Editing Flemish Brabant

{{Short description|Province of Belgium}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name               = Flemish Brabant
| native_name        = ''Vlaams-Brabant''
| native_name_lang   = nl
| settlement_type    = [[Provinces of Belgium|Province]]
| image_flag         = Flemish Brabant flag.png
| flag_size          = 
| image_shield       = Vlaams Brabant wapen.svg
| shield_size        = 80px
| image_map          = Provincie Vlaams-Brabant in Belgium.svg
| coordinates        = {{coord|50|55|N|04|35|E|region:BE|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{BEL}}
| subdivision_type1  = Region
| subdivision_name1  = {{BE-VLG}}
| seat_type          = Capital<br/>{{small|(and largest city)}}
| seat               = [[Leuven]]
| leader_title       = Governor
| leader_name        = [[Jan Spooren]]
| area_total_km2     = 2118
| area_footnotes     = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bestat.statbel.fgov.be/bestat/|title=be.STAT|website=bestat.statbel.fgov.be|access-date=11 January 2020|archive-date=13 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713013704/https://bestat.statbel.fgov.be/bestat/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 1,196,773
| population_as_of   = 1 January 2024<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://statbel.fgov.be/nl/themas/bevolking/structuur-van-de-bevolking|title=Structuur van de bevolking &#124; Statbel|website=statbel.fgov.be|access-date=11 January 2020|archive-date=18 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218210412/https://statbel.fgov.be/nl/themas/bevolking/structuur-van-de-bevolking|url-status=live}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type1 = GDP
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tgs00003/default/table?lang=en | title=EU regions by GDP, Eurostat | access-date=18 September 2023 | archive-date=27 February 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227213552/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tgs00003/default/table?lang=en | url-status=live }}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = Total
| demographics1_info1 = €51.731 billion (2021)
| blank_name_sec2    = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2021)
| blank_info_sec2    = 0.949<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|title=Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab|url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/BEL/?levels=1%2B4&interpolation=1&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0&years=2019|access-date=2 October 2021|archive-date=29 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729165624/https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/BEL/?levels=1%2B4&interpolation=1&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0&years=2019|url-status=live}}</ref><br/>{{color|green|very high}} · [[List of Belgian provinces by Human Development Index|4th of 11]]
| website            = {{URL|http://www.vlaamsbrabant.be/}}
| iso_code           = BE-VBR
| image_blank_emblem = Flemish Brabant.svg
| blank_emblem_type  = [[Brandmark]]
| blank_emblem_size  = 120px
}}

'''Flemish Brabant''' ({{langx|nl|Vlaams-Brabant}} {{IPA|nl|ˌvlaːmz ˈbraːbɑnt||Nl-Vlaams-Brabant.ogg}};{{efn|''Vlaams'' in isolation is pronounced {{IPA|nl|vlaːms|}}.}} {{langx|fr|Brabant flamand}} {{IPA|fr|bʁabɑ̃ flamɑ̃||LL-Q150 (fra)-Madehub-Brabant flamand.wav}}) is a province of [[Flanders]], one of the three regions of [[Belgium]]. It borders on (clockwise from the North) the Belgian provinces of [[Antwerp Province|Antwerp]], [[Limburg (Belgium)|Limburg]], [[Liège Province|Liège]], [[Walloon Brabant]], [[Hainaut Province|Hainaut]] and [[East Flanders]]. Flemish Brabant also surrounds the [[Brussels-Capital Region]]. Its capital is [[Leuven]]. It has an area of {{cvt|2118|km2}} which is divided into two administrative districts (''arrondissementen'' in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]) containing 65 municipalities. As of January 2024, Flemish Brabant had a population of over 1.19 million.<ref name="auto"/>

Flemish Brabant was created in 1995 by the splitting of the former [[province of Brabant]] into three parts: two new provinces, Flemish Brabant and Walloon Brabant; and the [[Brussels-Capital Region]], which no longer belongs to any province. The split was made to accommodate the eventual division of Belgium in three regions (Flanders, [[Wallonia]] and the Brussels-Capital Region).

The province is made up of two [[Arrondissements of Belgium|arrondissement]]s. The [[Halle-Vilvoorde Arrondissement]] surrounds [[Brussels]] and is mainly a residential area, though it also contains large industrial zones and has [[Brussels Airport|Belgium's main airport]]. It is joined by the [[Leuven Arrondissement]], centered on [[Leuven]], the province's capital and largest city. Products of Flemish Brabant include [[Belgian beer]]s.

