Belgium Timeline of Events

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Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many international organisations, including ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC,...

Timeline of Events

1792

4.28.1792

France invades the Austrian Netherlands (present day Belgium), beginning the French Revolutionary War.

1795

10.1.1795

Belgium is conquered by France.

1830

10.4.1830

Creation of the state of Belgium after separation from The Netherlands.

1831

7.21.1831

Inauguration of Leopold I of Belgium, first king of the Belgians.

1835

5.5.1835

In Belgium, the first railway in continental Europe opens between Brussels and Mechelen.

1839

4.19.1839

The Treaty of London establishes Belgium as a kingdom.

1904

7.21.1904

Louis Rigolly, a Frenchman, becomes the first man to break the convert 100 barrier on land. He drove a 15-liter Gobron-Brille in Ostend, Belgium.

1914

8.4.1914

World War I: Germany invades Belgium. In response, the United Kingdom declares war on Germany. The United States declare their neutrality.

8.22.1914

World War I: in Belgium, British and German troops clash for the first time in the war.

1915

10.12.1915

World War I: British nurse Edith Cavell is executed by a German firing squad for helping Allied soldiers escape from Belgium

1917

11.6.1917

World War I: Third Battle of Ypres ends: After three months of fierce fighting, Canadian forces take Passchendaele in Belgium.

1923

1.11.1923

Occupation of the Ruhr: Troops from France and Belgium occupy the Ruhr area to force Germany to make its World War I reparation payments.

1934

2.23.1934

Leopold III becomes King of Belgium.

1940

5.10.1940

World War II: Germany invades Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

5.17.1940

World War II: Germany occupies Brussels, Belgium.

5.28.1940

World War II: Belgium surrenders to Germany.

1944

9.4.1944

World War II: the British 11th Armoured Division liberates the Belgian city of Antwerp.

9.6.1944

World War II: The city of Ypres, Belgium is liberated by allied forces.

12.26.1944

World War II: Patton's Third Army breaks the encirclement of surrounded U.S. forces at Bastogne, Belgium.

1957

3.25.1957

The European Economic Community is established (West Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg).

1960

6.30.1960

Congo gains independence from Belgium.

7.20.1960

Belgium defends its intervention in the Congo to the United Nations Security Council while the government of the Congo appeals to the Soviet Union to send troops to push back the Belgians. The governments of the United States and France and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization warn the Soviets to stay out of the dispute.

1961

2.15.1961

Sabena Flight 548 crashes in Belgium, killing 73, including the entire United States figure skating team, several coaches and family.

1967

5.22.1967

The ''L'Innovation'' department store in the centre of Brussels, Belgium, burns down. It is the most devastating fire in Belgian history, resulting in 323 dead and missing and 150 injured.

5.22.1967

The ''L'Innovation'' department store in the centre of Brussels, Belgium, burns down. It is the most devastating fire in Belgian history, resulting in 323 dead and missing and 150 injured.

1978

5.12.1978

In Zaire, rebels occupy the city of Kolwezi, the mining center of the province of Shaba (now known as Katanga). The local government asks the U.S.A., France and Belgium to restore order.

1985

5.29.1985

Heysel Stadium disaster: At the European Cup final in Brussels, Belgium, 39 football fans die and hundreds are injured when a dilapidated retaining wall collapses after Liverpool F.C. fans breach a fence separating them from Juventus F.C. fans.

2003

2.10.2003

France and Belgium break the NATO procedure of silent approval concerning the timing of protective measures for Turkey in case of a possible war with Iraq.

2004

3.3.2004

Belgian brewer Interbrew and Brazilian rival AmBev agree to merge in a $11.2 billion deal that forms InBev, the world's largest brewer.

2009

1.23.2009

Dendermonde nursery attack occurred in Dendermonde, Belgium.