Flagdex

What is the capital of Belgium?

Flag of Belgium
The capital of Belgium is Brussels

Brussels sits on the Brabant plateau in central Belgium, on the river Senne, which was covered over through the city centre in the 19th century.

Brussels is the capital and seat of government of Belgium, a role it has held since 1830. Belgium itself has an estimated population of 11,941,781 (2025).

Whether Brussels counts as the largest city in Belgium depends on which definition of a city you use, as explained in the questions below and on our capital versus largest city reference.

Brussels at a glance

City population1,249,597 (2024, Brussels-Capital Region)
Country🇧🇪 Belgium
Foundedaround 979
Capital since1830
Largest city in BelgiumBrussels
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
CurrencyEuro (EUR)

About Brussels

Brussels traces its origins to around 979, when a fortress was built on an island in the Senne.

Brussels has been the capital of Belgium since 1830, when Belgium won its independence in the Belgian Revolution and Brussels became the capital and seat of government of the new state.

Brussels is the de facto capital of the European Union, hosting its main institutions, and is also home to the headquarters of NATO.

The Brussels-Capital Region is officially bilingual in French and Dutch.

City facts sourced from Wikipedia: Brussels.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of Belgium?
The capital of Belgium is Brussels.
Is Brussels the largest city in Belgium?
It depends on how you measure it. The Brussels-Capital Region, the 19 municipalities usually meant by the name, is the country's largest urban area at roughly 1.2 million people. But Brussels is a region rather than a single municipality, and the largest single municipality in Belgium is Antwerp, at roughly 565,000. The City of Brussels municipality on its own is far smaller than either.
What is the population of Brussels?
Brussels has a population of about 1,249,597 (2024, Brussels-Capital Region).
Where is Brussels located?
Brussels sits on the Brabant plateau in central Belgium, on the river Senne, which was covered over through the city centre in the 19th century.
When did Brussels become the capital of Belgium?
Brussels has been the capital of Belgium since 1830, when Belgium won its independence in the Belgian Revolution and Brussels became the capital and seat of government of the new state.
What time zone is Brussels in?
Brussels uses UTC+01:00 (CET).
What currency is used in Brussels?
Brussels, like the rest of Belgium, uses the Euro (EUR, symbol €).

Capitals of neighbouring countries

Capital of FranceCapital of GermanyCapital of LuxembourgCapital of Netherlands

See the full profile of Belgium on its country page, or browse every capital city.

Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.