the Third Reich at the Royal Castle
at Laeken, near Brussels
The European Capital
Belgium remained under German Contemporary Brussels maintains a
occupation until the last day of the war, balancing act between being a relaxed,
11 November 1918. old-world Flemish town and a cosmo-
The 1919 Treaty of Versailles granted politan city at the forefront of Europe,
Belgium control of Eupen-Malmédy, the its population remarkably open to the
German-speaking area in the southeast. world, almost universally multilingual
But by 1940 the country was again invaded and resolutely multicultural. But being
by the Germans under Hitler. a major world city has brought dangers
In May of that year, King as well as benefits. In 2016,
Léopold III surrendered. terrorist attacks on Brussels
Despite national resis tance Airport and Maalbeek metro
to the Occupation, the king station left 33 people dead
was interned at Laeken until and 300 injured. The resilient
1944, after which he was Bruxellois refused to be cowed
moved to Germany until the The European Parliament, Brussels and the city remains steadfastly
end of the war. Rumours that welcoming to visitors. And
Léopold had collaborated with the Nazis thanks to its role as the capital of Europe,
led to his abdication in 1951, in favour of its future as a place of global importance
his 20-year-old son, Baudouin. looks assured.

1939–45 2002 The euro becomes
World War II. 1993 King legal tender
Germany 1951 Abdication of 1960 The Belgian Baudouin I
again occupies Léopold III; Baudouin Congo is granted dies; Albert II 2013 Albert II
Belgium I succeeds independence European flag succeeds abdicates in favour
of his son, Philippe I
Baudouin I
1950 1975 2000 2025
1944 Benelux Unions 1967 1985 1989 Brussels is
with Holland and Brussels Heysel officially a 2001 Crown
Luxembourg formed is new Stadium bilingual city Prince Philippe and
NATO HQ disaster with 19 out- Princess Mathilde have a
1934 Albert I is killed in a lying districts daughter, Elisabeth
climbing accident
Aerial view of Brussels

040-041_EW_Brussels.indd 41 10/01/17 10:54 am