Flemish flag, as used by the separatist Flemish Movement, tongued and clawed in black

The Flemish Movement (Dutch: Vlaamse Beweging) is a popular term used to describe the political movement for emancipation and greater autonomy of the Belgian region of Flanders, for protection of the Dutch language in Flanders, and for protection of Flemish culture. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For other uses, see Flanders (disambiguation). ...

The Flemish Movement's moderate wing was for a long time dominated by the Volksunie ("People's Union") – a party that from its onset in 1954 till its collapse in 2002 greatly advanced the Flemish cause, though severely criticised by hardliners for being too accommodating. After the Volksunie's collapse, the party's representatives were absorbed by other Flemish parties. Nowadays nearly every Flemish party (except for the far right Vlaams Belang) can be considered part of the moderate wing of the Flemish Movement. This wing has many ties with union and industry organisations, especially with VOKA (network of the VEV, Vlaams Economisch Verbond, Flemish Economic Union). Volksunie was a Belgian political party. ... Vlaams Belang (English: Flemish Interest) is a political party in Belgium that supports Flemish independence and strict limits on non-European and non-Christian immigration, whereby immigrants need to adopt to the Western culture. ... The Vlaams Economisch Verbond or VEV is a Flemish employers organization and lobbying group. ...

The Flemish Movement's radical wing is dominated by right-wing extremist organizations such as Vlaams Belang, Voorpost, Nationalistische Studentenvereniging (Nationalist Students Union), and several others. The most radical group on the left side is the Brussels based Marxist-inspired and Flemish independentist organisation "Meervoud". The militant wing also still comprises several moderate groups such as the N-VA (Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie, New-Flemish Alliance), a relatively small party with representatives in the regional and federal parliament) and several extra-perliamentary organisations, many of which are represented in the OVV (Overlegcentrum van Vlaamse Verenigingen, Consultation Centre of Flemish Associations). The most important of these is the VVB (Vlaamse Volksbeweging, Flemish People's Movement). Vlaams Belang (English: Flemish Interest) is a political party in Belgium that supports Flemish independence and strict limits on non-European and non-Christian immigration, whereby immigrants need to adopt to the Western culture. ... Voorpost (Outpost in English) is a group founded in Belgium. ... The Nationalistische Studentenvereniging (NSV) (Nationalist Student Association) is Flemish nationalist student organization with chapters in Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, Leuven, West-Flanders and Hasselt. ... The Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (New-Flemish Alliance) is a Belgian political party, founded in the autumn of 2001. ...

Internal trends

Independentists

Today, the militant wing of the Flemish Movement generally advocates the foundation of an independent Flemish republic with Brussels as its capital. Rightist Vlaams Belang and traditional, conservative N-VA support this view. Vlaams Belang, carrying 24.15% of the votes in Flanders at the last regional elections (2004), is now the second largest political formation in Flanders. A small part of this militant wing even advocates reunion with the Netherlands to form the Greater Netherlands sometimes also referred to as Dietsland. This view is shared with several Dutch right-wing activists and nationalists, who are very supportive of the Flemish Movement. Recently, several more moderate politicians in the Netherlands have also adopted this idea, including left-wing politicians such as Jan Terlouw. Look up republic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is about the settlement itself. ... Most common view of the concept: A political union between Flanders and The Netherlands The Greater Netherlands (Dutch Groot-Nederland) is an irredentist ideal, at present usually referring to a union of the Netherlands and Flanders, and implying the break-up of Belgium. ... Dietsland refers to the Greater Netherlands, including The Netherlands and Flanders, and sometimes (mostly in more extreme groups) French Flanders and sometimes even the Boer communities of South Africa, in other words, all areas where Dutch is spoken. ... Jan Cornelis Terlouw (born November 15, 1931) is a Dutch scientist, politician, and author. ...

