Belgian history

Tintin, Hercules Poirot, Agatha Christie, Manneken Pis, to wee (fam.), to tease, Pontiacs, quirks, Flanders, Wallonia, Flemish, Walloon, Ghent, Bruges, wool trade, Brueghel, Rubens, van Dyck, Benelux, Antwerp, Habsburg, Big Powers, to all intents and purposes, on the verge of, animosity, national anthem, pivotal location, North Sea, to be phased out, the “poor relation”, “benefit junkies”, stalemate, caretaker governments, unassuming