Private Swap - Belgium
A card showing four generations of the Royal family posing for special 90th birthday stamps. Love this card! And the stamp is featuring the King Philippe of the Belgians. Thank you, Coraline!
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Private Swap - Belgium
The national flag of Belgium contains three equal vertical bands of black, yellow, and red. The colours were taken from the colours of the Duchy of Brabant, and the vertical design may be based on the flag of France. ( source ) Black, gold and red are symbolic of the country's coat of arms; black representing the shield; gold representing the lion, and red representing the lion's claws and tongue. ( source ) Albert II (born 6 June 1934) is the King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. He is the uncle of the current reigning Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Henri. ( source ) Thank you Natasha!
RR #86 Belgium
Beer in Belgium varies from pale lager to lambic beer and Flemish red. There are approximately 178 breweries in the country, ranging from international giants to microbreweries. The Trappist monasteries that now brew beer in Belgium were occupied in the late 18th century primarily by monks fleeing the French Revolution. However, the first Trappist brewery in Belgium (Westmalle) did not start operation until 10 December 1836, almost 50 years after the Revolution. That beer was exclusively for the monks and is described as "dark and sweet." The first recorded sale of beer (a brown beer) was on 1 June 1861. ( source ) Thank you Akitoyo!
RR #68 Belgium
Côte d'Opale is the French coast from Calais to Boulogne-sur-Mer. From the coast, England is visible on clear days. The coast is known for its beautiful cliffs such as 'Cape Blanc Nez' and 'Cape Gris Nez'. Many artists have been inspired by its landscapes, the most famous being the composer Henri Dutilleux, the writers Victor Hugo and Charles Dickens, and the painters Carolus-Duran and Maurice Boitel. ( source ) Thank you Mieke!
#199 Belgium
King Albert II and Queen Paola On July 2, 1959 Prince Albert married Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria of an Italian family with royal connections. King Albert II and Queen Paola have three children: Prince Philippe, Princess Astrid, and Prince Laurent. Belgium has a hereditary constitutional monarchy. The King rules without governing, although his role is of vital importance. According to the Constitution, the person of the King has immunity: his ministers are liable for him. Not a single deed by the King can have any consequence without its being countersigned by a minister. This provision places the King above religions and ideologies, above political persuasions and debates, and above economic interest. At the same time the King is the guardian of the country's unity and independence. ( source ) Thank you Ghislaine!
#172 Belgium
Gina, the King, the Voice … Hollywood, 1959 Baudouin I (1930 – 1993) reigned as King of the Belgians, following his father's abdication, from 1951 until his death in 1993. He was the eldest son of King Leopold III (1901–1983) and his first wife, Princess Astrid of Sweden (1905–1935). Having had no children, the crown passed on to his brother, Albert II of Belgium, upon his death. Baudouin is the French form of his name, the form most commonly used outside Belgium; his Dutch name is Boudewijn . Very rarely, his name is anglicized as Baldwin . ( source ) Thank you Valerie!