Confederalists

Left wing regionalist Spirit, as well as several representatives of important Flemish parties belonging to the moderate wing, including the Christian democrat CD&V party (the largest party in Flemish Parliament as of 2003), the liberal VLD party (3rd largest), and, to a lesser extent, the socialist party SP.a (4th largest), prefer a confederal organisation of the Belgian state over the current federal organisation. Such a scheme would make the Flemish government responsible for nearly all aspects of government, whereas some important aspects of government are currently the responsibility of the Belgian federal government. The Belgian and Flemish capital of Brussels would remain a city where both Dutch-speaking and French-speaking citizens share equal rights, whereas the militant wing's independentist vision would, to a certain extent, render the French-speaking citizens of Brussels - who represent more than 80% of the population of that city – foreigners in a Flemish, Dutch-speaking region. For other uses, see Spirit (disambiguation). ... Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams (CD&V) (Christian Democratic and Flemish) is a political party in Belgium, formerly called Christelijke Volkspartij (CVP) (Christian Peoples Party). ... VLD may refer to: Ventilated Linear Dynamic Flemish Liberals and Democrats Category: ... Socialist Party - Different or Social Progressive Alternative (Dutch: Socialistische Partij - Anders or Sociaal Progressief Alternatief (sp. ... This article needs cleanup. ... This article is about federal states. ...

Federalists

Several representatives of the SP.a and, to a lesser extent, the CD&V and VLD parties, prefer an improved federal organisation of the Belgian state over a confederal one. This view is shared with several social and cultural organisations such as the Vermeylenfonds (Vermeylen Foundation), with labor unions, and with mutual health insurance organisations. The advocates of this view hope to improve the Belgian institutions so that they work correctly. However, recent allegations on continued discrimination against Dutch-speaking citizens by hospitals and medical emergency services in Brussels, the resistance of French-speaking people living in Flanders to adapt to the Dutch-speaking environment (by insisting on maintaining language privileges that are arguably provided by federal law), and the near-impossibility to alleviate labor costs because of alleged conservative resistance from the French-speaking Socialist union is not likely to strengthen Flemish support for the federalist cause.

Orangists

After the secession of Belgium in 1830, Orangist sentiment in Flanders for a time sought the restoration of the United Kingdom. Some of the most prominent Flemish Orangists were Jan Frans Willems and Hippolyte Metdepenningen. This sentiments inspired the later Greater Netherlands movement, although that movement was not all monarchist. At present there is no public support in Flanders, nor is there any evident public debate on the matter, for a restored United Kingdom of the Netherlands. For other uses, see Flanders (disambiguation). ... Jan Frans Willems (March 11, 1793 - June 24, 1846), Flemish writer. ... Hippolyte Désiré Metdepenningen (1799-1881) was a Belgian lawyer, president of the Ghent Bar Association and a politician. ... Most common view of the concept: A political union between Flanders and The Netherlands The Greater Netherlands (Dutch Groot-Nederland) is an irredentist ideal, at present usually referring to a union of the Netherlands and Flanders, and implying the break-up of Belgium. ...

History

Jan Frans Willems

For prior events: see History of Belgium and Flanders This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Flanders (disambiguation). ...

Belgian Independence

When Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830, there was a (political) reaction against the Dutch, including their language. The economic heart of Belgium in those days was Wallonia, with its coal mines and iron ore, while Flanders to a large extent was a rural and economically underdeveloped region. The combination of political (notably pressure by big neighbour France) and economic factors lead to French becoming the socially dominant language in Belgium, with Flemish being reduced to the status of a local patois. The Dutch (Ethnonym: Nederlanders meaning Lowlanders) are the dominant ethnic group[1] of the Netherlands[2]. They are usually seen as a Germanic people. ... Wallonia (French: Wallonie, German: Wallonien, Walloon: Walonreye, Dutch: Wallonië) or the Walloon Region (French: Région Wallonne, Dutch: Waals Gewest) is the predominantly French-speaking region that constitutes one of the three federal regions of Belgium, with its capital at Namur. ... For other uses, see Flanders (disambiguation). ... Patois, although without a formal definition in linguistics, can be used to describe a language considered as nonstandard. ...

