Davlatmand Kholov in Ghent, Belgium (2)
Performance in intercultural centre De Centrale, Ghent, 9 April 2016.
- Davlatmand Kholov (voice, setar, dombra)
- Ruzimad Kholov (robab)
- Loikshoh Kholov (geichak)
- Farukhjon Kholov (tablak)
Davlatmand Kholov in Ghent, Belgium (5)
Performance in intercultural centre De Centrale, Ghent, 9 April 2016.
- Davlatmand Kholov (voice, setar, dombra)
- Ruzimad Kholov (robab)
- Loikshoh Kholov (geichak)
- Farukhjon Kholov (tablak)
Davlatmand Kholov in Ghent, Belgium (6)
Performance in intercultural centre De Centrale, Ghent, 9 April 2016.
- Davlatmand Kholov (voice, setar, dombra)
- Ruzimad Kholov (robab)
- Loikshoh Kholov (geichak)
- Farukhjon Kholov (tablak)
Davlatmand Kholov in Ghent, Belgium (1)
Performance in intercultural centre De Centrale, Ghent, 9 April 2016.
- Davlatmand Kholov (voice, setar, dombra)
- Ruzimad Kholov (robab)
- Loikshoh Kholov (geichak)
- Farukhjon Kholov (tablak)
Davlatmand Kholov in Ghent, Belgium (4)
Performance in intercultural centre De Centrale, Ghent, 9 April 2016.
- Davlatmand Kholov (voice, setar, dombra)
- Ruzimad Kholov (robab)
- Loikshoh Kholov (geichak)
- Farukhjon Kholov (tablak)
Davlatmand Kholov in Ghent, Belgium (3)
Performance in intercultural centre De Centrale, Ghent, 9 April 2016.
- Davlatmand Kholov (voice, setar, dombra)
- Ruzimad Kholov (robab)
- Loikshoh Kholov (geichak)
- Farukhjon Kholov (tablak)
Davlatmand Kholov in Ghent, Belgium (encore after the concert)
Performance in intercultural centre De Centrale, Ghent, 9 April 2016.
- Davlatmand Kholov (voice, setar, dombra)
- Ruzimad Kholov (robab)
- Loikshoh Kholov (geichak)
- Farukhjon Kholov (tablak)
-
Clip Promo Halloween 2012 - ICC De Centrale
Salsa Halloween 2012 edition!
Wednesday the 31th october.
Intercultural Center De Centrale
Kraankindersstraat 2, 9000 Ghent - Belgium.
Everybody always welcome!
Info: WWW.DJPACHA.BE
Whispering Sons - Waste - TOUTPARTOUT sessions
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Belgian finest post-punk band Whispering Sons perform a haunting version of 'Waste' from their debut album 'Image'.
Recorded at De Centrale in Ghent, a former power station which is now an intercultural centre where cultural diversity connects people.
Creative Director: Anton Coene
Sound: Ian Clement
Producer: Steven Thomassen
Production Assistant: Stefanie Ghettem
___
We want to share our passion for live music and bring it to the streets. The streets of our hometown in Ghent. That’s why we decided to start shooting intimate sessions with the city as a background. We record live sessions with the artists that pass by Ghent while being on tour. We collaborate with noteworthy music photographer Anton Coene, who is the creative director of the project.
TOUTPARTOUT sessions is a project by Toutpartout in collaboration with HUMO and Music Mania. Join us for a musical walk around the beautiful city of Ghent and discover the artists on the Toutpartout roster.
13 Fantastic Travel Attractions in Europe
13 Must-See Travel Destinations in Europe according to Lonely Planet
13. Champagne
Much of Champagne's best liquid gold is made by almost 5000 small-scale vignerons in 320-odd villages. Dozens of Champagne maisons welcome visitors for a taste, tipple and shopping at producer prices, rendering the region's scenic driving routes the best way to taste fine bubbly amid rolling vineyards and gorgeous villages.
