The eyes of the world have been on Belgium, particularly Brussels, for the past few weeks, in light of the recent tragedy there. It seems appropriate, therefore, to take a moment and appreciate some of the aspects about this nation in Western Europe that make it remarkable. Read on for some historical and cultural tidbits about Belgium.
Belgium, though small, is an extremely diverse country, densely populated by over 10 million people. The official languages are German, Dutch and French, and more than half of Belgium speaks Flemish, a local Dutch variant. The country’s culture displays strong French, German, and Dutch influences. These influences especially come into play in Belgium’s culinary arts, considered by many to be superior even to the French (and it was actually the Belgians who invented the “French fry”)! Be brave and try boudin noir; I’ve only had the French version, but they are delicious. For dessert, order smoutebollen or speculoos, because both are fun to say and especially tasty!
Belgium’s northern (Flemish) region of Flanders is, of course, famous thanks, in part, to the poem In Flanders Fields, written by Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, who served in the Second Battle of Ypres in that region. Today, Flanders Fields contains the Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial and, of course, the poppies immortalized as much as the servicemen in Lt. Col. McCrae’s poem.
World Wars I and II saw Belgium’s capital of Brussels occupied by the Germans. After WWII, Brussels was modernized and, by the early 1960s, was becoming the de facto capital of the eventual European Union. Though the EU has no official capital, both the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have their primary institutions in Brussels. Brussels also serves as the seat of both the European Commission and the Council of the European Union.
Belgium is also an excellent location for depositions. Though nearby Austria does not permit the taking of depositions, if your Austrian witness is willing to travel, you could depose him in Belgium, without needing prior permission from the Belgian Central Authority for The Hague Convention. Belgium’s proximity to France and Germany also make it an appealing alternative to the more complicated deposition processes in those countries, again assuming the witness is willing to travel.
The actual scheduling of depositions in Belgium is not too different from scheduling in the U.S., especially if you partner with a court reporting firm with experience there, as well as realtime reporters and videographers living throughout Europe. The reporter can reserve a conference room, assist with the printing, and eventual shredding of exhibits, in addition to providing a verbatim record of the proceedings. The videographer’s technical skill will ensure a polished video recording of the deposition, and instant resolution of any technical glitches, should they occur. A qualified interpreter experienced in depositions will ensure minimal interruptions in the deposition as well.
