Benelux is an economic union comprising three neighbouring monarchies: Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg . The name is formed from the beginning of each country's name. It was a precursor of the European Union.
The region is more traditionally known in English as the Low Countries because they are all part of a plain near the North Sea, and parts of the Netherlands are so low as to actually be below sea-level, requiring dykes to keep the sea water out. The three countries share a number of commonalities, starting from their topography and climates, which in turn influenced their cultures and economies, from the fish-and-potatoes nature of the cuisine to the famous renaissance art. But this has also traditionally been a land divided: with the Netherlands being a majority-Protestant country, while Belgium and Luxembourg were Catholic; as well the Netherlands and the northern half of Belgium (Flanders) are Dutch-speaking, while southern Belgium is French-speaking. Yet, all being small countries wedged between the massive and nationalistic states of France and Germany, they have shared a similar tragic modern history of invasion and occupation. This shared history galvanized the countries to become major founders and joiners of international organisations in the post-war era in the hope of ending the threat of invasion. Nowadays, thanks to their reputation as honest brokers and their "neutral location" between France and Germany, these countries are the home to numerous international institutions, almost like a giant "capital district" for all of Europe. Examples include the international court in the Hague or the EU headquarters shared between Brussels and Luxembourg City. With all this international attention, these countries have developed some of the best-developed travel infrastructure in the world, including efficient airports, extensive rail networks, and a full range of hotels and restaurants from cheap and cheerful to chic and elegant. This is a perfect gateway into Continental Europe for those taking their first steps. Everything is relatively safe and easy to navigate, and many people speak passable English. Distances between cities are small, and those cities are compact and walkable.
