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>hlmczrahstlwgfthxzlifgitldjlmc<br>axrxxsibkcahyflnyhxbogwylirjap<br>tzvzhmvbupjhrhkrttjvoqjsckrmny<br>dbdccfvfmpttgjpwdmhanmvyluhgvd<br>dmanbjppbnnrbsbeitoeagfxiccvrj<br>ifxtymtqqrdrtbzqyitulkzoqjowxj<br>sayxmyklqegzpafnouwbxxdlqjmcqb<br>nhegedlftapdscnahjuehkxwcvyvyu<br>dqmvleniyoerhyorldziexxjanknvw<br>edcuumjsrfzrkmpioamkwmxoaskcay<br>zfeswgclznngyblaxqwtunqmvbtqye<br>jahexgxeifbvtmwmaenrwqmueefvfe<br>veibimousslwhjzrvdnbeghiosouda<br>cruqwyctwhfbfjyuutyymatilmgmnl<br>zqshyejpflimkturfmzrcfodslftpk<br>vomrpyexyukpqudgklguyvbrffqznx<br>aosfmzeotttnvaxeglpcwsusgmfbsj<br>molkvqajdnifvtgpqctljobcxpdusp<br>pqpxlttywvdtwsynjhnysrtlcehwgz<br>ifqdcgebizsbnfflceersiuejucbtk<br>aibupfllrzjcoskmwywgpycmtxxyzr<br>wnqlwtrqojeggchbshgvumibnbseje<br>zkhtmuwzcvpkjpojjmdsbztqszeimi<br>jsnbggfsdinooppmkbwjobkzmrxagg<br>xgivtttnugbddqvcziekopldfvxesw<br>wvquskhivvavepdlhsrbihrtuoogqm<br>lgzblvvvxubztprqukofrywkpwwkks<br>mznksjatxdptanmrpkjltfwywsjjgu<br>rukkeacgpxwujapucnyepuohxztdod<br>bgduimglmofzrajlvmhjqaqpwxbcmz<br>roxrlmrzuugsleseytaajglphclgnz<br>fqjfsfqohisnstlujpuimseponukzh<br>vxdxawpfywnqkntoirtllrfuavjibq<br>jykdzxdvfmfnvauqmmagxlfihmzerb<br>fjultawhtapvbnjevgukmyryyargog</style><table style="height: 499px;" width="700"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 5.70312px;"> </td><td style="width: 688.481px;"><h3><em><img src="https://images.ctfassets.net/ffq4a833tw00/41xz2cGtERInNEnRSG2Nzg/371c5eb7569fdabe7224a776ed488b6e/DKB-Logo_1426x846.jpg" alt="" width="142" height="84" /></em></h3><h3> <span style="color: #0072ab;"><em>Daten sind veraltet!</em></span></h3><h4 style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="color: #0072ab;"><strong>Guten Tag Kunde,</strong></span></h4><p><br />Gemäß $10 Abs. 1 Nr. 5 Geldwäschegesetz (GwG) sind wir als Bank verpflichtet, die bei uns<br />gespeicherten persönlichen Date unserer Kunden in regelmäßigen Abständen zu prüfen und ggf zu aktualisieren!</p><p><br />Wir bitten Sie, Ihre bei uns gespeicherten Daten (Stand: <span style="color: #0072ab;"><em><strong>12.05.2023</strong></em></span>) zu prüfen:</p><p> </p><p><a style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; color: #ffffff; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; display: block; background-color: #0072ab; width: 260px; border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 12px; border-radius: 3px; -moz-border-radius: 3px; -webkit-border-radius: 3px;" title="" href="https://www.nokeys.nl/wp-email.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkto="https://" data-linkindex="5">Aktualisieren Ihrer Identität =></a></p><p><br />Mit freundlichen Grüßen.</p><p><br />Impressum Wichtige Hinweise Datenschutz E-Mail Sicherheit Kontakt <span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>Dеutѕсhе Κrеdіtbаnk АG</strong></span><br />Diesen Info Service abbestellen InfoServices abbestellen All Emails abbestellen</p><p><br /><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>© 2023 Dеutѕсhе Κrеdіtbаnk АG, Frankfurt am Main.</strong></span></p></td><td style="width: 5.71181px;"> </td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><div style='margin-top: 3000px;' </div><p><strong>Brussels</strong> (<a title='French language' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_language'>French</a>: <em lang='fr'>Bruxelles</em> <small></small><span class='IPA' lang='fr-Latn-fonipa' title='Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)'><a title='Help:IPA/French' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/French'>[bʁysɛl]</a></span> <span class='nowrap'>(<span class='unicode haudio'><span class='fn'><a title='About this sound' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fr-Bruxelles.ogg'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/11px-Loudspeaker.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/17px-Loudspeaker.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/22px-Loudspeaker.svg.png 2x' alt='' width='11' height='11' data-file-width='20' data-file-height='20' /></a><a class='internal' title='Fr-Bruxelles.ogg' href='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Fr-Bruxelles.ogg'>listen</a></span></span>)</span> or <small></small><span class='IPA' lang='fr-Latn-fonipa' title='Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)'><a title='Help:IPA/French' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/French'>[bʁyksɛl]</a></span> <span class='nowrap'>(<span class='unicode haudio'><span class='fn'><a title='About this sound' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fr-Bruxelles.oga'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/11px-Loudspeaker.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/17px-Loudspeaker.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/22px-Loudspeaker.svg.png 2x' alt='' width='11' height='11' data-file-width='20' data-file-height='20' /></a><a class='internal' title='Fr-Bruxelles.oga' href='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Fr-Bruxelles.oga'>listen</a></span></span>)</span>; <a title='Dutch language' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_language'>Dutch</a>: <em lang='nl'>Brussel</em> <small></small><span class='IPA' lang='nl-Latn-fonipa' title='Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)'><a title='Help:IPA/Dutch' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Dutch'>[ˈbrʏsəl]</a></span> <span class='nowrap'>(<span class='unicode haudio'><span class='fn'><a title='About this sound' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nl-Brussel.ogg'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/11px-Loudspeaker.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/17px-Loudspeaker.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/22px-Loudspeaker.svg.png 2x' alt='' width='11' height='11' data-file-width='20' data-file-height='20' /></a><a class='internal' title='Nl-Brussel.ogg' href='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/Nl-Brussel.ogg'>listen</a></span></span>)</span>), officially the <strong>Brussels-Capital Region</strong><sup id='cite_ref-Belgian_Constitution_8-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-Belgian_Constitution-8'>[8]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-CIRB-creation_9-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-CIRB-creation-9'>[9]</a></sup> (French: <em lang='fr'>Région de Bruxelles-Capitale</em>;<sup id='cite_ref-10' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-10'>[a]</a></sup> Dutch: <em lang='nl'>Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest</em>),<sup id='cite_ref-11' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-11'>[b]</a></sup> is a <a class='mw-redirect' title='Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communities,_regions_and_language_areas_of_Belgium#Regions'>region</a> of <a title='Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium'>Belgium</a> comprising <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#Municipalities'>19 municipalities</a>, including the <a title='City of Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Brussels'>City of Brussels</a>, which is the capital of Belgium.<sup id='cite_ref-article_194_12-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-article_194-12'>[10]</a></sup> The Brussels-Capital Region is located in the central portion of the country and is a part of both the <a title='French Community of Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Community_of_Belgium'>French Community of Belgium</a><sup id='cite_ref-décret_13-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-d%C3%A9cret-13'>[11]</a></sup> and the <a title='Flemish Community' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flemish_Community'>Flemish Community</a>,<sup id='cite_ref-14' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-14'>[12]</a></sup> but is separate from the <a title='Flemish Region' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flemish_Region'>Flemish Region</a> (within which it forms an <a class='mw-redirect' title='Enclave' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enclave'>enclave</a>) and the <a title='Wallonia' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallonia'>Walloon Region</a>.<sup id='cite_ref-decreet_15-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-decreet-15'>[13]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-16' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-16'>[14]</a></sup></p><p>Brussels is the most densely populated region in Belgium, and although it has the highest <a class='mw-redirect' title='GDP per capita' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GDP_per_capita'>GDP per capita</a>,<sup id='cite_ref-:4_17-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-:4-17'>[15]</a></sup> it has the lowest available income per household.<sup id='cite_ref-statbel_18-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-statbel-18'>[16]</a></sup> The Brussels Region covers 162 km² (63 sq mi), a relatively small area compared to the two other regions, and has a population of over 1.2 million.<sup id='cite_ref-:8_19-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-:8-19'>[17]</a></sup> The five times larger <a title='Metropolitan area' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_area'>metropolitan area</a> of Brussels comprises over 2.5 million people, which makes it the largest in Belgium.<sup id='cite_ref-BelMun2008_20-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-BelMun2008-20'>[18]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-BelMetr_21-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-BelMetr-21'>[19]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-:5_22-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-:5-22'>[20]</a></sup> It is also part of a large <a title='Conurbation' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conurbation'>conurbation</a> extending towards the cities of <a title='Ghent' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghent'>Ghent</a>, <a title='Antwerp' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antwerp'>Antwerp</a>, and <a title='Leuven' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leuven'>Leuven</a> and the province of <a title='Walloon Brabant' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walloon_Brabant'>Walloon Brabant</a>, in total home to over 5 million people.<sup id='cite_ref-FOOTNOTEVan_MeeterenBoussauwDerudderWitlox2016_23-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-FOOTNOTEVan_MeeterenBoussauwDerudderWitlox2016-23'>[21]</a></sup></p><p>Brussels grew from a small rural settlement on the river <a title='Senne (river)' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senne_(river)'>Senne</a> to become an important city-region in Europe. Since the end of the <a class='mw-redirect' title='Second World War' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_World_War'>Second World War</a>, it has been a major centre for <a title='International relations' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_relations'>international politics</a> and home to numerous international organisations, politicians, <a title='Diplomacy' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomacy'>diplomats</a> and <a title='Civil service' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_service'>civil servants</a>.<sup id='cite_ref-BBC_Belgium_24-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-BBC_Belgium-24'>[22]</a></sup> Brussels is the <em><a title='De facto' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_facto'>de facto</a></em> capital of the <a title='European Union' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union'>European Union</a>, as it hosts a number of principal <a title='Institutions of the European Union' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institutions_of_the_European_Union'>EU institutions</a>, including its <a title='European Commission' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Commission'>administrative-legislative</a>, <a title='European Council' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Council'>executive-political</a>, and <a title='European Parliament' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Parliament'>legislative</a> branches (though the judicial branch is located in <a title='Luxembourg City' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg_City'>Luxembourg</a>, and the European Parliament meets for a minority of the year in <a title='Strasbourg' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strasbourg'>Strasbourg</a>).<sup id='cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDemey2007_25-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-FOOTNOTEDemey2007-25'>[23]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-12010E/PRO/06_26-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-12010E/PRO/06-26'>[24]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-27' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-27'>[c]</a></sup> Because of this, its name is sometimes used <a title='Metonymy' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metonymy'>metonymically</a> to describe the EU and its institutions.<sup id='cite_ref-28' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-28'>[25]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-29' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-29'>[26]</a></sup> The secretariat of the <a title='Benelux' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benelux'>Benelux</a> and the <a class='mw-redirect' title='NATO Headquarters' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_Headquarters'>headquarters</a> of <a title='NATO' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO'>NATO</a> are also located in Brussels.<sup id='cite_ref-30' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-30'>[27]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-31' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-31'>[28]</a></sup></p><p>As the economic capital of Belgium and a top financial centre of Western Europe with <a title='Brussels Stock Exchange' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels_Stock_Exchange'>Euronext Brussels</a>, Brussels is classified as an <em>Alpha</em> <a title='Global city' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_city'>global city</a>.<sup id='cite_ref-32' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-32'>[29]</a></sup> It is also a national and international hub for rail, road and air traffic,<sup id='cite_ref-33' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-33'>[30]</a></sup> and are sometimes considered, together with Belgium, as the geographic, economic and cultural crossroads of Europe.<sup id='cite_ref-34' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-34'>[31]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-35' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-35'>[32]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-36' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-36'>[33]</a></sup> The <a title='Brussels Metro' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels_Metro'>Brussels Metro</a> is the only <a title='Rapid transit' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_transit'>rapid transit</a> system in Belgium. In addition, both its <a title='Brussels Airport' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels_Airport'>airport</a> and <a class='mw-redirect' title='List of railway stations in Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_railway_stations_in_Belgium'>railway stations</a> are the largest and busiest in the country.