Unemployment also has been less of a problem in Flanders, which has experienced significant growth in service industries, than in Wallonia, where the negative consequences of deindustrialization remain. In the late 1950s, when France and the United Kingdom worked with their colonies to prepare for independence, Belgium still portrayed the Congo as an idyllic land of parent-child relationships between Europeans and Africans. It was established by the Belgian parliament to replace the previous, privately owned Congo Free State, after international outrage over abuses there brought pressure for supervision and accountability. The Belgian economy also is inextricably tied to that of Europe. Rigorous monetary reform aided Belgiums post-World War II recovery and expansion, particularly of the Flemish light manufacturing and chemical industries that developed rapidly in the north, and Belgium became one of the first European countries to reestablish a favourable balance of trade in the postwar world. But he demanded and received a huge cash payment and other benefits from Belgium for "his great sacrifices made for the Congo." Again, the Congo people had no say in their fate. organisation Joseph Conrad set his popular novel Heart of Darkness in the Congo Free State and described European abuses. He quickly disregarded all of his Berlin Conference guidelines and began to economically exploit the region's land and inhabitants. It is also host to a great number of European institutions, in addition to the Belgian federal government, the government of the Flemish Community and the government of the French Community. With exports equivalent to over two-thirds of GNP, Belgium depends heavily on world trade. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. No, but it would be the first step. The economy of Belgium is a highly developed mixed economy. Millions of Congolese are said to have been killed or worked to death . Today in History. The second shift happened much later. Belgian per capita GDP ranks among the world's highest. It is also the main hub and the headquarters of TNT Airways. It served many Belgians as their first point of contact with the African colony. Lige is also a very important logistic center: the city possesses the third largest river port in Europe, directly connected to Antwerp, Rotterdam and Germany via the Meuse river and the Albert Canal. How should Belgium reconcile with its brutal past? Jean-Claude Ilunga lives in Belgium but is Congolese by birth and says it is time for the former rulers to apologise to Congo. By 1992 mining had ceased there and in the countrys other major coal-mining area, in the Kempenland (Limburg province) in northeastern Belgium. Charleroi features an industrial area, iron and steel industry, glassworks, chemicals, and electrical engineering. Intensive cultivation is confined to gardens and small farms, which are usually smaller than 10 acres (4 hectares). You may also opt to downgrade to Standard Digital, a robust journalistic offering that fulfils many users needs. Many Congolese people here are academics, with high qualifications from universities in Belgium. The cultivation of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants also is important, particularly in Flanders. This does not count the enormous amount of money paid by Belgium to purchase Free State from Leopold which was also roughly the same amount of money in today's dollars. [19] Belgium's economy has capitalised on the country's central geographic location, and has a well-developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Indeed, Flemish and Walloon economies differ in many respects (consider for instance Eurostat and OECD statistics), and cities like Brussels, Antwerp, Lige, Bruges, Charleroi or Ghent also exhibit significant differences. But my life is here, in Belgium. He named the region the "Congo Free State.". Moreover, water pollution is a serious problem. In the south a modest hydroelectric power industry has developed along fast-moving streams. Firstly, Mobutu repeatedly pointed out Belgiums moral responsibility to the country resulting from colonial rule, especially in crisis situations. Belgium is the world's largest producer of begonias, planting 60 million tubers per year. The Belgian government renamed the region the "Belgian Congo." Today, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the third largest country by area in Africa and has approximately 70 million citizens. The country, which entered slave trade in the 16th century, carried more than 3 million Africans beyond the Atlantic until it abolished slavery in 1833, according to data in the British national archive. The Free States concession system was soon copied by other colonial regimes, notably those in the neighbouring French Congo. $578 billion (nominal, 2021 est.). All three countries have experienced exploitation, violence, and poverty, but their rich sources of minerals may one day bring permanent peaceful prosperity to the interior of Africa. Africans worked the mines and plantations as indentured labourers on four- to seven-year contracts, in accordance with a law passed in Belgium in 1922. Killed her. The country is yet to return to Congo a tooth, suspected