While modest in size and population in comparison to its neighbors, Brussels remains a hub for European and international relations. Among the many regional, national and international institutions based in Belgium’s capital, the city is home to the European Union, European Commission and the NATO headquarters.
With hundreds of embassies, thousands of international diplomats, and hundreds of thousands of jobs linked to global institutions, Brussels is also home to a diverse, multilingual and multicultural population. French, Dutch and German are the official languages of Belgium, and English is used on a daily basis in Brussels, along with more than 100 other languages.
Many funding agencies and development consultancy groups are based in the city and some international NGOs have their advocacy offices based there to allow them to network with EU lawmakers.