The Land of Flanders
Flanders is the Dutch-speaking northern region of Belgium, historically one of the most prosperous and culturally rich areas of medieval Europe. The county of Flanders — centred on great trading cities such as Ghent, Bruges, and Ypres — was at the heart of European commerce, textile production, and artistic achievement from the 12th century onward.
It is from this region that the Amelinckx surname originates. The name appears in historical records concentrated primarily in the province of East Flanders, particularly around Ghent, Aalst, and surrounding villages. The Flemish people developed a distinctive culture, language, and identity that survives strongly to this day — and the Amelinckx name is a direct product of that heritage.
Today, Flanders forms the northern half of Belgium, bordering the Netherlands to the north, France to the west, and the Walloon region to the south. The Flemish language — a form of Dutch — is the official language of the region, and is the language in which the earliest Amelinckx records were written.
My home country Flanders
by Paul Amelinckx Van Cleemput
I do not list Belgium as my country of origin; I choose Flanders. Belgium has existed only since 1830, while Flanders has existed since before 1000, with several buildings from that time still standing. Belgium is simply my current homeland.
The history of Flanders, in northern Belgium, appears in many school textbooks and encyclopedias. Yet two events have profoundly shaped its people's character and have seldom received the attention they deserve from historians.
First, in the 1500s, when Flanders and Holland belonged to the Spanish Crown, a considerable portion of the population had declared itself Protestant, and this group was precisely the most educated and cultured part of the population (writers, politicians, etc.). In order to "resolve" this matter, Spain sent troops under the command of the Duke of Alba, with the intention of recatholicising the Low Countries (Flanders and Holland), which consisted simply of killing anyone who declared themselves Protestant or was accused of being one.
Many Protestants fled north to Holland. Those who could not escape were beheaded by Spanish troops, who "cleansed" Flanders this way and tried to continue north. They attempted to cross the marshy Zeeland between Flanders and Holland to reach Holland. Dutch defenders blocked Zeeland’s drainage, turning it into a swamp of quicksand that the Spanish could not cross.
In this way, Holland retained the majority of the Protestant population (both Dutch and Flemish). Meanwhile, Flanders remained entirely Catholic and, at the same time, almost devoid of its highly educated people, while Holland retained a large elite of cultured individuals. This situation gave rise to a rivalry between the Dutch and the Flemish, stemming from religious and cultural differences, as well as differences in occupation — the Dutch were mostly seafarers, and their fleet was greatly respected and even feared for its highly dangerous pirates (such as the Flying Dutchman, who only appeared and attacked during dangerous storms). The Flemish, on the other hand, dedicated themselves mainly to agriculture, the weaving of fabrics (wool and linen), and other crafts. In modern times (1990), the old rivalry between Flanders and Holland is barely perceptible, as the Flemish have made significant advances in industry, the Dutch in livestock farming, and the exchange of products between the two regions has eliminated many of the old differences.
Second, around 1800, Flanders was part of the State of Burgundy, which consisted of what is now Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and a small part of northern France — practically "Benelux." This state was an economic success, strong and prosperous. It had two major ports, Antwerp and Rotterdam, both outstanding and situated within estuaries, making them easy to defend. These two ports were like "two pistols aimed at the heart of England." As a result, England conspired with France to eliminate this state. In 1830, they provoked a secession war between the North and the South: Holland was separated in the north, while Belgium (then Flanders and Wallonia) formed the south. Holland retained Rotterdam, and Belgium kept Antwerp. The area from Lille to Dunkirk (now northern France) was handed to France as a prize.
The Belgian nation formed in 1830 and chose the German prince Leopold von Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, a member of England’s royal house, as king. The new kingdom's population was 52% Flemish-speaking and 48% French-speaking Walloons.
Since this state had been created with France’s direct support, French influence was strong. French-speaking Walloons and French aristocrats moved from France to Belgium to promote French influence, effectively "colonising" the new country. Over time, these families remained in Belgium as French-speaking Belgians, influential in public life. The Flemish, meanwhile, received no support from Holland due to old rivalries and remained second-class citizens until about 1950. Between 1830 and 1950, many aristocratic Belgian families of French speech living in Flanders did not speak Flemish or did not wish to learn it, as they considered it degrading. Many people in Flanders learned French—some out of necessity, others out of social pretension. For example, Louis Cappuyns spoke French at home because his father was French-speaking, even though his surname was unmistakably Flemish.
In 1939, the Second World War began. In 1940, Germany occupied Belgium. Nazi propaganda targeted Belgium, especially Flanders, promising Flemish first-class citizenship if they sided with Germany against Russia. Thousands of young Flemish men volunteered to fight Russian communists, joining the SS Division Flandern. Few survived the war. Some returned to Belgium and were executed as traitors. Others joined Tito's army in Yugoslavia. Some erased their SS tattoos and enlisted in the French Foreign Legion, where their past was not questioned. Others became mercenaries in Africa.
After the Second World War, French influence in Belgium declined due to France's internal difficulties. The Flemish were now in the majority — 55% against 45% Walloons — and, from the 1950s onward, the Flemish emerged as first-class citizens in Flanders, the Walloons likewise in Wallonia, and the people of Brussels became a mixture of both cultures.
Geographic Data
Flanders is flat, like the Mantaro Valley between Concepción and Huancayo (Peru), with land only a few metres above sea level. Most rivers are navigable. Agriculture focused on wheat, hops, temperate fruits, and livestock until the European Common Market raised wages and labour costs, reducing profitability for some crops and livestock.
The south of Belgium—Wallonia—has undulating terrain, deep valleys, and hard-to-navigate rivers. The land is rocky and not good for agriculture. Its pine forests make the region visually pleasant and good for tourist centers.
The climate is mild, with minimum temperatures around -12°C in winter and maximum temperatures around 33°C in summer. There is year-round humidity, and fog is frequent, though less so than in England.
The People
Most people in Belgium descend from Germanic groups, such as the Franks. In Wallonia, Germanic peoples mixed with the Celtic tribes. Julius Caesar called these Celts "Omnium Gallorum fortissimi sunt Belgae" ("Of all the peoples of Gaul, the bravest are the Belgians"). In Flanders, Germanic peoples mixed more with Vikings from the coast.
Present-day Belgians have a strong sense of responsibility and perseverance. Their most common shortcomings are a narrow mindset and resistance to change.