1. Belgium
The second guided tour of Belgium showed us two important points of interest: the system of navigable artificial waterways (the Charleroi to Brussel canal) and the Port of Antwerp.
1. The Charleroi to Brussel canal.
Building canals in northern and western Belgium is fairly easy. Throughout Flanders there are only a couple of hills that reach more than a few meters above sea level. But the center of the country is another matter. While the hills are not very high as mountains go, for canal builders they are significant. Conquering these heights had to await the industrial revolution. The main purpose was the transport of coal from the mines in the Charleroi region to the north of the country. A second argument was to connect the Walloon industry region with the harbour of Antwerp in Flanders. Brussels was already connected by good waterways with Antwerp.The first proposal to build a canal across the hills to connect Brussels with the Charleroi area, for the transport of coal, was made at in 1561. The canal, from the first 70 tons version over the upgrades to 300 and 1350 tons, has been characterized by some unusual construction. .
When the Brussels - Charleroi canal was built in 1827 - 1832, it followed the Senne river valley from southern Brussels to Tubize, the branch Sennette to Ronquieres, and its branch the Samme to the ridge in the Seneffe area. After 1945 it was decided to expand the capacity of the canal to 1,300 tonnes. Studies showed that it would be cheaper to built an entirely new canal between Ronquieres and Seneffe rather than widening the existing canal and building new locks. In 1968 the work was completed, when The Ronquieres Inclined Plane went into servive. The canal from Charleroi to Brussel now has:.
3 locks on Sambre side.
the inclined plane at Ronquieres.
one look in the Wallon Region on the Senne side.
6 locks in the Flemish and Brussel Regions on the Senne side.
We visited also the Strepy-Thieu canal.
In recent times, there has been a separation between the Belgians of Walloonia, who speak French, and the Dutch speaking Belgians of Flanders. ... Belgians remain conservative on family values. ... Education is one of the most important elements of Belgian society. ... Belgium is a country where citizens has full religious liberty. ... There are no prominent Orthodox doctrines or structures in Belgium. ...
Rene Magritte is the most celebrated Belgian surrealist artist of the 20th century. ... His hometown was Lessines, a french speaking part of Belgium. ... At eighteen years old, Magritte enrolled at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels, capital of Belgium. ... Later that year a group of friends consisting of musicians and writers would regularly meet in Magritte's house or cafes in belgium. This group would later be known as the Belgian Surrealists, a group who also kept in contact with other surrealists in places like France during WWII. ...
Joseph Conrad and the Belgium Congo Born in what was once a part of Poland on December 3, 1857 as Josef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski, Joseph Conrad proved to be a truly a remarkable writer. ... Heart of Darkness, Conrad's most controversial novel, is set in the Belgium Congo in the late 1800's. ... Leopold, who never visited the Congo, issued decrees from Belgium and he required the native people to trade only with his state agents or with his "concession companies who paid him 50 percent of their profits."" ...
During the oncoming mobilisations and political sparring, Belgium had declared neutrality. ... Hollweg refers to the invasion of Belgium territory as justifiable because of strategic reasons "an attack on the lower Rhine could prove disastrous thus we ignore the protests of the Belgian Government " as the French were going to invade Belgium, to an even more fervent Parliament justifying his country's movements. Fay does have a similar view; "Belgium being the innocent victim of German strategic necessity" . ... As they occupied Luxembourg and moved towards Belgium, it was a signal for G...
Much of the time the center-periphery involves ethnicity or language, as it does in Belgium. Belgium is a prime example of how these ethnic or language divisions can effect a government. ... The political parties in Belgium are the embodiment of these religious and linguistic divides. ... Even in passing laws the Belgian government is set up to not alienate people. ... There are many different political actors in Belgium. ...
Much of the time the center-periphery involves ethnicity or language, as it does in Belgium. Belgium is a prime example of how these ethnic or language divisions can effect a government. ... The political parties in Belgium are the embodiment of these religious and linguistic divides. ... Even in passing laws the Belgian government is set up to not alienate people. ... There are many different political actors in Belgium. ...
If I were terminally ill, would I want to be euthanized so that I would not suffer anymore? In a couple of states our country, including Oregon and Washington it is legal to die through euthanasia also known as assisted suicide. Oregon was the first state to pass this type of law, commonly known as...
The majority of the French Army's best and most mobile units along with the British Expeditionary Force, would be sent into central Belgium to link up with Belgian Army to fight the battle with Germany on Belgian soil. ... Army Group B was to invade Holland and Belgium with three panzer divisions and all available airborne troops. The advance of Army Group B would be accompanied by the dropping of parachute troops at key points in Belgium and Holland. ... They would force the crossing of the Meuse at Sedan and sweep rapidly west in order to push far behind the flank and rear of the enemy&...