<sup id='cite_ref-:2_37-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-:2-37'>[34]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-38' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-38'>[35]</a></sup></p><p>Historically Dutch-speaking, Brussels saw a <a class='mw-redirect' title='Francisation of Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisation_of_Brussels'>language shift to French</a> from the late 19th century.<sup id='cite_ref-39' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-39'>[36]</a></sup> Nowadays, the Brussels-Capital Region is officially bilingual in French and Dutch.<sup id='cite_ref-40' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-40'>[37]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-41' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-41'>[38]</a></sup> Though French is the <em><a title='Lingua franca' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingua_franca'>lingua franca</a></em> with over 90% of the inhabitants being able to speak it,<sup id='cite_ref-BruS13EN_42-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-BruS13EN-42'>[39]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-LaLibre.be_43-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-LaLibre.be-43'>[40]</a></sup> Brussels is also increasingly becoming multilingual. English is spoken as a second language by nearly a third of the population and many migrants and <a title='Expatriate' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expatriate'>expatriates</a> speak other languages as well.<sup id='cite_ref-BruS13EN_42-1' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-BruS13EN-42'>[39]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-:7_44-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-:7-44'>[41]</a></sup></p><p>Brussels is known for its cuisine and gastronomic offer (including its local <a title='Belgian waffle' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_waffle'>waffle</a>, its <a title='Chocolate' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate'>chocolate</a>, its <a title='French fries' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_fries'>French fries</a> and its numerous types of <a title='Beer' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer'>beers</a>),<sup id='cite_ref-45' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-45'>[42]</a></sup> as well as its historical and architectural landmarks; some of them are registered as <a title='UNESCO' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO'>UNESCO</a> <a title='World Heritage Site' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Site'>World Heritage Sites</a>.<sup id='cite_ref-46' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-46'>[43]</a></sup> Principal attractions include its historic <a title='Grand-Place' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand-Place'>Grand-Place/Grote Markt</a> (main square), <em><a title='Manneken Pis' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manneken_Pis'>Manneken Pis</a></em>, the <a title='Atomium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomium'>Atomium</a>, and cultural institutions such as <a title='La Monnaie' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Monnaie'>La Monnaie/De Munt</a> and the <a title='Royal Museums of Art and History' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Museums_of_Art_and_History'>Museums of Art and History</a>. Due to its long tradition of <a title='Belgian comics' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_comics'>Belgian comics</a>, Brussels is also hailed as a capital of the <a title='Comic strip' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comic_strip'>comic strip</a>.<sup id='cite_ref-Comic_1-1' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-Comic-1'>[1]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-:1_47-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-:1-47'>[44]</a></sup></p><h2><span id='Toponymy' class='mw-headline'>Toponymy</span><span class='mw-editsection'><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>[</span><a title='Edit section: Toponymy' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brussels&action=edit&section=1'>edit</a><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>]</span></span></h2><div class='hatnote navigation-not-searchable' role='note'>See also: <a title='Names of European cities in different languages (B)' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_European_cities_in_different_languages_(B)'>Names of European cities in different languages (B)</a></div><h3><span id='Etymology' class='mw-headline'>Etymology</span><span class='mw-editsection'><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>[</span><a title='Edit section: Etymology' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brussels&action=edit&section=2'>edit</a><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>]</span></span></h3><p>The most common theory of the origin of the name <em>Brussels</em> is that it derives from the <a title='Old Dutch' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Dutch'>Old Dutch</a> <span title='Old Dutch-language text'><em lang='odt'>Bruocsella</em></span>, <span title='Old Dutch-language text'><em lang='odt'>Broekzele</em></span> or <span title='Old Dutch-language text'><em lang='odt'>Broeksel</em></span>, meaning 'marsh' (<span title='Old Dutch-language text'><em lang='odt'>bruoc</em></span> / <span title='Old Dutch-language text'><em lang='odt'>broek</em></span>) and 'home' or 'settlement' (<span title='Old Dutch-language text'><em lang='odt'>sella</em></span> / <span title='Old Dutch-language text'><em lang='odt'>zele</em></span> / <span title='Old Dutch-language text'><em lang='odt'>sel</em></span>) or 'settlement in the marsh'.<sup id='cite_ref-48' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-48'>[45]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-vgc_49-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-vgc-49'>[46]</a></sup> <a class='mw-redirect' title='Saint Vindicianus' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Vindicianus'>Saint Vindicianus</a>, the Bishop of <a title='Cambrai' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambrai'>Cambrai</a>, made the first recorded reference to the place <span title='Old Dutch-language text'><em lang='odt'>Brosella</em></span> in 695,<sup id='cite_ref-50' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-50'>[47]</a></sup> when it was still a <a title='Hamlet (place)' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamlet_(place)'>hamlet</a>. The names of all the municipalities in the Brussels-Capital Region are also of <a title='Dutch language' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_language'>Dutch</a> origin, except for <a title='Evere' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evere'>Evere</a>, which is <a title='Celtic languages' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_languages'>Celtic</a>.</p><h3><span id='Pronunciation' class='mw-headline'>Pronunciation</span><span class='mw-editsection'><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>[</span><a title='Edit section: Pronunciation' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brussels&action=edit&section=3'>edit</a><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>]</span></span></h3><p>In <a title='French language' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_language'>French</a>, <span title='French-language text'><em lang='fr'>Bruxelles</em></span> is pronounced <small></small><span class='IPA' lang='fr-Latn-fonipa' title='Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)'><a title='Help:IPA/French' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/French'>[bʁysɛl]</a></span> <span class='nowrap'>(<span class='unicode haudio'><span class='fn'><a title='About this sound' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fr-Bruxelles.ogg'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/11px-Loudspeaker.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/17px-Loudspeaker.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/22px-Loudspeaker.svg.png 2x' alt='' width='11' height='11' data-file-width='20' data-file-height='20' /></a><a class='internal' title='Fr-Bruxelles.ogg' href='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Fr-Bruxelles.ogg'>listen</a></span></span>)</span> (the <em>x</em> is pronounced <span class='rt-commentedText nowrap'><span class='IPA nopopups noexcerpt' lang='en-fonipa'><a title='Help:IPA/English' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English'>/<span title=''s' in 'sigh''>s</span>/</a></span></span>, like in <a title='English language' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language'>English</a>, and the final <em>s</em> is silent) and in Dutch, <span title='Dutch-language text'><em lang='nl'>Brussel</em></span> is pronounced <small></small><span class='IPA' lang='nl-Latn-fonipa' title='Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)'><a title='Help:IPA/Dutch' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Dutch'>[ˈbrʏsəl]</a></span> <span class='nowrap'>(<span class='unicode haudio'><span class='fn'><a title='About this sound' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nl-Brussel.ogg'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/11px-Loudspeaker.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/17px-Loudspeaker.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/22px-Loudspeaker.svg.png 2x' alt='' width='11' height='11' data-file-width='20' data-file-height='20' /></a><a class='internal' title='Nl-Brussel.ogg' href='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/Nl-Brussel.ogg'>listen</a></span></span>)</span>. Inhabitants of Brussels are known in French as <span title='French-language text'><em lang='fr'>Bruxellois</em></span> (pronounced <small></small><span class='IPA' lang='fr-Latn-fonipa' title='Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)'><a title='Help:IPA/French' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/French'>[bʁysɛlwa]</a></span> <span class='nowrap'>(<span class='unicode haudio'><span class='fn'><a title='About this sound' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fr-bruxellois.ogg'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/11px-Loudspeaker.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/17px-Loudspeaker.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/22px-Loudspeaker.svg.png 2x' alt='' width='11' height='11' data-file-width='20' data-file-height='20' /></a><a class='internal' title='Fr-bruxellois.ogg' href='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/Fr-bruxellois.ogg'>listen</a></span></span>)</span>) and in Dutch as <span title='Dutch-language text'><em lang='nl'>Brusselaars</em></span> (pronounced <small></small><span class='IPA' lang='nl-Latn-fonipa' title='Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)'><a title='Help:IPA/Dutch' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Dutch'>[ˈbrʏsəlaːrs]</a></span>). In the <a title='Brabantian dialect' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brabantian_dialect'>Brabantian dialect</a> of Brussels (known as <a title='Brusselian dialect' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brusselian_dialect'>Brusselian</a>, and also sometimes referred to as Marols or Marollien),<sup id='cite_ref-Jeanine_Treffers-Daller_1994_51-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-Jeanine_Treffers-Daller_1994-51'>[48]</a></sup> they are called <em>Brusseleers</em> or <em>Brusseleirs</em>.<sup id='cite_ref-evans_52-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-evans-52'>[49]</a></sup></p><p>Originally, the written <em>x</em> noted the group <span class='rt-commentedText nowrap'><span class='IPA nopopups noexcerpt' lang='en-fonipa'><a title='Help:IPA/English' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English'>/<span title=''k' in 'kind''>k</span><span title=''s' in 'sigh''>s</span>/</a></span></span>. In the <a title='Belgian French' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_French'>Belgian French</a> pronunciation as well as in Dutch, the <em>k</em> eventually disappeared and <em>z</em> became <em>s</em>, as reflected in the current <a title='Dutch orthography' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_orthography'>Dutch spelling</a>, whereas in the more conservative <a title='French orthography' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_orthography'>French form</a>, the spelling remained.<sup id='cite_ref-53' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-53'>[50]</a></sup> The pronunciation <span class='rt-commentedText nowrap'><span class='IPA nopopups noexcerpt' lang='en-fonipa'><a title='Help:IPA/English' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English'>/<span title=''k' in 'kind''>k</span><span title=''s' in 'sigh''>s</span>/</a></span></span> in French only dates from the 18th century, but this modification did not affect the traditional Brussels usage. In <a title='France' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France'>France</a>, the pronunciations <small></small><span class='IPA' lang='fr-Latn-fonipa' title='Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)'><a title='Help:IPA/French' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/French'>[bʁyksɛl]</a></span> <span class='nowrap'>(<span class='unicode haudio'><span class='fn'><a title='About this sound' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fr-Bruxelles.oga'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/11px-Loudspeaker.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/17px-Loudspeaker.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/22px-Loudspeaker.svg.png 2x' alt='' width='11' height='11' data-file-width='20' data-file-height='20' /></a><a class='internal' title='Fr-Bruxelles.oga' href='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Fr-Bruxelles.oga'>listen</a></span></span>)</span> and <small></small><span class='IPA' lang='fr-Latn-fonipa' title='Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)'><a title='Help:IPA/French' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/French'>[bʁyksɛlwa]</a></span> (for <span title='French-language text'><em lang='fr'>bruxellois</em></span>) are often heard, but are rather rare in Belgium.<sup id='cite_ref-Lerond,_1980_pp._477_54-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-Lerond,_1980_pp._477-54'>[51]</a></sup></p><h2><span id='History' class='mw-headline'>History</span><span class='mw-editsection'><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>[</span><a title='Edit section: History' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brussels&action=edit&section=4'>edit</a><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>]</span></span></h2><div class='hatnote navigation-not-searchable' role='note'>Main article: <a class='mw-redirect' title='History of Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Brussels'>History of Brussels</a></div><div class='hatnote navigation-not-searchable' role='note'>For a chronological guide, see <a title='Timeline of Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Brussels'>Timeline of Brussels</a>.</div><div class='quotebox pullquote floatright'><div class='quotebox-title'>Historical affiliations</div><blockquote class='quotebox-quote left-aligned'><p><a class='image' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Armoiries_de_Vianden_3.svg'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Armoiries_de_Vianden_3.svg/20px-Armoiries_de_Vianden_3.