FLEMISH BRABANT

Flemish Vlaams-Brabant province, north-central Belgium. Flemish Brabant surrounds the Brussels-Capital Region (containing the city of Brussels) but is administratively separate from it. It was created in 1995 when the province of Brabant was divided into Flemish Brabant and Walloon Brabant provinces and the Brussels-Capital region. Flemish Brabant is divided into two arrondissements: Hal-Vilvoorde to the west and Leuven (Louvain) to the east. The provincial capital is Leuven. Flemish Brabant occupies part of the low, undulating Central Plateau, which rises from about 60 feet (18 m) above sea level in the north to 456 feet (139 m) in the south. The main rivers of the eastern Schelde River basin, the Senne (Zenne), Dijle, and Gete, flow in a northeast direction until each is picked up by the east-west line of the Demer-Dijle-Rupel river system, which flows to the lower Schelde. The province's fertile, well-cultivated loams are of great agricultural importance. Large fields grow wheat and sugar beets, producing high yields through intensive use of fertilizers. Near Brussels there is market gardening, the raising of pigs and poultry, and the production of flowers and nursery plants. Northeast of the Brussels, in the Demer River valley, early vegetables are grown, while the Hageland is a fruit-growing region in the eastern part of the province. Cattle raising for both meat and dairy purposes is widespread. Some of the province is wooded, the largest area being the Soignes Forest just southeast of Brussels. Flemish Brabant is densely populated in its western portions, which are dominated by the Brussels metropolis and its industries and transport connections. Service industries predominate, but there are also various metallurgical, textile, and food-processing industries. The province's principal cities are Leuven, Tienen, Halle, and Vilvoorde. The province is served by the Charleroi-Brussels and Willebroek canals and by several rail lines fanning out from Brussels and Leuven. Area 813 square miles (2,106 square km). Pop. (1993 est.) 982,943.