Albert II of Belgium - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Albert II (born 6 June 1934) is the current reigning King

Monarchy of Belgium

Monarchy in Belgium is constitutional and popular in nature. The hereditary monarch, at present Albert II, is the head of state and is officially called King of the Belgians .-Origins:...

of the Belgians

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

, a constitutional monarch

Constitutional monarchy

Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...

. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

The House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is a German dynasty, the senior line of the Saxon House of Wettin that ruled the Ernestine duchies, including the duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha....

. He is the uncle of the current reigning Duke

Grand Duke of Luxembourg

The Grand Duke of Luxembourg is the sovereign monarch and head of state of Luxembourg. Luxembourg has been a grand duchy since 15 March 1815, when it was elevated from a duchy when placed in personal union with the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...

of Luxembourg, Henri

Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg

Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg OIH is the head of state of Luxembourg. He is the eldest son of Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium. His maternal grandparents were King Leopold III of Belgium and Astrid of Sweden...

Full name

Albert's full name is Albert Félix Humbert Théodore Christian Eugène Marie in French (albɛʁ feliks œ̃bɛʁ teodɔʁ kʁistjɑ̃ øʒɛn maʁi), Albert Felix Humbert Theodoor Christiaan Eugène Marie in Dutch

Dutch language

Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...

(ˈʔɑlbəɾt ˈfelɪks ˈɦʏmbəɾt teˈjodoːɾ ˈkɾɪstiːjaːn ʔøːˈʒɛːn ma̙ˈɾiː), and Albert Felix Humbert Theodor Christian Eugen Maria in German (ˈʔalbɛʁt ˈfeːlɪks ˈhʊmbɛʁt ˈteːodoːɐ̯ ˈkʁɪsti̯an ˈʔɔʏɡən maˈʁiːa).

Birth

He is the second son of King Leopold III

Leopold III of Belgium

Leopold III reigned as King of the Belgians from 1934 until 1951, when he abdicated in favour of the Heir Apparent,...

(1901–1983) and his first wife, Astrid of Sweden

Astrid of Sweden

Astrid of Sweden was Queen of the Belgians as the wife of King Leopold III.-Early life:Princess Astrid of Sweden was born in Stockholm on 17 November 1905...

(1905–1935). He ascended to the throne in 1993, following the death of his older brother, King Baudouin. His godparents were Prince Felix of Luxembourg and his paternal grandmother, Queen Elisabeth of Belgium. He is the first cousin of King Harald V of Norway, Princess Astrid of Norway

Princess Astrid of Norway

Princess Astrid of Norway, Mrs. Ferner, is the second daughter of King Olav V of Norway and his wife, Princess Märtha of Sweden...

, and Princess Ragnhild of Norway

Princess Ragnhild of Norway

Princess Ragnhild of Norway, Mrs. Lorentzen, is the eldest daughter of King Olav V of Norway and Princess Märtha of Sweden. She is the older sister of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway and of Princess Astrid of Norway.Princess Ragnhild married Erling S...

Biography

Prince Albert was born in Stuyvenberg Castle, Brussels

Brussels

Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...

. On 10 May 1940, at the time when Belgium was being invaded

Battle of Belgium

The Battle of Belgium or Belgian Campaign formed part of the greater Battle of France, an offensive campaign by Germany during the Second World War...

, Prince Albert, his elder sister Princess Joséphine-Charlotte

Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium

Princess Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium was Grand Duchess of Luxembourg as spouse of Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg...

and his elder brother Prince Baudouin, left the country for France and later Spain. The Prince and the Princess returned to Belgium on 2 August 1940. They continued their studies until 1944, either at Laeken, or at the Chateau of Ciergnon in the Ardennes. In June 1944, at the time of the Allied landings, King Leopold III, Princess Lilian – whom he married in 1941 – and the royal children were deported by the Germans to Hirschstein

Hirschstein

Hirschstein is a municipality in the district of Meißen, in Saxony, Germany.The following villages belong to Hirschstein: Althirschstein, Bahra, Böhla, Boritz, Heyda, Kobeln, Mehltheuer, Neuhirschstein, Pahrenz, Prausitz and Schänitz....

