NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Flemings

Flemings (Dutch: Vlamingen) are inhabitants of Flanders in the widest sense of the term, i.e. the Flemish region (the northern half of Belgium where Dutch is the only official language) as well as Frans-Vlaanderen (in present-day France, mainly in the département of Nord) and the southern part of the Dutch province of Zeeland known as Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, both these non-Belgian parts being former parts of the countship of Flanders, which gave its name to the whole, although a small majority of Belgian Flanders was in other principalities, the major one being the central duchy of Brabant. This article is about the Belgian region Flanders and the eponymous historical region of the Low Countries. ... The dÃ©partements (or departments) are administrative units of France, roughly analogous to British counties. ... Nord (French, the north) is a dÃ©partement in the north of France. ... Location of Zeeland in the Netherlands Zeeland is a province of the Netherlands. ... Satellite image of the Scheldt delta Zeeuws-Vlaanderen is the part of the Netherlands on the left shore of the Scheldt river (here called Westerschelde), nr. ...

The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... For information about the band, see Atheist (band). ... A Muslim (Arabic: Ù…Ø³Ù„Ù…) (sometimes also spelled Moslem) is an adherent of Islam. ... Separate articles treat Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Orthodox Judaism. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... Afrikaners (sometimes known as Boers) are white South Africans, predominantly of Calvinist German, French Huguenot, Friesian and Walloons descent who speak Afrikaans. ...

Culture

At first sight, Flemish culture is defined via its language the Dutch, shared with the people in the Netherlands. Indeed, a strictly separate Flemish literature as such does not exist, but literary schools do within the Dutch language's. Books written by Flemings and by Dutchmen are read all over the Dutch-speaking world. That most readers are able to distinguish the fine differences in vocabulary does not make any difference. In a wider sense, Flemings read many books written in other languages: not only English (dominating scientific and professional literature), but also still quite some French, and reasonable quantities of other literary production.

For students, the intellectual norm in Flanders means learning two or even three foreign languages (at least two are obligatory in most secundary school programs, generally French and English, sometimes also German and/or a languages chosen from a supplementary list) to a higher standard then in most countries. That openness is a historical constant in a very open economy, while the mainly Anglo-Saxon orientation is a rather recent phenomenon as, until the 1960s, Flanders was heavily dominated by French culture (as imposed by the Belgian state), which now only is a honorable second. Proficiency in English has greatly improved during the last half century, whereas proficiency in French and German has decreased somewhat. Proficiency in other languages widened, and improved, although some companies complain about an seemingly eternal lack of sufficient German-speakers. This article is about the Belgian region Flanders and the eponymous historical region of the Low Countries. ... This article is about the Belgian region Flanders and the eponymous historical region of the Low Countries. ... The culture of France is diverse, reflecting regional differences as well as the influence of recent immigration. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

Looking more closely, one notes some other typical cultural characteristics: On average, Flemings have a greater respect for hierarchy than most Dutch, Englishmen and 'Nordic' peoples, but as Belgians in general little confidence in political authorities. In some respects Flemish culture is closer to Latin cultures then to other Germanic ones. The English are people descended for a wide variety of roots, and who are associated, either by birth or by choice, with the culture of England (Latin: Anglia). ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ...

In terms of intellectual discourse, Flemings appear more Anglo-Saxon again, preferring a down-to-earth, factual (and sometimes boring) style. One might say the Flemings prefer a Cartesian discourse more than contemporary France. The Anglo-Saxons refers collectively to the groups of Germanic tribes who achieved dominance in southern Britain from the mid-5th century, forming the basis for the modern English nation. ...

The somewhat more confrontational nature of Flemish politics is probably related to the fact that initially, Flemings were massively discriminated against by the official Belgian institutions who had deliberately chosen to use French exclusively in all public life, whereas Dutch was dominant in the Belgian population, but nearly absent from the nobility and haute-bourgeoisie who dominated early political life. Although the vast majority of discriminations have since disappeared, the few remaining ones (like the widespread discrimination against Flemings by the medical emergency services in Brussels which has recently been acknowledged for the first time by a prominent French-speaking minister, Rudy Demotte) still have a clear influence on political life in Flanders. Emblem of the Brussels-Capital Region Flag of The City of Brussels Brussels (French: Bruxelles, Dutch: Brussel, German: BrÃ¼ssel) is the capital of Belgium, the French community of Belgium, the Flemish community and of the European Union. ... Rudy Demotte (born June 3, 1963) is a Belgian socialist politician who currently serves as Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health, in the Belgian federal government. ... This article is about the Belgian region Flanders and the eponymous historical region of the Low Countries. ...

