Vlaams-Brabant

The Belgian province of Vlaams Brabant comprises the former districts of Hal-Vilvorde and Louvaine, some 813 square miles in all. It encircles the Brussels Capital Region but does not administratively include it. It was created in 1995 when it was split off from Brabant Wallon. Leuven is its capital, other major cities being Tienen, Halle, and Vilvoorde. It lies in the low, undulating Central Plateau, and its rich, fertile land is of great agricultural importance, producing high yields of wheat and sugar beets. Besides agriculture, there are also various metallurgical, textile, and food-processing industries. The estimated 2003 population was 1,025,800.