, Germany, and later to Strobl

Strobl

Strobl is a municipality of the Salzburg-Umgebung District , in the northeastern portion of the Austrian state of Salzburg, right on the border with Upper Austria...

, Austria, where they were liberated by the American Army on 7 May 1945. Due to the political situation in Belgium, King Leopold and his family moved to the villa "Le Reposoir" in Pregny

Pregny-Chambésy

Pregny-Chambésy is a commune in the canton of Geneva in Switzerland. It is located directly north of the city of Geneva, on the south-western shore of Lake Geneva....

, Switzerland, when they left Austria in October 1945 and stayed until July 1950. During that time, Prince Albert would continue his education in a secondary school in Geneva

Geneva

Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...

. King Leopold III, accompanied by Prince Baudouin and Prince Albert, returned to Belgium on 22 July 1950.

He is the 1,292nd Knight

Knight

A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....

of the Order of the Golden Fleece

Order of the Golden Fleece

The Order of the Golden Fleece is an order of chivalry founded in Bruges by Philip III, Duke of Burgundy in 1430, to celebrate his marriage to the Portuguese princess Infanta Isabella of Portugal, daughter of King John I of Portugal. It evolved as one of the most prestigious orders in Europe...

in Austria and the 1,191st Knight

Knight

of the Order of the Golden Fleece

Order of the Golden Fleece

in Spain in 1994.

Marriage and family

On 2 July 1959, he married in Brussels

Brussels

Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...

, Princess Paola Ruffo di Calabria

Queen Paola of Belgium

Paola, Queen of the Belgians , is the queen consort of Albert II of Belgium....

(born 11 September 1937). She is the daughter of Fulco VIII, Prince Ruffo di Calabria, 6th Duke of Guardia Lombarda

Fulco Ruffo di Calabria

Fulco VIII, Prince Ruffo di Calabria, 6th Duke of Guardia Lombarda was an Italian World War I flying ace, and posthumous father-in-law of King Albert II of the Belgians.-Background:...

and his wife, Countess Luisa Gazelli di Rossana e di Sebastiano (1896–1989). Together they have three children, two sons and a daughter:

HRH Prince Philippe of Belgium, Duke of Brabant (born 15 April 1960). On 4 December 1999, the Duke married Jonkvrouwe Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz
Princess Mathilde, Duchess of Brabant
Princess Mathilde, Duchess of Brabant, DHS , is the wife of the heir apparent to the Belgian throne, Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant...

(born 20 January 1973), who was created HRH Princess Mathilde of Belgium a day before their marriage. She is a daughter of the late Count Patrick d'Udekem d'Acoz
Count Patrick d'Udekem d'Acoz
Patrick Paul François Marie Ghislain, Count d'Udekem d'Acoz was a Belgian nobleman and father of Princess Mathilde, Duchess of Brabant...

and his wife, Countess Anna Maria Komorowska. The Duke and Duchess of Brabant have four children, two sons and two daughters:
- HRH Princess Elisabeth of Belgium (born 25 October 2001), who will inherit the throne after her father.
- HRH Prince Gabriel of Belgium (born 20 August 2003)
- HRH Prince Emmanuel of Belgium (born 4 October 2005)
- HRH Princess Eléonore of Belgium (born 16 April 2008)
HI&RH Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess Lorenz of Austria-Este, Duchess of Modena (born 5 June 1962). In 1984, she married HI&RH Archduke Lorenz of Austria-Este, Archduke of Austria, Prince Royal of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...

and Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...

(born 16 December 1955), who was created a Prince of Belgium in 1995. They have five children, two sons and three daughters:
- HI&RH Prince Amedeo of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este (born 22 February 1986)
- HI&RH Princess Maria Laura of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este (born 26 August 1988)
- HI&RH Prince Joachim of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este (born 9 December 1991)
- HI&RH Princess Luisa Maria of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este (born 11 October 1995)
- HI&RH Princess Laetitia Maria of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este (born 23 April 2003)
HRH Prince Laurent of Belgium (born 19 October 1963). On 12 April 2003, He married Claire Coombs
Princess Claire of Belgium
Princess Claire of Belgium, is the wife of Prince Laurent of Belgium and is a land surveyor.- Biography :...