to be the only remains of Lumumba, after his body was dug up by Belgian police in Congo and disposed of. From the 1950s, a broad movement formed in Congo Belge to protest against Belgian foreign rule. In Brussels, Leopold left his mark in stone - in monuments and buildings. Although Leopold II established Belgium as a colonial power in Africa, he is best known for the widespread atrocities that were carried out under his rule, as a result of which as many as 10 million people died in the Congo Free State. By the early 21st century, Belgium had diversified its sources of social-security funding and succeeded in balancing its budget. The Belgian economy also is inextricably tied to that of Europe. Maybe burnt down your village. * Belgium is yet to return thousands of Congolese art works including statues, elephant ivory masks, manuscripts and musical instruments looted by Belgian and other European collectors, scientists and explorers during the colonial era. After international protests, Leopold II sold the private colony to the Belgian state in 1908. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Annually about 2.5 million day tourists visit the city and in 2007 there were about 1.4 million overnight stays. cookies Things quickly got out of control. The global net fortune has grown by 7.6% to a total of 128.5 billion euros. offers FT membership to read for free. You may change or cancel your subscription or trial at any time online. Due to this brutality and European diseases, the native population dwindled by approximately ten million people. The current countries of Rwanda and Burundi were once colonized by the Germans, who named the region Ruanda-Urundi. And in March 2022, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced the return of 84,000 Congolese artefacts. Each has helped shape the other. The following table shows the main economic indicators in 19802021 (with IMF staff estimates in 20222027). From then on, he was the private ruler of the tat Indpendant du Congo (Congo Free State), which was 80 times the size of his Kingdom of Belgium. The government was forced to borrow heavily from abroad to finance foreign trade (i.e., importing of foreign goods) and to sustain its generous social welfare system. They did not have much contact with Europe, but in the 1400s and 1500s one of the kingdoms had contact with Portuguese explorers. The trip was billed as a chance to recalibrate the relationship between the two countries after a dark colonial past. Unrest increased in the depression years (193136) and during World War II. 9. This and other socialist unions became unified around 1898. This colonial racism continued in everyday life until the middle of the 20th century. Some Belgian families still remember their relatives who served in Congo and the tradition of "Black Pete" - a clownish servant portrayed by white people in Blackface, helping St. Nicholas bring gifts to children - remains popular though is increasingly seen as discriminatory. The Belgian government and Catholic missions tried to aid the inhabitants by improving health and education and building an infrastructure, but the Belgians still exploited the region's gold, copper, and diamonds. After only two months in power, Lumumba was deposed in September 1960. On 1 May 1998, Belgium became a first-tier member of the European Monetary Union. Needless to say, Caroline profited greatly from the King's attention, earning her the nickname "Queen of the Congo.". But while Belgium prospered from its African connection, Congo's story has been one of chaos and decline. In 2021, Belgium's public debt was about 108% of the country's GDP. But by the time Leopold was stopped, the damage was done. [24] The second biggest union is the socialist General Federation of Belgian Labour (ABVV-FGTB) which has a membership of more than 1.5million. King Leopold II committed heinous . Patrice Lumumba: the most important assassination of the 20th century With his leopardskin hat and his throne, the old manipulator still looked the part, but in a country the size of western Europe he was losing control. As in other industrialized nations, pension and other social entitlement programs have become a major economic and political concern as the baby boomers approach retirement age. The King made 70 million Belgian francs' profit from the system between 1896 and 1905. and other data for a number of reasons, such as keeping FT Sites reliable and secure, African stakeholders were not involved in the negotiations. In the 1980s and 1990s, the economic center of the country continued to shift northwards to Flanders with investments by multinationals (Automotive industry, Chemical industry) and a growing local Industrial agriculture (textiles, food). Unemployment in Wallonia is mainly structural, while in Flanders it is cyclical. Mined since the 13th century, these coal reserves were instrumental in Belgiums industrialization during the 19th century. Richard, Katherine Schulz. This sham was supposedly a scientific and philanthropic organization which would greatly improve the lives of native Africans by converting them to Christianity, ending the trade of enslaved people, and introducing European health and educational