The official language of Flemish Brabant is [[Dutch language|Dutch]], as in the rest of Flanders. A few municipalities are to a certain extent allowed to use [[French language|French]] to communicate with their citizens; these are called the [[municipalities with language facilities]]. Other such special municipalities can be found along the border between Flanders and Wallonia, and between Wallonia and the German-speaking area of Belgium. Halle-Vilvoorde mostly surrounds [[Brussels]], which is officially bilingual but whose inhabitants mostly speak French.

==Politics==
{{Unsourced|section|date=October 2021}}
The Governor is the representative or "commissioner" of the [[Belgian Federal Government|federal]] and [[Flemish government]]s in Flemish Brabant. He is appointed by the Flemish government, on the unanimous advice of the Federal Council of Ministers. From the creation of Flemish Brabant in 1995, as a result of the division of the [[Province of Brabant]] into Flemish- and [[Walloon Brabant|French]]-speaking provinces, until his retirement in 2020, the governor was [[Lodewijk De Witte]]. He was succeeded by [[Jan Spooren]]. 

The governor is responsible for supervising the local authorities, ensuring that laws and decrees are observed, maintaining public order and security, and coordinating the response to a disaster which has occurred in his province. He also presides over the Deputation, however, he does not have the right to vote in the Deputation except in those cases where the Deputation exercises a judicial function.

Flemish Brabant is the only province that has a deputy governor as well. The deputy governor is appointed by the Flemish Government on the unanimous advice of the Federal Council of Ministers and must have a considerable knowledge of both the [[Dutch language|Dutch]] and the [[French language]]. He is responsible for ensuring that the language legislation is observed in the [[Municipalities with language facilities#Rim municipalities|peripheral municipalities]] of Flemish Brabant.

[[File:20250210 Provincieraadzaal Vlaams-Brabant.jpg|thumb|Provincial Council meeting room]]
The Provincial Council of Flemish Brabant consists of 72 members (84 members until 2012) elected for a term of office of 6 years. The [[Belgian local elections, 2012|last election]] was held on Sunday 14 October 2012. Seven political parties have seats in the provincial council:
* {{Color box|yellow|border=darkgray}} [[New Flemish Alliance]] (N-VA): 19 seats
* {{Color box|orange|border=darkgray}} [[Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams]] (CD&V): 15 seats
* {{Color box|blue|border=darkgray}} [[Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats]] (Open Vld): 13 seats
* {{Color box|red|border=darkgray}} [[Socialist Party – Different|Vooruit]]: 8 seats
* {{Color box|green|border=darkgray}} [[Groen (political party)|Green]] (Groen): 7 seats
* {{Color box|purple|border=darkgray}} [[Union des Francophones|Union of Francophones]] (UF): 5 seats
* {{Color box|brown|border=darkgray}} [[Flemish Interest]] (Vlaams Belang): 5 seats
The current president of the provincial council is An Hermans (CD&V). She is assisted by a bureau which consists of two vice-presidents, four secretaries, three quaestors and the [[floor leader]]s of the [[Fraction (politics)|fractions]] in the provincial council.

The governing majority in the provincial council for 2013–2018 is formed by CD&V, Open VLD, sp.a and Groen. These parties together have a majority of 43 out of 72 seats.

The Deputation is the executive organ responsible for the daily administration of the province. It consists of the governor and six deputies elected by the provincial council from among its midst. For the 2013–2018 legislative term, the deputies are divided among the majority parties as follows: two for CD&V, two for Open Vld, one for sp.a and one for Groen.

