Belgium For Foreigners II

1. Julius Cesar wrote about Belgians, Aquitanians and Celts in his "Commentaries on the Gallic War". In comparison to the two other tribes, he described Belgians as:

The bravest

The smallest

The most educated

The least quarrelsome

Julius Cesar wrote in his diaries: "Of all these tribes the Belgians are the bravest for the reason that they are the furthest away from the refinement and civilization of the Province, and least often do the merchants go and come to them and import those things, which tend to weaken men's courage, and they are nearest to the Germans, who live across the Rhine River, with whom they regularly wage war."

Explanation

Julius Cesar wrote in his diaries: "Of all these tribes the Belgians are the bravest for the reason that they are the furthest away from the refinement and civilization of the Province, and least often do the merchants go and come to them and import those things, which tend to weaken men's courage, and they are nearest to the Germans, who live across the Rhine River, with whom they regularly wage war."

2. What does Belgium celebrate each year on the 21st of July?

On July 21st 1830 Belgium gained independence by breaking away from the Netherlands.

On July 21st 1831, the National Congress adopted a constitution.

Belgium gained independence from the Netherlands in 1830 but the National Day is linked to the events in 1831. The National Congress adopted a Constitution in February 1831. Today we are celebrating king Leopold swearing his allegiance to the Belgian constitution.

Explanation

Belgium gained independence from the Netherlands in 1830 but the National Day is linked to the events in 1831. The National Congress adopted a Constitution in February 1831. Today we are celebrating king Leopold swearing his allegiance to the Belgian constitution.

3. Albert II announced his abdication on the 21st July 2013. How many European monarchs abdicated before him in 2013?

One

Two

Three

The two monarchs to abdicate in 2013 before Albert II are:
1) Pope Benedict XVI
2) Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.

Explanation

The two monarchs to abdicate in 2013 before Albert II are:
1) Pope Benedict XVI
2) Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.

4. Has Belgium ever hosted Olympic games?

Yes

No

The 1920 Summer Olympics were held in Antwerp.

Explanation

The 1920 Summer Olympics were held in Antwerp.

5. Chaleroi is known to foreign residents of Belgium mainly as a home of cheap flights. But Chaleroi was also a place of some important historical events. Which ones? (More than one answer possible; 2 answers are correct)

NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) was relocated to Casteau, a village near Chaleroi, in 1967.

Napoleon stayed in Charleroi for a couple of days in June 1815, just before the Battle of Waterloo.

Chaleroi was on of the most important places where labour strikes broke out and it hosted Napoleon before the Battle of Waterloo.

Casteau, where SHAPE has been relocated to in 1967, is a village near Mons, not Chaleroi.

Explanation

Chaleroi was on of the most important places where labour strikes broke out and it hosted Napoleon before the Battle of Waterloo.

Casteau, where SHAPE has been relocated to in 1967, is a village near Mons, not Chaleroi.

Submit

6. 1.38 million foreign-born residents in Belgium constitute 12.9% of the total population. Which group is the largest?

Maroccan

Congolese

Turkish

French

Italian

The prevalent foreign nationals in Belgium are Italian (171,918), French (125,061), Dutch (116,970), Moroccan (80,579), Portuguese (43,509), Spanish (42,765), Turkish (39,419) and German (37,621)

Explanation

The prevalent foreign nationals in Belgium are Italian (171,918), French (125,061), Dutch (116,970), Moroccan (80,579), Portuguese (43,509), Spanish (42,765), Turkish (39,419) and German (37,621)

7. Elio Di Rupo is the Prime Minister of Belgium since 6 December 2011. Which of the following facts are true? (More than one answer possible)

He is a son of two Italian immigrants.

He is a social-democrat.

He is the only openly gay leader of a European Union country.

He is Catholic.

Elio Di Rupo is of Italian descent, social-democrat, and identifies himself as gay, atheist, rationalist and a Freemason.

Explanation

Elio Di Rupo is of Italian descent, social-democrat, and identifies himself as gay, atheist, rationalist and a Freemason.

Submit

8. During the World War II, Gent was liberated following the D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. Which of the following Allied army liberated the city?

US Eighth Air Force

Polish 1st Armoured Division

British Royal Air Force

Free Belgian Forces (Forces Belges Libres)

The Polish 1st Armoured Division, an Allied military unit during World War II, pursued the Germans along the coast of the English Channel, after the Allied armies broke out from Normandy.
It liberated, among others, the towns of Saint-Omer, Ypres, Gent, Passchendaele and Breda.