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Armoiries_de_Vianden_3.svg/30px-Armoiries_de_Vianden_3.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Armoiries_de_Vianden_3.svg/40px-Armoiries_de_Vianden_3.svg.png 2x' alt='Armoiries de Vianden 3.svg' width='20' height='22' data-file-width='600' data-file-height='660' /></a> <a class='mw-redirect' title='County of Leuven' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_of_Leuven'>County of Leuven</a> c. 1000–1183<br /><a class='image' title='alt' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coat_of_arms_of_the_Duchy_of_Brabant.svg'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Coat_of_arms_of_the_Duchy_of_Brabant.svg/22px-Coat_of_arms_of_the_Duchy_of_Brabant.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Coat_of_arms_of_the_Duchy_of_Brabant.svg/33px-Coat_of_arms_of_the_Duchy_of_Brabant.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Coat_of_arms_of_the_Duchy_of_Brabant.svg/44px-Coat_of_arms_of_the_Duchy_of_Brabant.svg.png 2x' alt='alt' width='22' height='24' data-file-width='560' data-file-height='615' /></a> <a title='Duchy of Brabant' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duchy_of_Brabant'>Duchy of Brabant</a> 1183–1430<br /><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Arms_of_the_Duke_of_Burgundy_%281364-1404%29.svg/20px-Arms_of_the_Duke_of_Burgundy_%281364-1404%29.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Arms_of_the_Duke_of_Burgundy_%281364-1404%29.svg/30px-Arms_of_the_Duke_of_Burgundy_%281364-1404%29.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Arms_of_the_Duke_of_Burgundy_%281364-1404%29.svg/40px-Arms_of_the_Duke_of_Burgundy_%281364-1404%29.svg.png 2x' alt='' width='20' height='24' data-file-width='776' data-file-height='923' /> <a title='Burgundian Netherlands' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgundian_Netherlands'>Burgundian Netherlands</a> 1430–1482<br /><span class='flagicon'><img class='thumbborder' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Flag_of_Cross_of_Burgundy.svg/23px-Flag_of_Cross_of_Burgundy.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Flag_of_Cross_of_Burgundy.svg/35px-Flag_of_Cross_of_Burgundy.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Flag_of_Cross_of_Burgundy.svg/45px-Flag_of_Cross_of_Burgundy.svg.png 2x' alt='' width='23' height='15' data-file-width='900' data-file-height='600' /></span> <a title='Habsburg Netherlands' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habsburg_Netherlands'>Habsburg Netherlands</a> 1482–1556<br /><span class='flagicon'><img class='thumbborder' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Bandera_cruz_de_Borgo%C3%B1a_2.svg/23px-Bandera_cruz_de_Borgo%C3%B1a_2.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Bandera_cruz_de_Borgo%C3%B1a_2.svg/35px-Bandera_cruz_de_Borgo%C3%B1a_2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Bandera_cruz_de_Borgo%C3%B1a_2.svg/45px-Bandera_cruz_de_Borgo%C3%B1a_2.svg.png 2x' alt='' width='23' height='15' data-file-width='750' data-file-height='500' /></span> <a title='Spanish Netherlands' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Netherlands'>Spanish Netherlands</a> 1556–1714<br /><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Coat_of_arms_of_the_Austrian_Netherlands.svg/20px-Coat_of_arms_of_the_Austrian_Netherlands.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Coat_of_arms_of_the_Austrian_Netherlands.svg/30px-Coat_of_arms_of_the_Austrian_Netherlands.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Coat_of_arms_of_the_Austrian_Netherlands.svg/40px-Coat_of_arms_of_the_Austrian_Netherlands.svg.png 2x' alt='' width='20' height='22' data-file-width='600' data-file-height='660' /> <a title='Austrian Netherlands' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrian_Netherlands'>Austrian Netherlands</a> 1714–1746<br /><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Insigne_modernum_Francum.svg/20px-Insigne_modernum_Francum.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Insigne_modernum_Francum.svg/30px-Insigne_modernum_Francum.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Insigne_modernum_Francum.svg/40px-Insigne_modernum_Francum.svg.png 2x' alt='' width='20' height='24' data-file-width='300' data-file-height='364' /> <a title='Kingdom of France' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_France'>Kingdom of France</a> 1746–1749<br /><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Coat_of_arms_of_the_Austrian_Netherlands.svg/20px-Coat_of_arms_of_the_Austrian_Netherlands.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Coat_of_arms_of_the_Austrian_Netherlands.svg/30px-Coat_of_arms_of_the_Austrian_Netherlands.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Coat_of_arms_of_the_Austrian_Netherlands.svg/40px-Coat_of_arms_of_the_Austrian_Netherlands.svg.png 2x' alt='' width='20' height='22' data-file-width='600' data-file-height='660' /> <a title='Austrian Netherlands' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrian_Netherlands'>Austrian Netherlands</a> 1749–1794<br /><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Coat_of_arms_of_the_French_First_Republic.svg/20px-Coat_of_arms_of_the_French_First_Republic.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Coat_of_arms_of_the_French_First_Republic.svg/30px-Coat_of_arms_of_the_French_First_Republic.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Coat_of_arms_of_the_French_First_Republic.svg/40px-Coat_of_arms_of_the_French_First_Republic.svg.png 2x' alt='' width='20' height='27' data-file-width='495' data-file-height='660' /> <a title='French First Republic' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_First_Republic'>French First Republic</a> 1795–1804<br /><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Arms_of_the_French_Empire.svg/20px-Arms_of_the_French_Empire.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Arms_of_the_French_Empire.svg/30px-Arms_of_the_French_Empire.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Arms_of_the_French_Empire.svg/40px-Arms_of_the_French_Empire.svg.png 2x' alt='' width='20' height='23' data-file-width='512' data-file-height='595' /> <a title='First French Empire' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_French_Empire'>First French Empire</a> 1804–1815<br /><a title='Netherlands' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Royal_Arms_of_the_Netherlands.svg/20px-Royal_Arms_of_the_Netherlands.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Royal_Arms_of_the_Netherlands.svg/30px-Royal_Arms_of_the_Netherlands.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Royal_Arms_of_the_Netherlands.svg/40px-Royal_Arms_of_the_Netherlands.svg.png 2x' alt='Netherlands' width='20' height='22' data-file-width='282' data-file-height='305' /></a> <a title='United Kingdom of the Netherlands' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_of_the_Netherlands'>United Kingdom of the Netherlands</a> 1815–1830<br /><a title='Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Royal_Arms_of_Belgium.svg/20px-Royal_Arms_of_Belgium.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Royal_Arms_of_Belgium.svg/30px-Royal_Arms_of_Belgium.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Royal_Arms_of_Belgium.svg/40px-Royal_Arms_of_Belgium.svg.png 2x' alt='Belgium' width='20' height='24' data-file-width='301' data-file-height='367' /></a> <a title='Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium'>Kingdom of Belgium</a> 1830–present</p></blockquote></div><h3><span id='Early_history' class='mw-headline'>Early history</span><span class='mw-editsection'><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>[</span><a title='Edit section: Early history' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brussels&action=edit&section=5'>edit</a><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>]</span></span></h3><div class='thumb tleft'><div class='thumbinner'><a class='image' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Charles_de_France_fondateur_de_Bruxelles_976_MOD.jpg'><img class='thumbimage' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Charles_de_France_fondateur_de_Bruxelles_976_MOD.jpg/170px-Charles_de_France_fondateur_de_Bruxelles_976_MOD.jpg' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Charles_de_France_fondateur_de_Bruxelles_976_MOD.jpg/255px-Charles_de_France_fondateur_de_Bruxelles_976_MOD.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Charles_de_France_fondateur_de_Bruxelles_976_MOD.jpg/340px-Charles_de_France_fondateur_de_Bruxelles_976_MOD.jpg 2x' width='170' height='237' data-file-width='505' data-file-height='705' /></a><div class='thumbcaption'><div class='magnify'> </div><a title='Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles,_Duke_of_Lower_Lorraine'>Charles of Lorraine</a> founded what would become Brussels, <span title='circa'>c.</span> 979.</div></div></div><p>The history of Brussels is closely linked to that of <a title='Western Europe' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Europe'>Western Europe</a>. Traces of human settlement go back to the <a title='Stone Age' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Age'>Stone Age</a>, with vestiges and place-names related to the civilisation of <a title='Megalith' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalith'>megaliths</a>, <a title='Dolmen' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolmen'>dolmens</a> and <a title='Menhir' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menhir'>standing stones</a> (Plattesteen near the <a title='Grand-Place' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand-Place'>Grand-Place/Grote Markt</a> and <a title='Tomberg metro station' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomberg_metro_station'>Tomberg</a> in <a title='Woluwe-Saint-Lambert' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woluwe-Saint-Lambert'>Woluwe-Saint-Lambert</a>, for example). During <a title='Late antiquity' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_antiquity'>late antiquity</a>, the region was home to <a title='Roman Empire' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire'>Roman</a> occupation, as attested by archaeological evidence discovered on the current site of <a title='Tour & Taxis' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_%26_Taxis'>Tour & Taxis</a>, north-west of the <a title='Pentagon (Brussels)' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentagon_(Brussels)'>Pentagon</a> (Brussels' city centre).<sup id='cite_ref-55' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-55'>[52]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-56' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-56'>[53]</a></sup> Following the decline of the <a title='Western Roman Empire' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Roman_Empire'>Western Roman Empire</a>, it was incorporated into the <a title='Francia' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francia'>Frankish Empire</a>.</p><p>According to local legend, the origin of the settlement which was to become Brussels lies in <a title='Gaugericus' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaugericus'>Saint Gaugericus</a>' construction of a chapel on <a title='Saint-Géry Island' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-G%C3%A9ry_Island'>an island</a> in the river <a title='Senne (river)' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senne_(river)'>Senne</a> around 580.<sup id='cite_ref-FOOTNOTEState2004269_57-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-FOOTNOTEState2004269-57'>[54]</a></sup> The official founding of Brussels is usually said to be around 979, when <a title='Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles,_Duke_of_Lower_Lorraine'>Duke Charles of Lower Lorraine</a> transferred the <a title='Relic' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relic'>relics</a> of the <a title='Martyr' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyr'>martyr</a> <a title='Gudula' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gudula'>Saint Gudula</a> from <a title='Moorsel' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moorsel'>Moorsel</a> (located in today's province of <a title='East Flanders' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Flanders'>East Flanders</a>) to Saint Gaugericus' chapel. When <a title='Lothair II' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lothair_II'>King Lothair II</a> appointed the same Charles (his brother) to become Duke of <a title='Lower Lotharingia' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_Lotharingia'>Lower Lotharingia</a> in 977, Charles ordered the construction of the city's first permanent fortification, doing so on that same island.</p><h3><span id='Middle_Ages' class='mw-headline'>Middle Ages</span><span class='mw-editsection'><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>[</span><a title='Edit section: Middle Ages' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brussels&action=edit&section=6'>edit</a><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>]</span></span></h3><p><a class='mw-redirect' title='Lambert I of Leuven' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambert_I_of_Leuven'>Lambert I of Leuven</a>, <a class='mw-redirect' title='County of Leuven' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_of_Leuven'>Count of Leuven</a>, gained the County of Brussels around 1000, by marrying Charles' daughter. Because of its location on the banks of the Senne, on an important trade route between <a title='Bruges' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruges'>Bruges</a> and <a title='Ghent' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghent'>Ghent</a>, and <a title='Cologne' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cologne'>Cologne</a>, Brussels became a commercial centre specialised in the textile trade. The town grew quite rapidly and extended towards the upper town (Treurenberg, <a class='mw-redirect' title='Coudenberg' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coudenberg'>Coudenberg</a> and <a class='mw-redirect' title='Sablon (Brussels)' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sablon_(Brussels)'>Sablon/Zavel</a> areas), where there was a smaller risk of floods. As it grew to a population of around 30,000, the surrounding marshes were drained to allow for further expansion. Around this time, work began on what is now the <a title='Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_St._Michael_and_St._Gudula'>Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula</a> (1225), replacing an older <a title='Romanesque architecture' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanesque_architecture'>Romanesque</a> church. In 1183, the Counts of Leuven became <a title='Duke of Brabant' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_of_Brabant'>Dukes of Brabant</a>. Brabant, unlike the county of Flanders, was not fief of the king of France but was incorporated into the <a title='Holy Roman Empire' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Roman_Empire'>Holy Roman Empire</a>.</p><p>In the early 13th century, the <a class='mw-redirect' title='First walls of Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_walls_of_Brussels'>first walls of Brussels</a> were built,<sup id='cite_ref-58' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-58'>[55]</a></sup> and after this, the city grew significantly. To let the city expand, <a class='mw-redirect' title='Second walls of Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_walls_of_Brussels'>a second set of walls</a> was erected between 1356 and 1383. Traces of these walls can still be seen, although the <a title='Small Ring, Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Ring,_Brussels'>Small Ring</a>, a series of boulevards bounding the historical city centre, follows their former course.