TheFlemish Region (Dutch:Vlaams Gewest,pronounced[ˌvlaːmsxəˈʋɛst]ⓘ),[a][b] usually simply referred to asFlanders (Dutch:Vlaanderen[ˈvlaːndərə(n)]ⓘ),[c] is one of the threeregions ofBelgium—alongside theWalloon Region and theBrussels-Capital Region.[5] Covering the northern portion of the country, the Flemish Region is primarilyDutch-speaking. With an area of 13,626 km2 (5,261 sq mi), it accounts for only 45% of Belgium's territory, but 58% of its population. It is one of the most densely populated regions of Europe with around 500/km2 (1,300/sq mi).
The Flemish Region is distinct from theFlemish Community: the latter encompasses both the inhabitants of the Flemish Region and the Dutch-speaking minority living in theBrussels-Capital Region. It borders theNetherlands andFrance.
Immediately after its establishment in 1980, the region transferred all its constitutional competencies to theFlemish Community. Thus, the current Flemish authorities (Flemish Parliament andFlemish Government) represent all theFlemish people, including those living in theBrussels-Capital Region. Hence, the Flemish Region is governed by the Flemish Community institutions. However, members of the Flemish Community parliament elected in the Brussels-Capital Region have no right to vote on Flemish regional affairs.
The seat of the Flemish parliament is located in Brussels, which is anenclave within – but not part of – the Flemish region, being specified that theBrussels-Capital Region is established as an administrative region of Belgium in its own right. In contrast, the Walloon parliament has established its parliament in the territory ofWallonia, specifically in the city ofNamur,Namur Province.
Flanders is home to a diversified modern economy, with emphasis put on research and development. Many enterprises work closely with local knowledge and research centres to develop new products and services.[6] TheGross domestic product (GDP) of the region was €270 billion in 2018, accounting for 59% of Belgium's economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was €36,300 or 136% of the EU27 average in the same year.[7]
"De Lijn" serves as the main public transport company, run by the Flemish government. It consists of buses and trams.TEC is the equivalent company in Wallonia, andMIVB-STIB in Brussels. The railway network run by theNMBS, however, is a federal responsibility.
The Flemish government is also responsible for about 500 kilometers of regional roads (Dutch:gewestwegen) and about 900 kilometers of highways in the territory of the Flemish Region. Other types of roads are provincial roads and municipal roads.
TheFlemish Diamond (Dutch:Vlaamse Ruit) is the name of the central, populous area in Flanders and consists of several of these cities, such as Antwerp, Ghent, Leuven and Mechelen. Approximately 5.5 million people live in the area.
The official language of the Flemish Region isDutch.[9] Thedialect cluster spoken in the region is sometimes colloquially referred to as Flemish (Vlaams),[10][11][12] Flemish Dutch (Vlaams-Nederlands), Belgian Dutch (Belgisch-Nederlands), or Southern Dutch (Zuid-Nederlands). Spelling and grammar are regulated by a single authority, theDutch Language Union (Nederlandse Taalunie), comprising a committee of ministers of the Flemish and Dutch governments, their advisory council of appointed experts, a controlling commission of 22 parliamentarians, and a secretariat.[13][14] The termFlemish can be applied to the Dutch spoken in Flanders; it shows many regional and local variations.[15] The main dialect groups includeWest Flemish,East Flemish,Brabantian andLimburgish.
The municipalities with language facilities near Brussels
French (specificallyBelgian French) may also be used in the Flemish Region for certain administrative purposes in a limited number of the so-called "municipalities with language facilities" around the Brussels-Capital Region and on the border withWallonia. These "rim municipalities" around Brussels areDrogenbos,Kraainem,Linkebeek,Sint-Genesius-Rode,Wemmel andWezembeek-Oppem. Brussels was originally a Dutch-speaking city (Brabantian dialect to be exact),[16] but it wasfrancised in the 19th and 20th centuries and is now officially bilingual in French and Dutch[9] (although largely French-speaking in practice).[17] Municipalities with language facilities on the border with Wallonia areBever (French:Biévène),Herstappe,Mesen (French:Messines),Ronse (French:Renaix),Spiere-Helkijn (French:Espierres-Helchin), andVoeren (French:Fourons).
^The Belgian Constitution(PDF). Brussels, Belgium: Belgian House of Representatives. May 2014. p. 5. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 10 August 2015. Retrieved10 September 2015.Article 3:Belgium comprises three Regions: the Flemish Region, the Walloon Region and the Brussels Region. Article 4: Belgium comprises four linguistic regions: the Dutch-speaking region, the French-speaking region, the bilingual region of Brussels-Capital and the German-speaking region.
^ab"La Constitution belge (Art. 4)" (in French). theBelgian Senate. May 2007. Retrieved18 January 2009.La Belgique comprend quatre régions linguistiques : la région de langue française, la région de langue néerlandaise, la région bilingue de Bruxelles-Capitale et la région de langue allemande..
