The saying that "Belgium is the heart of Europe" is not just a cliché; it provides confirmation that this is the geographical centre of the previously called 15 European Union countries. Brussels, Leuven, Ghent, Antwerp, Bruges and Mechelen are some of the most beautiful cities in the world, and can all be found in the region of Flanders (Belgium). It is a cosmopolitan, multicultural and rich country, whose capital, Brussels, is also the capital of the European Union.