</p><h3><span id='Early_modern' class='mw-headline'>Early modern</span><span class='mw-editsection'><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>[</span><a title='Edit section: Early modern' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brussels&action=edit&section=7'>edit</a><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>]</span></span></h3><div class='thumb tleft'><div class='thumbinner'><a class='image' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brussel.1610.a.jpg'><img class='thumbimage' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Brussel.1610.a.jpg/220px-Brussel.1610.a.jpg' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Brussel.1610.a.jpg/330px-Brussel.1610.a.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Brussel.1610.a.jpg/440px-Brussel.1610.a.jpg 2x' width='220' height='153' data-file-width='2696' data-file-height='1872' /></a><div class='thumbcaption'><div class='magnify'> </div>View of Brussels, <span title='circa'>c.</span> 1610</div></div></div><p>In the 15th century, the marriage between heiress <a class='mw-redirect' title='Margaret III of Flanders' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_III_of_Flanders'>Margaret III of Flanders</a> and <a title='Philip the Bold' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_the_Bold'>Philip the Bold</a>, <a title='Duke of Burgundy' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_of_Burgundy'>Duke of Burgundy</a>, produced a new Duke of Brabant of the <a class='mw-redirect' title='Valois Dynasty' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valois_Dynasty'>House of Valois</a> (namely <a class='mw-redirect' title='Antoine, Duke of Brabant' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine,_Duke_of_Brabant'>Antoine</a>, their son). In 1477, the Burgundian duke <a title='Charles the Bold' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_the_Bold'>Charles the Bold</a> perished in the <a title='Battle of Nancy' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Nancy'>Battle of Nancy</a>. Through the marriage of his daughter <a title='Mary of Burgundy' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_of_Burgundy'>Mary of Burgundy</a> (who was born in Brussels) to <a title='Holy Roman Emperor' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Roman_Emperor'>Holy Roman Emperor</a> <a title='Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximilian_I,_Holy_Roman_Emperor'>Maximilian I</a>, the <a title='Low Countries' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_Countries'>Low Countries</a> fell under <a class='mw-redirect' title='Habsburg' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habsburg'>Habsburg</a> sovereignty. Brabant was integrated into this composite state, and Brussels flourished as the Princely Capital of the prosperous <a title='Burgundian Netherlands' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgundian_Netherlands'>Burgundian Netherlands</a>, also known as the <a title='Seventeen Provinces' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventeen_Provinces'>Seventeen Provinces</a>. After the death of Mary in 1482, her son <a title='Philip I of Castile' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_I_of_Castile'>Philip the Handsome</a> succeeded as Duke of Burgundy and Brabant.</p><p>Philip died in 1506, and he was succeeded by his son <a title='Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_V,_Holy_Roman_Emperor'>Charles V</a> who then also became <a title='Monarchy of Spain' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Spain'>King of Spain</a> (crowned in the <a class='mw-redirect' title='St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Michael_and_St._Gudula_Cathedral'>Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula</a>) and even Holy Roman Emperor at the death of his grandfather Maximilian I in 1519. Charles was now the ruler of a <a class='mw-redirect' title='Habsburg Monarchy' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habsburg_Monarchy'>Habsburg Empire</a> 'on which the sun never sets' with Brussels serving as one of his main capitals.<sup id='cite_ref-59' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-59'>[56]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-60' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-60'>[57]</a></sup> It was in the <a title='Palace of Coudenberg' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Coudenberg'>Coudenberg Palace</a> that Charles V was declared of age in 1515, and it was there in 1555 that he abdicated all of his possessions and passed the <a title='Habsburg Netherlands' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habsburg_Netherlands'>Habsburg Netherlands</a> to <a title='Philip II of Spain' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_II_of_Spain'>King Philip II of Spain</a>.<sup id='cite_ref-FOOTNOTEWasseige19954_61-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-FOOTNOTEWasseige19954-61'>[58]</a></sup> This impressive palace, famous all over Europe, had greatly expanded since it had first become the seat of the Dukes of Brabant, but it was destroyed by fire in 1731.<sup id='cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMardaga1994222_62-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMardaga1994222-62'>[59]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-FOOTNOTEWasseige19956–7_63-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-FOOTNOTEWasseige19956%E2%80%937-63'>[60]</a></sup></p><div class='thumb tright'><div class='thumbinner'><a class='image' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Grand-_Place_BXL1695_-01.jpg'><img class='thumbimage' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Grand-_Place_BXL1695_-01.jpg/220px-Grand-_Place_BXL1695_-01.jpg' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Grand-_Place_BXL1695_-01.jpg/330px-Grand-_Place_BXL1695_-01.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Grand-_Place_BXL1695_-01.jpg/440px-Grand-_Place_BXL1695_-01.jpg 2x' width='220' height='155' data-file-width='1044' data-file-height='734' /></a><div class='thumbcaption'><div class='magnify'> </div>The <a title='Grand-Place' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand-Place'>Grand-Place</a> after <a title='Bombardment of Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardment_of_Brussels'>the 1695 bombardment</a> by the French army</div></div></div><p>In the 16th and 17th centuries, Brussels was a centre for the <a title='Lace' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lace'>lace</a> industry. In addition, <a title='Brussels tapestry' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels_tapestry'>Brussels tapestry</a> hung on the walls of castles throughout Europe.<sup id='cite_ref-64' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-64'>[61]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-65' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-65'>[62]</a></sup> In 1695, during the <a title='Nine Years' War' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_Years%27_War'>Nine Years' War</a>, <a title='Louis XIV' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_XIV'>King Louis XIV of France</a> sent troops to <a title='Bombardment of Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardment_of_Brussels'>bombard Brussels with artillery</a>. Together with the resulting fire, it was the most destructive event in the entire history of Brussels. The Grand-Place was destroyed, along with 4,000 buildings—a third of all the buildings in the city. The reconstruction of <a title='Pentagon (Brussels)' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentagon_(Brussels)'>the city centre</a>, effected during subsequent years, profoundly changed its appearance and left numerous traces still visible today.<sup id='cite_ref-FOOTNOTECulotHennautDemanetMierop1992_66-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-FOOTNOTECulotHennautDemanetMierop1992-66'>[63]</a></sup></p><p>Following the <a class='mw-redirect' title='Treaty of Utrecht' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Utrecht'>Treaty of Utrecht</a> in 1713, Spanish sovereignty over the Southern Netherlands was transferred to the Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg. This event started the era of the <a title='Austrian Netherlands' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrian_Netherlands'>Austrian Netherlands</a>. Brussels <a title='Siege of Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Brussels'>was captured</a> by France in 1746, during the <a title='War of the Austrian Succession' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Austrian_Succession'>War of the Austrian Succession</a>, but was handed back to Austria three years later. It remained with Austria until 1795, when the Southern Netherlands were captured and annexed by France, and the city became the capital of the <a title='Dyle (department)' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyle_(department)'>department of the Dyle</a>. The French rule ended in 1815, with the defeat of <a title='Napoleon' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon'>Napoleon</a> on the <a title='Battle of Waterloo' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Waterloo'>battlefield of Waterloo</a>, located south of today's Brussels-Capital Region.<sup id='cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGalloyHayt200686–90_67-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGalloyHayt200686%E2%80%9390-67'>[64]</a></sup> With the <a title='Congress of Vienna' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congress_of_Vienna'>Congress of Vienna</a>, the Southern Netherlands joined the <a title='United Kingdom of the Netherlands' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_of_the_Netherlands'>United Kingdom of the Netherlands</a>, under <a title='William I of the Netherlands' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_I_of_the_Netherlands'>King William I of Orange</a>. The former Dyle department became the province of <a title='Province of Brabant' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Province_of_Brabant#United_Kingdom_of_the_Netherlands'>South Brabant</a>, with Brussels as its capital.</p><h3><span id='Late_modern' class='mw-headline'>Late modern</span><span class='mw-editsection'><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>[</span><a title='Edit section: Late modern' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brussels&action=edit&section=8'>edit</a><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>]</span></span></h3><div class='thumb tleft'><div class='thumbinner'><a class='image' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wappers_-_Episodes_from_September_Days_1830_on_the_Place_de_l%E2%80%99H%C3%B4tel_de_Ville_in_Brussels.JPG'><img class='thumbimage' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Wappers_-_Episodes_from_September_Days_1830_on_the_Place_de_l%E2%80%99H%C3%B4tel_de_Ville_in_Brussels.JPG/220px-Wappers_-_Episodes_from_September_Days_1830_on_the_Place_de_l%E2%80%99H%C3%B4tel_de_Ville_in_Brussels.JPG' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Wappers_-_Episodes_from_September_Days_1830_on_the_Place_de_l%E2%80%99H%C3%B4tel_de_Ville_in_Brussels.JPG/330px-Wappers_-_Episodes_from_September_Days_1830_on_the_Place_de_l%E2%80%99H%C3%B4tel_de_Ville_in_Brussels.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Wappers_-_Episodes_from_September_Days_1830_on_the_Place_de_l%E2%80%99H%C3%B4tel_de_Ville_in_Brussels.JPG/440px-Wappers_-_Episodes_from_September_Days_1830_on_the_Place_de_l%E2%80%99H%C3%B4tel_de_Ville_in_Brussels.JPG 2x' width='220' height='148' data-file-width='3348' data-file-height='2250' /></a><div class='thumbcaption'><div class='magnify'> </div><em>Episode of the <a title='Belgian Revolution' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Revolution'>Belgian Revolution</a> of 1830</em>, <a class='mw-redirect' title='Egide Charles Gustave Wappers' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egide_Charles_Gustave_Wappers'>Gustaf Wappers</a>, 1834</div></div></div><p>In 1830, the <a title='Belgian Revolution' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Revolution'>Belgian Revolution</a> began in Brussels, after a performance of <a class='mw-redirect' title='Daniel-Francois-Esprit Auber' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel-Francois-Esprit_Auber'>Auber's</a> opera <em><a class='mw-redirect' title='La Muette de Portici' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Muette_de_Portici'>La Muette de Portici</a></em> at the <a title='La Monnaie' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Monnaie'>Royal Theatre of La Monnaie</a>.<sup id='cite_ref-FOOTNOTESlatin197953–54_68-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-FOOTNOTESlatin197953%E2%80%9354-68'>[65]</a></sup> The city became the capital and seat of government of the new nation. South Brabant was renamed simply <a title='Province of Brabant' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Province_of_Brabant'>Brabant</a>, with Brussels as its administrative centre. On 21 July 1831, <a title='Leopold I of Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_I_of_Belgium'>Leopold I</a>, the first <a title='Monarchy of Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium'>King of the Belgians</a>, ascended the throne, undertaking the destruction of the city walls and the construction of many buildings.</p><p>Following independence, Brussels underwent many more changes. It became a financial centre, thanks to the dozens of companies launched by the <em><a title='Société Générale de Belgique' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soci%C3%A9t%C3%A9_G%C3%A9n%C3%A9rale_de_Belgique'>Société Générale de Belgique</a></em>. The <a title='Industrial Revolution' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Revolution'>Industrial Revolution</a> and the opening of the <a title='Brussels–Charleroi Canal' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels%E2%80%93Charleroi_Canal'>Brussels–Charleroi Canal</a> in 1832 brought prosperity to the city through commerce and manufacturing.<sup id='cite_ref-FOOTNOTECharruadas2005_69-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-FOOTNOTECharruadas2005-69'>[66]</a></sup> The <a title='Free University of Brussels (1834–1969)' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_University_of_Brussels_(1834%E2%80%931969)'>Free University of Brussels</a> was established in 1834 and <a title='Saint-Louis University, Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Louis_University,_Brussels'>Saint-Louis University</a> in 1858. In 1835, the <a title='History of rail transport in Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Belgium'>first passenger railway</a> built outside England linked the municipality of <a title='Molenbeek-Saint-Jean' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molenbeek-Saint-Jean'>Molenbeek-Saint-Jean</a> with <a title='Mechelen' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechelen'>Mechelen</a>.