The Flemish Community is celebrating its annual holiday today (11 July) on Brussels' Grand Place and various locations in Flanders with free performances, shows and other activities.
The traditional 11 July celebrations will start at 11:00 in the Brussels City Hall on Grand Place, with hundreds of invited guests. They will then gather in the historic heart of the capital to listen to a speech by parliamentary chair Liesbeth Homans (N-VA).
Afterwards, the Flemish medals of honour will be awarded for the tenth time in Errera House, the official residence of the Flemish Minister-President (currently still Jan Jambon). The Flemish medals are an award for particularly deserving people who have contributed to the positive image of Flanders.
The Flemish Parliament itself is also organising a number of activities on 11 July. From 10:00 to 17:00, everyone (including non-Flemish people) is welcome to visit the Parliament's art collection. Traditionally, various political parties also use the Flemish Day to organise a meeting.
Flemish lion flag at Antwerp city hall. Credit: Belga / Dirk Waem
Additionally, free activities will be organised all day in the Belgian capital. From a fairytale concert to a roller disco, street theatre, a 'Singalong in Symphony' and free walking or cycling tours, there is something for everyone.
In the afternoon, those who enjoy dancing can go to Muntpunt for flash mobs on Place de la Monnaie or gaming fun with XL editions of popular games such as Domino, Monopoly and Stratego. Those who prefer watching other people dance can enjoy the dance battles at Ancienne Belgique, where (inter)national dancers will compete on Brussels beats.
Classical music aficionados can visit the Église Notre-Dame de Bon Secours, where sopranos Lara Cannaert and Itzel Devos will treat the public to arias by Georges Bizet and Johann Strauss.
What is Flanders celebrating?
The 11 July celebrations commemorate the victory of the Count of Flanders over the King of France outside Kortrijk in 1302, known as the Battle of the Golden Spurs (Guldensporenslag in Dutch). To mark the occasion, various cities and municipalities fly their Flemish flags and organise a number of celebrations, folk festivals and performances.
On the day itself, the Flemish Government presents awards to deserving Flemish people. Symbolism takes centre stage during the holiday, with the Flemish lion and Flanders' coat of arms on display and the anthem resounding across the region.
In the past, the traditional 11 July celebrations were central to the regional holiday but nowadays the Flemish holiday has grown into a large-scale popular festival. In recent years, over 1,000 local street and neighbourhood initiatives have taken place on the Flemish holiday, often (partly) subsidised by the Flemish Government.
A lion statue and a Flemish flag. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
The Flemish media are also always out in full force, with Flemish-funded VRT co-organising a big party on Antwerp's Grote Markt (main square).
In Brussels (both the capital city of Belgium and Flanders), the day serves as an occasion for music and dance: this year is the 11th time that the Flemish Community celebrates in Brussels on 11 July under the name 'Vlaanderen feest, Brussel danst' ('Flanders celebrates, Brussels dances').