12. Jungfraujoch
The Jungfraujoch. Also known as the Top of Europe, this peak is home to the highest train station on the continent, 11,000 feet up. The station is built into the mountain, and is attached to a large recreational complex. From here you can shop and dine while looking out onto the Aletsch Glacier, or go sledding and walking on the glacier itself.
11. Belgian Beer & Chocolate
Belgium has a brew for all seasons. From tangy lambics to full-flavoured Trappists, the range of beers is exceptional. Best of all, you can sup a selection in timeless cafes, hidden away in the atmospheric cores of Belgium's great 'art' cities -- Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp and Brussels.
10. Alhambra, Granada
The Alhambra: Part fortress, part palace, part garden and part government city, this medieval complex overlooking Granada is one of the top attractions in Spain, with many visitors coming to Granada expressly to see the Alhambra.
9. Prague
Prague s not only one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, but also the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. The city's historic buildings and narrow, winding streets are testament to its centuries-old role as capital of the historic region of Bohemia.
8. Canals, Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands. With more than one million inhabitants in its urban area, it is the country's largest city and its financial, cultural, and creative center. Amsterdam is colloquially known as Venice of the North, because of its lovely canals that criss-cross the city, its impressive architecture and more than 1,500 bridges.
7. Berlin Wall
While the Berlin Wall has long been dismantled and much of the grounds it occupied completely redeveloped, you can still find parts of the wall preserved around Berlin.
6. Dublin
Dublin's vibrancy, nightlife and tourist attractions are world renowned and it's the most popular entry point for international visitors to Ireland. As a city, it is disproportionately large for the size of the country with a population of 1.8 million in the Greater Dublin Region; nearly half of the Republic's population lives in this metropolitan area.
5. Venice
Venice is one of the most interesting and lovely places in the world. This sanctuary on a lagoon is virtually the same as it was six hundred years ago, which adds to the fascinating character. Venice has decayed since its heyday and is heavily touristed, but the romantic charm remains.
4. Vienna
Vienna is the capital of the Republic of Austria and by far its most populous city, with an urban population of 1.7 million. It is Austria's artistic, cultural, economic and political centre. As the former home of the Habsburg court and its various empires, the city still has the trappings of the historically recent imperial capital it once was.
3. London
Noisy, vibrant and truly multicultural, London is a megalopolis of people, ideas and frenetic energy. The capital and largest city of the United Kingdom, it is also the largest city in Western Europe and the European Union. Considered one of the world's leading global cities, London remains an international capital of culture, music, education, fashion, politics, finance and trade.
2. Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower was named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. Erected in 1889 as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair, it was initially criticised by some of France's leading artists and intellectuals for its design, but has become both a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world.
1. Ancient Rome
Rome's famous seven hills offer some superb vantage points. A favourite is Palatine Hill, a gorgeous green expanse of evocative ruins, towering umbrella pines and unforgettable views over the Roman Forum. Nowadays, it's a truly haunting spot; as you walk the gravel paths you can almost sense the ghosts in the air.
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Rectordebat - Rectorverkiezingen KU Leuven 2017 - Deel 1/2
Deel 1:
Deel 2:
Brussels, from north to south - Belgium 4K Travel Channel
Brussels is a city which cannot be described with a cliche. The city has different faces. This is due not only to the architecture, which is characterized by various stylistic epochs, but also due to the complexity of its population. In Brussels, 57 % of the population have a migration background.
During a first tour we try to get an impression of this city. Looking out the hotel window we see modern office architecture where glass facades protect the interior of the concrete blocks against curious eyes.
The situation is different on the opposite side of the Boulevard Leopold II. For the most part the old buildings still exist, although some monstrous office buildings have cut a swath in the old quarters.
On Sunday morning we have the streets almost to ourselves, when we pass the Royal Theatre La Monnaie De Munt. We leave the old city behind us and arrive at Place d'Espagne Spanjeplein with an equestrian statue of Don Quixote, his horse Rocinante and Sancho Panza his companion.
Passing the central train station where the rails are belowground, we reach the Royal Palace (Palais de Bruxelles) and the Place Royale with the church of Saint Jacques-sur-Coudenberg.
Diagonally opposite the Royal Museums of Fine Arts.
