Belgium is famous for its medieval towns, multilingual culture, and political significance in Europe. However, apart from waffles, chocolates, and Brussels, many little-known facts are valuable both to students, quiz addicts, or as prep for competitive exams. In this article, I offer 50 MCQs on Belgium that dive into history, politics, geography, culture, and other areas. These questions go beyond the basic facts and explore the most critical (and most infrequently covered) facts about Belgium, making them ideal for CSS, PMS, and general knowledge tests. Find below the most important MCQs to understand the country, Belgium.
Top 50 MCQs about Belgium
1. What is the name of the official residence of the Belgian King?
A. Palais de Justice
B. Egmont Palace
C. Royal Palace of Brussels
D. Castle of Laeken
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Details: The Castle of Laeken is the official residence of the Belgian royal family, not the Royal Palace of Brussels.
2. Which three official languages are recognized in Belgium?
A. Dutch, French, English
B. Dutch, French, German
C. French, German, Spanish
D. Dutch, English, German
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Details: Belgium officially recognizes Dutch, French, and German as national languages.
3. What is the name of Belgium’s federal parliament’s upper house?
A. House of Commons
B. Senate
C. Chamber of Representatives
D. Federal Council
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Details: The Belgian Senate is the upper house of the Federal Parliament, though its powers have been reduced in recent reforms.
4. Which Belgian city is considered the “Capital of Europe”?
A. Bruges
B. Antwerp
C. Brussels
D. Ghent
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Details: Brussels hosts major institutions of the European Union and is often referred to as the “Capital of Europe.”
5. Belgium is a founding member of how many major international organizations?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 5
D. 7
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Details: Belgium is a founding member of the EU, NATO, WTO, OECD, Schengen Area, Benelux, and the Eurozone.
6. What is the “linguistic border” in Belgium?
A. The border between Belgium and France
B. The division between Dutch and French-speaking regions
C. The border of Brussels
D. The regional border between East and West
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Details: The linguistic border legally separates Flanders (Dutch-speaking) and Wallonia (French-speaking).
7. What unique voting law exists in Belgium?
A. Voting is only allowed online
B. Voting is banned on religious holidays
C. Voting is compulsory
D. Citizens can vote only after 25
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Details: Belgium enforces compulsory voting laws, making it mandatory for eligible citizens to vote.
8. When did Belgium adopt its current federal structure?
A. 1970
B. 1980
C. 1993
D. 2001
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Details: Belgium officially became a federal state in 1993, restructuring power among its regions and communities.
9. How many federal parliaments does Belgium have?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
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Details: Belgium has two chambers in its Federal Parliament: the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate.
10. Which region in Belgium has a significant German-speaking population?
A. Wallonia
B. Flanders
C. East Cantons
D. Brussels
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Details: The German-speaking community is primarily located in the East Cantons region, near the German border.
11. What is the capital of the Flemish Region in Belgium?
A. Ghent
B. Brussels
C. Leuven
D. Antwerp
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Details: Although Brussels is bilingual, it serves as the capital of the Dutch-speaking Flemish Region.
12. What is the name of the political system that grants power to Belgium’s communities and regions?
A. Federalism
B. Regionalism
C. Consociationalism
D. Confederalism
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Details: Belgium uses a consociational system to ensure power-sharing among linguistic and cultural groups.
13. Which famous international court is based in Brussels?
A. International Court of Justice
B. International Criminal Tribunal
C. European Court of Auditors
D. None
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Details: While Brussels hosts EU institutions, it does not host any international court (they’re in The Hague).
14. What is the name of Belgium’s German-speaking parliament?
A. East Belgium Assembly
B. German Council of Belgium
C. Parliament of the German-speaking Community
D. Deutschsprachige Parlament
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Details: This body represents around 75,000 German speakers in Belgium, with autonomous powers.
15. In what year did Belgium gain independence from the Netherlands?
A. 1804
B. 1815
C. 1830
D. 1848
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Details: Belgium declared independence from the Netherlands after the Belgian Revolution in 1830.
