anciently called Belgia, but since denominated Low Countries or Netherlands, from their low situation, are situated between 2° and 7° of east longitude, and between 50° and 53° 30' of north latitude; and are bounded by the German sea on the north, Germany on the east, by Lorraine and France on the south, and by another part of France and the British seas on the west; extending near 300 miles in length from north to south, and 200 miles in breadth from east to west. They consist of 17 provinces; 10 of which are called the Austrian and French Netherlands, and the other seven the United Provinces.

The Austrian Netherlands consist of the greatest part of the duchies of Brabant, Limburg, and Luxemburg, with a part of that of Gueldres; and of the counties of Flanders, Hennegau, and Namur. The Netherlands formerly made a part of the circle of Burgundy, the whole of which once belonged to the house of Austria, and on the death of Charles V. devolved to the Burgundian Spanish line of that house; but was all afterwards lost, except the abovementioned countries, which, on the death of Charles II., king of Spain, fell to the German line of the Austrian family. These Austrian Netherlands are still considered as a circle of the empire, of which the archducal house, as being sovereign of the whole, is the sole director and summoning prince. This circle contributes its share to the imposts of the empire, and sends an envoy to the diet; but is not subject to the judicatories of the empire. It is wholly Catholic, and under a governor-general appointed by the court of Vienna.

The French Netherlands consist of a part of the duchy of Luxemburg, of the province of Hainault, of the earldom of Flanders, the bishopric of Liege, the Cambrefis, and the county of Namur; and this government, the greatest part of which belongs to the parliament of Douay, comprehends French Flanders, the the Cambresis, French Hainault, and the French part of the earldom of Namur.—French Flanders abounds in grain, vegetables, flax, and cattle, but is in want of wood.

For the Dutch Netherlands, see United Provinces.