Luxembourg

963 (October 7, Sunday) – Foundation of Luxembourg as a fortress

1354 (November 9, Friday) – Luxembourg granted the status of a Duchy

1815 (June 18, Sunday) – Congress of Vienna makes Luxembourg a Grand Duchy under the King of the Netherlands

1839 (April 19, Friday) – Luxembourg splits from the Netherlands and becomes fully independent

1940 (May 10, Saturday) – German invasion of Luxembourg during World War II

1944 (September 12, Tuesday) – Luxembourg liberated by Allied forces during World War II

1957 (March 25, Sunday) – Luxembourg signs the Treaty of Rome, founding member of the European Economic Community

1999 (January 1, Friday) – Euro introduced alongside the Luxembourg franc

2004 (May 1, Saturday) – Luxembourg joins the European Union and NATO

2015 (June 19, Friday) – Flooding in the northern regions due to heavy rainfall

2020 (March 18, Wednesday) – COVID-19 pandemic leads to lockdown measures across Luxembourg

July 2022 (Monday) – Heatwaves and drought affect the region, leading to water shortages

August 2024 (Wednesday) – Heavy flooding in the southern regions after heavy rainfall

Continent: Europe
Location: Western Europe, landlocked between Belgium, France, and Germany
Capital: Luxembourg City
Language: Luxembourgish (official), French, German
Currency: Euro (€)
Population: ~650,000 (last updated: April 2025)
Time Zone: Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) / Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2 in summer)

Borders: Belgium, France, Germany
Landscape: Rolling hills, valleys, forests, plateaus, rivers
Major Rivers: Moselle River, Alzette River, Sauer River
Major Mountains: The Ardennes, including the Kneiff (highest point)
Deserts: None
Lakes: None
Volcanoes: None
Highest Point: Kneiff – 560 m (1,837 ft)
Lowest Point: Sauer River – 133 m (436 ft)
Climate: Temperate climate with mild winters and cool summers
Geological Features: Limestone plateaus, river valleys, granite formations

Ethnic Groups: Predominantly Luxembourgish, with a significant number of Portuguese, Belgian, French, and German nationals
Religion: Roman Catholic (approx. 87%), Protestant, Jewish
Urban Population: ~88% (last updated: 2023)
Aging Population: ~20% aged 65+ (last updated: 2024)

Famous For: Banking and finance sector, medieval castles, multilingualism, high standard of living
Cuisine: Judd mat Gaardebounen (smoked pork with broad beans), Kachkéis, Gromperekichelcher (potato fritters)
Arts: Contemporary art, opera, classical music, folk traditions
Sports: Football (soccer), cycling, athletics, rugby

Economy Type: Highly developed, diverse economy with a strong financial sector
GDP: Approx. $87 billion USD (last updated: 2024)
Major Industries: Banking and finance, steel production, technology, services, industrial products
Key Exports: Financial services, steel products, machinery, chemicals
Unemployment Rate: ~5.1% (last updated: 2024)
Economic Regions: Financial services in Luxembourg City, industrial zones in the southern regions

Government Type: Constitutional monarchy
Head of State: Grand Duke Henri (as of April 2025)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Xavier Bettel (as of April 2025)
Legislature: Unicameral Parliament (Chamber of Deputies)
Constitution: In effect since 1868, with amendments

Luxembourg City: Luxembourg Castle, Grand Ducal Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral, American Cementery Memorial
Vianden: Vianden Castle, scenic village
Ettelbruck: National Museum of Military History
Müllerthal: “Little Switzerland” with hiking trails and rock formations
Clervaux: Clervaux Castle, The Family of Man exhibition
Moselle Valley: Wine tourism, river cruises, picturesque villages