Luxembourg (Belgium)

Luxembourg is the southernmost province within the Wallonia region of Belgium. It is also known as Belgian Luxembourg or West Luxembourg. This province holds a unique place in Belgium as its largest province by land area.

However, it is also the least populated province in the country. As of January 2024, it had approximately 295,000 residents. This results in the lowest population density found anywhere in Belgium. While the land is vast, the number of people living there is relatively small.

The geography of the province is defined by its neighbors and its natural features. To the east, it shares a border with the country of Luxembourg. To the south and southwest, it touches the French departments of Ardennes, Meuse, and Meurthe-et-Moselle. The northern borders meet the Walloon provinces of Namur and Liège. A very large portion of the province is covered by trees. About eighty percent of the territory belongs to the Ardennes, a region known for being densely wooded.

In the southern part, a specific area exists called Gaume or Belgian Lorraine. The city of Virton serves as the main center for this southern region.

Administratively, the province is organized into several distinct layers. It is divided into five administrative districts, which are also called arrondissements. These five districts contain a total of 43 different municipalities.

One of these districts is Arlon, which is located in the southeast. Arlon is also the capital and the largest city of the province. The map shows how these districts and municipalities are laid out across the land. This structure helps the government manage the large, sparsely settled territory.

The history of this province is tied to major political changes in Europe. In 1830, the Belgian Revolution began, which led to significant shifts in borders. During 1830 and 1831, the Conference of London dealt with these changes. This event resulted in the Third Partition of Luxembourg. In 1839, the province was officially given to the newly created Kingdom of Belgium. This happened after William I, the King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg, agreed to the terms of the partition. This separation is why the province and the neighboring Grand Duchy are now two different entities.

Cultural identity in the province is often shaped by its borders. In the Arelerland region, which surrounds Arlon, there is a unique linguistic history. Many residents in this area have historically spoken Luxembourgish. They often used this language alongside Walloon, which is spoken in other parts of the province.

This cultural mix is a result of living so close to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Even though the province is part of Belgium, these local traditions remain distinct. An unofficial flag exists for the province, featuring the colors red, white, and blue.

The economy of Luxembourg shows significant differences between its various towns. In 2018, the gross domestic product (GDP) of the province was €7.0 billion. This amount represented 1.5% of the total economic output of all Belgium. However, the GDP per capita, which is the economic output per person, was €21,800. This figure was only 72% of the average for the EU27 countries. In fact, Luxembourg was the province with the lowest GDP per capita in Belgium. This shows that while the province is large, its individual economic strength varies.

Wealth is not distributed evenly across the province's landscape. There are high levels of income inequality between different locations. Towns like Arlon, which sit on the border of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, are known for being affluent. These border towns benefit from their proximity to the neighboring country. In contrast, other towns within the province are among the poorest in Belgium. This creates a sharp difference between the wealthy border areas and the more struggling inland regions. The province is thus a place of both vast natural forests and diverse economic realities.