People
Audrey Hepburn
Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium
Born in Brussels, she became an Academy Award-winning star and later devoted much of her time to UNICEF.
Lived: 1929–1993 · Known for: Actress and humanitarian
Belgium: leaders, famous people, culture and history
3 places on the atlas covering people, history and crafts. Highlights include Audrey Hepburn, Waterloo battlefield and Bobbin lace.
What is on the atlas
Who leads Belgium?
| King | Philippe |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister | Bart De Wever |
Office-holders as of July 2026. Governments change, so check Belgium’s official government website for the latest. Full list of heads of state and government.
Famous people from Belgium
- Peter Paul Rubens painter (Antwerp)
- Georges Simenon author of Maigret
- Herge creator of Tintin
- Audrey Hepburn actress, born in Brussels
- Adolphe Sax inventor of the saxophone
- Andreas Vesalius founder of modern anatomy
A short, well-known selection rather than a ranking. People pinned on the map appear in the cards below.
People in Belgium
History in Belgium
History
Waterloo battlefield
Walloon Brabant, Belgium
The battle where Napoleon was finally defeated by Wellington and Blücher. A mound topped by a lion now overlooks the fields.
Date: 18 June 1815
Crafts in Belgium
Crafts
Bobbin lace
Bruges, Belgium
Bruges is known for delicate bobbin lace, made by twisting and crossing many threads wound on small bobbins.
Craft: Handmade lace
How to use this page
This page brings together the people who lead Belgium today, a short selection of well-known people from Belgium, and the 3 places pinned for Belgium on the atlas. Use the buttons at the top to see Belgium on the map, where you can filter by theme, read a short summary of each pin and follow the link to Wikipedia for the full article. To browse the same themes across the whole world, see the people page, history page and crafts page.
Questions about Belgium
Who is the leader of Belgium?
As of July 2026: King: Philippe; Prime Minister: Bart De Wever. Office-holders change, so check the official government site for the latest.
Who are some famous people from Belgium?
Well-known people connected with Belgium include Peter Paul Rubens (painter (Antwerp)), Georges Simenon (author of Maigret), Herge (creator of Tintin), Audrey Hepburn (actress, born in Brussels) and Adolphe Sax (inventor of the saxophone).
Which famous people from Belgium are pinned on the atlas?
People pinned for Belgium include Audrey Hepburn. Open the map to read a short summary of each.
What are important historical places in Belgium?
Historical places in Belgium on the atlas include Waterloo battlefield. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
What traditional crafts is Belgium known for?
Traditional crafts from Belgium on the atlas include Bobbin lace. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
How can I explore Belgium on the map?
Choose See Belgium on the map above, or search for Belgium on the atlas. You can filter by theme, drag the Time travel slider to see who was alive and what was standing in different centuries, and open any pin for a short summary and a link to the full Wikipedia article.