== Economy ==
The [[Gross domestic product]] (GDP) of the province was 49.8 billion € in 2018. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 38,600 € or 128% of the EU27 average in the same year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/10474907/1-05032020-AP-EN.pdf/81807e19-e4c8-2e53-c98a-933f5bf30f58|title=Regional GDP per capita ranged from 30% to 263% of the EU average in 2018|website=Eurostat|access-date=6 March 2020|archive-date=9 October 2022|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/10474907/1-05032020-AP-EN.pdf/81807e19-e4c8-2e53-c98a-933f5bf30f58|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Religion ==
According to the ''International Social Survey Programme 2008: Religion III'' by the [[Association of Religion Data Archives]],<ref name=ARDA>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thearda.com/Archive/Files/Analysis/ISSP08/ISSP08_Var280_1.asp|title=Analysis {{!}} International Social Survey Programme 2008: Religion III {{!}} Data Archive {{!}} The Association of Religion Data Archives|website=www.thearda.com|access-date=2017-04-17|archive-date=2 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802062457/https://www.thearda.com/Archive/Files/Analysis/ISSP08/ISSP08_Var280_1.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>  73.9% of Flemish Brabant's population identified themselves as [[Catholic Church|Catholics]], 23.1% as [[Irreligion|non-religious]], and 3% adhered to other religions.
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Flemish Brabant (2008)<ref name=ARDA/>
|label1 = [[Roman Catholicism]]
|value1 = 73.9
|color1 = DodgerBlue
|label2 = [[Protestantism]]
|value2 = 1.1
|color2 = DarkOrchid
|label3 = Non-religious
|value3 = 23.1
|color3 = Grey
|label4 = Other religion
|value4 = 1.9
|color4 = Yellow
}}

==Municipalities==
Flemish Brabant has 63 [[Municipalities of Belgium|municipalities]]: 33 in the [[Halle-Vilvoorde administrative Arrondissement|Arrondissement of Halle-Vilvoorde]] and 30 in [[Leuven administrative Arrondissement|Leuven]].
[[Image:Arrondissement Halle-Vilvoorde Belgium Map.svg|thumb|200px|right|Map showing the location of the Arrondissement of Halle-Vilvoorde]]
{| style="vertical-align:top;"
| style="vertical-align:top;padding-right:40px;background:#dddddd;" | '''Halle-Vilvoorde arrondissement:'''
| style="vertical-align:top;padding-right:40px;background:#dddddd" | '''Leuven arrondissement:'''
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;background:#ddffff;" |
* [[Affligem]]
* [[Asse]]
* [[Beersel]]
* [[Bever, Belgium|Bever]]
* [[Dilbeek]]
* [[Drogenbos]]
* [[Grimbergen]]
* [[Halle, Belgium|Halle]]
* [[Hoeilaart]]
* [[Kampenhout]]
* [[Kapelle-op-den-Bos]]
* [[Kraainem]]
* [[Lennik]]
* [[Liedekerke]]
* [[Linkebeek]]
* [[Londerzeel]]
* [[Machelen]]
* [[Meise]]
* [[Merchtem]]
* [[Opwijk]]
* [[Overijse]]
* [[Pajottegem]]
* [[Pepingen]]
* [[Roosdaal]]
* [[Sint-Genesius-Rode]]
* [[Sint-Pieters-Leeuw]]
* [[Steenokkerzeel]]
* [[Ternat]]
* [[Vilvoorde]]
* [[Wemmel]]
* [[Wezembeek-Oppem]]
* [[Zaventem]]
* [[Zemst]]
| style="vertical-align:top;background:#eeeeee" |
* [[Aarschot]]
* [[Begijnendijk]]
* [[Bekkevoort]]
* [[Bertem]]
* [[Bierbeek]]
* [[Boortmeerbeek]]
* [[Boutersem]]
* [[Diest]]
* [[Geetbets]]
* [[Glabbeek]]
* [[Haacht]]
* [[Herent]]
* [[Hoegaarden]]
* [[Holsbeek]]
* [[Huldenberg]]
* [[Keerbergen]]
* [[Kortenaken]]
* [[Kortenberg]]
* [[Landen]]
* [[Leuven]]
* [[Linter, Belgium|Linter]]
* [[Lubbeek]]
* [[Oud-Heverlee]]
* [[Rotselaar]]
* [[Scherpenheuvel-Zichem]]
* [[Tervuren]]
* [[Tielt-Winge]]
* [[Tienen]]
* [[Tremelo]]
* [[Zoutleeuw]]
|}

== See also ==
* [[Duchy of Brabant]]

* [[Duke of Brabant]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.vlaamsbrabant.be/en/ Official web site of the Flemish Brabant province]

{{Subdivisions of Belgium}}{{Authority control}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}

[[Category:Flemish Brabant| ]]
[[Category:Brabant]]
[[Category:NUTS 2 statistical regions of the European Union]]
[[Category:Provinces of Flanders]]