Explanation

The Polish 1st Armoured Division, an Allied military unit during World War II, pursued the Germans along the coast of the English Channel, after the Allied armies broke out from Normandy.
It liberated, among others, the towns of Saint-Omer, Ypres, Gent, Passchendaele and Breda.

9. Manneken Pis is the famous landmark of Brussels. Which of the following facts are true? (More than one answer possible, 4 answers are correct)

It is 61cm tall.

It was created in the 16th century.

It is not clear on which Brussels legend the idea of a peeing boy was based.

There is also a statue of Manneken Pis in China.

The statue currently on display is a copy from 1965.

It's female equivalent, Janneke Pis, was inaugurated only in 1987.

Manneken Pis is indeed 61cm tall. There are several legends about peeing boys that are behind the statue. Since the statue has been repeatedly stolen, the original is kept at the Maison du Roi on the Grand Place. The current statue on display was made in 1965. The female equivalent, Janneke Pis, was indeed inaugurated only in 1987.
So answers A, D, F and G are correct.

Answers B, C and E are incorrect because:

B) Manneken Pis was put in place in 1618 or 1619, so 17th century,

C) Many of the several hundred different costumes of Manneken Pis may be viewed in a permanent exhibition inside the City Museum, located in the Grand Place. The non-profit association The Friends of Manneken-Pis reviews hundreds of designs submitted each year and select a small number to be produced and used.

E) There is also a statue of Manneken Pis in Tokushima, Japan, which was a present from the Belgian embassy, because Tokushima is twinned with Brussels. There are also other similar statues in Belgium .

Explanation

Manneken Pis is indeed 61cm tall. There are several legends about peeing boys that are behind the statue. Since the statue has been repeatedly stolen, the original is kept at the Maison du Roi on the Grand Place. The current statue on display was made in 1965. The female equivalent, Janneke Pis, was indeed inaugurated only in 1987.
So answers A, D, F and G are correct.

Answers B, C and E are incorrect because:

B) Manneken Pis was put in place in 1618 or 1619, so 17th century,

C) Many of the several hundred different costumes of Manneken Pis may be viewed in a permanent exhibition inside the City Museum, located in the Grand Place. The non-profit association The Friends of Manneken-Pis reviews hundreds of designs submitted each year and select a small number to be produced and used.

E) There is also a statue of Manneken Pis in Tokushima, Japan, which was a present from the Belgian embassy, because Tokushima is twinned with Brussels. There are also other similar statues in Belgium .

Submit

10. But of course this year, July 21st is even more special. Prince Philippe, the Duke of Brabant, will become a king, following his father's abdication. How much do you know about the new king? Which of the following is true? (More than one answer possible; 3 answers are correct)

He will be called the King of Belgium.

He will be known as King Philippe I.

He has four children.

His wife is a descendant of Polish nobility, so the next monarch of Belgium will have Polish blood.

He is 53 years of age.

A) He will become the King of the Belgians (not the King of Belgium) - (statement A was NOT TRUE)

B) Upon succession to the throne, Philippe will be known as King Philippe (without a following regnal number), in a similar manner to his uncle King Baudouin - (statement B was NOT TRUE)

C) He has four children - (statement C was TRUE)

D) In 1991 Belgium changed its laws, so royal succession happens through inheritance by the oldest surviving child without regard to gender.

Thus Princess Elisabeth Thérèse Marie Hélène, currently 12 years old, becomes heir apparent to the throne of Belgium, and if crowned will be the first female monarch of Belgium - (statement D was NOT TRUE)

E) The mother of Philippe's children Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz is a daughter of a Walloon Count of Belgian noble family and female line descendant of Polish noble families - (statement E was TRUE)

F) He was born 15 April 1960 - (statement F was TRUE)

Explanation

A) He will become the King of the Belgians (not the King of Belgium) - (statement A was NOT TRUE)

B) Upon succession to the throne, Philippe will be known as King Philippe (without a following regnal number), in a similar manner to his uncle King Baudouin - (statement B was NOT TRUE)

C) He has four children - (statement C was TRUE)

D) In 1991 Belgium changed its laws, so royal succession happens through inheritance by the oldest surviving child without regard to gender.

Thus Princess Elisabeth Thérèse Marie Hélène, currently 12 years old, becomes heir apparent to the throne of Belgium, and if crowned will be the first female monarch of Belgium - (statement D was NOT TRUE)

E) The mother of Philippe's children Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz is a daughter of a Walloon Count of Belgian noble family and female line descendant of Polish noble families - (statement E was TRUE)

F) He was born 15 April 1960 - (statement F was TRUE)

Submit