a large province of the Netherlands, with the title of a duchy. It is bounded on the north by the province of Holland and the duchy of Guelderland; on the east, by the same duchy and the bishopric of Liège; on the south, by the province of Namur and Hainault; and on the west, by Zealand. It is divided into Dutch Brabant and Austrian Brabant; watered by several rivers, of which the Scheld, the Rupel, and the Dommel, are the chief. The soil is very fertile; and it contains 26 fortified towns, of which Brussels is the capital.