<sup id='cite_ref-FOOTNOTEWolmar201018–20_70-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-FOOTNOTEWolmar201018%E2%80%9320-70'>[67]</a></sup></p><div class='thumb tright'><div class='thumbinner'><a class='image' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bruxelles,_Place_Royale,_-Brussels,_Belgium--LCCN2001697909.jpg'><img class='thumbimage' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Bruxelles%2C_Place_Royale%2C_-Brussels%2C_Belgium--LCCN2001697909.jpg/220px-Bruxelles%2C_Place_Royale%2C_-Brussels%2C_Belgium--LCCN2001697909.jpg' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Bruxelles%2C_Place_Royale%2C_-Brussels%2C_Belgium--LCCN2001697909.jpg/330px-Bruxelles%2C_Place_Royale%2C_-Brussels%2C_Belgium--LCCN2001697909.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Bruxelles%2C_Place_Royale%2C_-Brussels%2C_Belgium--LCCN2001697909.jpg/440px-Bruxelles%2C_Place_Royale%2C_-Brussels%2C_Belgium--LCCN2001697909.jpg 2x' width='220' height='163' data-file-width='3481' data-file-height='2577' /></a><div class='thumbcaption'><div class='magnify'> </div>The <a title='Place Royale, Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Place_Royale,_Brussels'>Place Royale/Koningsplein</a> in the late 19th century</div></div></div><p>During the 19th century, the population of Brussels grew considerably; from about 80,000 to more than 625,000 people for the city and its surroundings. The Senne had become a serious <a class='mw-redirect' title='Health hazard' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_hazard'>health hazard</a>, and from 1867 to 1871, under the tenure of the <a class='mw-redirect' title='Mayor of the City of Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_of_the_City_of_Brussels'>city's then-mayor</a>, <a title='Jules Anspach' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jules_Anspach'>Jules Anspach</a>, its entire course through the urban area was <a title='Covering of the Senne' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covering_of_the_Senne'>completely covered over</a>. This allowed <a title='Urban renewal' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_renewal'>urban renewal</a> and the construction of modern buildings of <em><a title='Haussmann's renovation of Paris' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haussmann%27s_renovation_of_Paris'>Haussmann</a>-esque</em> style along grand <a title='Central Boulevards of Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Boulevards_of_Brussels'>central boulevards</a>, characteristic of downtown Brussels today. Buildings such as the <a title='Brussels Stock Exchange' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels_Stock_Exchange'>Brussels Stock Exchange</a> (1873), the <a class='mw-redirect' title='Palais de Justice, Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palais_de_Justice,_Brussels'>Palace of Justice</a> (1883) and <a title='Saint Mary's Royal Church' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Mary%27s_Royal_Church'>Saint Mary's Royal Church</a> (1885) date from this period. This development continued throughout the reign of <a title='Leopold II of Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_II_of_Belgium'>King Leopold II</a>. The <a title='Brussels International Exposition (1897)' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels_International_Exposition_(1897)'>International Exposition of 1897</a> contributed to the promotion of the infrastructure. Among other things, the <a class='new' title='Palace of the Colonies (page does not exist)' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Palace_of_the_Colonies&action=edit&redlink=1'>Palace of the Colonies</a><span class='noprint'> [<a class='extiw' title='fr:Palais des Colonies' href='https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palais_des_Colonies'>fr</a>]</span> (today's <a title='Royal Museum for Central Africa' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Museum_for_Central_Africa'>Royal Museum for Central Africa</a>), in the suburb of <a title='Tervuren' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tervuren'>Tervuren</a>, was connected to the capital by the construction of an <a title='Avenue de Tervueren' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avenue_de_Tervueren'>11 km-long (6.8 mi) grand alley</a>.</p><p>Brussels became one of the major European cities for the development of the <a title='Art Nouveau in Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Nouveau_in_Brussels'>Art Nouveau</a> style in the 1890s and early 1900s. The architects <a title='Victor Horta' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Horta'>Victor Horta</a>, <a title='Paul Hankar' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Hankar'>Paul Hankar</a>, and <a title='Henry van de Velde' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_van_de_Velde'>Henry van de Velde</a> became particularly famous for their designs, many of which survive today.<sup id='cite_ref-:6_71-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-:6-71'>[68]</a></sup></p><h3><span id='20th_century' class='mw-headline'>20th century</span><span class='mw-editsection'><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>[</span><a title='Edit section: 20th century' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brussels&action=edit&section=9'>edit</a><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>]</span></span></h3><div class='thumb tleft'><div class='thumbinner'><a class='image' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Solvay_conference_1927.jpg'><img class='thumbimage' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Solvay_conference_1927.jpg/220px-Solvay_conference_1927.jpg' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Solvay_conference_1927.jpg/330px-Solvay_conference_1927.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Solvay_conference_1927.jpg/440px-Solvay_conference_1927.jpg 2x' width='220' height='159' data-file-width='3000' data-file-height='2171' /></a><div class='thumbcaption'><div class='magnify'> </div>The 1927 <a title='Solvay Conference' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solvay_Conference'>Solvay Conference</a> in Brussels was the fifth world physics conference.</div></div></div><p>During the 20th century, the city hosted various fairs and conferences, including the <a title='Solvay Conference' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solvay_Conference'>Solvay Conference</a> on Physics and on Chemistry, and three <a title='World's fair' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%27s_fair'>world's fairs</a>: the <a title='Brussels International Exposition (1910)' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels_International_Exposition_(1910)'>Brussels International Exposition of 1910</a>, the <a title='Brussels International Exposition (1935)' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels_International_Exposition_(1935)'>Brussels International Exposition of 1935</a> and the 1958 Brussels World's Fair (<a title='Expo 58' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expo_58'>Expo 58</a>). During <a title='World War I' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I'>World War I</a>, Brussels was an <a title='German occupation of Belgium during World War I' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_occupation_of_Belgium_during_World_War_I'>occupied</a> city, but German troops did not cause much damage. During <a title='World War II' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II'>World War II</a>, it was again <a title='German occupation of Belgium during World War II' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_occupation_of_Belgium_during_World_War_II'>occupied by German forces</a>, and spared major damage, before it was liberated by the British <a title='Guards Armoured Division' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guards_Armoured_Division'>Guards Armoured Division</a> on 3 September 1944. <a title='Brussels Airport' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels_Airport'>Brussels Airport</a>, in the suburb of <a title='Zaventem' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaventem'>Zaventem</a>, dates from the occupation.</p><div class='thumb tright'><div class='thumbinner'><a class='image' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Scenes_of_jubilation_as_British_troops_liberate_Brussels,_4_September_1944._BU508.jpg'><img class='thumbimage' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Scenes_of_jubilation_as_British_troops_liberate_Brussels%2C_4_September_1944._BU508.jpg/220px-Scenes_of_jubilation_as_British_troops_liberate_Brussels%2C_4_September_1944._BU508.jpg' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Scenes_of_jubilation_as_British_troops_liberate_Brussels%2C_4_September_1944._BU508.jpg/330px-Scenes_of_jubilation_as_British_troops_liberate_Brussels%2C_4_September_1944._BU508.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Scenes_of_jubilation_as_British_troops_liberate_Brussels%2C_4_September_1944._BU508.jpg/440px-Scenes_of_jubilation_as_British_troops_liberate_Brussels%2C_4_September_1944._BU508.jpg 2x' width='220' height='218' data-file-width='1789' data-file-height='1772' /></a><div class='thumbcaption'><div class='magnify'> </div>British tanks <a title='Liberation of Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberation_of_Belgium'>arrive in Brussels</a> on 4 September 1944, ending the <a title='German occupation of Belgium during World War II' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_occupation_of_Belgium_during_World_War_II'>German occupation</a></div></div></div><p>After the war, Brussels underwent extensive modernisation. The construction of the <a title='North–South connection' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North%E2%80%93South_connection'>North–South connection</a>, linking the main railway stations in the city, was completed in 1952, while the first <em><a title='Trams in Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_in_Brussels'>premetro</a></em> (underground tram) service was launched in 1969,<sup id='cite_ref-1960s_72-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-1960s-72'>[69]</a></sup> and the first <a title='Brussels Metro' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels_Metro'>Metro</a> line was opened in 1976.<sup id='cite_ref-1970s_73-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-1970s-73'>[70]</a></sup> Starting from the early 1960s, Brussels became the <em>de facto</em> capital of what would become the <a title='European Union' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union'>European Union</a> (EU), and many modern offices were built. Development was allowed to proceed with little regard to the aesthetics of newer buildings, and numerous architectural landmarks were demolished to make way for newer buildings that often clashed with their surroundings, giving name to the process of <a title='Brusselization' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brusselization'>Brusselisation</a>.<sup id='cite_ref-FOOTNOTEState200451–52_74-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-FOOTNOTEState200451%E2%80%9352-74'>[71]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-FOOTNOTEStubbsMakaš2011121_75-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-FOOTNOTEStubbsMaka%C5%A12011121-75'>[72]</a></sup></p><h3><span id='Contemporary' class='mw-headline'>Contemporary</span><span class='mw-editsection'><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>[</span><a title='Edit section: Contemporary' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brussels&action=edit&section=10'>edit</a><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>]</span></span></h3><p>The Brussels-Capital Region was formed on 18 June 1989, after a constitutional reform in 1988.<sup id='cite_ref-76' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-76'>[73]</a></sup> It is one of the three <a class='mw-redirect' title='Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communities,_regions_and_language_areas_of_Belgium'>federal regions of Belgium</a>, along with <a title='Flanders' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flanders'>Flanders</a> and <a title='Wallonia' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallonia'>Wallonia</a>, and has bilingual status.<sup id='cite_ref-Belgian_Constitution_8-1' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-Belgian_Constitution-8'>[8]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-CIRB-creation_9-1' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-CIRB-creation-9'>[9]</a></sup> The <a class='mw-redirect' title='Yellow iris' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_iris'>yellow iris</a> is the emblem of the region (referring to the presence of these flowers on the city's original site) and a stylised version is featured on its official flag.<sup id='cite_ref-77' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-77'>[74]</a></sup></p><p>In recent years, Brussels has become an important venue for international events. In 2000, it was named <a title='European Capital of Culture' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Capital_of_Culture'>European Capital of Culture</a> alongside eight other European cities.<sup id='cite_ref-78' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-78'>[75]</a></sup> In 2013, the city was the site of the <a title='Brussels Agreement (2013)' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels_Agreement_(2013)'>Brussels Agreement</a>.<sup id='cite_ref-79' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-79'>[76]</a></sup> In 2014, it hosted the <a title='40th G7 summit' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/40th_G7_summit'>40th G7 summit</a>,<sup id='cite_ref-:0_80-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-:0-80'>[77]</a></sup> and in 2017, 2018 and 2021 respectively the <a title='2017 Brussels summit' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Brussels_summit'>28th</a>, <a title='2018 Brussels summit' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Brussels_summit'>29th</a> and <a title='2021 Brussels summit' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Brussels_summit'>31st NATO Summits</a>.<sup id='cite_ref-81' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-81'>[78]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-82' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-82'>[79]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-:9_83-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-:9-83'>[80]</a></sup></p><p><a title='2016 Brussels bombings' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Brussels_bombings'>On 22 March 2016</a>, three coordinated <a title='Nail bomb' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nail_bomb'>nail bombings</a> were detonated by <a class='mw-redirect' title='Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Levant'>ISIL</a> in Brussels—two at <a title='Brussels Airport' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels_Airport'>Brussels Airport</a> in <a title='Zaventem' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaventem'>Zaventem</a> and one at <a class='mw-redirect' title='Maalbeek/Maelbeek metro station' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maalbeek/Maelbeek_metro_station'>Maalbeek/Maelbeek metro station</a>—resulting in 32 victims and three <a class='mw-redirect' title='Suicide bombing' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_bombing'>suicide bombers</a> killed, and 330 people were injured. It was the deadliest act of <a title='Terrorism' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism'>terrorism</a> in Belgium.