Half a century after the Belgian revolution, Flemish intellectuals such as Jan Frans Willems, Philip Blommaert, Karel Lodewijk Ledeganck, Ferdinand Augustijn Snellaert, August Snieders, Prudens van Duyse and Hendrik Conscience began to call for recognition of the Dutch language and culture in Belgium. This movement became known as the Flemish Movement, but was more intellectual than social, with contributors such as Charles De Coster, author of Uilenspiegel and the poets Guido Gezelle, Hugo Verriest and Albrecht Rodenbach. This article is about the historical Belgian Revolution of the 1830s. ... Jan Frans Willems (March 11, 1793 - June 24, 1846), Flemish writer. ... Karel Lodewijk Ledeganck (Eeklo, 9 November, 1805- Ghent, 19 March 1847 was a Belgian writer. ... Ferdinand Augustijn Snellaert (Kortrijk, 21 July 1809-Ghent, 3 July 1872) was a Belgian writer. ... August Snieders (Bladel, 8 May 1825-Brussels, 19 November 1904) was a Belgian journalist and writer. ... Prudentius van Duyse or Prudens van Duyse (Dendermonde, 17 September 1804-Ghent, 13 November 1859) was a Belgian writer. ... Hendrik Conscience (born December 3, 1812 in Antwerp – died September 10, 1883 in Antwerp) was a Flemish writer. ... Charles-Theodore-Henri De Coster (20 August 1827 - 7 May 1879) was a Belgian novelist whose efforts laid the basis for a native Belgian literature. ... Guido Gezelle (1830-1899) was a poet and Roman Catholic priest writing in the Dutch language area of Belgium. ... Albrecht Rodenbach statute in Roeselare, Belgium Albrecht Rodenbach (* 27 October 1856 in Roeselare, Belgium; † 23 June 1880 in Roeselare) was a Flemish poet, and a leader in the revival of Flemish literature that occurred in the late 19th Century. ...

Cultural organizations which wanted to promote the Flemish language and culture were founded, such as the Willemsfonds in 1851, and the Davidsfonds in 1875. The first Vlaemsch Verbond (Constant Leirens, Ghent) and the Nederduitse Bond, were founded in 1861. The Liberale Vlaemsche Bond was founded in 1867. Writers such as Julius de Geyter and Max Rooses were active in the Nederduitse Bond. On 26 September 1866, Julius de Geyter founded the Vlaamsche Bond in Antwerp. The Flemish weekly magazine Het Volksbelang, founded by Julius Vuylsteke, appeared for the first time on 12 January 1867. The Davidsfonds is a Catholic organisation in Flanders, Belgium with the purpose of promoting the Flemisch culture in the areas of : literature, history and art. ... Julius De Geyter (Lede, 25 April 1830 – Antwerp, 18 February 1905) was a Belgian writer. ... Max Rooses Max Rooses (Antwerp, 10 February 1839-15 July 1914) was a Belgian writer, literature critic, and curator of the Plantin-Moretus Museum at Antwerp. ... is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1866 (MDCCCLXVI) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