(born 18 January 1974), an Anglo-Belgian former real-estate agent. She was created HRH Princess Claire of Belgium
Princess Claire of Belgium
Princess Claire of Belgium, is the wife of Prince Laurent of Belgium and is a land surveyor.- Biography :...

11 days before their marriage. They have three children, two sons and one daughter:
- HRH Princess Louise of Belgium
  Princess Louise of Belgium
  Princess Louise of Belgium born Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, 6 February 2004, is the first child of Prince Laurent and Princess Claire of Belgium. She is currently 13th in the line of succession to the Belgian throne.-Family:...
  
  (born 6 February 2004)
- HRH Prince Nicolas of Belgium
  Prince Nicolas of Belgium
  Prince Nicolas of Belgium born Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, 13 December 2005, is the second child of Prince Laurent and Princess Claire of Belgium. He is currently 14th in the line of succession to the Belgian throne....
  
  (born 13 December 2005)
- HRH Prince Aymeric of Belgium
  Prince Aymeric of Belgium
  Prince Aymeric of Belgium , is the third child of Prince Laurent and Princess Claire of Belgium...
  
  (born 13 December 2005)

Illegitimate daughter

Delphine Boël

Delphine Michèle Anne Marie Ghislaine Boël is a Belgian artist who specializes in papier maché sculpture. She is alleged to be the illegitimate daughter of Albert II of Belgium. Sometimes in the media Delphine is incorrectly titled as a Baroness, because of her mother's title...

(born 1968), a sculptor living in London, is alleged to be the illegitimate daughter of the King. The claims originated in a Belgian satirical magazine in 1997 and were repeated two years later in a biography written by 18-year-old schoolboy :nl:Mario Danneels. Her mother is a Belgian aristocrat, Sybille, Baroness de Selys Longchamps

Sybille de Selys Longchamps

Sybille, Baroness de Selys Longchamps is a Belgian aristocrat. She is known as the mother of Delphine Boël, supposedly the illegitimate daughter of Albert II of Belgium, current King of the Belgians....

, who was married at the time of Delphine's birth to Jacques Boël. Delphine has 2 children, Joséphine O'Hare and Oscar O'Hare, by her American companion, James O'Hare. Sybille de Selys Longchamps and Delphine both refused to comment on the claim, and palace officials called it "malevolent gossip".

Ancestry

Titles & styles

Titles and styles

6 June 1934 – 7 June 1934: His Royal Highness Prince Albert of Belgium
7 June 1934 – 9 August 1993: His Royal Highness The Prince of Liège
9 August 1993 – present: His Majesty The King of the Belgians

Honours

Belgian honours

Grand Master of the Order of Leopold
Grand Master of the Order of the African Star
Order of the African Star
The Order of the African Star was established by King Leopold II of Belgium on 30 December 1888, in his capacity as ruler of the Congo Free State, and was awarded for services to Congo and for the "promotion of African civilisation in general". It was incorporated into the Belgian honours system...

(dormant order)
Grand Master of the Royal Order of the Lion
Royal Order of the Lion (Belgium)
The Royal Order of the Lion was established by King Leopold II of Belgium on 9 April 1891, in his capacity as ruler of the Congo Free State, and was awarded for services to Congo and its ruler that did not deserve the award of the Order of the African Star and were not necessarily performed from...

(dormant order)
Grand Master of the Order of the Crown
Order of the Crown (Belgium)
The Order of the Crown is an Order of Belgium which was created on 15 October 1897 by King Leopold II in his capacity as ruler of the Congo Free State. The order was first intended to recognize heroic deeds and distinguished service achieved from service in the Congo Free State - many of which acts...
Grand Master of the Order of Leopold II
Order of Leopold II
The Order of Leopold II is an order of Belgium and is named in honor of King Léopold II. The decoration was established on 24 August 1900 by Leopold II as king of the Congo Free State and was in 1908, upon Congo being handed over to Belgium, incorporated into the Belgian awards system...

Foreign honours

Recipient of numerous foreign decorations, Albert II is one of the few European leaders to be both a knight of the Golden Fleece (Austrian awarded in 1962 by Archduke Otto von Habsburg) and Knight of the Golden Fleece Gold Spanish (awarded in 1994 by King Juan Carlos).

The list of his honorifical decorations (to be expanded) consists of :

State honours

: Grand Cross of the Order of Stara Planina (2003) - (Photo)

Commonwealth realm
Commonwealth Realm
A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state within the Commonwealth of Nations that has Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state. The sixteen current realms have a combined land area of 18.8 million km² , and a population of 134 million, of which all, except about two million, live in the six...

s: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...

- (Photo):
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog
  Order of the Dannebrog
  The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
  
  -
- Knight of the Order of the Elephant
  Order of the Elephant
  The Order of the Elephant is the highest order of Denmark. It has origins in the 15th century, but has officially existed since 1693, and since the establishment of constitutional monarchy in 1849, is now almost exclusively bestowed on royalty and heads of state.- History :A Danish religious...
  
  - (Photo): Collar of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana
  Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana
  The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana was instituted in 1995 to honour the independence of the Estonian state. The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana is bestowed upon the President of the Republic. Presidents of the Republic who have ceased to hold office shall keep the Order of the Cross of...
  
  (2008) - (Ph.1, Ph.2) : Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose
  Order of the White Rose
  The Order of the White Rose of Finland is one of three official orders in Finland, along with the Order of the Cross of Liberty, and the Order of the Lion of Finland. The President of Finland is the Grand Master of all three orders. The orders are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor,...
  
  (2004) - (Photo) : Grand Cross, Special Class, of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic - (Photo) : Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic, Civilian Class - ( Photo): Knight of the Collar of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
  Order of the Holy Sepulchre
  The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is a Roman Catholic order of knighthood under the protection of the pope. It traces its roots to Duke Godfrey of Bouillon, principal leader of the First Crusade...
  
  (1995) - (website): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
  Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
  The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic was founded as the senior order of knighthood by the second President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi in 1951...
  
  - : Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum
  Order of the Chrysanthemum
  is Japan's highest order. The Grand Cordon of the Order was established in 1876 by Emperor Meiji of Japan; the collar of the Order was added on January 4, 1888. Although technically the order has only one class, it can either be awarded with collar , or with grand cordon...
  
  - : Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of Three Stars (2007) - (recipents list (.doc file)): Golden Collar of the Order of Vytautas the Great
  Order of Vytautas the Great
  The Order of Vytautas the Great is the Lithuanian Presidential Award. It may be conferred on the heads of Lithuania and foreign states, as well as their citizens, for distinguished services to the State of Lithuania.-History:...
  
  - (Official news, Photo): Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau - (Photo): Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Charles
  Order of St. Charles
  The Order of Saint-Charles is an order established in Monaco on 15 March 1858. This order rewards service to the State or Prince. It is awarded by the current Prince Albert II.- Knight Grand Cross :...
  
  (1957) - (Photo) : Special Class of the Order of the Mohammediya:
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (Photo)
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau
  Order of Orange-Nassau
  The Order of Orange-Nassau is a military and civil order of the Netherlands which was created on 4 April 1892 by the Queen regent Emma of the Netherlands, acting on behalf of her under-age daughter Queen Wilhelmina. The Order is a chivalry order open to "everyone who have earned special merits for...
  
  - : Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of St. Olav - (Photo): Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the White Eagle - (Photo):
- Grand Cordon of the Military Order of Aviz
  Order of Aviz
  The Military Order of Aviz , previously to 1910 Royal Military Order of Aviz , previously to 1789 Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz , previously Knights of St. Benedict of Aviz or Friars of Santa Maria of Évora, is a Portuguese Order of Chivalry...
  
  (1985) - (Orders website)
- Grand Collar of the Order of the Infante Dom Henrique (1999) - (Photo) : Sash (Collar) of the Order of the Star of Romania
  Order of the Star of Romania
  The Order of the Star of Romania is Romania's highest civil order. It is awarded by the President of Romania...
  
  (2009) - (Recipients table) (Photo) :
- Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece
  Order of the Golden Fleece
  The Order of the Golden Fleece is an order of chivalry founded in Bruges by Philip III, Duke of Burgundy in 1430, to celebrate his marriage to the Portuguese princess Infanta Isabella of Portugal, daughter of King John I of Portugal. It evolved as one of the most prestigious orders in Europe...
  
  -
- Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Charles III - : Knight of the Order of the Seraphim - (Photo)

International organisations

: Bailiff and Knight Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta -

Former sovereign families

Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...

: Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece
Order of the Golden Fleece
The Order of the Golden Fleece is an order of chivalry founded in Bruges by Philip III, Duke of Burgundy in 1430, to celebrate his marriage to the Portuguese princess Infanta Isabella of Portugal, daughter of King John I of Portugal. It evolved as one of the most prestigious orders in Europe...

- (House of Habsburg)
Kingdom of France
Ancien Régime in France
The Ancien Régime refers primarily to the aristocratic, social and political system established in France from the 15th century to the 18th century under the late Valois and Bourbon dynasties...

: Knight of the Order of Saint Michael
Order of Saint Michael
The Order of Saint Michael was a French chivalric order, founded by Louis XI of France in 1469, in competitive response to the Burgundian Order of the Golden Fleece founded by Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy, Louis' chief competitor for the allegiance of the great houses of France, the Dukes of...

- (House of Bourbon
House of Bourbon
The House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty . Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma...

)
Kingdom of Italy : Knight of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation
Order of the Most Holy Annunciation
The Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation is an order of chivalry, or knighthood, originating in mediæval Italy. It eventually was the pinnacle of the honours system in the Kingdom of Italy, which ceased to be a national order when the kingdom became a republic in 1946...

- (House of Savoy
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...

)
Kingdom of Italy : Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
The Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus is an order of chivalry awarded by the House of Savoy, the heads of which were formerly Kings of Italy...

- (House of Savoy
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...

)

Honorary degrees

King Albert is Doctor Honoris Causa of the Catholic University of Leuven, the Saint Louis University, Baguio City

Saint Louis University, Baguio City

Saint Louis University is a private educational institution in Baguio City, approximately two hundred fifty kilometers north of Manila. The school was established in 1911 by the Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae missionaries, to further Christianize the northern Philippines...

, Ghent University

Ghent University

Ghent University is a Dutch-speaking public university located in Ghent, Belgium. It is one of the larger Flemish universities, consisting of 32,000 students and 7,100 staff members. The current rector is Paul Van Cauwenberge.It was established in 1817 by King William I of the Netherlands...

, Free University of Brussels

Université Libre de Bruxelles

The Université libre de Bruxelles is a French-speaking university in Brussels, Belgium. It has 21,000 students, 29% of whom come from abroad, and an equally cosmopolitan staff.-Name:...

, the Catholic university of Mons and the Polytechnic Faculty of Mons

Faculté polytechnique de Mons

The Faculté Polytechnique de Mons is the oldest university of the city of Mons and the first Engineering school in Belgium . Its first name was «École des Mines» ....

Belgian coinage

In Belgium, it is common that the effigy of the ruling King is minted in the coins for circulation. As a general rule, this does not happen for the commemorative and collectors' coins. However, some very high value coins have been minted with the effigy

Effigy

An effigy is a representation of a person, especially in the form of sculpture or some other three-dimensional form.The term is usually associated with full-length figures of a deceased person depicted in stone or wood on church monuments. These most often lie supine with hands together in prayer,...

of the King in one side, such as the commemorative 100 euro gold coin

Euro gold and silver commemorative coins (Belgium)

Euro gold and silver commemorative coins are special euro coins minted and issued by member states of the Eurozone, mainly in gold and silver, although other precious metals are also used in rare occasions. Belgium was one of the first twelve countries in the Eurozone that introduced the euro on...

minted in 2003.

External links

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