Figure 1.--Here we see a Belgian streetbscene,m probablyn in the 1900s decade. Notice thev absence of motor vegiles. This ws the cse throughou Europe at a time that we begin to see motor vehicles in American cities. Belgium was one of the most heavily indutrialized countries in Europe. This is not a back street, but a main city street.

Belgium has few natural resources, except is geographic location. There is some coal. Its location on the North Sea close to the English Channel and working riverine connections into the heart of the Continent makes it idealy suited as a contunental center of commerce. And this is just what the area was in the Middle Ages. Belgium was perfectly situated to import English wool and exported finished textiles. Belgium became the first industrial center in Europe. And it had rich farmland to support the growing cities. What at the time became the Spanish Netherlands became the richest province in Europe. The modern economy has developed from that base with one of the heaviest percapita industrial economy in the world. Belgium has a modern, open ecomomy based on capitalism with the rule of law, and a strong social welfare system. The early sea/riverine transport system has been developed to include canals, rail, and now highways. The country has a diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is heavily concentrated mainly in the heavily-populated region of Flanders, located in the north close to the Netherlands and Germany. Belgium imports most of the raw mateials needed by its industry. Access to export markets are essential for the burgenoing outputs of its industrial sector. European unification has thus been vital for the country's post-War success. Something like 75 percent of Belgium's exports are with other European Union countries. While Belgium's history has dark chapters as a result of its border with Geramsy, it has greatly benefitted economically by this proximity and access to the vibrant German market. The country like many EU countries has accumulated a massive national debt as a result of the welfare system. Unlike a country like Greece, Belgium has a real, vibrant economy, but Belgian voters have chosen to elect socialist politicians who have borrowed vast sums to support Government programs rather than limiting those programs to what the country could afford. And this with the United States providing a defense unbrella that otherwise would have required much larger military expenditures.

Natural Resources

Belgium has few natural resources, except is geographic location. There was some bituminous coal and more limited deposits of iron and other metal ores. These deposits would not sustain modern industry, but they were suffuicentb for Bekgium;s early needs. As in England tge close oproximity of these deppsits were imprtant at first because there was no economic capability of transportingg ores long distances. This made possible iron production and eventially steel.

Geographi Location

Belgium's location on the North Sea close to the English Channel and working riverine connections into the heart of the Continent makes it idealy suited as a contunental center of commerce. And this is just what the area was in the Middle Ages.

Medieval Era

Belgium was perfectly situated to import English wool and exported finished textiles. Belgium became the first industrial center in Europe. Flanders was a center for textile production during the medieval era. The region developed a vibrant trading economy, in particular importing the needed wool from England. Flanders played a role in leading Europe out of the medievl era. It became one of the richest provinces in Europe. Antwerp and Bruges like the city-states of northern Italy developed into loci of unprecedente prosperity and commerce. This all evolved even though Flanders was ruled oppressively by European powers, first austria and then Spain.

Spanish and French Dominance

Unfortunstely this attracted wanted attention from France which after Spain had separated Beklgium from the Netherlsnds invaded what the time was called the Spanish Netherlands. Iron processing developed in Walloon. There were large coal reserves in the south and east of the country. T

Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution began in England (mid-18th centuty). It began on the Continent in Belgium (1830s_. This was in part because of the close economic relations with Briain. These develioment were important early steps leading to the Industrial Revolution. Belgians maintained close economic and iuntekdctual contacts with Britain. The first steam engine on the continent went into operation near Liège (1720). The engine made by Thomas Newcomen in England was used to pump out waste water from a coal mine. Another Britush engine was used in the coal region around Mons and Charleroi. This would be the founfation upon which Bekgium's modern coal and steel industries would be built. During the French Revoluution, Belgiun and the Netherlands were conquered by the French (1792). The occupation had some positive effect on the economy. The French abolished the old guilds and introduced freedom of trade. In addition , an imprtant new market opening up in France, especially for coal. With the defeat of Napoleon (1814/15) the area of modern Belgium became part of the Netherlands. A revolution resulted in a separate nation (1830). Belgium had connections with British capital and technology and access to the important consumer markets of France. Entrepreneurs from Britain and other neighboring countries were active in Belgium. Particularly important was British industrialist William Cockerill. The Cockerill family in Leeds played a major role in the British industrial revolution. They began began manufacturing spinning machinery for the textile industry and later expaned into manufacturing steam engines. The Belgian monarchy with close ties to the British royal family actively promoted industrial development, both with personal investment and by supporting governmental policy. One such step was authorizing the Société Générale pour favoriser l'Industrie Nationale des Pays-Bas investment banl. Belgium would become Europe most highly induatrialized country.

Agriculture

Belgium had rich farmland to support the growing cities. What at the time became the Spanish Netherlands became the richest province in Europe. It would not be adequate to feed industrailized Berlgium, bit it was sufficent to help launch the Industrial Revolution in Belgium.

Indstrialization

The modern Belgian economy has developed from its early modern manufactiring base with one of the heaviest percapita industrial economy in the world. Belgium by the late19th century had vecome an industrail power house. 【Van der Wee and Blomme】 Belgium has a modern, open ecomomy based on capitalism with the rule of law, and a strong social welfare system. The early sea/riverine transport system has been developed to include canals, rail, and now highways. The country has a diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is heavily concentrated mainly in the heavily-populated region of Flanders, located in the north close to the Netherlands and Germany. Belgium imports most of the raw mateials needed by its industry. Access to export markets are essential for the burgenoing outputs of its industrial sector.

European Unification

Belgium and the Netherlands basically had a common history until the 16th century. With the Dutch War of Independence (1568-1648) what is now the Nethelands and Belgium were sepoarated. With World War II, the two countries participated in the move toward European integration. Strangely the first move was unfer the NAZI Großraum. More constuctive steps occurred after the War. 【Craeybecky】 Belgium located in crossroads of Europe was a founding memner of the European Union. The first major step was with the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) with the Treaty of Paris (1951). European unification has thus been vital for the country's post-War success. Something like 75 percent of Belgium's exports are with other European Union countries. While Belgium's history has dark chapters as a result of its border with Geramsy, it has greatly benefitted economically by this proximity and access to the vibrant German market.

Debt Bomb

The country like many EU countries has accumulated a massive national debt as a result of the welfare system. Unlike a country like Greece, Belgium has a real, vibrant economy, but Belgian voters have chosen to elect socialist politicians who have borrowed vast sums to support Government programs rather than limiting those programs to what the country could afford. And this with the United States providing a defense unbrella that otherwise would have required much larger military expenditures.

Sources

Craeybecky, J. "Economic history in Belgium and the Netherlands, 1939-1948," The Journal of Economic History Volume 10, Issue 2 (November 1950), pp. 261-76.

Van der Wee, Herman and Jan Blomme. The economic development of Belgium since 1870 The Economic Development of Modern Europe Since 1870 series (1997), 544 p.

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Last updated: 11:36 PM 8/2/2024