Belgium is made up entirely of the Flemish Region since 2012.
Belgium . From the 16th century until the Belgian Revolution in 1830 , when Belgium seceded from the Netherlands , the area of Belgium served as the battleground between many European powers , causing it to be dubbed the `` Battlefield of Europe , '' Its two largest regions are the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders in the north and the French-speaking southern region of Wallonia . Belgium 's linguistic diversity and related political conflicts are reflected in its political history and complex system of governance , made up of six different governments . The second half of the 20th century was marked by rising tensions between the Dutch-speaking and the French-speaking citizens fueled by differences in language and culture and the unequal economic development of Flanders and Wallonia .