Belgium–Luxembourg relations Belgium–Luxembourg relations Belgium–Luxembourg relations are the bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Belgium and Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Both countries have a history of close cooperation, notably within the Belgium–Luxembourg Economic Union, Benelux and within the European Union. Belgium has an embassy in Luxembourg and Luxembourg has an embassy in Brussels. The Belgian ambassador to Luxembourg is Thomas Antoine. The Luxembourg ambassador to Belgium is Jean-Jacques Welfring. Belgium and Luxembourg share a land border. On the Belgian side of the border, nearly all of it is with the province of Luxembourg; a small part in the north is with the
Netherlands gained independence in 1830 as Belgium (recognised by the Northern Netherlands in 1839 as the Kingdom of the Netherlands was created by decree), while the personal union between Luxembourg and the Netherlands was severed in 1890, when William III died with no surviving male heirs. Ascendancy laws prevented his daughter Queen Wilhelmina from becoming the next Grand Duchess. The Belgian Revolution at home and the Java War in the Dutch East Indies brought the Netherlands to the brink of bankruptcy. However, the Cultivation System was introduced in 1830; in the Dutch East Indies, 20% of village land had to be