Lesson 1/34 min
Belgium, Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland
Four western European countries
| Country | Key facts |
|---|---|
| Belgium | Waterloo lies here; the “cockpit/battlefield of Europe”; known as the “buffer state” of World War II. Its name comes from the Belgae tribes. The European Commission and Council sit in Brussels. |
| Netherlands | A land of plains; also called Holland, its people are Dutch; the world's largest flower exporter (the land of tulips); Maastricht is here; the first country to legalise euthanasia. |
| Austria | Capital Vienna on the Danube, the “gateway of Europe”; nearly everyone speaks German; the first postcard was introduced in Austria; republic on 12 November 1918; Sigmund Freud lived there; Hitler was born in Austria; the homeland of classical music. |
| Switzerland | Geneva is famous for watchmaking and as the “city of conferences”; a neutral country; the “playground of Europe”; 26 cantons; ministers take turns as president (no separate presidential election); currency franc. |
The world's longest rail tunnels
| Tunnel | Country | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Gotthard Base Tunnel | Switzerland (under the Alps, towards Italy) | about 57 km; opened 1 June 2016 |
| Seikan Tunnel | Japan | 53.85 km |
| Channel (Euro) Tunnel | France–UK | about 50 km |
Watch out: The book asks “Where is the European Parliament?” and answers Brussels. In fact its plenary sessions are in Strasbourg and committee work in Brussels, so the question is not used in the quiz. The European Commission is headquartered in Brussels.
Check yourself
In which country do ministers take turns as president?
Past exam questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is a country lying between two rival powers called? (38th BCS) | A buffer state |
| Which country is the cockpit of Europe? (28th BCS) | Belgium |
| Where is the Waterloo battlefield? | Belgium |
| Which is the land of tulips? Whose citizens are called Dutch? | The Netherlands |
| Where is the city of Maastricht? | The Netherlands |
| Which is the gateway of Europe? | Vienna |
| In which country was Hitler born? | Austria |
| How many cantons does Switzerland have? | 26 |
At a glance
- 1
Belgium = cockpit and buffer state of Europe; Waterloo is there; the Commission and Council sit in Brussels.
- 2
The Netherlands = Holland, tulips and flower exports; Maastricht is there.
- 3
Austria: Vienna, the gateway of Europe, on the Danube; republic on 12 November 1918; Hitler was born in Austria.
- 4
Switzerland: neutral, 26 cantons, Geneva for watches and conferences; ministers take turns as president.
- 5
The Gotthard Base Tunnel (Switzerland, about 57 km, 2016) is the world's longest rail tunnel.