In 1861, the first Flemish political party, the Meetingpartij was founded in Antwerp, by radical liberals, Catholics and Flamingants (Jan Theodoor van Rijswijck, J. De Laet and E. Coremans), and it existed until 1914. In 1888, Julius Hoste Sr. founded the moderate liberal Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, to support the Flemish Movement in Brussels. In 1893, the Flemish priest Adolf Daens, founded the Christene Volkspartij, which would cause a radicalization and democratization of the Catholic party. The first Flemish political success was the passing of the Gelijkheidswet (Equality law) in 1898 that for the first time recognized Dutch (Flemish) as equal to French in judicial matters (legal documents). In 1910, the law Franck-Paul Segers was accepted on the usage of Dutch in secondary education in public schools. The Dutch word Flamingant refers to all Flemish nationalists and was initially used by Belgicists to offend the more radical Flemings. ... Jan Theodoor van Rijswijck (Antwerp, 7 July 1811, Antwerp ,7 May 1849) was a Belgian writer. ... Het Laatste Nieuws is a Flemish language newspaper based in Brussels. ... Adolf Daens (18 December 1839 – 14 June 1907) was a Belgian Flemish priest from Aalst. ... The first Catholic Party in Belgium was established in 1869 as the Federation of Catholic Circles and Conservative Associations (French: ; Dutch: ). The Catholic Party, under leader Charles Woeste, gained an absolute majority in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives in 1884, and retained it until 1918. ... Flemish (Vlaams in Dutch), as the general adjective relating to Flanders, can refer to the speech of the Flemings, inhabitants of Flanders, though for the Flemish Community[1], Algemeen Nederlands (Common Dutch) is the official name of the standard language hence in English referred to as standard Dutch. ... Louis Marie François Franck (Antwerp, 28 November 1868-Wijnegem, 31 December 1937) was a Belgian lawyer, liberal politician and statesman. ...

World War I

The liberal politician Louis Franck, the Roman catholic Frans Van Cauwelaert and the socialist Camille Huysmans (together they were called the three crowing cocks) worked together for the introduction of Flemish at Ghent University. In 1911 the proposal by Lodewijk De Raet to this end was accepted, though it would not be implemented until 1930. With the coming of the 20th century the Flemish Movement became more radical and during World War I many activists welcomed the occupiers as "liberating Germanic brothers". The young Marnix Gijsen and the poet Paul van Ostaijen, were involved in the activist movement during the war. The Germans did indeed help out their "Germanic brothers" by setting Dutch as the sole administrative language and by converting Ghent University to the Dutch language. Most of the Flemish population however loathed those traitors that had collaborated with the brutal German occupiers. With the German defeat so went many of the language reforms. The collaboration and subsequent prosecution of certain leaders of the Flemish Movement did not of course produce a climate congenial to compromise. Louis Marie François Franck (Antwerp, 28 November 1868-Wijnegem, 31 December 1937) was a Belgian lawyer, liberal politician and statesman. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Frans van Cauwelaert Frans van Cauwelaert (10 January 1880 – 17 May 1961), was a Belgian Roman Catholic politician and lawyer. ... Socialism is a social and economic system (or the political philosophy advocating such a system) in which the economic means of production are owned and controlled collectively by the people. ... Camille Huysmans (May 26, 1871 - February 23, 1968, born as Camiel Hansen) was a Flemish-Belgium politician. ... Ghent University (in Dutch, Universiteit Gent, abbreviated UGent) is one of the three large Flemish universities. ... Lodewijk De Raet (1870-1914) was a Flemish economist and politician. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Activism, in a general sense, can be described as intentional action or inaction to bring about social or political change. ... Thor/Donar, Germanic thunder god. ... Marnix Gijsen (Antwerp, 20 October 1899- Lubbeek, 29 September 1984) was a Belgian writer. ... Paul van Ostaijen (Antwerp, February 22, 1896 - Miavoye-Anthée, March 18, 1928) was a Flemish poet and writer. ...