systems. However, Leopold II is still commemorated with statues and monuments across Brussels. Belgium switched from the Belgian franc to the Euro as its currency after 1 January 2002. When I walk around Brussels, I see beautiful buildings, I see statues and monuments and all of them were paid for using money taken from Congo.Today Belgium is one of the richest countries in Europe, but all that money came from my country. It's because of him that the Congolese were slaughtered, that children had their hands and feet cut off. Anti-European religious groups were active by the 1920s, including Kimbanguism and the Negro Mission in the west and Kitawala in the southeast. Belgium now imports all its coal, which is needed for the steel industry and for domestic heating. The years of terror broke down traditional communities and created a long-lasting pattern of plunder. or It has a number of regional headquarters of multinational corporations. The Belgian Industry claims 19% of the labor force; and agriculture claims 1%. Belgium was the first European country to join the Industrial Revolution in the early 19th century. Stones, principally specialty marbles, also are quarried. Back then the liberal union was known as the "Nationale Centrale der Liberale Vakbonden van Belgi". The Congo is a massive country, the size of Western Europe. As a possession of Belgium, the Congo Free State became known as the Belgian Congo. The open countryside of north-central BelgiumHainaut, Flemish Brabant, Walloon Brabant, and Hesbaye (the region of rolling land southwest of Limburg)includes pastureland as well as intensive diversified cultivation of such crops as wheat, sugar beets, and oats; local variations include orchards in northern Hesbaye. Your email address will not be published. Belgium is a small country in northwest Europe that joined Europe's race for colonies in the late 19th century. Belgium's accumulated public debt remains high at 99% of 2009 GDP. The scandal which eventually shamed the Belgian Government to bring to an end Leopold's 20 years of despoiling the Congo was the discovery that his agents had been using forced labour to harvest rubber - a highly sought-after commodity at the time. DRC was known as Zaire from 1971-1997. In the past, Lige was one of the most important steel-making centres in Europe. Belgium's trade advantages are derived from its central geographic location and a highly skilled, multilingual, and productive work force. Simply log into Settings & Account and select "Cancel" on the right-hand side. Perhaps Congo is too big a country to be governed as a single state. We use Its capital is Kinshasa, formerly named Leopoldville. Here are some facts about Belgian rule and the two countries' difficult bilateral ties since. [21], For 50 years through World War II, French-speaking Wallonia was a technically advanced, industrial region, with its industry concentrated along the sillon industriel, while Dutch-speaking Flanders was predominantly agricultural with some industry, mainly processing agricultural products and textiles. [20], With 65% of the workers belonging to a union, Belgium is a country with one of the highest percentages of trade union membership. Government Spending in Belgium increased to 27582 EUR Million in the fourth quarter of 2022 from 27324 EUR Million in the third quarter of 2022. 10 million Congolese died to produce this . And we have never heard a word of apology from the Belgian government. Curiously, Laurent Kabila did come to Brussels to meet the present Belgian King, but the days of European intervention in Congo's affairs are over. Belgium imports raw materials and semi-finished goods that are further processed and re-exported. But people should ask themselves where all this fortune comes from? Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The Europeans burned African villages, farmland, and rainforest, and kept women as hostages until rubber and mineral quotas were met. Belgium's reckoning with a brutal history in Congo Charleroi is in the center of a vast coal basin, called Pays Noir. Much of the success of Brussels is based on the high educational skills of its workforce. Is it enough to just say sorry and ask for forgiveness? Millions are now refugees. Since the first official census by the Belgian authorities in 1924 put the population at about 10 million, it means that the King Leopold and the Belgian administration in the colony were responsible for the deaths of around 10 million Congolese. It was the first time a reigning monarch of Belgium expressed such regret, although he stopped short of formally apologising. Because if there were not Congo, Belgium would not be a rich country. Nonetheless, most traditional industrial sectors are represented in the economy, including steel, textiles, refining, chemicals, food processing, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electronics, and machinery fabrication. Manufacturing is the major economic activity in the provinces of East Flanders, Limburg, and Hainaut. Uriel Sinai / Stringer/ Getty Images News/ Getty Images, Exploration of and Claims to the Congo River Basin, Independence for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [25] The ABVV-FGTB traces its origins to 