Transcript BeNeLux Countries

BeNeLux Countries
•Includes Belgium, the
Netherlands, and
Luxembourg
The Benelux is an economic union.
Belgium
•Brussels, the capital of
Belgium, is the headquarters
for many international
organizations, such as the
European Union (EU) and
the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO).
•Known for lace, chocolate,
and diamond-cutting
The Belgian Royal Palace
The Netherlands
The Binnenhof is the centre of Dutch politics
.
• The Netherlands is also known as Holland.
• Dutch is the official language—this is also what
the people are called.
• The Netherlands controls several Caribbean
islands.
• Well-known for flowers
Luxembourg
•Luxembourg is known for being a banking
region and has one of the highest standards
of living in the world.
•Many residents are multi-lingual.
The façade of the Grand Ducal Palace
The Alpine Countries
Includes Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein
•Location high in the Alps has allowed
it to remain somewhat separate from
the rest of Europe.
•Switzerland has had a stable
democratic government for more
than 700 years.
•Switzerland has remained neutral in
European wars for the last 200 years.
It has not joined the United Nations,
NATO, or the EU.
Switzerland
•Switzerland is home to many international organizations.
•64 percent of Swiss speak German, 19 percent speak
French, and 8 percent speak Italian. Romansch is also a
national language.
•Swiss chemists discovered how to make chocolate bars.
•The Austrian Empire (ruled by the
Hapsburg family) ruled much of
Central Europe from the late 1200s
to the early 1900s (until WW1).
Austria
•Austria was occupied by Germany
in WW2.
•Austria is now an independent
nation.
The famous “Hapsburg Chin”
The family intermarried so
much it caused this strange
genetic defect!
Austria
•Mozart is a famous composer
who performed often in Vienna,
a center for fine art and music.
•The Sound of Music was filmed
in Austria’s majestic mountains.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart