The manufacturing sector accounts for about one-sixth of the GDP. The answer is that it comes from Congolese blood. The Congo had just as much a civilization as most European countries during the 16. th. Leopold's army mutilated or killed any African who didn't produce enough of these coveted, profitable resources. 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. Each has helped shape the other. They did not have much contact with Europe, but in the 1400s and 1500s one of the kingdoms had contact with Portuguese explorers. Inflation under 5% is in green. Today, Belgium is one of the richest countries in Europe. "Belgium Colonialism." Two civil wars in DRC have turned into the world's deadliest conflict since World War II. Belgian Congo, 1908-1960 . Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. Belgium is the world's largest producer of begonias, planting 60 million tubers per year. Bate Felix is the Bureau Chief for the West and Central Africa, managing news operations in the bureau covering the 23 countries in the region from Cape Verde to the Democratic Republic of Congo, except Nigeria. [23] The origins of the union can be traced back to the "Anti-Socialist Cotton Workers Union" that was founded in 1886. You may change or cancel your subscription or trial at any time online. In Brussels, Leopold left his mark in stone - in monuments and buildings. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. For many Congolese in the diaspora in Belgium and in the Congo, this doesnt go far enough. For a full comparison of Standard and Premium Digital, click here. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/overview-of-belgian-colonialism-1434364. 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. Belgium has struggled to come to terms with its colonial past and its government has never expressed regret the same way King Philippe has done although in 2020 a Congo committee was established in the wake of the global anti-racism protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd. And we have never heard a word of apology from the Belgian government. After many years of segregation, the tension erupted into the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which 850,000 people died. A total of 4.99 million people make up Belgium's labor force. Belgium was the first European country to join the Industrial Revolution in the early 19th century. This dilemma was exacerbated by two aspects. Queen of the Congo. Since the largest concentration of population is in the north, there is a marked regional disjunction between water supply and demand. While Leopold portrayed this as a great humanitarian act, his real purpose was to gain control of the upper Congo River and to acquire more workers. Although now a shadow of its former self, steel production and the manufacture of steel goods remain important. analyse how our Sites are used. The Belgian Government reacted to the 1973 and 1979 oil price hikes by hiring the redundant work force into the public sector and subsidizing industries like coal, steel, textiles, glass, and shipbuilding, which had lost their international competitive edge. Things quickly got out of control. Belgium has a free-enterprise economy, with the majority of the gross domestic product (GDP) generated by the service sector. Updates? Each has helped shape the other. The Belgian authorities are, as a rule, anti-protectionist and try to maintain a hospitable and open trade and investment climate. Young men in combat trousers stood by the roadside selling looted goods - tennis rackets, a toilet bowl, a fish tank. It must negotiate politically on an equal footing with its former colonies. Belgium controlled several territories and concessions during the colonial era, principally the Belgian Congo (modern DRC) from 1908 to 1960 and Ruanda-Urundi (modern Rwanda and Burundi) from 1922 to 1962.It also had small concessions in Guatemala (1843-1854) and in China (1902-1931) and was a co-administrator of the Tangier International Zone in Morocco. 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. It was the first time that a member of the royal family had addressed the Congolese people with such words. Links to more From Our Own Correspondent stories are at the foot of the page. 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. Brussels also has many commuters, with 230,000 coming from Flanders, and 130,000 from Wallonia. Estimates of the death toll caused by colonisation range from one to ten million. Tourism is increasingly becoming a major employer in the local area. How should Belgium reconcile with its brutal past? You had to reach a certain quota - say, a certain quantity of rubber. century all the way up to the horrendous period known as the slave It is accessed by the GhentTerneuzen Canal, which ends near the Dutch port of Terneuzen on the Western Scheldt. The Belgian foreign minister broke the news that Mr Kabila had been shot, and the prime minister was quick to announce he would be sending troops to the region, although not to DR Congo itself. The port of Ghent, in the north of the city, is the third largest port of Belgium. The Belgian Congo (French: Congo belge, pronounced ; Dutch: Belgisch-Congo) was a Belgian colony in Central Africa from 1908 until independence in 1960. More information about the Democratic Republic of the Congo is available on the . Perhaps Congo is too big a country to be governed as a single state. The global net fortune has grown by 7.6% to a total of 128.5 billion euros. Due to its pristine medieval city centre, Bruges has become a popular tourist destination. When Leopold was 65, he took the 16-year-old prostitute Caroline Lacroix as his mistress. More than in any other of the European colonial powers, one man was responsible for Belgium's grip on a vast chunk of central Africa: Leopold II. Hundreds of thousands of ethnographic objects - mainly looted objects, but also donations - were brought to Tervuren and are still stored in the museum today. Interior Flanders is devoted to grazing. Although reasonably plentiful, existing water supplies incur heavy demands from industrial and domestic consumers. How much money did Belgium make from the Congo? They were given very little education. 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. Rather than control the Congo as a colony, as other European powers did throughout Africa, Leopold privately owned the region. Copyright 20102023, The Conversation Media Group Ltd, Nicolas Maeterlinck/Belga/AFP via Getty Images, Lecturer in Environmental Art - School of Art and Design. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. [citation needed]. The results of this rule were very uneven. In 1930, the ACLVB-CGSLB adopted its current name.[27]. The museum, in the Brussels suburb of Tervuren, was founded in 1897 by Leopold II at the height of colonialism. Although some of that money was used for Leopolds little projects and settling debts, much of it went directly to his pocket as well. If youd like to retain your premium access and save 20%, you can opt to pay annually at the end of the trial. ThoughtCo. Or build hospitals, or a proper railway network. * As many as 10 million people are estimated to have died in Congo from killings, famine and disease between 1885 and 1908 after Belgian's King Leopold II declared the vast territory his personal property. People say it's different - that Leopold was in the past, that he didn't even go to Congo. Belgium is one of the worlds leading processors of cobalt, radium, copper, zinc, and lead. Belgian Congo, French Congo Belge, former colony (coextensive with the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo) in Africa, ruled by Belgium from 1908 until 1960. The national unemployment figures mask considerable differences between Flanders and Wallonia. [20], With 65% of the workers belonging to a union, Belgium is a country with one of the highest percentages of trade union membership. This TV . The Belgian Government encourages new foreign investment as a means to promote employment. 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. Farms, with their closed courts, range in size from 75 to 250 acres (30 to 100 hectares). Millions of Congolese are said to have been killed or worked to death . It is an eye-catching centrepiece for an elegant park. Back then the liberal union was known as the "Nationale Centrale der Liberale Vakbonden van Belgi". From the 1950s, a broad movement formed in Congo Belge to protest against Belgian foreign rule. Inhabitants were forced to pay taxes and grow cash crops such as coffee. Imagine if there was a man who slaughtered your family, but he was rich and gave money to the city. In the letter, the king expressed his deep regret for the colonial injustices committed in the Congo. The country became a major steel producer in the early 19th century, with factories centred in the southern Walloon coal-mining region, particularly in the Sambre-Meuse valley. The European Commission negotiates on trade issues for all member states, which, in turn lessens bilateral trade disputes with Belgium.[20]. Many European countries wanted to colonize distant parts of the world in order to exploit the resources and "civilize" the inhabitants of these less-developed countries. Reparations are also an important issue. But people should ask themselves where all this fortune comes from? 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. The country achieved independence 52 years later, in 1960. The doors are often closed to us. Millions are now refugees. And perhaps to give the Congolese the respect they deserve. Today in History. The broad debate alone can only be conducted in Belgian society alongside Congolese actors. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Any changes made can be done at any time and will become effective at the end of the trial period, allowing you to retain full access for 4 weeks, even if you downgrade or cancel. In the past, Lige was one of the most important steel-making centres in Europe. 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. 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). Stones, principally specialty marbles, also are quarried. Belgiums water resources are concentrated in the southern part of the country. At independence in 1960, the formal economy of Congo was based almost entirely on the extraction of minerals, primarily copper and diamonds. However, Leopold II is still commemorated with statues and monuments across Brussels. Belgium was, of course, the colonial power in Congo until 1960, and links between the two countries remain strong. journalists in 50+ countries covering politics, business, innovation, trends and more. These smaller unions tend to specialize in one profession or economic sector. However, agricultural activity in Belgium centres primarily on livestock; dairy and meat products constitute more than two-thirds of the total farm value. [20] Foreign companies in Belgium account for approximately 11% of the total work force, with the U.S. After Germany's defeat in World War I, however, Ruanda-Urundi was made a protectorate of Belgium. The first major step Belgium took in internationalizing its economy occurred when it became a charter member of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Belgian-Congo, The Ultimate History Project - Belgian Congo, EHNE Digital Encyclopedia - Colonial Education in the Belgian Congo, University of Central Arkansas - Political Science - Belgian Congo (1908-1960). 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. The Congolese were only allowed to visit the restaurants, bars and cinemas of white Europeans with special permission. Is it enough to just say sorry and ask for forgiveness? But even by the standards of the day, Leopold's attitude to his colony was ruthless and exploitative. "I would like to express my deepest regrets for these injuries of the past, the pain of which is now revived by the discrimination still too present in our societies," King Philippe wrote in the letter to the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo Felix Tshisekedi. The King made 70 million Belgian francs profit from the system between 1896 and 1905. And thirdly, Belgium must consider making some reparations. Moreover, water pollution is a serious problem. However, thanks to Belgium's high personal savings rate, the Belgian Government financed the deficit from mainly domestic savings, minimizing the deleterious effects on the overall economy.[20]. These efforts were moderately successful, but they left Belgium with one of the largest budget deficits in relation to gross national product in Europe. university Leopold's cruel, greedy activities in the current Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi continue to affect the welfare of these countries today. The colony in the Congo - the Congo Free State - was personal property for the Belgian king and there was little oversight over what happened there. I have lived in Belgium for 40 years now. then he sold it to his home country of Belgium who ruled the Congo from 1908 to 1960. The Free State's concession system was soon copied by other colonial regimes, notably those in the neighbouring French Congo. The former colony adopted its present name, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in 1964. This colonial racism continued in everyday life until the middle of the 20th century. Leopold II tried mightily to conceal this abuse from the international public. This and other socialist unions became unified around 1898. He named the region the "Congo Free State.". These buildings were paid for by King Leopold II. Maybe burnt down your village. Major crops are sugar beets, chicory, flax, cereal grains, and potatoes. Change the plan you will roll onto at any time during your trial by visiting the Settings & Account section. Rubber Production Leopold used the rubber money to develop Belgium. Other industrial and service activities include car manufacturing, telecommunications, photographic products. 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. Nobody tells you that openly so instead they say: "I'm sorry, sir, but you don't fit". African resistance challenged the colonial regime from the beginning. 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. Case study: The Democratic Republic of Congo. And in March 2022, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced the return of 84,000 Congolese artefacts. Congolese societies, in contrast, were deprived of the potential to develop due to exploitation, slavery and genocide. In 2020, the AfricanMuseum changed its guidelines in dealing with objects from colonial contexts. It culminated in the Berlin Conference. Annually about 2.5 million day tourists visit the city and in 2007 there were about 1.4 million overnight stays. We support credit card, debit card and PayPal payments. In the mystery over what happened to DR Congo's leader, Laurent Kabila, many of the early facts were first confirmed by the Belgian Government. read more. Zeebrugge and Ostend, the main fishing ports, send a modest fleet of trawlers to the North Sea fishing grounds. For some years ivory was a principal source of the great wealth that Leopold and his associates drew from the new colony. Richard, Katherine Schulz. During the 19th century, iron ore and zinc deposits in the Sambre-Meuse valley were heavily exploited. Getty Images. They had no role in legislation, but traditional rulers were used as agents to collect taxes and recruit labour; uncooperative rulers were deposed. Definition and Examples. As a result, cumulative government debt reached 121% of GDP by the end of the 1980s. Belgium now imports all its coal, which is needed for the steel industry and for domestic heating. The vast majority of these people (80%), work in the service sector. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Joseph Kasavubu was elected the first president, with Patrice Lumumba as prime minister. Up close, though, Kinshasa's pretensions were unravelling. Belgium's capital, Brussels, would have been a very different city without its Congo connection. Lige has also been an important centre for gunsmithing since the Middle ages and the arms industry is still strong with the headquarters of FN Herstal. He was assassinated by his political opponents in Katanga in January 1961 with the help of Belgian and US secret services. This was against the backdrop of the global Black Lives Matter movement in which protests against racism and the neglect of colonial history grew within the Belgian population. A Belgian parliamentary investigation into the assassination in 1961 of Congo's independence hero Patrice Lumumba, the free country's first prime minister, concluded at the beginning of the 2000s that Belgium was "morally responsible" for his death. Belgian colonists collected and smoked these severed hands to preserve them for later counting and recording. [20], The social security system, which expanded rapidly during the prosperous 1950s and 1960s, includes a medical system, unemployment insurance coverage, child allowances, invalid benefits, and other benefits and pensions. The King made 70 million Belgian francs' profit from the system between 1896 and 1905. The Ghent University, the second largest university of Belgium by number of students, and a number of research oriented companies are situated in the central and southern part of the city. Much of the success of Brussels is based on the high educational skills of its workforce. Mr Mobutu held it together while there were assets to spread around, but his successor Laurent Kabila had a more torrid time right from the start. In the 1870s, Leopold II created an organization called the International African Association. Leopold II took the enormous profits and built lavish buildings in Belgium. 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. Simply because their skin colour doesn't fit. Unrest increased in the depression years (193136) and during World War II. Racist images and colonial bias were constructed to justify foreign rule in the Congo. Events Leading to the Scramble for Africa, Congo Free State Rubber Regime Atrocities, The Dutch Empire: Three Centuries on Five Continents, What Is Colonialism? 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. European adventurers experienced great difficulty in exploring and colonizing the Congo River Basin, due to the region's tropical climate, disease, and the resistance of the natives. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The economy of Belgium is varied and cannot be understood without taking the regional differences into account. The cultivation of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants also is important, particularly in Flanders. We spoke to Julien Bobineau, who has researched the narratives around Belgiums history with the Congo, about the visit. The second shift happened much later. Given this high percentage, it seeks to diversify and expand trade opportunities with non-EU countries. Following independence, the country saw a mix of unrest, rebellion, secession movements, a long dictatorship, armed conflict, and foreign . In his novella Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad, who spent six months in the Congo in 1890 as a steamboat officer, gives a searing picture of the brutal and voracious European quest for Congo ivory. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. "Belgium Colonialism." Besides these "big three" there are a number of smaller unions, some more influential than others. Belgian per capita GDP ranks among the world's highest. In addition, sands from the Kempenland supply the glass-manufacturing industry, and clays from the Borinage are used for pottery products and bricks. Except for its coal, which is no longer economical to exploit, Belgium has few natural resources other than fertile soils. There are plenty of statues of Leopold II in this country and my opinion is that they belong in museums. 30, 2021, thoughtco.com/overview-of-belgian-colonialism-1434364. The people of the Congo were forced to labor for valued resources, including rubber and ivory, to personally enrich Leopold. However, shortly after independence, there was a falling out between the independent government and Western powers, primarily the US and Belgium. About 80% of Belgium's trade is with fellow EU member states. The Belgian economy also is inextricably tied to that of Europe. Private European and American corporations invested heavily in the Belgian Congo after World War I. Foreign investment led to considerable growth in the engineering sector of Belgiums economy in the late 20th century. Many slag heaps still surround the city. The early 1980s saw the country facing a difficult period of structural adjustment caused by declining demand for its traditional products, deteriorating economic performance, and neglected structural reform. 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. 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. He turned the nation into a moneymaking machine by farming ivory and rubber and building a fortune on the labor of the people who lived there. Leopolds reign over the Congo Free State, however, has become infamous for its brutality. Quiz, Match the Country with Its Hemisphere Quiz. Belgium's brutal colonialism: Riches that came from Congolese blood, Jean-Claude Ilunga says Belgium needs to say sorry for what happened in Congo. Regions that were hard to access or lacked profitable resources escaped much of the . Theres a dark history between Belgium and the DRC that started in the 19th century. Gain a global perspective on the US and go beyond with curated news and analysis from 600 Stanley successfully made treaties with native tribes, set up military posts, and forced most Muslim traders of enslaved people out of the region. $578 billion (nominal, 2021 est.). When the Belgian King Leopold II acquired the Congo Free State during the Scramble for Africa in 1885, he claimed he was establishing the colony for humanitarian and scientific purposes, but in reality, its sole aim was profit, as much as possible, as fast as possible. Others were looting the economy on an extravagant scale - even the embassy buildings in Japan were said to have been stolen. Before 1874. You can still enjoy your subscription until the end of your current billing period. On the one hand, Belgium wanted to maintain ties with the former colony for geopolitical and economic reasons. After international protests, Leopold II sold the private colony to the Belgian state in 1908. It served many Belgians as their first point of contact with the African colony. With the expansion of domestic and commercial needs in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, increasing attention focused on problems of water quality and supply. The port of Bruges-Zeebrugge is one of the most important, modern and fastest growing[31] ports in Europe. My children feel Belgian, but I am split. [20], Belgium's unemployment rate was 6.5% in 2008. cookies The Legacy of Belgium's 19th and 20th Century African Colonies. And that was how he viewed the raw materials and the people of the Congo - as a prize to be consumed. The third shift is King Philippes letter to President Felix Tshisekedi on 30 June 2020, the anniversary of Congolese independence.
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