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[[File:Flanders.gif|200px|thumb|right|Flag of Flanders, named The Flemish Lion.]]

[[File:Flanders.gif|200px|thumb|right|Flag of Flanders, named the Flemish Lion.]]

'''Flanders''' ([[Dutch]]: ''Vlaanderen'') is the northern region of [[Belgium]] in which the predominant language is [[Dutch language|Dutch]]; the capital of the region is [[Brussels]], although Brussels itself has an independent regional government, and the government of Flanders only oversees some cultural aspects of Brussels life. Other major towns and cities include [[Antwerp]], [[Ghent]], [[Bruges]], [[Ostend]] and [[Mechelen]]. The Belgian capital, Brussels, is a separate bi-lingual region which forms an enclave within Flanders. Southern Belgium is occupied by the [[French]]-speaking region of [[Wallonia]].

'''Flanders''' ([[Dutch]]: ''Vlaanderen'') is the northern region of [[Belgium]] in which the predominant language is [[Dutch language|Dutch]]; the capital of the region is [[Brussels]], although Brussels itself has an independent regional government, and the government of Flanders only oversees some cultural aspects of Brussels life. Other major towns and cities include [[Antwerp]], [[Ghent]], [[Bruges]], [[Ostend]] and [[Mechelen]]. The Belgian capital, Brussels, is a separate bilingual region which forms an enclave within Flanders. Southern Belgium is occupied by the [[French]]-speaking region of [[Wallonia]].

Flanders was the scene of very heavy fighting between Belgian/British/Canadian and German armies during the [[First World War]], most notably during the three Battles of [[Ypres]] in 1914, 1915 and 1917. It was most memorably described by the Canadian war poet John McCrae (1872-1918) in 1915:

Flanders was the scene of very heavy fighting between Belgian, British, Canadian and German armies during the [[First World War]], most notably during the three Battles of [[Ypres]] in 1914, 1915 and 1917. It was most memorably described by the Canadian war poet John McCrae (1872-1918) in 1915:

:''In Flanders fields the poppies blow

:''In Flanders fields the poppies blow

:''In Flanders fields.

:''In Flanders fields.

Flanders was president of the network of 73 regions with legislative powers in Europe in 2008 .<ref>[http://www.flanders.be/servlet/Satellite?c=Page&cid=1166590837392&context=1166590833692--EN&p=1166590837082&pagename=flanders_site%2FView Flanders is president of REGLEG (Tuesday 1 January 2008)]

Flanders was president of the network of 73 regions with legislative powers in Europe in 2008.<ref>[http://www.flanders.be/servlet/Satellite?c=Page&cid=1166590837392&context=1166590833692--EN&p=1166590837082&pagename=flanders_site%2FView Flanders is president of REGLEG (Tuesday 1 January 2008)]

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In the field of classical [[music]], there were the Flemish [[Polyphony|Polyphonists]], such as [[Josquin Desprez]], then the [[Michelangelo]] of music, and Orlandus [[Lassus]].

In the field of classical [[music]], there were the Flemish [[Polyphony|Polyphonists]], such as [[Josquin Desprez]], then the [[Michelangelo]] of music, and Orlandus [[Lassus]].

[[Flemish School of Painting|Flemish]] [[painting]] from that period reigned supreme and has now become a by-word in the worldwide history of art. Works of Flemish Primitives such as the Van Eyck brothers, Dirk Bouts, Rogier van der Weyden, [[Hans Memling]] and Jeroen Bosch hang in the world's foremost museums.

[[Flemish School of Painting|Flemish]] [[painting]] from that period reigned supreme and has now become a byword in the worldwide history of art. Works of Flemish Primitives such as the Van Eyck brothers, Dirk Bouts, Rogier van der Weyden, [[Hans Memling]] and Jeroen Bosch hang in the world's foremost museums.

During the sixteenth and seventeenth century, succeeded the brilliant [[Pieter Bruegel the Elder|Pieter Bruegel]], [[Peter Paul Rubens|Pieter Paul Rubens]] and [[Antony van Dyck|Antoon Van Dyck]].<ref>[http://www.flanders.be/servlet/Satellite?c=Page&cid=1166590837701&context=1166590833692--EN&p=1166590837082&pagename=flanders_site%2FView Culture]

During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, there succeeded the brilliant [[Pieter Bruegel the Elder|Pieter Bruegel]], [[Peter Paul Rubens|Pieter Paul Rubens]] and [[Antony van Dyck|Antoon Van Dyck]].<ref>[http://www.flanders.be/servlet/Satellite?c=Page&cid=1166590837701&context=1166590833692--EN&p=1166590837082&pagename=flanders_site%2FView Culture]

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