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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 French Flanders (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.
| Flemings |
|
|
| Total population: |
c. 15 million (est) |
| Significant populations in: |
Belgium:
7,500,000
France:
3,000,000
Netherlands:
900,000
United States:
1,000,000
Canada:
250,000
South Africa:
500,000
Argentina:
225,000
Brazil:
220,000
Guatemala:
150,000
DR Congo:
92,000
Rest of World:
1,000,000
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| Language: |
Dutch, French, English |
| Religion: |
Predominantly Roman Catholic or Atheist/Non-religious; other. |
| Related ethnic groups: |
Dutch, Afrikaners and other Germanic peoples. |
Culture and identity
People and Language
It is generally believed, based of historical linguistics, that the Flemings mainly descend from the invading Germanic tribes, rather then from the Gaulish (mixed Celtic-Germanic) tribes who lived in the same region even before Roman times. At first sight, Flemish culture is defined via its West Germanic language, Dutch, shared with most people in the Netherlands, as opposed to the mostly Francophone compatriots within Belgium. 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 by Dutch-speakers worldwide. That most readers are able to distinguish fine differences, mainly 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 secondary 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. Cosmpolitanism is a historical constant in Flanders' 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 long imposed by the Belgian state), which now only is an 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 a seemingly eternal lack of sufficient German-speakers.
Looking more closely, one notes some other typical cultural characteristics: On average, Flemings have a greater respect for authority 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 than to other Germanic ones.
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 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.
Many Flemings also tend to Flemish nationalism (the Dutch word is flamingantisme), 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); however as the break-up of the other flamingant party, Volksunie, and the so-called cordon sanitaire, a pact of other parties to exclude the Vlaams Belang from all coalitions, illustrate, the majority is presently prepared to accept the present federal structure of Belgium.
Language
- Main article: Flemish
The official language of Flanders is Dutch (at the Belgian -federal- level at par with French, and to a lesser extent German; the linguistic legislation is complex and politically extremely sensitive). 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; in this respect the term 'Holland' is not always a pars pro toto for the Dutch kingdom, as usual in foreign languages, but can refer to the dominant group of dialects in and around North - and South Holland provinces.
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.
Religion
Approximately 75% of Flemings are Roman Catholic, though a still growing majority of these rarely practices. The remainder is mostly Atheist; there are small groups of Protestant Flemings, as well as Orthodox, Jewish, Islamic and other minorities among other ethnic groups.
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.
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.
See also
