Editing Brussels (section)

== History ==
Brussels developed in the valley of the Senne River and became an important centre in the historical Low Countries. It later passed through Burgundian, Habsburg, Spanish, Austrian, French, and Dutch rule before becoming the capital of independent Belgium in 1830.<ref name="britannica-history">[https://www.britannica.com/place/Brussels/History "Brussels - History"]. ''Encyclopaedia Britannica''. Retrieved 14 June 2026.</ref>

During the nineteenth century, Brussels became the political centre of the Belgian state. Belgium developed as an industrial and administrative country, with Brussels serving as the national capital while [[Antwerp]], [[Ghent]], [[Liège]], [[Bruges]], and [[Charleroi]] formed other major urban centres.<ref name="belgium-history">''[[Belgium#History|Belgium]]'', "History".</ref>

Brussels was occupied during both world wars. After the Second World War, the city became tied to European administration, Atlantic security structures, diplomacy, and cross-border coordination.<ref name="belgium-history" />