On the picture Mr. Luc Devoldere (Ons Erfdeel), Ambassador Maryem van den Heuvel (Embassy Kingdom of the Netherlands in Brussels), Flemish prime-minister Geert Bourgois, Natasja Duhem (deputy General Representative of the Flemish Government in the Netherlands), Dirk Verlee (Flemish Economic Representative in the Netherlands and Mr. Jan Peumans (chairman of the Flemish Parliament).
By Roy Lie Atjam.
The Hague, on 6 July 2018, the Flemish General Delegation in the Netherlands hosted a National Day reception at De Sociëteit De Witte. This is an official holiday in Flanders – the northern Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, including those in Brussels who consider themselves Flemings.
The holiday is officially celebrated on 11July, to commemorate a historic victory of Flemish civil militias on a French knight’s army, near the town Kortrijk, in 1302. This has prevented the complete incorporation of Flanders into France.
Furthermore, the Flemish General Delegation is an autonomous part of the Belgian Embassy in The Hague. The delegation is fully competent in dealing with matters pertaining to culture, education, economy and so on.
Following the introduction and welcome by Mr. Axel Buyse, coordinator and General Delegation/Representative of the Flemish Government in the Netherlands, the following personalities delivered their remarks: Mr. Luc Devoldere, director of the Flemish-Dutch cultural foundation ‘OnsErfdeel’, Ms. Gerdien Verschoor, director of the Codart Foundation (network for directors and curators of museums worldwide that have Flemish and Dutch Old Masters, Mr. Jan Peumans, President of the Flemish Parliament (Brussels) and Mr. Geert Bourgeois, Prime Minister of the Flemish Government (Brussels).
The screening of a video by the Trade Office (Flanders Investment and Trade) was also part of the program.
Live Jazz music animated the celebration.
——————————–
Photography is a courtesy of the General Representative Bureau of the Government of Flanders.