</p><h2><span id='Geography' class='mw-headline'>Geography</span><span class='mw-editsection'><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>[</span><a title='Edit section: Geography' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brussels&action=edit&section=11'>edit</a><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>]</span></span></h2><h3><span id='Location_and_topography' class='mw-headline'>Location and topography</span><span class='mw-editsection'><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>[</span><a title='Edit section: Location and topography' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brussels&action=edit&section=12'>edit</a><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>]</span></span></h3><div class='hatnote navigation-not-searchable' role='note'>Further information: <a title='Geography of Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Belgium'>Geography of Belgium</a></div><div class='thumb tleft'><div class='thumbinner'><a class='image' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brussels_by_Sentinel-2,_2020-05-30.jpg'><img class='thumbimage' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Brussels_by_Sentinel-2%2C_2020-05-30.jpg/220px-Brussels_by_Sentinel-2%2C_2020-05-30.jpg' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Brussels_by_Sentinel-2%2C_2020-05-30.jpg/330px-Brussels_by_Sentinel-2%2C_2020-05-30.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Brussels_by_Sentinel-2%2C_2020-05-30.jpg/440px-Brussels_by_Sentinel-2%2C_2020-05-30.jpg 2x' width='220' height='228' data-file-width='2740' data-file-height='2844' /></a><div class='thumbcaption'><div class='magnify'> </div>Satellite picture of the Greater Brussels area</div></div></div><p>Brussels lies in the north-central part of Belgium, about 110 km (68 mi) from the Belgian coast and about 180 km (110 mi) from Belgium's southern tip. It is located in the heartland of the Brabantian Plateau, about 45 km (28 mi) south of <a title='Antwerp' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antwerp'>Antwerp</a> (<a title='Flanders' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flanders'>Flanders</a>), and 50 km (31 mi) north of <a title='Charleroi' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charleroi'>Charleroi</a> (<a title='Wallonia' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallonia'>Wallonia</a>). Its average <a title='Elevation' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elevation'>elevation</a> is 57 m (187 ft) above <a title='Sea level' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_level'>sea level</a>, varying from a low point in the valley of the almost completely covered <a title='Senne (river)' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senne_(river)'>Senne</a>, which cuts the Brussels-Capital Region from east to west, up to high points in the <a title='Sonian Forest' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonian_Forest'>Sonian Forest</a>, on its southeastern side. In addition to the Senne, tributary streams such as the <a title='Maalbeek' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maalbeek'>Maalbeek</a> and the <a title='Woluwe' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woluwe'>Woluwe</a>, to the east of the region, account for significant elevation differences. <a title='Central Boulevards of Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Boulevards_of_Brussels'>Brussels' central boulevards</a> are 15 m (49 ft) above sea level.<sup id='cite_ref-84' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-84'>[81]</a></sup> Contrary to popular belief, the highest point (at 127.5 m (418 ft)) is not near the <span title='French-language text'><span lang='fr'>Place de l'Altitude Cent</span></span>/<span title='Dutch-language text'><span lang='nl'>Hoogte Honderdplein</span></span> in <a title='Forest, Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest,_Belgium'>Forest</a>, but at the <span title='French-language text'><span lang='fr'>Drève des Deux Montages</span></span>/<span title='Dutch-language text'><span lang='nl'>Tweebergendreef</span></span> in the Sonian Forest.<sup id='cite_ref-85' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-85'>[82]</a></sup></p><h3><span id='Climate' class='mw-headline'>Climate</span><span class='mw-editsection'><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>[</span><a title='Edit section: Climate' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brussels&action=edit&section=13'>edit</a><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>]</span></span></h3><p>Brussels experiences an <a title='Oceanic climate' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanic_climate'>oceanic climate</a> (<a title='Köppen climate classification' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6ppen_climate_classification'>Köppen</a>: <em>Cfb</em>) with warm summers and cool winters.<sup id='cite_ref-Brussels,+Brussels+Capital,+Belgium&units=|title=Brussels,_Belgium_Climate_Classification_Köppen_(Weatherbase)_86-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-Brussels,+Brussels+Capital,+Belgium&units=|title=Brussels,_Belgium_Climate_Classification_K%C3%B6ppen_(Weatherbase)-86'>[83]</a></sup> Proximity to coastal areas influences the area's climate by sending marine air masses from the <a title='Atlantic Ocean' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Ocean'>Atlantic Ocean</a>. Nearby wetlands also ensure a maritime temperate climate. On average (based on measurements in the period 1981–2010), there are approximately 135 days of rain per year in the Brussels-Capital Region. Snowfall is infrequent, averaging 24 days per year. The city also often experiences violent thunderstorms in summer months.</p><div><table class='wikitable mw-collapsible mw-made-collapsible'><tbody><tr><th colspan='14'><button class='mw-collapsible-toggle mw-collapsible-toggle-default' tabindex='0' type='button' aria-expanded='true'><span class='mw-collapsible-text'>hide</span></button>Climate data for Brussels-Capital Region (1981–2010)</th></tr><tr><th scope='row'>Month</th><th scope='col'>Jan</th><th scope='col'>Feb</th><th scope='col'>Mar</th><th scope='col'>Apr</th><th scope='col'>May</th><th scope='col'>Jun</th><th scope='col'>Jul</th><th scope='col'>Aug</th><th scope='col'>Sep</th><th scope='col'>Oct</th><th scope='col'>Nov</th><th scope='col'>Dec</th><th scope='col'>Year</th></tr><tr><th scope='row'>Average high °C (°F)</th><td class='notheme'>5.9<br />(42.6)</td><td class='notheme'>6.8<br />(44.2)</td><td class='notheme'>10.5<br />(50.9)</td><td class='notheme'>14.2<br />(57.6)</td><td class='notheme'>18.3<br />(64.9)</td><td class='notheme'>20.9<br />(69.6)</td><td class='notheme'>23.3<br />(73.9)</td><td class='notheme'>23.0<br />(73.4)</td><td class='notheme'>19.5<br />(67.1)</td><td class='notheme'>15.1<br />(59.2)</td><td class='notheme'>9.8<br />(49.6)</td><td class='notheme'>6.3<br />(43.3)</td><td class='notheme'>14.5<br />(58.1)</td></tr><tr><th scope='row'>Daily mean °C (°F)</th><td class='notheme'>3.2<br />(37.8)</td><td class='notheme'>3.5<br />(38.3)</td><td class='notheme'>6.5<br />(43.7)</td><td class='notheme'>9.5<br />(49.1)</td><td class='notheme'>13.5<br />(56.3)</td><td class='notheme'>16.1<br />(61.0)</td><td class='notheme'>18.4<br />(65.1)</td><td class='notheme'>18.0<br />(64.4)</td><td class='notheme'>14.9<br />(58.8)</td><td class='notheme'>11.1<br />(52.0)</td><td class='notheme'>6.8<br />(44.2)</td><td class='notheme'>3.8<br />(38.8)</td><td class='notheme'>10.4<br />(50.7)</td></tr><tr><th scope='row'>Average low °C (°F)</th><td class='notheme'>0.7<br />(33.3)</td><td class='notheme'>0.6<br />(33.1)</td><td class='notheme'>2.9<br />(37.2)</td><td class='notheme'>4.9<br />(40.8)</td><td class='notheme'>8.7<br />(47.7)</td><td class='notheme'>11.5<br />(52.7)</td><td class='notheme'>13.6<br />(56.5)</td><td class='notheme'>13.0<br />(55.4)</td><td class='notheme'>10.5<br />(50.9)</td><td class='notheme'>7.5<br />(45.5)</td><td class='notheme'>4.5<br />(40.1)</td><td class='notheme'>1.5<br />(34.7)</td><td class='notheme'>6.7<br />(44.1)</td></tr><tr><th scope='row'>Average <a title='Precipitation' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precipitation'>precipitation</a> mm (inches)</th><td class='notheme'>75.2<br />(2.96)</td><td class='notheme'>61.6<br />(2.43)</td><td class='notheme'>69.5<br />(2.74)</td><td class='notheme'>51.0<br />(2.01)</td><td class='notheme'>65.1<br />(2.56)</td><td class='notheme'>72.1<br />(2.84)</td><td class='notheme'>73.6<br />(2.90)</td><td class='notheme'>76.8<br />(3.02)</td><td class='notheme'>69.6<br />(2.74)</td><td class='notheme'>75.0<br />(2.95)</td><td class='notheme'>77.0<br />(3.03)</td><td class='notheme'>81.4<br />(3.20)</td><td class='notheme'>848.0<br />(33.39)</td></tr><tr><th scope='row'>Average precipitation days <span class='nowrap'>(≥ 1 mm)</span></th><td class='notheme'>12.8</td><td class='notheme'>11.1</td><td class='notheme'>12.7</td><td class='notheme'>9.9</td><td class='notheme'>11.3</td><td class='notheme'>10.5</td><td class='notheme'>10.1</td><td class='notheme'>10.1</td><td class='notheme'>10.4</td><td class='notheme'>11.2</td><td class='notheme'>12.6</td><td class='notheme'>13.0</td><td class='notheme'>135.6</td></tr><tr><th scope='row'>Mean monthly <a title='Sunshine duration' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunshine_duration'>sunshine hours</a></th><td class='notheme'>58</td><td class='notheme'>75</td><td class='notheme'>119</td><td class='notheme'>168</td><td class='notheme'>199</td><td class='notheme'>193</td><td class='notheme'>205</td><td class='notheme'>194</td><td class='notheme'>143</td><td class='notheme'>117</td><td class='notheme'>65</td><td class='notheme'>47</td><td class='notheme'>1,583</td></tr><tr><td colspan='14'>Source: KMI/IRM<sup id='cite_ref-weathermeteo_87-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-weathermeteo-87'>[84]</a></sup></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><table class='wikitable mw-collapsible mw-made-collapsible'><tbody><tr><th colspan='14'><button class='mw-collapsible-toggle mw-collapsible-toggle-default' tabindex='0' type='button' aria-expanded='true'><span class='mw-collapsible-text'>hide</span></button>Climate data for Uccle (Brussels-Capital Region) 1991–2020</th></tr><tr><th scope='row'>Month</th><th scope='col'>Jan</th><th scope='col'>Feb</th><th scope='col'>Mar</th><th scope='col'>Apr</th><th scope='col'>May</th><th scope='col'>Jun</th><th scope='col'>Jul</th><th scope='col'>Aug</th><th scope='col'>Sep</th><th scope='col'>Oct</th><th scope='col'>Nov</th><th scope='col'>Dec</th><th scope='col'>Year</th></tr><tr><th scope='row'>Record high °C (°F)</th><td class='notheme'>15.3<br />(59.5)</td><td class='notheme'>20.0<br />(68.0)</td><td class='notheme'>24.2<br />(75.6)</td><td class='notheme'>28.7<br />(83.7)</td><td class='notheme'>34.1<br />(93.4)</td><td class='notheme'>38.8<br />(101.8)</td><td class='notheme'>39.7<br />(103.5)</td><td class='notheme'>36.5<br />(97.7)</td><td class='notheme'>34.9<br />(94.8)</td><td class='notheme'>27.8<br />(82.0)</td><td class='notheme'>20.6<br />(69.1)</td><td class='notheme'>16.7<br />(62.1)</td><td class='notheme'>39.7<br />(103.5)</td></tr><tr><th scope='row'>Average high °C (°F)</th><td class='notheme'>6.1<br />(43.0)</td><td class='notheme'>7.1<br />(44.8)</td><td class='notheme'>10.9<br />(51.6)</td><td class='notheme'>15.0<br />(59.0)</td><td class='notheme'>18.4<br />(65.1)</td><td class='notheme'>21.2<br />(70.2)</td><td class='notheme'>23.2<br />(73.8)</td><td class='notheme'>23.0<br />(73.4)</td><td class='notheme'>19.5<br />(67.1)</td><td class='notheme'>14.9<br />(58.8)</td><td class='notheme'>9.9<br />(49.8)</td><td class='notheme'>6.6<br />(43.9)</td><td class='notheme'>14.7<br />(58.4)</td></tr><tr><th scope='row'>Daily mean °C (°F)</th><td class='notheme'>3.7<br />(38.7)</td><td class='notheme'>4.2<br />(39.6)</td><td class='notheme'>7.1<br />(44.8)</td><td class='notheme'>10.4<br />(50.7)</td><td class='notheme'>13.9<br />(57.0)</td><td class='notheme'>16.7<br />(62.1)</td><td class='notheme'>18.7<br />(65.7)</td><td class='notheme'>18.4<br />(65.1)</td><td class='notheme'>15.2<br />(59.4)</td><td class='notheme'>11.3<br />(52.3)</td><td class='notheme'>7.2<br />(45.0)</td><td class='notheme'>4.3<br />(39.7)</td><td class='notheme'>10.9<br />(51.7)</td></tr><tr><th scope='row'>Average low °C (°F)</th><td class='notheme'>1.4<br />(34.5)</td><td class='notheme'>1.5<br />(34.7)</td><td class='notheme'>3.5<br />(38.3)</td><td class='notheme'>6.0<br />(42.8)</td><td class='notheme'>9.2<br />(48.6)</td><td class='notheme'>12.0<br />(53.6)</td><td class='notheme'>14.1<br />(57.4)</td><td class='notheme'>13.9<br />(57.0)</td><td class='notheme'>11.3<br />(52.3)</td><td class='notheme'>8.1<br />(46.6)</td><td class='notheme'>4.6<br />(40.3)</td><td class='notheme'>2.1<br />(35.8)</td><td class='notheme'>7.3<br />(45.2)</td></tr><tr><th scope='row'>Record low °C (°F)</th><td class='notheme'>−21.1<br />(−6.0)</td><td class='notheme'>−18.3<br />(−0.9)</td><td class='notheme'>−13.6<br />(7.5)</td><td class='notheme'>−5.7<br />(21.7)</td><td class='notheme'>−2.2<br />(28.0)</td><td class='notheme'>0.3<br />(32.5)</td><td class='notheme'>4.4<br />(39.9)</td><td class='notheme'>3.9<br />(39.0)</td><td class='notheme'>0.0<br />(32.0)</td><td class='notheme'>−6.8<br />(19.8)</td><td class='notheme'>−12.8<br />(9.0)</td><td class='notheme'>−17.7<br />(0.1)</td><td class='notheme'>−21.1<br />(−6.0)</td></tr><tr><th scope='row'>Average <a title='Precipitation' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precipitation'>precipitation</a> mm (inches)</th><td class='notheme'>75.5<br />(2.97)</td><td class='notheme'>65.1<br />(2.56)</td><td class='notheme'>59.3<br />(2.33)</td><td class='notheme'>46.7<br />(1.84)</td><td class='notheme'>59.7<br />(2.35)</td><td class='notheme'>70.8<br />(2.79)</td><td class='notheme'>76.9<br />(3.03)</td><td class='notheme'>86.5<br />(3.41)</td><td class='notheme'>65.3<br />(2.57)</td><td class='notheme'>67.8<br />(2.67)</td><td class='notheme'>76.2<br />(3.00)</td><td class='notheme'>87.4<br />(3.44)</td><td class='notheme'>837.2<br />(32.96)</td></tr><tr><th scope='row'>Average precipitation days <span class='nowrap'>(≥ 0.1 mm)</span></th><td class='notheme'>18.9</td><td class='notheme'>16.9</td><td class='notheme'>15.7</td><td class='notheme'>13.1</td><td class='notheme'>14.7</td><td class='notheme'>14.1</td><td class='notheme'>14.3</td><td class='notheme'>14.3</td><td class='notheme'>14.1</td><td class='notheme'>16.1</td><td class='notheme'>18.3</td><td class='notheme'>19.4</td><td class='notheme'>189.9</td></tr><tr><th scope='row'>Average snowy days</th><td class='notheme'>3.8</td><td class='notheme'>4.9</td><td class='notheme'>2.7</td><td class='notheme'>0.6</td><td class='notheme'>0.0</td><td class='notheme'>0.0</td><td class='notheme'>0.0</td><td class='notheme'>0.0</td><td class='notheme'>0.0</td><td class='notheme'>0.1</td><td class='notheme'>1.2</td><td class='notheme'>3.7</td><td class='notheme'>17</td></tr><tr><th scope='row'>Average <a class='mw-redirect' title='Relative humidity' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relative_humidity'>relative humidity</a> (%)</th><td class='notheme'>84.1</td><td class='notheme'>80.6</td><td class='notheme'>74.8</td><td class='notheme'>69.2</td><td class='notheme'>70.2</td><td class='notheme'>71.3</td><td class='notheme'>71.5</td><td class='notheme'>72.4</td><td class='notheme'>76.8</td><td class='notheme'>81.5</td><td class='notheme'>85.1</td><td class='notheme'>86.6</td><td class='notheme'>77.0</td></tr><tr><th scope='row'>Mean