ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with many of policy measures on the regional level, and only occasionally will talk about national policies. It focuses on the current situation and policies, and pay only marginal attention to the historic development. The Belgian urban hierarchy is clearly dominated by the Brussels agglomeration. This is caused by the numerous national and international public functions, the attraction of headquarters of national and international companies, the concentration of employment and purchasing power and the induced commercial and service activities. The administrative situation of the municipalities has changed somewhat during the last decades because of the federalization process of the country. This means that competencies were redistributed, with a diminution for the national, that is federal, level and an enlargement for the regional level. The attention on urban problems has increased clearly during the most recent period. This is proved by the declarations of national as well as regional governments.