16. Who was the first King of Belgium?
A. Leopold I
B. Leopold II
C. Albert I
D. Baudouin I
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Details: Leopold I became the first King of the Belgians in 1831.
17. Belgium is divided into how many provinces?
A. 8
B. 10
C. 12
D. 14
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Details: Belgium consists of 10 provinces—5 in Wallonia and 5 in Flanders.
18. What is the name of the famous Belgian international airport near Brussels?
A. Zaventem Airport
B. Charleroi Airport
C. Antwerp Airport
D. Liege Airport
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Details: Brussels Airport is officially located in Zaventem, just outside Brussels.
19. Belgium’s government often takes a long time to form. What is the record number of days Belgium went without a government?
A. 149
B. 289
C. 541
D. 652
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Details: Belgium holds the world record for longest time without a formal government: 541 days (2010–2011).
20. What type of monarchy does Belgium have?
A. Absolute
B. Ceremonial
C. Constitutional
D. Tribal
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Details: Belgium’s monarchy is constitutional, meaning the king reigns but does not rule.
21. Which city in Belgium is known as the “diamond capital of the world”?
A. Brussels
B. Antwerp
C. Ghent
D. Bruges
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Details: Antwerp handles over 80% of the world’s rough diamonds trade.
22. What’s the smallest region of Belgium by area?
A. Flemish Region
B. Walloon Region
C. Brussels-Capital Region
D. East Cantons
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Details: Though it includes Belgium’s capital, Brussels is the smallest of the three regions.
23. Belgium’s constitution is written in how many official languages?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
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Details: The constitution exists in Dutch, French, and German versions.
24. What is the name of the river that divides Wallonia and Flanders?
A. Meuse
B. Scheldt
C. Sambre
D. There is no such river
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Details: The division is linguistic and political, not geographic via a single river.
25. Which Belgian city is famous for its medieval bell tower and canals?
A. Brussels
B. Ghent
C. Bruges
D. Liège
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Details: Bruges is a UNESCO World Heritage city with historic canals and belfries.
26. What is the primary language spoken in Liège?
A. Dutch
B. French
C. German
D. Flemish
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Details: Liège is located in Wallonia, where French is the dominant language.
27. Belgium is known for which unique political event every 10 years?
A. Monarch’s Speech
B. Language Census
C. State Reform
D. King’s Referendum
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Details: Belgium has undergone several state reforms since the 1970s to accommodate regional autonomy.
28. What is Belgium’s official motto?
A. Liberty and Justice
B. In Unity Strength
C. Union Makes Strength
D. Freedom and Progress
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Details: Belgium’s motto, “L’union fait la force,” promotes unity among diverse communities.
29. Which major battle of WWII took place in Belgium?
A. Battle of the Bulge
B. Battle of the Somme
C. Battle of Britain
D. Operation Torch
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Details: The Ardennes region saw this last major Nazi offensive in 1944–1945.
30. What is the name of the area in Belgium where German is an official language?
A. Limburg
B. Eupen-Malmedy
C. Leuven
D. Namur
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Details: The German-speaking community resides mostly in Eupen-Malmedy.
31. What is the significance of Laeken in Belgium?
A. It’s Belgium’s financial hub
B. It’s where NATO HQ is located
C. It’s the official residence of the royal family
D. It’s a major port city
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Details: The Royal Castle of Laeken in Brussels is the residence of the Belgian monarch.
32. What is “Walloons” referred to in Belgium?
A. A dish
B. A dialect
C. A linguistic group
D. A sport
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Details: Walloons are French-speaking Belgians from the Wallonia region.
33. What is the name of Belgium’s ceremonial guard unit?
A. Red Lions
B. Royal Lancers
C. Royal Escort
D. Blue Watch
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Details: The Royal Escort is responsible for ceremonial duties for the Belgian royal family.
34. What famous treaty establishing the EU was signed in Belgium?
A. Maastricht Treaty
B. Brussels Agreement
C. Treaty of Rome
D. Treaty of Brussels
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Details: The Treaty of Brussels (1948) laid the groundwork for Western European defense and later EU cooperation.
