Belgium For Foreigners II
As last year, let us find out how much we know about the country we live in!
- 1.
Albert II announced his abdication on the 21st July 2013. How many European monarchs abdicated before him in 2013?
- A.
One
- B.
Two
- C.
Three
Correct Answer
B. TwoExplanation
The two monarchs to abdicate in 2013 before Albert II are:
1) Pope Benedict XVI
2) Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.Rate this question:
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- 2.
1.38 million foreign-born residents in Belgium constitute 12.9% of the total population. Which group is the largest?
- A.
Maroccan
- B.
Congolese
- C.
Turkish
- D.
French
- E.
Italian
Correct Answer
E. ItalianExplanation
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)Rate this question:
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- 3.
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)
- A.
He is a son of two Italian immigrants.
- B.
He is a social-democrat.
- C.
He is the only openly gay leader of a European Union country.
- D.
He is Catholic.
Correct Answer(s)
A. He is a son of two Italian immigrants.
B. He is a social-democrat.
C. He is the only openly gay leader of a European Union country.Explanation
Elio Di Rupo is of Italian descent, social-democrat, and identifies himself as gay, atheist, rationalist and a Freemason.Rate this question:
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- 4.
Has Belgium ever hosted Olympic games?
- A.
Yes
- B.
No
Correct Answer
A. YesExplanation
The 1920 Summer Olympics were held in Antwerp.Rate this question:
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- 5.
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:
- A.
The bravest
- B.
The smallest
- C.
The most educated
- D.
The least quarrelsome
Correct Answer
A. The bravestExplanation
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."Rate this question:
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- 6.
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?
- A.
US Eighth Air Force
- B.
Polish 1st Armoured Division
- C.
British Royal Air Force
- D.
Free Belgian Forces (Forces Belges Libres)
Correct Answer
B. Polish 1st Armoured DivisionExplanation
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.Rate this question:
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- 7.
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)
- A.
Charleroi was one of the most important places where labor strikes broke out, from the 1850s–1860s, following the Industrial Revolution in Wallonia.
- B.
NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) was relocated to Casteau, a village near Chaleroi, in 1967.
- C.
Napoleon stayed in Charleroi for a couple of days in June 1815, just before the Battle of Waterloo.
Correct Answer(s)
A. Charleroi was one of the most important places where labor strikes broke out, from the 1850s–1860s, following the Industrial Revolution in Wallonia.
C. Napoleon stayed in Charleroi for a couple of days in June 1815, just before the Battle of Waterloo.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.Rate this question:
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- 8.
Manneken Pis is the famous landmark of Brussels. Which of the following facts are true? (More than one answer possible, 4 answers are correct)
- A.
It is 61cm tall.
- B.
It was created in the 16th century.
- C.
The statue is dressed in costume several times each week. After the use, the costumes are sold by the non-profit association The Friends of Manneken-Pis, and the profits are donated to charity.
- D.
It is not clear on which Brussels legend the idea of a peeing boy was based.
- E.
There is also a statue of Manneken Pis in China.
- F.
The statue currently on display is a copy from 1965.
- G.
It's female equivalent, Janneke Pis, was inaugurated only in 1987.
Correct Answer(s)
A. It is 61cm tall.
D. It is not clear on which Brussels legend the idea of a peeing boy was based.
F. The statue currently on display is a copy from 1965.
G. It's female equivalent, Janneke Pis, was inaugurated only in 1987.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 .Rate this question:
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- 9.
What does Belgium celebrate each year on the 21st of July?
- A.
On July 21st 1830 Belgium gained independence by breaking away from the Netherlands.
- B.
On July 21st 1831, the National Congress adopted a constitution.
- C.
On 21 July 1831 Leopold of Saxe-Coburg swore allegiance to the Belgian constitution. He thus became Leopold I, the first king of the Belgians.
Correct Answer
C. On 21 July 1831 Leopold of Saxe-Coburg swore allegiance to the Belgian constitution. He thus became Leopold I, the first king of the Belgians.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.Rate this question:
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- 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)
- A.
He will be called the King of Belgium.
- B.
He will be known as King Philippe I.
- C.
He has four children.
- D.
His oldest child is Elisabeth, but it will be his oldest son Gabriel who will become the heir to the throne.
- E.
His wife is a descendant of Polish nobility, so the next monarch of Belgium will have Polish blood.
- F.
He is 53 years of age.
Correct Answer(s)
C. He has four children.
E. His wife is a descendant of Polish nobility, so the next monarch of Belgium will have Polish blood.
F. He is 53 years of age.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)Rate this question:
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Mar 18, 2023Quiz Edited by
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