On the road to Quartier Marolles we pass the church of Notre-Dame au Sablon till we reach the Palace of Justice, the most prominent building of Brussels.
It was built on the former Gallows Hill and dominates the city with its size and its outstanding location. Not all residents were satisfied with the construction of the building, since parts of the local population were driven off their area.
From here you have a wonderful view over the city. An elevator brings you to the Lower Town.
The Porte de Hal is the southernmost point of the Pentagon, as the inner district of Brussels is called due to its pentagonal shape.
The former city gate serves as a museum today.
To us, Brussels presents itself as a multicultural city where different cultures harmoniously coexist.
......
please read more:
Brüssel ist eine Stadt, die sich nicht mit einem Klischee beschreiben läßt. Die Stadt hat die unterschiedlichsten Gesichter. Das liegt nicht nur an der Architektur, die von verschiedenen Stilepochen geprägt ist, sondern auch an der Vielschichtigkeit seiner Bevölkerung. In Brüssel haben 57 % der Bevölkerung einen Migrationshintergrund.
In einem ersten Rundgang versuchen wir einen Eindruck dieser Stadt zu bekommen. Beim Blick aus dem Hotelfenster sehen wir moderne Büroarchitektur. Gläserne Fassaden schotten das Innenleben der Betonklötze vor neugierigen Blicken ab.
Anders sieht es auf der Gegenüberliegenden Seite des Boulevards Leopold II aus. Größtenteils ist hier die alte Bausubstanz noch vorhanden, obwohl auch hier einige monströse Bürobauten Schneisen in die alten Viertel geschlagen haben.
Sonntag morgens haben wir die Straßen fast noch für uns alleine, als wir das königliche Theater La Monnaie De Munt passieren. Wir lassen die Altstadt schnell hinter uns und landen am Place d´Espagne Spanjeplein mit einem Reiterdenkmal von Don Quijote, seinem Gaul Rosinante und seinem Begleiter Sancho Panza.
Vorbei am Zentralbahnhof, dessen Gleise unterirdisch verlaufen, erreichen wir das königliche Schloss (Palais de Bruxelles) und den Place Royale mit der Kirche Saint Jacques-sur-Coudenberg.
Schräg gegenüber liegen die Königlichen Museen der Schönen Künste.
Auf dem Weg zum Quartier Marolles passieren wir die Kirche Nôtre-Dame au Sablon bis wir den Justizpalast, das herausragendste Gebäude Brüssels, erreichen. Er wurde auf dem ehemaligen Galgenberg errichtet und dominiert mit seiner Größe und seiner herausragenden Lage die Stadt. Nicht alle Bewohner waren mit dem Bau des Gebäudes einverstanden, da die örtliche Bevölkerung großflächig vertrieben wurde.
Hier hat man aber einen wunderbaren Ausblick über die Stadt. Mit dem Aufzug kommt man in die Unterstadt.
Die Porte de Hal bildet den südlichsten Punkt des Pentagons, wie der innere Bezirk Brüssels aufgrund seine fünfeckigen Form genannt wird.
Das ehemalige Stadttor dient heute als Museum.
Für uns zeigt sich Brüssel als multikulturelle Stadt, in der die unterschiedlichen Kulturen harmonisch miteinander existieren.
......
Weitere Infos im Reisevideoblog:
I LOVE SALSA | BACHATA | KIZOMBA!
I LOVE SALSA | BACHATA | KIZOMBA! -
Small video of the past edition, enjoy it ;)
Annual event in the beautiful city of Ghent city - Belgium,
in collaboration with all dance schools, DJ's, instructors, performers, organizers and you all!
NEXT EDITION: Friday and Saturday 26 - 27 december!
in the Giant TURBINE hall - Intercultural Center De Centrale.
Ghent - Belgium.
Welcome all and be ready, invite all your friends, family, etc.
WWW.ILOVESALSA.BE
Info@ilovesalsa.be
Visitando a Bélgica (Flandres)
Este vídeo é destinado a quem está pensando em vir visitar a Bélgica (ou quem já está por aqui)! Aí vai, de mão beijada, mastigadinho, um roteirinho com os melhores destinos flamengos!
