9781422277942

EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TODAY: BELGIUM

The Kempen Plains are Belgium’s most sparsely populated region. The sandy plain, broken by bogs, moors, and marshes, extends into the Netherlands. The area is not completely flat; it is a region of rolling land. Almost 58 percent of the country’s total population is found in Flanders. Its location on the continent has made it the “distribution platform” of Europe. It is a transportation and industrial center for Belgium and Europe. Many of the towns and cities of Flanders have been historically preserved, representing the various cultures found in the region. At the same time, many towns have all the modern technological conveniences that individuals and businesses need in the twenty-first century.

ABOVE: The Hoeke Windmill was built in 1840. It is a protected monument. In recent years it has been restored and is used to grind grain again.

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