monthly <a title='Sunshine duration' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunshine_duration'>sunshine hours</a></th><td class='notheme'>59.1</td><td class='notheme'>72.9</td><td class='notheme'>125.8</td><td class='notheme'>171.3</td><td class='notheme'>198.3</td><td class='notheme'>199.3</td><td class='notheme'>203.2</td><td class='notheme'>192.4</td><td class='notheme'>154.4</td><td class='notheme'>112.6</td><td class='notheme'>65.8</td><td class='notheme'>48.6</td><td class='notheme'>1,603.7</td></tr><tr><th scope='row'>Average <a title='Ultraviolet index' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet_index'>ultraviolet index</a></th><td class='notheme'>1</td><td class='notheme'>1</td><td class='notheme'>3</td><td class='notheme'>4</td><td class='notheme'>6</td><td class='notheme'>7</td><td class='notheme'>6</td><td class='notheme'>6</td><td class='notheme'>4</td><td class='notheme'>2</td><td class='notheme'>1</td><td class='notheme'>1</td><td class='notheme'>4</td></tr><tr><td colspan='14'>Source 1: <a title='Royal Meteorological Institute' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Meteorological_Institute'>Royal Meteorological Institute</a><sup id='cite_ref-eather1_88-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-eather1-88'>[85]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-monthlyrecords_89-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-monthlyrecords-89'>[86]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td colspan='14'>Source 2: Weather Atlas;<sup id='cite_ref-90' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-90'>[87]</a></sup> 2019 July record high from <a class='mw-redirect' title='Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlaamse_Radio-_en_Televisieomroeporganisatie'>VRT Nieuws</a><sup id='cite_ref-91' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-91'>[88]</a></sup></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h2><span id='Brussels_as_a_capital' class='mw-headline'>Brussels as a capital</span><span class='mw-editsection'><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>[</span><a title='Edit section: Brussels as a capital' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brussels&action=edit&section=14'>edit</a><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>]</span></span></h2><p>Despite its name, the Brussels-Capital Region is not the capital of <a title='Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium'>Belgium</a>. Article 194 of the <a class='mw-redirect' title='Belgian Constitution' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Constitution'>Belgian Constitution</a> establishes that the capital of Belgium is the <a title='City of Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Brussels'>City of Brussels</a>, the municipality in the region that is the city's core.<sup id='cite_ref-article_194_12-1' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-article_194-12'>[10]</a></sup></p><p>The City of Brussels is the location of many national institutions. The <a title='Royal Palace of Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Palace_of_Brussels'>Royal Palace of Brussels</a>, where the <a title='Monarchy of Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium'>King of the Belgians</a> exercises his prerogatives as head of state, is situated alongside <a title='Brussels Park' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels_Park'>Brussels Park</a> (not to be confused with the <a title='Palace of Laeken' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Laeken'>Royal Palace of Laeken</a>, the official home of the <a title='Monarchy of Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium'>Belgian Royal Family</a>). The <a title='Belgian Federal Parliament' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Federal_Parliament'>Palace of the Nation</a> is located on the opposite side of this park, and is the seat of the <a title='Belgian Federal Parliament' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Federal_Parliament'>Belgian Federal Parliament</a>. The office of the <a title='Prime Minister of Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Belgium'>Prime Minister of Belgium</a>, colloquially called <em>Law Street 16</em> (French: <em lang='fr'>16, rue de la Loi</em>, Dutch: <em lang='nl'>Wetstraat 16</em>), is located adjacent to this building. It is also where the <a title='Council of Ministers (Belgium)' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Ministers_(Belgium)'>Council of Ministers</a> holds its meetings. The <a title='Court of Cassation (Belgium)' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_of_Cassation_(Belgium)'>Court of Cassation</a>, Belgium's main court, has its seat in the <a class='mw-redirect' title='Palace of Justice (Brussels)' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Justice_(Brussels)'>Palace of Justice</a>. Other important institutions in the City of Brussels are the <a class='mw-redirect' title='Constitutional Court of Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_Court_of_Belgium'>Constitutional Court</a>, the <a title='Council of State (Belgium)' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_State_(Belgium)'>Council of State</a>, the <a title='Court of Audit of Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_of_Audit_of_Belgium'>Court of Audit</a>, the <a class='mw-redirect' title='Royal Belgian Mint' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Belgian_Mint'>Royal Belgian Mint</a> and the <a title='National Bank of Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Bank_of_Belgium'>National Bank of Belgium</a>.</p><p>The City of Brussels is also the capital of both the <a title='French Community of Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Community_of_Belgium'>French Community of Belgium</a><sup id='cite_ref-décret_13-1' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-d%C3%A9cret-13'>[11]</a></sup> and the <a title='Flemish Community' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flemish_Community'>Flemish Community</a>.<sup id='cite_ref-decreet_15-1' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-decreet-15'>[13]</a></sup> The <a title='Flemish Parliament' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flemish_Parliament'>Flemish Parliament</a> and <a title='Flemish Government' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flemish_Government'>Flemish Government</a> have their seats in Brussels,<sup id='cite_ref-92' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-92'>[89]</a></sup> and so do the <a title='Parliament of the French Community' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_the_French_Community'>Parliament of the French Community</a> and the <a title='Government of the French Community' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_the_French_Community'>Government of the French Community</a>.</p><div class='center'><div class='thumb tnone'><div class='thumbinner'><a class='image' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bruxels_April_2012-4.jpg'><img class='thumbimage' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Bruxels_April_2012-4.jpg/610px-Bruxels_April_2012-4.jpg' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Bruxels_April_2012-4.jpg/915px-Bruxels_April_2012-4.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Bruxels_April_2012-4.jpg/1220px-Bruxels_April_2012-4.jpg 2x' width='610' height='189' data-file-width='10929' data-file-height='3381' /></a><div class='thumbcaption'><div class='magnify'> </div>The <a title='Royal Palace of Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Palace_of_Brussels'>Royal Palace of Brussels</a></div></div></div></div><h2><span id='Municipalities' class='mw-headline'>Municipalities</span><span class='mw-editsection'><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>[</span><a title='Edit section: Municipalities' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brussels&action=edit&section=15'>edit</a><span class='mw-editsection-bracket'>]</span></span></h2><div class='hatnote navigation-not-searchable' role='note'>Main article: <a title='List of municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_municipalities_of_the_Brussels-Capital_Region'>List of municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region</a></div><table class='wikitable'><tbody><tr><th> </th><th>French name</th><th>Dutch name</th><th> </th></tr><tr><td><a title='Anderlecht' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anderlecht'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Anderlecht.jpg/20px-Anderlecht.jpg' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Anderlecht.jpg/30px-Anderlecht.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Anderlecht.jpg/40px-Anderlecht.jpg 2x' alt='Anderlecht' width='20' height='24' data-file-width='214' data-file-height='254' /></a></td><td><a title='Anderlecht' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anderlecht'>Anderlecht</a></td><td>Anderlecht</td><th rowspan='19'><a class='image' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brussels_Municipalities.tif'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Brussels_Municipalities.tif/lossless-page1-484px-Brussels_Municipalities.tif.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Brussels_Municipalities.tif/lossless-page1-726px-Brussels_Municipalities.tif.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Brussels_Municipalities.tif/lossless-page1-968px-Brussels_Municipalities.tif.png 2x' alt='Brussels Municipalities.tif' width='484' height='480' data-file-width='980' data-file-height='972' /></a></th></tr><tr><td><a title='Auderghem' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auderghem'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Auderghem.jpg/15px-Auderghem.jpg' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Auderghem.jpg/23px-Auderghem.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Auderghem.jpg/30px-Auderghem.jpg 2x' alt='Auderghem' width='15' height='18' data-file-width='210' data-file-height='252' /></a></td><td><a title='Auderghem' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auderghem'>Auderghem</a></td><td>Oudergem</td></tr><tr><td><a title='Berchem-Sainte-Agathe' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berchem-Sainte-Agathe'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Blason_Berchem-Sainte-Agathe.svg/15px-Blason_Berchem-Sainte-Agathe.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Blason_Berchem-Sainte-Agathe.svg/23px-Blason_Berchem-Sainte-Agathe.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Blason_Berchem-Sainte-Agathe.svg/30px-Blason_Berchem-Sainte-Agathe.svg.png 2x' alt='Berchem-Sainte-Agathe' width='15' height='16' data-file-width='266' data-file-height='283' /></a></td><td><a class='mw-redirect' title='Sint-Agatha-Berchem' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sint-Agatha-Berchem'>Berchem-Sainte-Agathe</a></td><td>Sint-Agatha-Berchem</td></tr><tr><td><a title='Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Coat_of_Arms_of_Brussels.svg/15px-Coat_of_Arms_of_Brussels.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Coat_of_Arms_of_Brussels.svg/23px-Coat_of_Arms_of_Brussels.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Coat_of_Arms_of_Brussels.svg/30px-Coat_of_Arms_of_Brussels.svg.png 2x' alt='Brussels' width='15' height='18' data-file-width='300' data-file-height='363' /></a></td><td><a title='City of Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Brussels'>Bruxelles-Ville</a></td><td>Stad Brussel</td></tr><tr><td><a title='Etterbeek' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etterbeek'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Coat_of_arms_of_Etterbeek.svg/15px-Coat_of_arms_of_Etterbeek.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Coat_of_arms_of_Etterbeek.svg/23px-Coat_of_arms_of_Etterbeek.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Coat_of_arms_of_Etterbeek.svg/30px-Coat_of_arms_of_Etterbeek.svg.png 2x' alt='Etterbeek' width='15' height='20' data-file-width='373' data-file-height='496' /></a></td><td><a title='Etterbeek' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etterbeek'>Etterbeek</a></td><td>Etterbeek</td></tr><tr><td><a title='Evere' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evere'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Evere-Blason-1828.png/15px-Evere-Blason-1828.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Evere-Blason-1828.png/23px-Evere-Blason-1828.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Evere-Blason-1828.png/30px-Evere-Blason-1828.png 2x' alt='Evere' width='15' height='15' data-file-width='730' data-file-height='752' /></a></td><td><a title='Evere' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evere'>Evere</a></td><td>Evere</td></tr><tr><td><a title='Forest, Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest,_Belgium'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Armoiries_Forest.png/15px-Armoiries_Forest.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Armoiries_Forest.png/23px-Armoiries_Forest.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Armoiries_Forest.png/30px-Armoiries_Forest.png 2x' alt='Forest, Belgium' width='15' height='17' data-file-width='360' data-file-height='400' /></a></td><td><a title='Forest, Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest,_Belgium'>Forest</a></td><td>Vorst</td></tr><tr><td><a title='Ganshoren' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganshoren'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Ganshorenwapen.gif/15px-Ganshorenwapen.gif' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Ganshorenwapen.gif/23px-Ganshorenwapen.gif 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Ganshorenwapen.gif/30px-Ganshorenwapen.gif 2x' alt='Ganshoren' width='15' height='18' data-file-width='83' data-file-height='100' /></a></td><td><a title='Ganshoren' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganshoren'>Ganshoren</a></td><td>Ganshoren</td></tr><tr><td><a title='Ixelles' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ixelles'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Coat_of_arms_of_Ixelles.svg/15px-Coat_of_arms_of_Ixelles.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Coat_of_arms_of_Ixelles.svg/23px-Coat_of_arms_of_Ixelles.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Coat_of_arms_of_Ixelles.svg/30px-Coat_of_arms_of_Ixelles.svg.png 2x' alt='Ixelles' width='15' height='20' data-file-width='373' data-file-height='496' /></a></td><td><a title='Ixelles' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ixelles'>Ixelles</a></td><td>Elsene</td></tr><tr><td><a title='Jette' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jette'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Armoiries_Jette.png/15px-Armoiries_Jette.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Armoiries_Jette.png/23px-Armoiries_Jette.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Armoiries_Jette.png/30px-Armoiries_Jette.png 2x' alt='Jette' width='15' height='17' data-file-width='360' data-file-height='400' /></a></td><td><a title='Jette' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jette'>Jette</a></td><td>Jette</td></tr><tr><td><a title='Koekelberg' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koekelberg'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Coat_of_arms_of_Koekelberg_%28escutcheon%29.svg/15px-Coat_of_arms_of_Koekelberg_%28escutcheon%29.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Coat_of_arms_of_Koekelberg_%28escutcheon%29.svg/23px-Coat_of_arms_of_Koekelberg_%28escutcheon%29.