Crédito de imagens:
Gravensteen: ArcheoNet Vlaanderen flirk
Stofvlees:
Gruut:
Waterzooi:
belfort: bezoekers.brugge.be
fritas: frietmuseum.be
Rubenshuis: gettripped.co.uk
visitantwerpen.be
Katedraal:
Mexilhões: reisgraag.nl
Mãos: visitflanders.com
Bruxelas: bativox.com
Waffle: backroads.com
Bloementapijt: flowercarpet.be
* Uso principalmente imagens de arquivo pessoal
Belgium theatre scandal update: muslim actress pulls out, children stay
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Remember the tasteless theatre production from my last video? Well, it's starting to fall apart...at least it's idea of inclusivity. Because while the message is, that everybody from everywhere believing anything shares in this multicultural production celebrating diversity and simulated sex on stage in front of children, the muslim community is 'not amused' about the participation of muslim women in this production.
Fatima Ezzarhouni, who played Mary, has pulled out of the production after being 'pressured' to leave the production. Remember, her son joined the IS to fight in Syria several years back. Are those circles pressuring her somehow related to the circles that radicalised her son? We don't know, but it's nevertheless a pinnacle of absurdity, that the muslim community apparently cares more about the choices of an adult woman, than we care about the protection of our children.
This is a short update video. There's a couple of things happening in the news worth commenting on these days, but I struggle to find the time to follow on all of this up. After all, there is not a single penny in this for me, and I need to find ways to keep my family fed.
See you soon in my next video!
S-CAR Parents of the Field: Anthony De Reuck
Like many of the parents of the field of peace and conflict research, Tony De Reuck came to an interest in the study of social conflict, its sources and remedies, from a background in the natural sciences. His training as a physicist was one source of his interest in efforts to build scientific bridges between the two sides in the Cold War, but in later years he developed a strong interest in anthropology and the manner in which what in the 1960s were called simpler societies managed their conflicts and prevented community collapse.
Our interview with Tony De Reuck opens a window on the struggle to establish conflict and peace research in Britain and on efforts to make its early findings of practical relevance to resolving protracted conflicts. It is a story well worth recounting.
The Ancient City of Tyre
This symposium explores on the ancient city of Tyre, founded in 2750 B.C. by the Phoenicians, who created an alphabet and the first democracy in the world with a parliament and senate elected directly by the citizens. Tyre is the legendary birthplace of Europa, the daughter of the King of Tyre, the namesake of Europe. The city and the civilization was left in ruins by Alexander the Great who went to war against the Tyreans.
For transcript and more information, visit
History of Western civilization | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
History of Western civilization
Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.
Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain
Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.
You can find other Wikipedia audio articles too at:
You can upload your own Wikipedia articles through:
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates
SUMMARY
=======
Western civilization traces its roots back to Europe and the Mediterranean. It is linked to the Roman Empire and with Medieval Western Christendom which emerged from the Middle Ages to experience such transformative episodes as the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution, scientific revolution, and the development of liberal democracy. The civilizations of Classical Greece and Ancient Rome are considered seminal periods in Western history; a few cultural contributions also emerged from the pagan peoples of pre-Christian Europe, such as the Celts and Germans, as well as some significant religious contributions derived from Judaism and Hellenistic Judaism stemming back to Second Temple Judea, Galilee, and the early Jewish diaspora; and some other Middle Eastern influences. Christianity and Roman Catholicism has played a prominent role in the shaping of Western civilization, which throughout most of its history, has been nearly equivalent to Christian culture. (There were Christians outside of the West, such as China, India, Russia, Byzantium and the Middle East). Western civilization has spread to produce the dominant cultures of modern Americas and Oceania, and has had immense global influence in recent centuries in many ways.
