THIS year marks a dual celebration for Belgium. It celebrates 175 years of independence and its 25th anniversary of being a federal state.
In 1815 at the Congress of Vienna, Belgium (The Southern Netherlands) and Holland (the Northern Netherlands) were united to form one state ruled by King William I. King William's rule benefited the Belgian bourgeoisie, but provoked protest from both Catholics and Liberals. The former objected to the Protestant King's interference in clerical matters, while the latter demanded more freedom. In 1828 the two groups drew up a programme of demands. In 1830, revolution erupted in Brussels. William sent in his troops to quash the uprising, but the rebels, with support from volunteers outside the city, expelled the troops on September 27. Following the triumph of the rebellion, Belgium was separated from the Northern Netherlands and a provisional government declared independence on October 4 1830. A year later the Belgian Constitution was formed, an original document based on a synthesis of the French and Dutch constitutions, the main elements of which are still in force today. Thus, Belgium gained independence.
The next century saw the road to Belgium becoming a federal state. A number of developments concerning language laws took place, and in 1963, the “linguistic borders” between Dutch in the North, French and Dutch in the capital, French in the South and German in the Eastern Cantons, were drawn. In 1970 the foundations were laid for the setting up of three cultural communities and three economic regions in Belgium. The former, in response to Flemish people's pursuit of cultural autonomy, and the latter in response to the desire for economic autonomy of French-speakers in the capital and the French-speaking Walloons.
In 1980, the date being celebrated this year, came the second state reform. This established the Flemish Community, the French Community and the German-speaking Community. These Communities were each given a council (their parliament) and a government. Two regions, The Flemish and Walloon regions were also established. They also had a council and a government. By the end of the 80s, with the third state reform, the Brussels-Capital region had taken shape. Like the other two regions it had its own institutions, a council and a government. The fourth state reform took place in 1993, when on July 14 (at 7.31pm) the Belgian parliament took the final vote on state reform that amended the first clause in the first article of the Constitution from: “Belgium is divided into provinces”, to: “Belgium is a Federal State which consists of Communities and Regions”.
A programme of events to celebrate the two anniversaries is scheduled throughout 2005. Events include concerts, such as the Festival Weekend in Wervick, on September 3 and 4; performances by the Circus on the Mont Des Arts in Brussels on September 3 and 4; exhibitions, such as The Memory of the Congo, The Colonial Days in Turveren until October 9 and Made in Belgium, on in Brussels until November 30; and sporting events such as The Belgian Open Champions For Dragons, a boat race taking place in Oostende between August 12 and 15.

For more information on the 175-25 celebrations, go to: www.175-25.be