Introduction
Brussels
[key], Fr. Bruxelles, Du. Brussel, city
and region (2021 pop., 2,095,688), 63 sq mi (162 sq km),
capital
of Belgium, central Belgium, on the Senne River and at the junction of the
Charleroi-Brussels and Willebroek canals. The city lies within, but is not
part of, Flemish Brabant. It is
officially bilingual (French and Dutch), although French is more widely
spoken. Brussels is an important administrative, financial, cultural,
commercial, and industrial center and a major rail junction. Much of the
administration of the European Union
takes place in Brussels, and it is the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO). Among its varied manufactures are pharmaceuticals, electronics
equipment, machine tools, paper, processed food, and lace.
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