Following the 5th century Fall of Rome, Western Europe entered the Middle Ages, during which period the Catholic Church filled the power vacuum left in the West by the fall of the Western Roman Empire, while the Eastern Roman Empire (or Byzantine Empire) endured in the East for centuries, becoming a Hellenic Eastern contrast to the Latin West. By the 12th century, Western Europe was experiencing a flowering of art and learning, propelled by the construction of cathedrals and the establishment of medieval universities. Christian unity was shattered by the Reformation from the 16th century. A merchant class grew out of city states, initially in the Italian peninsula (see Italian city-states), and Europe experienced the Renaissance from the 14th to the 17th century, heralding an age of technological and artistic advance and ushering in the Age of Discovery which saw the rise of such global European Empires as those of Spain and Portugal.
The Industrial Revolution began in Britain in the 18th century. Under the influence of the Enlightenment, the Age of Revolution emerged from the United States and France as part of the transformation of the West into its industrialised, democratised modern form. The lands of North and South America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand became first part of European Empires and then home to new Western nations, while Africa and Asia were largely carved up between Western powers. Laboratories of Western democracy were founded in Britain's colonies in Australasia from the mid-19th centuries, while South America largely created new autocracies. In the 20th century, absolute monarchy disappeared from Europe, and despite episodes of Fascism and Communism, by the close of the century, virtually all of Europe was electing its leaders democratically. Most Western nations were heavily involved in the First and Second World Wars and protracted Cold War. World War II saw Fascism defeated in Europe, and the emergence of the United States and Soviet Union as rival global powers and a new East-West political contrast.
Other than in Russia, the European Empires disintegrated after World War II and civil rights movements and widescale multi-ethnic, multi-faith migrations to Europe, the Americas and Oceania lowered the earlier predominance of ethnic Europeans in Western culture. European nations moved towards greater economic and political co-operation through the European Union. The Cold War ended around 1990 with the collapse of Soviet imposed Communism in Central and Eastern Europe. In the 21st century, the Western World retains significant global economic power and influ ...
Catholic higher education | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
Catholic higher education
Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.
Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain
Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.
You can find other Wikipedia audio articles too at:
You can upload your own Wikipedia articles through:
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates
SUMMARY
=======
Catholic higher education includes universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher education privately run by the Catholic Church, typically by religious institutes. Those tied to the Holy See are specifically called pontifical universities.
By definition, Catholic canon law states that A Catholic school is understood to be one which is under control of the competent ecclesiastical authority or of a public ecclesiastical juridical person, or one which in a written document is acknowledged as Catholic by the ecclesiastical authority (Can. 803). Although some schools are deemed Catholic because of their identity and a great number of students enrolled are Catholics, it is also stipulated in canon law that no school, even if it is in fact Catholic, may bear the title 'Catholic school' except by the consent of the competent ecclesiastical authority (Can. 803 §3).
The Dominican Order was the first order instituted by the Church with an academic mission, founding studia conventualia in every convent of the order, and studia generalia at the early European universities such as the University of Bologna and the University of Paris. In Europe, most universities with medieval history were founded as Catholic. Many of them were rescinded to government authourities in the Modern era. Some, however, remained Catholic, while new ones were established alongside the public ones. The Catholic Church is still the largest non-governmental provider of higher education in the world. Many of them are still internationally competitive. According to the census of the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education, the total number of Catholic universities and higher education institutions around the world is 1,358. On the other hand, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops counts it at 1,861. The Catholic religious order with the highest number of universities around the world today is the Society of Jesus with 114.Like other private schools, Catholic universities and colleges are generally nondenominational, in that they accept anyone regardless of religious affiliation, nationality, ethnicity, or civil status, provided the admission or enrollment requirements and legal documents are submitted, and rules and regulations are obeyed for a fruitful life on campus. However, non-Catholics, whether Christian or not, may or may not participate in otherwise required campus activities, particularly those of a religious nature.
