At the Russian House in Brussels, as part of the Historical Club program, a series of lectures by the renowned historian Vladimir Ronin titled “The Birth of the Kingdom of Belgium” is taking place.

During the first session on February 25, the lecture focused on the events preceding the creation of Belgium: the life of the southern provinces within the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, the economic and social tensions of the time, the uprising of 1830 in Brussels, and the first steps toward independence. Particular attention was given to the role of royal power, social movements, and diplomatic events that shaped the formation of the new state.

At the second session on March 4, the discussion continued with the development of the Kingdom of Belgium. Special attention was paid to how the country became one of the first industrial nations in continental Europe and strengthened its position through the development of internal infrastructure. Belgium’s railways connected industrial centers, coal mines, steel plants, and major ports such as Antwerp, contributing to economic growth and helping shape the country as we know it today.