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'''Flanders''' (Flemish: ''Vlaanderen'') is the northern region of [[Belgium]] in which the predominant language is [[Flemish]]; the chief city is [[Antwerp]]; other major towns and cities include [[Bruges]], [[Zeebrugge]], [[Ostend]], [[Ghent]] 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''' (Flemish: ''Vlaanderen'') is the northern region of [[Belgium]] in which the predominant language is [[Flemish]]; the chief city is [[Antwerp]]; other major towns and cities include [[Bruges]], [[Zeebrugge]], [[Ostend]], [[Ghent]] 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 was the scene of very heavy fighting between British 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 war poet John McCrae in 1915:
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep,
though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Europe]]