BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG
Both are independent states, Belgium being a monarchy and Luxembourg a grand duchy. They form an economic union and are also members of the Benelux Customs Union within the European Union (EU) the European Economic Area (EEA) and the OECD. |
|
| CAPITAL(S) | Belgium: Brussels; Luxembourg: Luxembourg City. |
| PRINCIPAL PORTS | Antwerp, Ghent, Ostend, Zeebrugge. |
| POPULATION | Belgium: 10,258,762 (July 2001 estimate); Luxembourg: 442,972 (July 2001 estimate). |
| LANGUAGE(S) | Belgium:
French, Dutch and German. Luxembourg : Luxembourgian, German, French, English. |
| WEIGHTS AND MEASURES | Metric system. |
| ELECTRICITY SUPPLY | 220v AC. |
| CURRENCY(-IES) | The euro. |
| EXCHANGE RATE | 1.59 euro = £1 sterling (fluctuating rate). |
| TIME | 1 hour ahead of GMT (1 hour ahead of BST). |
DIALLING CODE |
Belgium 00 32; Luxembourg 00 352. |
| PUBLIC HOLIDAYS | Belgium:
1 Jan; 1 May; 11, 21 July; 15 Aug; 27 Sept; 1, 11 Nov; 25 Dec; in addition, the following
which have variable dates: Easter Monday; Ascension; Whit Monday. Luxembourg: 1 Jan; 1 May; 23 June; 15 Aug; 1 Sept; 1 Nov; 25-26 Dec; in addition, the following which have variable dates: Carnival; Easter Monday; Ascension; Whit Monday; Corpus Christi. |
| EMBASSY(-IES) | Belgium:103
Eaton Square, London SW1W 9AB. Tel: 020 7470 3700, fax: 020 7259 6213, e-mail: info@belgium-embassy.co.uk - weblink: www.british-embassy.be Luxembourg: 27 Wilton Crescent, London SW1X 8SD. Tel: 020 7235 6961, fax: 020 7235 9734. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1300 and 1400-1700. |
| BRITISH EMBASSIES | Belgium:
Rue D'Arlon 85, 1040 Brussels. Tel: 00 32 2 287 6211, fax: 00 32 2 287 6355. For a full
list of portfolios covered by each member of staff in the commercial section, see the
embassy's website at: www.british-embassy.be Luxembourg: 14 Boulevard Roosevelt, L-2450 Luxembourg. Tel: 00 352 22 9864/5/6, fax: 00 352 22 9867, e-mail: britemb@pt.lu |
| CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE | Belgian-Luxembourg
Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain Inc., Berkeley House, 73 Upper Richmond Road, Putney,
London SW15 7SZ. Tel: 020 8877 9263, fax: 020 8877 3961. British Chamber of Commerce in Belgium, Egmont House, rue d' Egmont 15, B1000 Brussels. Tel: 00 32 2 540 9030, fax: 00 32 2 592 8363. Chambre de Commerce du Grand Duche de Luxembourg, 7 rue Alcide de Gasperi, L2981, Luxembourg. Tel: 00 352 42 3939, fax: 00 352 43 8326. British Chamber of Commerce for Luxembourg, c/o KPMG, 121 Ave de la Faiencerie L1511 Luxembourg. Tel: 00 352 465466, fax: 00 352 220384. |