Many Flemings also tend to be nationalist, as is illustrated by the success of the Vlaams Belang party, notably in Antwerp, Flanders' largest city, where they routinely are the largest party (33% of the votes in 2000). Vlaams Belang (English: Flemish Interest) is a right-wing Belgian political party. ... The Cathedral of our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal, Antwerp) in the Handschoenmarkt, in the old quarter of Antwerp is the largest cathedral in the Low Countries and home to a number of triptychs by Renaissance Belgian painter Rubens. ...

Language

The official language of Flanders is Dutch. The Flemish versions of Dutch are diverse in usage (comparable to American vs. British English) and in intonation. A common error is to think a Fleming can spot a Dutchman from a mere sentence and vice versa, but in fact neither country has a consistent group of dialects, there are several, including cross-border ones, especially in the border provinces. An official or de facto standard Flemish language as such does not exist: there are however variants of the Dutch language (which is one and undivided, as guaranteed by the Taalunie, an organisation set up by the governments of the Netherlands and the Flemish region) spoken in Belgium) which are... This article is about the Belgian region Flanders and the eponymous historical region of the Low Countries. ... An official or de facto standard Flemish language as such does not exist: there are however variants of the Dutch language (which is one and undivided, as guaranteed by the Taalunie, an organisation set up by the governments of the Netherlands and the Flemish region) spoken in Belgium) which are... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

Dialects tended to be very strong, almost particular to every locality. Since World War II, the influence of radio, television, and with more people moving out of their region of birth, the use of the original dialects tends to decrease, and to fade away. Differences between the regional dialects erode, and new types of intermediate dialects appears. These are often called, in Dutch, verkavelingsvlaams. In Brussels, the local dialect is heavily influenced by French, both in pronunciation, as in vocabulary. Only a small number (c. 200,000) of the French Flemings speak Dutch or the local Flemish dialect. This is the current Improvement Drive collaboration! World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrination, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atomic bomb. ... Emblem of the Brussels-Capital Region Flag of The City of Brussels Brussels (French: Bruxelles, Dutch: Brussel, German: BrÃ¼ssel) is the capital of Belgium, the French community of Belgium, the Flemish community and of the European Union. ... The Flemish dialects are the regional dialects of Dutch that are spoken in Flanders (Belgium). ...

Religion

Approximately 75% of Flemings are Roman Catholic, though a still growing majority of these rarely practices. The remainder is mostly Atheist, but among the ethnic allochtonous minorities most non-Europeans are Islamic; there are small Protestant, Orthodox, Jewish and other minorities. The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... For information about the band, see Atheist (band). ... Islam ( Arabic al-islām الإسلام, listen?) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith and the worlds second-largest religion. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ...

Symbols

The official flag of Flanders is yellow with a black lion outlined in white and with red claws and tongue. The flag with a completely black lion is unofficial, although very popular within groups of Flemish nationalists because Flemish separatists (who want to break up Belgium) do not want to use the same colours as the flag of Belgium, although that actually stems from the historically mainly Flemish-Dutch duchy of Brabant. This article is about the Belgian region Flanders and the eponymous historical region of the Low Countries. ...

Origin of the Flemish lion

The motto Vlaenderen die Leu (Flanders the lion) was according to Eug. Sanders present on the arms of Pieter de Coninck at the Battle of the Golden Spurs on July 11, 1302. Some three hundred noblemen shouted it too when they saw, having fought in the French rows, that chances were turning in favour of the Flemish. In Spiegel Historiael, Louis van Velthem also refers to the lion in a song describing the battle of Blangys-Guinegatte (which took place in August 1472). Later, Hendrik Conscience used the motto in his Lion of Flanders. The Battle of the Golden Spurs (Dutch: De Guldensporenslag, French: des Ã©perons dor) was fought on July 11, 1302, near Kortrijk in Flanders. ... Hendrik Conscience (born December 3, 1812 in Antwerp â€“ died September 10, 1883 in Antwerp) was a Flemish writer. ...

Contents

Culture

Language

Religion

Symbols

Origin of the Flemish lion

See also