The United States and Belgium maintain a friendly bilateral relationship. Continuing to celebrate cooperative U.S. and Belgian relations, 2007 marked the 175th anniversary of the nations' relationship. According to the 2012 U.S. Global Leadership Report, 26% of Belgians approve of U.S. leadership, with 16% disapproving and 58% uncertain. History Before World War I Prior to 1830, Belgium was part of the Dutch Republic, which colonized much of the northeastern coast of North America during the 17th Century (see New Netherland, New Netherland settlements). As part of this (ultimately failed) colonial project, many Belgians settled in what would become the United States during the 1600s. During the American Revolutionary War many of the aforementioned Belgian settlers in North America fought in the Continental Army. In 1830, Belgium declared its independence from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. During the ensuing Belgian Revolution, France helped Belgium gain its independence. The United States recognized Belgium as an independent country on January 6, 1832. An American legation headed by Hugh S. Legaré arrived in Brussels that same year. The U.S., Britain and other major countries demanded Belgium pay cash indemnities from Belgium for property damages incurred during its Revolution of 1830. American merchants lost $151,000. Belgium stalled for years and finally paid in the 1842 after increasing threats from Washington about penalizing trade. Most of the routine diplomacy, and assistance in trade matters, was handled by the chargé d'affaires in Belgium: Hugh S. Legaré, 1832–36; Virgil Maxcy, 1837–42; Henry Washington Hilliard, 1842–44; and Thomas Green Clemson, 1844-51. Many Belgians immigrated to the United States throughout the 19th Century. Today, there are over 350,000 United States residents who identify as Belgian American. Many of these Belgian immigrants settled in Midwestern states, such as Wisconsin and Michigan. In 1884, Leopold II, the King of the Belgians, struck a deal with the major European powers present at the Berlin Conference, held between the states that would later take part in the Scramble for Africa. Leopold convinced those colonial powers present at the Conference to allow him to personally take control of an area of land known as the Congo Free State (comprising the territory of the modern-day country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo). Under Leopold's private control, widespread atrocities were committed against the native Africans living in the Congo Free State. These atrocities were highly publicized, with residents of the United States being among Leopold