East Belgium – the German-speaking Community
Nine municipalities, around 79,515 people, German as the official language: East Belgium lies on the borders with Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
- Population
- 79,515 (as of 01.01.2026, Statbel)
- Area
- 853 km²
- Municipalities
- 9
- Official language
- German
The German-speaking Community is the smallest of Belgium’s three communities. It has its own parliament and government, based in Eupen, responsible among other things for education, culture, youth, social affairs and employment. The area belongs to the province of Liège and thus to the Walloon Region.
Until 1920 the area was part of Prussia; after the First World War the Treaty of Versailles made it part of Belgium. The north around Eupen is closely tied to the Aachen area, while the south around St. Vith belongs to the Eifel and the Ardennes.
The nine municipalities
East Belgium Monitor
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Official statistics of the German-speaking Community: ostbelgienstatistik.be · Tourism: ostbelgien.eu