Coat of arms of Belgium
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Belgium contains a pair of lions (called the Belgian Lion, or Leo Belgicus), that are the national symbols of the Belgian nation. In the center is a shield containing a traditional lion symbol. The coat of arms consists of a mantle that represents the monarchy, inside which are the aforementioned lions and a banner with the national motto. The national motto is either L'union fait la force (French) or Eendracht maakt macht (Dutch), which means Strength lies in unity.
Each lion holds a Flag of Belgium, while the original flags of the individual 9 provinces of Belgium (now there are 10) rise up from behind the royal coat. The top of the coat contains a crown.
The great coat of arms was adopted on May 17, 1837
The small coat of arms, as used by the Belgian federal government, contains a black shield containing a yellow lion (the arms of Brabant), topped with a crown. Below the shield is the national motto on a medal collar. behind the shield are two crossed scepters, one topped with a hand, the other with a lion.
Albania · Andorra · Armenia2 · Austria · Azerbaijan4 · Belarus · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus2 · Czech Republic · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Georgia4 · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Ireland · Italy · Kazakhstan1 · Latvia · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Republic of Macedonia · Malta · Moldova · Monaco · Montenegro · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Russia1 · San Marino · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · Turkey1 · Ukraine · United Kingdom · Vatican City
Dependencies, autonomies and other territories
Abkhazia4 · Adjara2 · Åland · Azores · Akrotiri and Dhekelia · Crimea · Faroe Islands · Gibraltar · Guernsey · Isle of Man · Jersey · Kosovo · Madeira · Nagorno-Karabakh2 · Nakhichevan2 · Transnistria · Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus2, 3
1 Has significant territory in Asia. 2 Entirely in West Asia, but considered European for cultural, political and historical reasons. 3 Only recognised by Turkey. 4 Partially or entirely in Asia, depending on the definition of the border between Europe and Asia.