Interbellum

The Flemish Movement became more socially oriented through the Frontbeweging (Front Movement), an organization of Flemish soldiers who complained about the lack of consideration for their language in the army and Belgium in general, and harbored pacifistic feelings. From this the Frontbeweging became a political movement, dedicated to peace, tolerance and autonomy (Nooit Meer Oorlog, Godsvrede, Zelfbestuur), and yearly pilgrimages to the IJzertoren are still held to this day. The poet Anton van Wilderode wrote many texts for this occasion. Many rumours arose regarding the treatment of Flemish soldiers in WWI, though in the mean time mostly debunked by research of Flemish historians, live on and are part of the Flemish martyr heritage. For instance, one such legend is that many Dutch-speaking soldiers were slaughtered because they could not understand orders given to them in French by French speaking officers. While the official language of the army was indeed French, the truth is that units were organized by geographical origin, and their commanding officers were perfectly capable of translating central orders into the language of their troops, be it Flemish, French or Walloon. Another quite frustrating matter was (and still is) the Belgian royal family's bad knowledge of Dutch. It's been told that king Albert I gave a speech during WW I, in French, concluding with the words Pour les Flamands, la même chose ('For the Flemings, the same', a very condescending expression towards the Flemish community.) That's one of the reasons, the Belgian monarchy is generally less popular in Flanders than it is in French speaking Belgium. In the 1920s the first Flemish nationalist party was elected and in 1928, August Borms, a prominent Flemish leader on death row for working in the German Flemish government, was elected. the Ijzertoren, oktober 2004 The IJzertoren is a tower along the Belgian Yser river. ... Statue of Anton van Wilderode in Sint-Niklaas Cyriel Paul Coupé (Moerbeke-Waas, 28 June 1918-Sint-Niklaas, 15 June 1998), pseudonym Anton van Wilderode was a Belgian writer and poet. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... For information about the Record company see Death Row Records For information about the computer game see Deathrow (game) Death Row is a term that refers to the section of a prison that houses individuals awaiting execution. ...

In the 1930s the Flemish Movement grew ever larger and Dutch was recognized for the first time as the sole language of Flanders. In 1931, Joris Van Severen founded the Verbond van Dietse Nationaal-Solidaristen Verdinaso, a fascist movement in Flanders. Georges Edmond Edouard Van Severen (July 19, 1894-May 20, 1940) was a leading figure in the Flemish movement of pre-war Belgium. ... The Verdinaso was a fascist political party in Belgium during the 1930s. ... Fascism (in Italian, fascismo), capitalized, was the authoritarian political movement which ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943 under the leadership of Benito Mussolini. ...

World War II

During World War II, Belgium was once again occupied. The Germans enacted laws to protect and encourage the Dutch (Dutch is a Germanic language) in Flanders and generally did all they could to encourage the ill-feelings between Flemings and Francophones, e.g. by setting free only Flemish POWs. Although the Nazis had no intention whatsoever to allow the creation of a Greater Netherlands or of a Flemish state, many Flemish nationalists embraced collaboration, mainly because the occupying forces gave them rights their own country never had. Interestingly, there was even more collaboration in Wallonia, although it was not politically inspired. In Wallonia and Brussels, the Rexist organization of Leon Degrelle was a French-speaking movement and the leading and most fanatic collaboration group. After the war, all collaborators, but especially the Flemish ones, were heavily prosecuted, and the Flemish cause thoroughly discredited, mainly because it suited the French-speaking elite, but also in part because to many Flemish nationalists, the reaons behind their collaboration were still, if not entirely justified, then at least understandable. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... Most common view of the concept: A political union between Flanders and The Netherlands The Greater Netherlands (Dutch Groot-Nederland) is an irredentist ideal, at present usually referring to a union of the Netherlands and Flanders, and implying the break-up of Belgium. ... Léon Degrelle Léon Degrelle (June 15, 1906-April 1, 1994) was a founder of Belgian Rexism who joined the Waffen SS (becoming a leader of its Wallon contingent) and, after the war, became a prominent figure in the neo-fascist and Holocaust revisionist movements. ...

Post War

After the war, the Flemish Movement lay dormant for nearly 20 years. The Vermeylenfonds was founded in 1945. Then in the 1960s the movement once more gathered momentum and in 1962 the linguistic borders were finally drawn up, with Brussels being designated as a bilingual city. The late 1960s saw all major Belgian political parties splitting up into Flemish and Francophone wings. It also saw the emergence of the first major nationalist Flemish party, the Volksunie (Popular Union, but not in a communist sense). In 1977 more radical far right-wing factions of the Volksunie came united and, together with earlier far right nationalist groups, formed Vlaams Blok. This party would eventually overtake the Volksunie, only to be forced later, on the grounds of a discrimination conviction, to change its name to Vlaams Belang. Numerically, it is has become the main right-wing party of the Flemish Movement. This article is about the settlement itself. ... The term bilingualism (from bi meaning two and lingua meaning language) can refer to rather different phenomena. ... Volksunie was a Belgian political party. ... This article is about communism as a form of society and as a political movement. ... Note that Flemish Block turned themselves into Flemish Interest (Vlaams Belang) since their condamnation in 2004 The Flemish Block (Dutch: Vlaams Blok) was a Flemish far-right nationalist political party which rejects the state of Belgium, calling for political independence for the Flemish half of the country. ... Vlaams Belang (English: Flemish Interest) is a political party in Belgium that supports Flemish independence and strict limits on non-European and non-Christian immigration, whereby immigrants need to adopt to the Western culture. ...

