otherplaces
Brussels (, pronounced ; , pronounced ), officially the
Brussels Capital-Region, is the
de facto capital city of the
European Union (EU) and the largest
urban area in
Belgium.
[It is the de facto city as it hosts all major political institutions - though Parliament formally votes in Strasbourg, most political work is carried out in Brussels - and as such is considered the capital by definition. However, it should be noted that it is not formally declared in that language, though its position is spelled out in the Treaty of Amsterdam. See section on this issue.] It should not be confused with the much smaller
City of Brussels (founded
circa 580) within it, which is the capital of Belgium (and
Flanders) by law.
[Welcome to Brussels]
Brussels has grown from a 10th-century fortress town founded by
Charlemagne's grandson into a metropolis of more than one million inhabitants.
[Brussels.org - History of Brussels] The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers a total area of 4,127 km², covering the Capital-Region and 103 surrounding municipalities, and has a population of almost 2.7 million.
