What is the capital of Belgium?

The capital of Belgium is Brussels. More precisely, Belgium's constitution names the City of Brussels as the national capital, while the wider Brussels-Capital Region contains 19 municipalities.

Brussels is the seat of Belgium's federal government, parliament, monarchy and highest courts. The city is also a major international centre: many European Union institutions and NATO's headquarters are located there. This has led to Brussels being widely described as the de facto capital of the European Union, although the EU does not have one formally designated capital in the same way Belgium does.

The city's history stretches back to a settlement along the River Senne. Brussels became the capital of independent Belgium after the Belgian Revolution of 1830, and Leopold I became the country's first king in 1831. Its historic Grand-Place is one of the city's best-known landmarks.

Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp are all important Belgian cities, but none is the national capital. Antwerp is a major port, Ghent is a historic university city, and Bruges is renowned for its medieval centre. Brussels is officially bilingual in French and Dutch.