1857, when the first Belgian union was founded in Ghent by a group of weavers. Assistant Professor, Julius Maximilian University of Wrzburg. The Belgian government forced Leopold to surrender his personal country in 1908. Required fields are marked *. However, many countries and . The government and the king have so far only formulated a regret. Given this high percentage, it seeks to diversify and expand trade opportunities with non-EU countries. The federal government has not managed to present balanced budgets in recent years and public debt remains high, at 99% of 2009 GDP. They too are now exhausted, but the refining of imported metallic ores remains an important component of Belgiums economy. Secondly, there was colonial nostalgia among the Belgian population. For many Congolese in the diaspora in Belgium and in the Congo, this doesnt go far enough. Most of this economic activity was controlled by foreign companies, such as the Belgian Union Minire du Haut-Katanga (UMHK), whose assets in 1965 were valued at nearly $430 million. Then, King Leopold II came to power in 1865 and believed that colonies would greatly enhance Belgium's wealth and prestige. Private European and American corporations invested heavily in the Belgian Congo after World War I. The government has balanced the budget every year since, until 2009 where it ran a deficit of about $25 billion. [citation needed] In 2009 Belgium suffered negative growth and increased unemployment, stemming from the worldwide banking crisis. How Much Did Belgium Steal From Congo? - MooiKasterleekrant Events Leading to the Scramble for Africa, Congo Free State Rubber Regime Atrocities, The Dutch Empire: Three Centuries on Five Continents, What Is Colonialism? In our Congolese community we have doctors, engineers, political scientists, psychologists. Stanley's expeditions opened up the Congo for exploitation by . My children feel Belgian, but I am split. One of the founding members of the European Community, Belgium strongly supports deepening the powers of the present-day European Union (EU) to integrate European economies further. Antwerp is the first diamond market in the world, diamond exports account for roughly 1/10 of Belgian exports. From then on, he was the private ruler of the tat Indpendant du Congo (Congo Free State), which was 80 times the size of his Kingdom of Belgium. Despite the heavy industrial component, services account for 74.9% of Belgium's GDP, while agriculture accounts for only 1% of Belgium's GDP.[20]. It will never replace the millions who were killed, but it will be something. You had to reach a certain quota - say, a certain quantity of rubber. It is an eye-catching centrepiece for an elegant park. The first nationwide Congolese political party, the Congo National Movement, was launched in 1958 by Patrice Lumumba and other Congolese leaders. As of July 2012, however, the statistical unemployment rate in Brussels was 20.6%.[30]. Apart from returning looted art, Nsayi said reparation policy could also cover updating Belgian school curriculums and trade treaties that benefit Congolese people. But he gave the orders. With regional devolution, Flanders, Brussels, and Wallonia are now courting potential foreign investors and offer a host of incentives and benefits. You can still enjoy your subscription until the end of your current billing period. Leopold II tried mightily to conceal this abuse from the international public. Belgium has a free-enterprise economy, with the majority of the gross domestic product (GDP) generated by the service sector. He was born in Congo, but moved to Belgium around 40 years ago and has made his life here. Belgium was the first European country to join the Industrial Revolution in the early 19th century. King Leopold II's Exploitation of the Congo From 1885 to 1908 - STARS [23] The origins of the union can be traced back to the "Anti-Socialist Cotton Workers Union" that was founded in 1886. Millions died. The port of Bruges-Zeebrugge is one of the most important, modern and fastest growing[31] ports in Europe. Racist images and colonial bias were constructed to justify foreign rule in the Congo. * As many as 10 million people are estimated to have died in Congo from killings, famine and disease . Forced labour, corporal punishments, kidnapping, and slaughtering of rebellious villages were among other atrocities recorded during the period. King Leopold and his European rivals created the conditions for chaos in Congo a century ago, the most the former colonial powers will do now is withdraw their nationals and stand well back. Under the mantle of propagating Christianity and trade in Africa, Belgium exploited Congo's riches, including rubber. Villages which resisted paying the rubber-tax were punished. [citation needed]. Following this general paradigm shift, in October 2020, the Free University of Brussels agreed to return human remains from Congo to the University of Lubumbashi. Sixty years after Congo gained its independence, the Belgian king has expressed his "deepest regrets" for the suffering his nation caused as a colonial power. In 1930, the ACLVB-CGSLB adopted its current name.