FUN WITH MAPS – ISSUE 2023-74 DAILY FEATURE:

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (April 19, 2023) – In today’s edition of Fun with Maps from Steve Kovacs, we look into the low country and find one of her most famous characters.  

Hercule Poirot’s Country

The Low Countries – largely today’s Netherlands and Belgium – changed boundaries frequently since the Middle Ages.

The most recent major reorganization came as the result of the Treaty of London, recognizing Belgium as a sovereign nation on April 19, 1839. 

Belgium is far from being homogenous as suggested by having three official languages in Dutch, French and German.   Predictably, these languages are spoken adjacent to the same-language countries.  The Flemish portion of Belgium, speaking Dutch, represents about 60% of the population, while German speakers account for less than 10% of the total population. 

Brussels, Belgium’s capital, serves as headquarter to many important organizations, notably including the European Union, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Belgium’s likely most famous person is actually not a real person: Hercule Poirot, the crack detective doing his snooping in the first half of the 20th century.  He came alive in the mind, and books by Agatha Christie. 

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.

Those in the greater Loveland area can treat themselves to one of Monsieur Poirot’s toughest cases currently being reenacted on the stage of Loveland High School – the Murder on the Orient Express. The play runs from Wednesday through Saturday nightly at 7:00 pm.  Tickets will be available at the door ($12 for adults, and $10 for students and seniors) or online at https://lovelandhstheater.wixsite.com/lhsdrama/box-office

The 16 year old Belgium is displayed in this map by Colton together with the Netherlands.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.