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Belgium was once part of the Spanish and Austrian Netherlands before being conquered by Napoleon Bonaparte. After Napoleon’s defeat, Belgium united with the Netherlands, but gained independence in 1830. The country developed despite being divided mainly between Dutch and French speakers. Belgium later annexed part of Luxembourg and gained Eupen-Malmedy from Germany after World War I.

Belgium also became a colonial power, controlling territories in Central Africa including today’s Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Burundi. The Belgian Congo was over 70 times larger than Belgium itself. During both World Wars, Belgium remained neutral but was invaded by Germany both times. After World War II, Belgium’s African colonies gradually became independent, leaving Belgium with its modern borders.

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Transcript
00:00How did Belgium's territory change over time?
00:03Belgium was once part of the Spanish Netherlands,
00:05but when the Netherlands declared independence,
00:08Belgium became the Austrian Netherlands,
00:10which was soon conquered by Napoleon Bonaparte.
00:13After Napoleon's defeat, the Netherlands united with Belgium,
00:16but it broke apart a decade later, granting Belgium independence.
00:20Belgium was created as a country split between French and Dutch speakers,
00:24so it had no language of its own.
00:26Yet somehow it still exists today.
00:28Belgium soon annexed a part of Luxembourg.
00:31Belgium later became a colonial power and created a colony in Africa,
00:35consisting of today's DR Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi.
00:39This tiny country somehow controlled a colony over 70 times larger than itself.
00:44In both World War I and World War II, Belgium was a neutral country,
00:48but despite this, they got invaded both times.
00:51But after World War I, they gained a piece of Germany.
00:55Later their colonies declared independence, forming modern Belgium.
00:58the mountains were a ancient city ever called in the Southland.
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