This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website
Belgium - Flanders
Last modified: 1997-09-03 by filip van laenen
Keywords: flanders | vlaanderen | lion |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
Mark Sensen, 1996-MAY-18
- Description of the flag
- Laws concerning the flag and the arms
- Historical and geographical situation
- Flag of the Volksunie
See also:
Description of the flag
The flag can be described as 'Or, Lion rampant, tongued and nailed gules'. The official version of the Flemish Lion can be described as `Or, a Lion Rampant Sablet, Nails and Tongue Gules'.
Laws concerning the flag and the arms
The law of the 6th of July 1973 describes the flag of the Dutch cultural community.(The law mentions also an hymn and a community day).
The law of the 11th of July 1985 gives an official picture of the flag of the Flemish communty (replacing the Dutch cultural community) in colour (not shown in the official paper) and in black and white (shown).Proportions 2:3.
The law of the 13th of April 1988 concerning the flag, the arms, the hymn and the community day.The arms here are or a lion sable, crowned, armed and tongued gules, surrounded by five black stars.
Law of the 7th of November 1990 states the same, but the arms are or a lion sable armed and tongued gules.
Pascal Vagnat, 1996-MAY-17
The stars in the seal were black. These five stars represented the five Dutch speaking provinces. These arms were (unofficial?) in use since 1972. [dvr95]
Mark Sensen, 1996-MAY-18
Historical and geographical situation
Flanders is the Dutch speaking upper half of Belgium. You can have a look at its geography here. The motive for the flag probably originates from Turkey, and was brought to Flanders during the Cruisades somewhere in the tenth century. The lion is nor was ever an inhabitant animal of Flanders. It featured on the weapons of the Flemish during the battle `Guldensporenslag' on the 11th of July, 1302. The Flemish called themselves `Klauwaards', referring to the lion, and the French were called `Leliaards', referring to the fleur de lys on the weapon of Philip IV le Bel. The Flemish won that battle, but two years later, in 1304, Philip regained Flanders anyway.
Filip Van LaenenFlag of the Volksunie
An alternative version of the Flemish Lion: 'Or, a Lion Rampant Sable' This flag was introduced by the Flemish-nationalist party `VolksUnie' after the Second Worldwar. The nails and the tongue were painted Sable, because the combination of Gules-Or-Sable reminded too much of the Belgian colours.
Over the years, a lot of confusion grew on which one was the real Flemish lion. A lot of Flemish nationalists will reject the official flag because of the combination of colours.
There isn t any law concerning somewhat emblems of the region Flanders, but we should know that the territory of the Flemish community is composed of the region Flanders and of the region Brussels capital.Moreover, the council of the Flemish community and the one of the Region Flanders are the same thing, so the flag of the Flemish community is also the one of the region Flanders. There is no mention of who can use this flag and when, but I think everybody (Flemish authorities and people) can use it. The community day is the 11th of July and on this day the flag surely flies, but I saw in Belgium this flag flying on many buildings (Flanders and Brussels) and not only on the 11th of July.
Pascal Vagnat, 1996-MAY-17