Day of the Flemish Community
Encyclopedia
The Day of the Flemish Community of Belgium, also known as the Flemish Community Day, is celebrated every year on 11 July in remembrance for the Battle of Golden Spurs or Guldensporenslag
and is observed only by the Flemish Community
of Belgium
.
sent an army to punish the Flemish citizens of Bruges
, who earlier that year rebelled against the king and attacked the French governor of Flanders (the so-called Good Friday of Bruges).
The French army was composed of about 2,500 knights and squires, supported by about 5,500 infantry. The Flemish, in contrast, fielded a town militia force of 9,000 consisting solely of infantrymen.
The two forces clashed on July 11 in an open field outside the Flemish city of Kortrijk
and the battle ended with the overwhelming victory of the Flemish militia. The commander of the French army, Robert II of Artois
was surrounded and killed on the battlefield. At least a thousand French cavaliers were also killed in the battle and the large number of the golden spurs collected from the field gave the battle its name.
The battle was romanticised in 1838 by Flemish writer Hendrik Conscience
in his book De Leeuw van Vlaanderen
(The Lion of Flanders).
Ever since then the Day of the Flemish community is observed in Flanders. Private employers are not required to award a day's holiday; however the institutions of the Flemish Government
and public employers observe this holiday.
Battle of the Golden Spurs
The Battle of the Golden Spurs, known also as the Battle of Courtrai was fought on July 11, 1302, near Kortrijk in Flanders...
and is observed only by the Flemish Community
Flemish Community
The term Flemish Community has two distinct, though related, meanings:...
of Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
History
In 1302 the French king Philip IVPhilip IV of France
Philip the Fair was, as Philip IV, King of France from 1285 until his death. He was the husband of Joan I of Navarre, by virtue of which he was, as Philip I, King of Navarre and Count of Champagne from 1284 to 1305.-Youth:A member of the House of Capet, Philip was born at the Palace of...
sent an army to punish the Flemish citizens of Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
, who earlier that year rebelled against the king and attacked the French governor of Flanders (the so-called Good Friday of Bruges).
The French army was composed of about 2,500 knights and squires, supported by about 5,500 infantry. The Flemish, in contrast, fielded a town militia force of 9,000 consisting solely of infantrymen.
The two forces clashed on July 11 in an open field outside the Flemish city of Kortrijk
Kortrijk
Kortrijk ; , ; ) is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province West Flanders...
and the battle ended with the overwhelming victory of the Flemish militia. The commander of the French army, Robert II of Artois
Robert II of Artois
Robert II was the Count of Artois, the posthumous son and heir of Robert I and Matilda of Brabant.An experienced soldier, he took part in the Aragonese Crusade and attempted an invasion of Sicily in 1287. He defeated the Flemings in 1297 at the Battle of Furnes...
was surrounded and killed on the battlefield. At least a thousand French cavaliers were also killed in the battle and the large number of the golden spurs collected from the field gave the battle its name.
The battle was romanticised in 1838 by Flemish writer Hendrik Conscience
Hendrik Conscience
Henri "Hendrik" Conscience was a Belgian writer. He was a pioneer in writing in Dutch after the secession from the Netherlands in 1830 left Belgium a mostly French speaking country....
in his book De Leeuw van Vlaanderen
De Leeuw van Vlaanderen (book)
De Leeuw van Vlaanderen is a historical book written by the Flemish writer Hendrik Conscience in 1838. The book tells the story of the Battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302...
(The Lion of Flanders).
Declaration
Following the establishment of the three cultural and linguistic communities of Belgium in 1970, the Dutch Cultural Community (as it was known then) enacted a law on 6 July 1973, which prescribes the flag, the anthem and the day of the Dutch Cultural Community.Ever since then the Day of the Flemish community is observed in Flanders. Private employers are not required to award a day's holiday; however the institutions of the Flemish Government
Flemish government
The Flemish Government is the executive branch of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region. It consists of up to a maximum of eleven ministers, chosen by the Flemish Parliament...
and public employers observe this holiday.
See also
- Franco-Flemish War (1297-1305)Franco-Flemish War (1297-1305)The Franco-Flemish War was an armed conflict between the Kingdom of France and the County of Flanders from 1297 until 1305.- Cause :Philip IV of France became King in 1285, and was determined to strengthen the French monarchy at any cost...
- History of BelgiumHistory of BelgiumThe history of Belgium, from pre-history to the present day, is intertwined with the histories of its European neighbours, in particular those of the Netherlands and Luxembourg...
- Public holidays in BelgiumPublic holidays in BelgiumIn Belgium there are twelve official public holidays. Two of them always fall on a Sunday. Other holidays are also celebrated, but these are not official public holidays, and employers are not obliged to give their employees a day off...
- French-speaking Community Day
- German-speaking Community DayDay of the German-speaking Community of BelgiumThe Day of the German-speaking Community of Belgium is celebrated on November 15 each year. It is a public holiday for the German-speaking Community of Belgium but it is not celebrated elsewhere in Belgium...