[27]. Government Spending in Belgium averaged 18630.83 EUR Million from 1980 until 2022, reaching an all time high of 27582.00 EUR Million in the fourth quarter of 2022 and a record low of 9857.00 EUR Million in the first quarter of 1980. Between 1884 and 1885, there were a series of negotiations between European powers to formalise claims to territory in Africa. It has since developed a highly-developed transportation infrastructure made up of ports (most notably the Port of Antwerp), canals, railways, and highways, in order to integrate its industry with that of its neighbours. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. There were two major coal-mining areas. Links to more From Our Own Correspondent stories, Brussels would have been a very different city without its Congo connection, Even by the standards of the day, Leopold's attitude to his colony was ruthless and exploitative, Perhaps Congo is too big a country to be governed as a single state. The photo was taken in 1904 at a missionary outpost in Baringa, in what was then called the Congo Free State. It must negotiate politically on an equal footing with its former colonies. The commission is also to provide the basis for a reorientation of international relations with former colonial territories. Belgium was, of course, the colonial power in Congo until 1960, and links between the two countries remain strong. The last Belgian union worth mentioning is the very small, but highly active anarchist union called the Vrije Bond. For cost savings, you can change your plan at any time online in the Settings & Account section. This dilemma was exacerbated by two aspects. Severed hands became the infamous symbol of the colonial state where officials brutally maimed those failing to deliver harvest quotas. Belgium could fix the electricity system, for instance. The region is one of striking contrasts: in the Condroz farms range in size from 75 to 250 acres (30 to 100 hectares), whereas in the Ardennes they are between 25 and 75 acres (10 to 30 hectares). The relentless pursuit of profits in the Congo by King Leopold II resulted in one of the worst levels of moral decadence for mankind. Begonias have been cultivated in the Ghent area since 1860. Moreover, in the early 1990s the government decreased its subsidy to the social security system. General Confederation of Liberal Trade Unions of Belgium, "World Economic Outlook Database, April 2019", "Report for Selected Countries and Subjects: April 2023", "The outlook is uncertain again amid financial sector turmoil, high inflation, ongoing effects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and three years of COVID", "People at risk of poverty or social exclusion", "Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income EU-SILC survey", "Employment rate by sex, age group 20-64", "Unemployment by sex and age monthly average", "Euro area and EU27 government deficit both at 0.6% of GDP", "Scope affirms the Kingdom of Belgium's credit ratings at AA- and maintains the Stable Outlook", "General government gross debt annual data", "Aantal leden christelijke vakbond neemt jaar na jaar toe", "Hoeveel leden telt het ABVV? Richard, Katherine Schulz. [20], Foreign investment contributed significantly to Belgian economic growth in the 1960s. Congo was first taken as the personal property of the Belgian King Leopold II. Young men in combat trousers stood by the roadside selling looted goods - tennis rackets, a toilet bowl, a fish tank. The Free State's concession system was soon copied by other colonial regimes, notably those in the neighbouring French Congo. 11 Buildings That Reveal Belgiums History, Which Country Is Larger By Population? The richest countries following are Norway, Switzerland, Austria and Sweden. However, many countries and individuals had learned of these atrocities by the early 20th century. Since then, DRC has experienced corruption, inflation, and several regime changes. Marchal, the Belgian scholar, estimates that Leopold drew some 220 million francs (or $1.1 billion in today's dollars ) in profits from the Congo during his lifetime. [20], Although Belgium is a wealthy country, public expenditures far exceeded income for many years, and taxes were not diligently pursued. Belgian Congo, 1908-1960 . The people of the Congo were forced to labor for valued resources, including rubber and ivory, to personally enrich Leopold. The Congolese, who by then had some rights such as owning property and voting in elections, began to demand independence. Among other criteria spelled out under the Maastricht treaty, the Belgian Government had to attain a budget deficit of no greater than 3% of GDP by the end of 1997; Belgium achieved this, with a total budget deficit in 2001 (just prior to implementation of the Euro) that amounted to 0.2% of GDP. Even if many Belgians believe that they cannot be held responsible for the crimes of their ancestors, the Belgian economy profited greatly from colonial exploitation and in principle continues to do so today. Change the plan you will roll onto at any time during your trial by visiting the Settings & Account section. The country has been a member of a variety of supranational organizations, including the Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU), the Benelux Economic Union, and the EU.