Mice Belgium belgium
Mice Belgium
  • Antwerpen-Centraal (Antwerp Central) is the name of the main railway station in the Belgian city of Antwerp. The station is operated by the national railway company NMBS
  • Meir is the main shopping street in Antwerp, Belgium. Only the Nieuwstraat / Rue Neuve avenue in Brussels is a more important shopping area in the country. Situated in the centre of Antwerp, Meir connects the Town Hall with the Central Station. Between 2002-2004 it was the most expensive shopping street in the Benelux. Since the opening of the historic Stadsfeestzaal-shopping center in 2007 the Meir regained that position. It has the highest rents of any street in Belgium, at 1,700 €/square metre/year.[1] The name comes from the old Dutch word "meere" (lake). The Meir used to be a so-called "wood lake" (houtmeer), where wood destined for use in furniture would be kept wet for a time.
  • The Grand Place (or 'Grote Markt') of Antwerp is the most famous square in the city. The historic centre of Antwerp is located around the main square and the impressive Notre Dame Cathedral. Around the Grand Place are the famous guild houses, the city hall and numerous restaurants and cafes. Every winter a nice Christmas market and an ice rink are located on the square. According to a 16th century legend Antwerp owes its name to the giant Druon Antigoon who chopped of the hands of the sailors who did not want to pay toll and who cast them in the Scheldt river. On the Grand Place you will see a statue of the Roman soldier Silvius Brabo who supposedly did the same to the giant after he had slain him. The statue was made by Jef Lambeaux who also made some statues for the gables surrounding the Grand Place, including the equestrian statue on top of the House of Spain building. This 16th century building is the largest house on the square.
The website to organise your event in BELGIUM

THE BELGIAN MONARCHY

Belgium exist since 1830 but it is only on July 21st 1831 that Leopold 1st become the King of Belgium. Our monarchy family is coming from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Belgium was recognised as an independent country in 1830 but the monarchy was established in 1831. Leopold I, prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, took the constitutional oath on 21 July 1831 to become the first King of the Belgians.

Under the hereditary constitutional monarchy system, the role and operation of Belgium's institutions, including the monarchy, are governed by the Constitution. "Hereditary" means the royal office, as described in the Constitution, is earmarked solely for a descendent of the first King of the Belgians, Leopold I.

Bound by the Constitution above all other ideological and religious considerations, political opinions and debates and economic interests, the King acts as an arbiter and guardian of the country's unity and independence.

Palace and Heritage

The Palace of Brussels, where the King works, has received thousands of visitors each year during the summer, ever since 1965. The Royal Greenhouses in Laeken are also open to the public each year during the spring. You are welcome to these prestigious buildings which are evidence of the living history of Belgium.

This section also offers you information about the Royal Crypt in Laeken, which houses the tombs of the Royal Family, and about the BELvue Museum, which house outstanding collections on the subject of the Belgian dynasty.

 

The royal family

Portrait of King Phillipe

Prince Phillipe

 

Youth and education

Born in 1960, the young Prince Philippe was educated bilingually (in Flemish and French) at Belgian state primary and secondary schools, and then at the Belgian Royal Military Academy, a bilingual higher education establishment. Inspired by a passion for flying and space adventure since childhood, he chose to join the Air Force, where he qualified as a fighter pilot. He completed his military training with the para-commando course.

He then left Belgium to continue his academic studies abroad. After one term at Trinity College, Oxford (United Kingdom) he went to Stanford University (USA), where he graduated with an MA in Political Science.

Returning to Belgium in 1985, he began to learn about his country's political, social and economic realities. His spent eight years meeting Belgium and the Belgians, through numerous visits, meetings, conferences and missions, which led him on a discovery of all aspects of his country's functioning.

Also during this time, the young Prince Philippe acquired an in-depth knowledge of areas of particular, personal inquiry. He takes a keen interest in history, literature and philosophy. His study tours have enabled him to meet all kinds of committed people, be they leaders or ordinary citizens. He closely follows the European construction process.

Prince Philippe gained various experiences in the humanitarian field.

The death of King Baudouin in 1993 marked a turning point in the Prince's life. Upon accession to the throne by his father, King Albert II, Philippe became heir apparent to the throne at the age of 33.

 

Heir to the throne

From this time on, his public role became established. In line with the major issues of the time, his main areas of involvement are international missions at the service of the Belgian economy and Belgium's image abroad, sustainable development, dialogue between the Belgian linguistic Communities, support for vulnerable people and the promotion of talent.

At the request of King Albert II, he took over the honorary presidency of the Foreign Trade Agency. In this capacity, he has led 85 Belgian economic missions abroad over the past 20 years. Today, the positive impact of these missions is widely acknowledged. Prince Philippe builds bridges between Belgian and foreign companies as well as between Belgian companies.

Another of the Prince's major concerns is sustainable development. Since 1993, he has presided over the Federal Council for Sustainable Development, which brings together economic, social, environmental and scientific bodies from around the country to formulate recommendations to the government. In the same vein, he also accepted to become Honorary President of the International Polar Foundation.

His action also involves dialogue between Belgium's three language communities of French, Dutch and German-speakers. The "Fonds Prince Philippe" was created in 1998 to promote dialogue between groups of citizens from the different communities, in order to encourage greater mutual recognition and respect for their individual identities and cultures.

Aware of the many possible forms of marginalisation, Prince Philippe takes up numerous opportunities to meet with its victims. Here also, he visits human fragility in the field, whether it is caused by illness, social exclusion, accidents or natural disasters.

He supports Belgian talent in all its manifestations, be they sportsmen, artists, scientists, explorers or gifted young people, Prince Philippe follows them all with great interest.

Family life

In 1999, Prince Philippe presented to the Belgians the person who, a few months later, was to become his wife. Both undertake their official duties in a complementary manner, inspired by a shared, complicit commitment to their various chosen fields of involvement.

Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde combine their family life with the ceremonial and official demands. They personally supervise the education of their four children, Elisabeth, Gabriel, Emmanuel and Eléonore. The children enjoy a multilingual education and attend school in Dutch.

Holidays are spent with family and friends. In their free time, the Prince and Princess read avidly and play sports. Prince Philippe goes running regularly and took part in the Brussels 20km race in May 2013.

Royal Family

King Philippe and his wife, Queen Mathilde, have four children: Princess Elisabeth, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel and Princess Eléonore. The King took the constitutional oath on 21 July 2013.

King Albert II, sixth King of the Belgians, took the oath on 9 August 1993. He is married to Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria.
The King and Queen have three children: King Philippe, Princess Astrid and Prince Laurent. Princess Astrid and her husband Prince Lorenz, have five children: Prince Amedeo, Princess Maria Laura, Prince Joachim, Princess Luisa Maria and Princess Laetitia Maria. King Albert has abdicated from the throne in favour of his son Philippe en 21 July 2013.

Prince Laurent and his wife, Princess Claire, have a daughter, Princess Louise, and two sons, Prince Nicolas and Prince Aymeric.

National partners
Facbook page