Flemish people

Encyclopedia : F : FL : FLE : Flemish people

This article is about the Flemish as an ethnic group. For information on citizens or nationals of Flanders, see demographics of Belgium; for information on the Dutch speakers of Belgium, see Flemish (linguistics).

The term Flemings (Dutch: Vlamingen) is currently mostly used to refer to the ethnic group native to Flanders (the northern half of Belgium), which in total numbers about 6 million people in Belgium (the majority of all Belgians) . The term also designates, not only the native inhabitants of that Flemish region, but also those ethnic Flemings of French Flanders (Frans-Vlaanderen) (mainly in the département of Nord of present-day France), the southern part of the Dutch province of Zeeland known as Zeeuws-Vlaanderen and other Flemish communities around the world. French Flanders and Zeeuws-Vlaanderen are 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 Duchy of Brabant.

Contents

1 Culture and identity

1.1 People and Language
1.2 Language
1.3 Religion

2 Symbols

2.1 Origin of the Flemish lion

3 The Flemish diaspora
4 References
5 See also

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 than 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. A separate Flemish literature does not exist, but Flemish literary schools are present within the Dutch literature as a whole. Books written by Flemings and by Dutch people are read by Dutch-speakers worldwide. It does not make a difference that most readers are able to distinguish fine differences, mainly in vocabulary. In a wider sense, Flemings read many books written in other languages: not only English (dominating scientific and professional literature), but also 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 than 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 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 French derogatory word is flamingantisme), as is illustrated by the success of the Vlaams Belang party; a pact of all other major parties to exclude the Vlaams Belang from all coalitions for its radical views on immigrant issues, may also indicate the majority's acceptance of the present federal structure of Belgium though preferably with some extra matters brought under regional authonomy.

Language

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 local Dutch dialects are diverse. A common error is to exaggerate differences between dialects in Flanders and in the Netherlands, but in fact neither country has a consistent group of dialects, there are several, including cross-border ones; 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. Differences between the regional dialects erode and new types of intermediate dialects appear, including a non-standardized mix of standard Dutch with 'cleaned-up' dialect. This is often called 'tussentaal' ('language-in-between') or, derogatorily, 'verkavelingsvlaams' (speech as where Flemish people from diverse locations and dialects become neighbours in a newly built-up out of town quarter). In Brussels, the local dialect is heavily influenced by French, both in pronunciation, as in vocabulary. Only a small number (c. 150,000) of the inhabitants of French Flanders can speak or understand Dutch or the local Flemish dialect[Dutch/Flemish in the North of France (Hugo Ryckeboer)] University of Ghent, Department of Dutch Linguistics.

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.

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 noble people 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 Flemish diaspora

The Flemish diaspora consists of Flemish emigrants and their descendants in countries such as France, the United States, Britain, Canada, South Africa and Latin America. The Flemings do not have an independent country to call their own, being divided between Belgium and France.

During the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, when the territory of present-day Flanders formed the setting for an impressive economic and cultural boom as well as certain internal problems, many artists and craftsmen sought refuge elsewhere, particularly in southern Europe. Flemish settlers introduced the first printing presses into Spain and Portugal. The Flemish contribution to the exploitation as well as the population of the Azores was so conspicuous, that for a long time the archipelago was referred to as the Flemish islands.

Following in the wake of the explorers, Flemish missionaries such as Pieter van Gent in Mexico, Joos de Rijcke in Ecuador, Ferdinand Verbiest in China, Constant Lievens in India, Pierre-Jean DeSmet in the United States and Jozef de Veuster in Molokai built up a reputation in various overseas countries that continues even to this day.

A combination of a demographic explosion and inadequate economic growth resulted in an emigration from Flanders that continued up to the First World War. It was something that every family faced sooner or later. Not only did it involve the so-called lower classes of the population, but also members of the better classes who found a future overseas in teacher-training colleges and colleges of engineering and agriculture. Louis Cruis, for example, was a Flemish engineer who lead expeditions to lay down the boundaries of Brazil and the city limits of the capital Brasilia.

About 400,000 Flemings settled in France. They often had to start afresh in poor villages, from where they breathed new life into agriculture. In the United States and Canada today, there are more than 1 million Americans who clearly have Flemish roots. In Detroit, the publishing of the Detroit Gazette is still in the hands of Flemings.

The destination of the majority of Flemish emigrants was France. There are an estimated 1,250,000 people with a Flemish surname in France.