BRABANT, central and metropolitan province of Belgium, part of the ancient duchy. From 1815 to 183o, that is to say, during the existence of the kingdom of the Netherlands, Belgian and Dutch Brabant were distinguished by using the terms South and North. The surface undulates and its highest points (400f t. ) are at and near M. St. Jean. The province is famed both for cul tivation and for industry. There are valuable quarries of porphyry and sandstone, and industry flourishes in Brussels and Louvain and in the smaller Clabecq, Tubize and Wavre. The two first and Nivelles give their names to districts (arrondissements), and other towns are Vilvorde, Tirlemont and Hal. There are 31 can tons and 345 communes. The area is 82o,74oac. or 1,268 sq.m. and the population (1930) 1,680,065.