In 2000 the Volksunie split into Spirit and the N-VA. Both parties now have form coalition cartels with other parties. The 2004 elections were won by both Spirit (in cartel with SP.a) and N-VA (in cartel with CD&V), taking both part in the newly formed government of the Flemish part of Belgium. The federal elections of 2007 were won by CD&V with N-VA, whilst SP.a with Spirit lost those elections. This has given the N-VA some important influence in the formation of a new Belgian government, which resulted in the longest and most difficult government formation in Belgium ever. This is due to N-VA's promise of giving more self control to Flanders and Walone, and the Walone parties's promise of not giving more self control to those regions. For other uses, see Spirit (disambiguation). ...

See also

• Dietsland
• Politics of Flanders
• Flemish literature
• Walloon movement
• Partition of Belgium
• Seventeen Provinces
• Burgundian Netherlands
• French Flemish

Dietsland refers to the Greater Netherlands, including The Netherlands and Flanders, and sometimes (mostly in more extreme groups) French Flanders and sometimes even the Boer communities of South Africa, in other words, all areas where Dutch is spoken. ... This article is about the politics of Flanders. ... Flemish Literature is literature from Flanders. ... The Walloon Movement designates the whole of belgian political movements which assert the existence of a Walloon identity and of Wallonia or defend French culture and language either in the framework of the «Contract of 1830» or in the defense of French-speakers linguistic rights in Belgium. ... The partition of Belgium, or the dissolution of the Belgian State through the separation of the Dutch-speaking peoples of the Flanders region from the French-speaking peoples of the Walloon region, granting them either independence or respective accession to the Netherlands and France, is recurrently discussed in Belgian and... Flag of the Seventeen Provinces The Seventeen Provinces were a personal union of states in the Low Countries in the 15th century and 16th century, roughly covering the current Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, a good part of the North of France (Artois, Nord) and a small part of the West of... In the history of the Low Countries, the Burgundian Netherlands refers to the period when the dukes of Burgundy ruled the area, as well as Luxembourg and northern France from 1384 to 1477. ... Frans-Vlaams (French Flemish) is a dialect of the Dutch language. ...

References

• Flemish Movement
• Van geyt et al., The Flemish Movement, The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science.1946; 247: 128-130
• Vos Hermans, The Flemish Movement: A Documentary History, 1780-1990, Continuum International Publishing Group - Athlone (Feb 1992), ISBN 0485113686
• Clough Shepard B., History of the Flemish Movement in Belgium: A study in nationalism, New York, 1930, 316 pp.
• Ludo Simons (ed.), Nieuwe Encyclopedie van de Vlaamse Beweging, Lannoo, 1998, ISBN 978-90-209-3042-9
• M. Van Haegendoren, The Flemish movement in Belgium, (J. Deleu) Ons Erfdeel - 1965, nr 1, p. 145

External links

• Vlaamse Volksbeweging (in Dutch)
• Vlaams Blok (in Dutch)
• Vlaams Belang/[Flemish Interest] (in Dutch)
• Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (in Dutch; some information is also available in English, French, German, and Spanish)
• The Flemish Republic (in English)
• CD&V (in Dutch)
• Meervoud (in Dutch)
• Flanders Online (information in Dutch, English, French and German)
• Website of Filip van Laenen (a detailed pro-independence site in Dutch; with sections in English, French, and Esperanto)