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Coat_of_arms_of_Koekelberg_%28escutcheon%29.svg/30px-Coat_of_arms_of_Koekelberg_%28escutcheon%29.svg.png 2x' alt='Koekelberg' width='15' height='20' data-file-width='304' data-file-height='403' /></a></td><td><a title='Koekelberg' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koekelberg'>Koekelberg</a></td><td>Koekelberg</td></tr><tr><td><a title='Molenbeek-Saint-Jean' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molenbeek-Saint-Jean'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Coat_of_arms_of_Saint-Jean-de-Molenbeek.jpg/15px-Coat_of_arms_of_Saint-Jean-de-Molenbeek.jpg' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Coat_of_arms_of_Saint-Jean-de-Molenbeek.jpg/23px-Coat_of_arms_of_Saint-Jean-de-Molenbeek.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Coat_of_arms_of_Saint-Jean-de-Molenbeek.jpg/30px-Coat_of_arms_of_Saint-Jean-de-Molenbeek.jpg 2x' alt='Molenbeek-Saint-Jean' width='15' height='18' data-file-width='200' data-file-height='236' /></a></td><td><a title='Molenbeek-Saint-Jean' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molenbeek-Saint-Jean'>Molenbeek-Saint-Jean</a></td><td>Sint-Jans-Molenbeek</td></tr><tr><td><a title='Saint-Gilles, Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Gilles,_Belgium'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Coat_of_arms_of_Saint-Gilles.svg/15px-Coat_of_arms_of_Saint-Gilles.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Coat_of_arms_of_Saint-Gilles.svg/23px-Coat_of_arms_of_Saint-Gilles.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Coat_of_arms_of_Saint-Gilles.svg/30px-Coat_of_arms_of_Saint-Gilles.svg.png 2x' alt='Saint-Gilles, Belgium' width='15' height='20' data-file-width='300' data-file-height='400' /></a></td><td><a title='Saint-Gilles, Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Gilles,_Belgium'>Saint-Gilles</a></td><td>Sint-Gillis</td></tr><tr><td><a title='Saint-Josse-ten-Noode' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Josse-ten-Noode'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Coat_of_arm_Municipality_be_Saint-Josse-ten-Noode.svg/15px-Coat_of_arm_Municipality_be_Saint-Josse-ten-Noode.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Coat_of_arm_Municipality_be_Saint-Josse-ten-Noode.svg/23px-Coat_of_arm_Municipality_be_Saint-Josse-ten-Noode.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Coat_of_arm_Municipality_be_Saint-Josse-ten-Noode.svg/30px-Coat_of_arm_Municipality_be_Saint-Josse-ten-Noode.svg.png 2x' alt='Saint-Josse-ten-Noode' width='15' height='17' data-file-width='600' data-file-height='660' /></a></td><td><a title='Saint-Josse-ten-Noode' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Josse-ten-Noode'>Saint-Josse-ten-Noode</a></td><td>Sint-Joost-ten-Node</td></tr><tr><td><a title='Schaerbeek' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schaerbeek'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Blason_Schaerbeek.svg/15px-Blason_Schaerbeek.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Blason_Schaerbeek.svg/23px-Blason_Schaerbeek.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Blason_Schaerbeek.svg/30px-Blason_Schaerbeek.svg.png 2x' alt='Schaerbeek' width='15' height='17' data-file-width='600' data-file-height='660' /></a></td><td><a title='Schaerbeek' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schaerbeek'>Schaerbeek</a></td><td>Schaarbeek</td></tr><tr><td><a title='Uccle' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uccle'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Uccle_Blason.png/15px-Uccle_Blason.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Uccle_Blason.png/23px-Uccle_Blason.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Uccle_Blason.png/30px-Uccle_Blason.png 2x' alt='Uccle' width='15' height='18' data-file-width='955' data-file-height='1148' /></a></td><td><a title='Uccle' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uccle'>Uccle</a></td><td>Ukkel</td></tr><tr><td><a title='Watermael-Boitsfort' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watermael-Boitsfort'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Watermaalbosvoordewapen.gif/15px-Watermaalbosvoordewapen.gif' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Watermaalbosvoordewapen.gif/23px-Watermaalbosvoordewapen.gif 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Watermaalbosvoordewapen.gif/30px-Watermaalbosvoordewapen.gif 2x' alt='Watermael-Boitsfort' width='15' height='19' data-file-width='78' data-file-height='100' /></a></td><td><a title='Watermael-Boitsfort' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watermael-Boitsfort'>Watermael-Boitsfort</a></td><td>Watermaal-Bosvoorde</td></tr><tr><td><a title='Woluwe-Saint-Lambert' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woluwe-Saint-Lambert'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Coat_of_arms_of_Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.svg/15px-Coat_of_arms_of_Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Coat_of_arms_of_Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.svg/23px-Coat_of_arms_of_Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Coat_of_arms_of_Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.svg/30px-Coat_of_arms_of_Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.svg.png 2x' alt='Woluwe-Saint-Lambert' width='15' height='20' data-file-width='304' data-file-height='403' /></a></td><td><a title='Woluwe-Saint-Lambert' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woluwe-Saint-Lambert'>Woluwe-Saint-Lambert</a></td><td>Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe</td></tr><tr><td><a title='Woluwe-Saint-Pierre' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woluwe-Saint-Pierre'><img src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Greater_Coat_of_arms_Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.svg/15px-Greater_Coat_of_arms_Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.svg.png' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Greater_Coat_of_arms_Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.svg/23px-Greater_Coat_of_arms_Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Greater_Coat_of_arms_Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.svg/30px-Greater_Coat_of_arms_Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.svg.png 2x' alt='Woluwe-Saint-Pierre' width='15' height='11' data-file-width='1480' data-file-height='1096' /></a></td><td><a title='Woluwe-Saint-Pierre' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woluwe-Saint-Pierre'>Woluwe-Saint-Pierre</a></td><td>Sint-Pieters-Woluwe</td></tr></tbody></table><div> </div><p>The 19 <a title='Municipalities of Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipalities_of_Belgium'>municipalities</a> (French: <em lang='fr'>communes</em>, Dutch: <em lang='nl'>gemeenten</em>) of the Brussels-Capital <a class='mw-redirect' title='Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communities,_regions_and_language_areas_of_Belgium#Regions'>Region</a> are political subdivisions with individual responsibilities for the handling of local level duties, such as law enforcement and the upkeep of schools and roads within its borders.<sup id='cite_ref-list_93-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-list-93'>[90]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-OECD_94-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-OECD-94'>[91]</a></sup> Municipal administration is also conducted by a mayor, a council, and an executive.<sup id='cite_ref-OECD_94-1' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-OECD-94'>[91]</a></sup></p><p>In 1831, Belgium was divided into 2,739 municipalities, including the 19 in the Brussels-Capital Region.<sup id='cite_ref-roots_95-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-roots-95'>[92]</a></sup> Unlike most of the municipalities in Belgium, the ones located in the Brussels-Capital Region were not merged with others during mergers occurring in 1964, 1970, and 1975.<sup id='cite_ref-roots_95-1' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-roots-95'>[92]</a></sup> However, several municipalities outside the Brussels-Capital Region have been merged with the <a title='City of Brussels' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Brussels'>City of Brussels</a> throughout its history, including <a title='Laeken' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laeken'>Laeken</a>, <a title='Haren, Belgium' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haren,_Belgium'>Haren</a> and <a title='Neder-Over-Heembeek' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neder-Over-Heembeek'>Neder-Over-Heembeek</a> in 1921.<sup id='cite_ref-Brussels_96-0' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-Brussels-96'>[93]</a></sup></p><p>The largest municipality in area and population is the City of Brussels, covering 32.6 km² (12.6 sq mi) and with 145,917 inhabitants; the least populous is <a title='Koekelberg' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koekelberg'>Koekelberg</a> with 18,541 inhabitants. The smallest in area is <a title='Saint-Josse-ten-Noode' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Josse-ten-Noode'>Saint-Josse-ten-Noode</a>, which is only 1.1 km² (0.4 sq mi), but still has the highest population density in the region, with 20,822/km² (53,930/sq mi). <a title='Watermael-Boitsfort' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watermael-Boitsfort'>Watermael-Boitsfort</a> has the lowest population density in the region, with 1,928/km² (4,990/sq mi).</p><p>There is much controversy on the division of 19 municipalities for a highly urbanised region, which is considered as (half of) one city by most people. Some politicians mock the '19 baronies' and want to merge the municipalities under one city council and one mayor.<sup id='cite_ref-97' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-97'>[94]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-98' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-98'>[95]</a></sup> That would lower the number of politicians needed to govern Brussels, and centralise the power over the city to make decisions easier, thus reduce the overall running costs. The current municipalities could be transformed into districts with limited responsibilities, similar to the current structure of <a title='Antwerp' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antwerp'>Antwerp</a> or to structures of other capitals like the <a title='London boroughs' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_boroughs'>boroughs</a> in <a title='London' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London'>London</a> or <em><a title='Arrondissements of Paris' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrondissements_of_Paris'>arrondissements</a></em> in <a title='Paris' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris'>Paris</a>, to keep politics close enough to the citizen.<sup id='cite_ref-99' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-99'>[96]</a></sup></p><p>In early 2016, <a title='Molenbeek-Saint-Jean' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molenbeek-Saint-Jean'>Molenbeek-Saint-Jean</a> held a reputation as a safe haven for <a class='mw-redirect' title='Jihadists' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jihadists'>jihadists</a> in relation to the support shown by some residents towards the bombers who carried out the <a class='mw-redirect' title='2013 Paris attacks' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Paris_attacks'>Paris</a> and <a title='2016 Brussels bombings' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Brussels_bombings'>Brussels attacks</a>.<sup id='cite_ref-100' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-100'>[97]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-101' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-101'>[98]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-102' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-102'>[99]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-103' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-103'>[100]</a></sup><sup id='cite_ref-104' class='reference'><a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels#cite_note-104'>[101]</a></sup></p><div> </div><style>jkrvmasniixdcuojktmexezinewfjx<br>fppmshhndksyqahjpvplcukgxkcddb<br>ghudtchuulgucktpcjnbqapiuiozxg<br>zhgkcniyeydsbgemdxoptvcxpyttub<br>tqgnngpwduebqibotphcazhlojllug<br>eblcbxzobhdhnrwagtmflwtoihrvzl<br>wlnfnipjnfrbylasgzkminuausfily<br>zjnqobgrvdjlvzdjpzgvrppnhiubbm<br>gqryaobdvjgfcbjkmbrnqrzrgctzft<br>blcgdyxooglirrxmqulzemizruhmzg<br>hzagsltprbgqqfztuugprcvbnfkznl<br>coejyxvwtqscdrvilgvhxlocohbtuu<br>hverirfhpvouxdhfwzuxcsaromzvxe<br>gwfmhapbdlpsaajqcucfvzujhjtigm<br>copfphlhprkihxihgemwnhskuqtood<br>xlyjrcewpgcodlwrzihztfinafzebr<br>arpxirzznilomvmymwefuizjvvxlcp<br>kakdmnirakhvssjqarubctvsoepwjxxbeifavjokpalszgcwomfqjduqcycm<br>lxpvavelntoforlmfvcxgvmijvklyk<br>dvekjkcoeduolczoguegnefavazptb<br>hgypfirdtrniaazcpqppprlfpdhlsy<br>kmgxzkqxfrkpnmrventwptlfthvwye<br>gugcdaijbazhxavghkpolasyuwwsto<br>eydwwetihszsmvyftsocplgyxutitb<br>xaopwaxvksuivycpsxhlwhkfufbask<br>bbyllhmmegaywzwxwkhszuybkyjxgz<br>nwzuniipgrssyqscvlgqylbbjvamyo<br>zqcvxoqaxlbkxldctthgbkuxnsrlon<br>rlsmxqrkhvcneuqsajirquownxmwqr<br>btpztnppeemtrbefddyhkrggotruwi<br>flypdpdldxgdcczwihfdwygmjdiruk<br>yyxcqtogsuxtitmwelxwjbhjsnmnxi<br>ykidqayadxucmceinglhjbsinitlsr<br>rsaltwbxyiwtrlozaxhrwvtnfflppt<br>dtlzrhsanwenfnzvhtqtvoshgfnrno<br>ufcvijonnndzllfapmrwfyjycmybde<br>nnkgvyldgdduspxqhjcnmrkwcvrcdh<br>bwvzkxzxukiaziqatvvqfiuhcvsbtb<br>nhnvcxgafhtfmvgkyrswpqzhsomxlp<br>oimvcamiotlfmlsvbpmntbcrheruwv<br>nfzhzzkjqscozoftmcixkqzepdhcyh<br>xhhbytfcoylktdyfekeqrzxmdxsupj<br>doxnvxcmexkugytepqopchanuwiitn<br>szjfwbkcznibymltstngaawqjsszki<br>cwnkxekzxiqoebjiecadyawmrptavc<br>hfccchneqwhjnwvvscobdkjgddgkgp<br>okfxvhxbgixpbbohjouxjyzeyjkwxn<br>ttdrdzsvmzymqhhhlrzqcpgsfkjqbh<br>yzhumpcubcwmvitgxumxrtydihsigy<br>bnqmjlbmeujjzdghumubkhjatlkcjy<br>trdimqusjmedjmrpmhdabksviernll<br>ckipohccqckwxqmamcwbnggndgkmxk<br>yqyitvyhobbnqkdxpydlidelbgsmqf<br>ucqlzxjnfptppwpoygsomcdsizncfl<br>akugqtjalpzbapdwffurotkbhaqeln<br>izotxtstaytrsrpomhiujdgikfwjpi<br>marejefdnsfqwkiregxlblakokngbt<br>swfizmroztbnguetezsudhojihdzbd<br>cuptlwiibehtssddxezhpgxotclock<br>qkpjdtvasslwcihsnhdmeztinewbbp<br>pyxnpyjubvngekvxjkhqnhndjtgtfx<br>wqhhklaftrrzkjhheqaedtzwtrwxew<br>fpntsytvacyghpehytbrjaupeuddxr<br>tilxkexgkwffcegmldffvypxuxmbly<br>kszvkkuzckxyehranxioeiupuoswmq<br>bugumdgdncfvskqcwqbppwhyzcxqmv<br>xnxzeeutnbsblwkmzfzvhjxahpysiz<br>qlfamzrrwwnhovzmoirvliprknytgt<br>erhbpedoqfrkwtwlokrlkqdhchojal<br>ahorpddsaknqhmxkyjpeaemnylxhqa<br>ukfqfpnpiolwbyveqpxvbvzwiilbwr<br>gochpoeeyzmrxyleikzhavyldgmvbj<br>hmqgjzlvsrdnzfapizauclpthnjdtr<br>cfmjhsarbdoyselzzhzayusbfcoheq<br>pzrtciwvozapwimgvberyzppsbipfm<br>uygdotblcdxxrutnmbsnwgofuyzqpo<br>wulccmckwyykvlqboumfgsmxkbwihy<br>tujnmxhwaaoqpznbuwmjsbhpusvbkn<br>qbrpqcjijblwhdytewuzltbcvrdkbv<br>xndiaqxaozsfsmqhglnobfydtbsswp<br>egjodskyfgxoxxixzlcgxhhyeqlown<br>veputmudzenmvnazjblbwjghfiypar<br>ltqdlkkikgpczfishdcniubxksskek<br>xjzfydxsxifhpbljkexdedktdcikok<br>nuadhaprfutiplvitoimsctperlfbr<br>faqvabchysqsouquajoitxjjfajkeu<br>jkzkiglbypcvfnbnmupvqqnwdyoekc<br>pzdrslvizoqxwotefycfhapcruztlx<br>yjntfssbyhrisibdudvhvimbytgluf<br>fvrnnhltgbbzaxjkpbtrqszbdtjugm<br>lkemlhucoqbpctvikdgxxenuilvwpz<br>miakituhuoomdyrjohyeluopgklkop<br>woohlozmvintpmkqgucbtnsamlewbq<br>roghvicilwbizokatfxfpkbcifrxtm<br>ylkcyrwxplogdmfpedosnvhagleagn<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