Brussels | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
Brussels
00:02:53 1 Toponymy
00:03:02 1.1 Etymology
00:03:42 1.2 Pronunciation
00:04:39 2 History
00:04:51 2.1 Early history
00:05:55 2.2 Middle Ages
00:07:18 2.3 Early modern
00:10:17 2.4 Late modern
00:12:27 2.5 20th century
00:13:56 2.6 Contemporary
00:15:02 3 Geography
00:15:11 3.1 Location and topography
00:16:23 3.2 Climate
00:17:07 4 Brussels as a capital
00:18:39 5 Municipalities
00:21:24 6 Brussels-Capital Region
00:21:33 6.1 Political status
00:22:44 6.2 Institutions
00:23:57 6.3 Agglomeration of Brussels
00:25:00 7 French and Flemish communities
00:26:20 7.1 Common Community Commission
00:27:53 8 International institutions
00:28:58 8.1 European Union
00:30:56 8.2 Eurocontrol
00:31:28 8.3 North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
00:32:30 9 Demographics
00:32:39 9.1 Population
00:33:36 9.2 Nationalities
00:35:09 9.3 Languages
00:40:26 9.4 Religions
00:42:51 10 Culture
00:43:00 10.1 Architecture
00:48:40 10.2 Arts
00:51:47 10.3 Folklore
00:53:29 10.4 Cultural events and festivals
00:55:07 10.5 Cuisine
00:57:08 10.6 Shopping
00:58:44 11 Sports
00:59:57 11.1 Cycling
01:00:32 11.2 Association football
01:01:52 12 Economy
01:04:25 13 Media
01:05:28 14 Education
01:05:37 14.1 Tertiary education
01:07:13 14.2 Primary and secondary education
01:08:05 14.3 Libraries
01:08:29 15 Science and technology
01:09:02 15.1 Healthcare
01:09:39 16 Transport
01:09:48 16.1 Air
01:10:34 16.2 Water
01:12:02 16.3 Train
01:13:37 16.4 City public transport
01:14:03 16.4.1 Metro
01:14:57 16.4.2 Trams and buses
01:15:57 16.4.3 Ticketing
01:16:38 16.4.4 Other public transport
01:17:24 16.5 Road network
01:19:49 17 Security and emergency services
01:20:00 17.1 Police
01:21:05 17.2 Fire department
01:21:57 18 Parks and green spaces
01:22:58 19 Notable people
01:23:07 20 International relations
01:23:17 20.1 Twin towns and sister cities
01:23:30 21 Rankings
01:23:47 22 See also
Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.
Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain
Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.
You can find other Wikipedia audio articles too at:
You can upload your own Wikipedia articles through:
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates
SUMMARY
=======
Brussels (French: Bruxelles [bʁysɛl] (listen); Dutch: Brussel [ˈbrʏsəl] (listen)), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (French: Région de Bruxelles-Capitale, Dutch: Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest), is a region of Belgium comprising 19 municipalities, including the City of Brussels, which is the capital of Belgium. The Brussels-Capital Region is located in the central portion of the country and is a part of both the French Community of Belgium and the Flemish Community, but is separate from the Flemish Region (in which it forms an enclave) and the Walloon Region. Brussels is the most densely populated and the richest region in Belgium in terms of GDP per capita. It covers 161 km2 (62 sq mi), a relatively small area compared to the two other regions, and has a population of 1.2 million. The metropolitan area of Brussels counts over 2.1 million people, which makes it the largest in Belgium. It is also part of a large conurbation extending towards Ghent, Antwerp, Leuven and Walloon Brabant, home to over 5 million people.Brussels grew from a small rural settlement on the river Senne to become an important city-region in Europe. Since the end of the Second World War, it has been a major centre for international politics and the home of numerous international organisations, politicians, diplomats and civil servants. Brussels is the de facto capital of the European Union, as it hosts a number of principal EU institutions (the two other capitals are Luxembourg and Strasbourg) and its name is sometimes used metonymically to describe the EU and its institutions. The secretariat of the Benelux and headquarters of NATO are also located in Brussels. As the economic capital of Belgium and one of the top financial centres of Western Europe with Euronext Brussels, it is classified as an Alpha global city. Brussels is a hub for rail, road and air traffic, sometimes earning the moniker Crossroads of Europe. The Brussels Metro is the only rapid transit system in Belgium. In addition, both its airport and railway stations are the largest ...