35. What is Belgium’s highest court called?
A. Supreme Federal Court
B. Court of Cassation
C. Constitutional Tribunal
D. Council of Europe
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Details: The Court of Cassation is Belgium’s highest judicial authority for civil and criminal matters.
36. The “Belgian compromise” refers to:
A. A culinary fusion
B. A political model of federalism
C. A trade agreement
D. A royal succession law
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Details: The Belgian Compromise reflects its power-sharing federal system between linguistic regions.
37. What is “Belgitude”?
A. A military slogan
B. A brand of beer
C. A sense of national identity
D. A national holiday
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Details: “Belgitude” humorously describes Belgian identity through cultural quirks and diversity.
38. What percentage of Belgium’s land is arable?
A. 10%
B. 25%
C. 44%
D. 60%
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Details: Nearly half of Belgium’s land is used for agriculture despite its industrialization.
39. Belgium was without an official government for how long (2010–2011)?
A. 149 days
B. 251 days
C. 541 days
D. 711 days
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Details: Belgium holds the world record for the longest time without a formal government.
40. What does the “B-H-V” issue in Belgian politics relate to?
A. Railway infrastructure
B. Judicial corruption
C. Electoral district conflict
D. EU subsidies
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Details: Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde (B-H-V) was a controversial electoral district crossing linguistic boundaries.
41. Which rare mineral was first discovered in Belgium?
A. Cobalt
B. Wavellite
C. Vivianite
D. Vanadinite
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Details: Wavellite, a phosphate mineral, was first described in Belgium in 1805.
42. What is the ‘Flemish Movement’ primarily concerned with?
A. Monarchy abolition
B. Regional independence
C. Economic reforms
D. EU withdrawal
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Details: The Flemish Movement seeks greater autonomy or independence for Flanders.
43. What is Belgium’s oldest university?
A. Ghent University
B. KU Leuven
C. University of Liège
D. Université libre de Bruxelles
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Details: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, founded in 1425, is Belgium’s oldest and most prestigious university.
44. What industry was Belgium a pioneer in during the Industrial Revolution?
A. Shipbuilding
B. Textile
C. Coal and steel
D. Electronics
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Details: Belgium was the second country after the UK to industrialize, mainly in coal and steel.
45. Belgium is one of the few countries where voting is:
A. Optional
B. Digital only
C. Conducted over two days
D. Compulsory by law
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Details: Belgium mandates voting by law; non-voters can be fined or penalized.
46. What is the “Sonian Forest” known for?
A. Hosting royal hunting grounds
B. WWII battleground
C. UNESCO ancient beech forest
D. Origin of Belgian fries
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Details: Sonian Forest, near Brussels, is part of the UNESCO-listed Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests.
47. Belgium’s King Leopold I was originally from which country?
A. Germany
B. France
C. Austria
D. Sweden
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Details: Leopold I was a German prince from the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
48. What is the significance of the town of Spa in Belgium?
A. It has the world’s largest hot spring
B. Origin of the word “spa”
C. Site of major WWII peace talks
D. Birthplace of Tintin
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Details: The town of Spa gave its name to the term “spa” due to its mineral springs.
49. Which river runs through the Ardennes and is key to Belgian geography?
A. Meuse
B. Rhine
C. Scheldt
D. Danube
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Details: The Meuse River flows through the Ardennes, influencing trade and terrain.
50. What controversial action was Belgium the first to legalize in 2014?
A. Euthanasia for adults
B. Same-sex marriage
C. Euthanasia for minors
D. Cannabis farming
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Details: Belgium became the first country to legalize euthanasia for terminally ill children without an age limit.
Whether you’re studying for an exam or just improving your worldwide knowledge, these MCQs on Belgium will give you some insight into one of the more unique countries in Europe. Belgium has a longstanding and complex federal system, some poignant historical events, and has produced some very notable cultural phenomena. It’s much more than you might think.
Stay tuned for MCQs on other countries, and don’t forget to reference other quizzes like France, Germany, Italy, and so forth when practicing for those topics on your test.
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