Regions and provinces of Belgium

Belgium is divided into 3 federal regions; 2 regions are each divided into 5 provinces, together 10.

1. The Brussels Capital Region (Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest in Dutch, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale in French, Die Region Brüssel-Hauptstadt in German)

This federal region is centrally located and completely surrounded by the province of Flemish Brabant. With a surface area of 162 km² (0.53% of Belgium) it is the smallest of the three regions. It contains the city of Brussels, which acts both as federal and regional capital, together with 18 other municipalities. The official languages are Dutch and French. The Brussels Capital Region contains only one administrative district, the Brussels Capital District.

See also: List of municipalities of the Brussels Capital Region

2. The Flemish Region or Flanders (Vlaams Gewest or Vlaanderen in Dutch)

Flanders occupies the northern part of Belgium. The official language is Dutch, although French may be used by the inhabitants of six so-called municipalities with facilities (faciliteitengemeenten in Dutch) around the Brussels Capital Region. It has a surface area of 13522 km² (44.29% of Belgium) and is divided into 5 provinces which contain a total of 308 municipalities. Remarkably, the city of Brussels, which lies not in Flanders, does act as its capital.

• West Flanders (West-Vlaanderen in Dutch)

West Flanders has a surface area of 3151 km² (23.30% of Flanders; 10.33% of Belgium), and is divided into eight administrative districts which contain 64 municipalities.

• East Flanders (Oost-Vlaanderen in Dutch)

East Flanders has a surface area of 2991 km² (22.12% of Flanders; 9.81% of Belgium), and is divided into six administrative districts which contain 65 municipalities.

• Antwerp (Antwerpen in Dutch)

Antwerp has a surface area of 2860 km² (21.15% of Flanders; 9.38% of Belgium), and is divided into three administrative districts which contain 70 municipalities.

• Flemish Brabant (Vlaams-Brabant in Dutch)

Flemish Brabant has a surface area of 2106 km² (15.57% of Flanders; 6.91% of Belgium), and is divided into two administrative districts which contain 65 municipalities.

• Limburg

Limburg has a surface area of 2414 km² (17.85% of Flanders; 7.92% of Belgium), and is divided into three administrative districts which contain 44 municipalities.

See also: List of Flemish municipalities

3. The Walloon Region or Wallonia (Région Wallonne or Wallonie in French)

Wallonia occupies the southern part of Belgium. The official languages are French and German (only used in nine eastern municipalities near the German border). It has a surface area of 16844 km² (55.18% of Belgium) and is also divided into 5 provinces which contain a total of 262 municipalities. Its capital is Namur.

• Hainaut

Hainaut has a surface area of 3800 km² (22.56% of Wallonia; 12.44% of Belgium), and is divided into seven administrative districts which contain 69 municipalities.

• Walloon Brabant (Brabant Wallon in French)

Walloon Brabant has a surface area of 1093 km² (6.49% of Wallonia; 3.58% of Belgium), and contains only one administrative district with 27 municipalities.

• Namur

Namur has a surface area of 3664 km² (21.75% of Wallonia; 11.99% of Belgium), and is divided into three administrative districts which contain 38 municipalities.

• Liege

Liege has a surface area of 3844 km² (22.82% of Wallonia; 12.58% of Belgium), and is divided into four administrative districts which contain 84 municipalities.

• Luxembourg

Luxembourg has a surface area of 4443 km² (26.38% of Wallonia; 14.54% of Belgium), and is divided into five administrative districts which contain 44 municipalities.

See also: List of Walloon municipalities