Rental Cars Belgium - History of Belgium

Poor little Belgium has, for centuries, been the battle ground of its warring neighbours. Originally conquered by German tribes, the locals converted to Christianity in the 7th century and settled into relatively prosperity under the French Duke of Burgundy during the 14th century. This Golden Age saw a flourishing of art, and cloth-trading in the Flemish towns of Ypres, Bruges and Ghent. As a result Antwerp became one of Europe’s most important ports.

The peace came to an end when the Low Countries (present-day Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) decided to free themselves from Catholic Spanish rule. Full-scale war erupted in 1568 after a bloody inquisition, lasting 80 years. Although the Netherlands managed to break free, Belgium remained under Spanish rule. By the end of 18th century Napoleon had claimed the territory as his own but after he was famously defeated (on Belgium territory) at Waterloo, they were once again united under the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Shortly after a revolt by Catholic Belgians won the hapless country its independence.

Again they were invade in WWI, despite declaring neutrality, and suffered a similar fate in WWII, falling in less than a month to the Nazis. Following the war, King Leopold III abdicated, succeeded by his son Prince Baudouin who ruled this constituional monarchy until 1993.

The people, meanwhile, have nonchalantly gotten on with developing their country, maintaining a high level of prosperity, even by European standards, and Belgium continues to be the diplomatic battle group for EU parliamentarians.