The
Flemish Region (Dutch: ) is one of the three official
regions of the
Kingdom of Belgium
alongside
the Walloon
Region
and the Brussels-Capital Region
. It occupies the northern part of Belgium
and has a surface area of 13,522 km² (44.29% of
Belgium).
Politics
Immediately after its establishment, the region transferred all its
constitutional competencies to the
Flemish Community.
The current Flemish
authorities (Flemish
parliament
, Flemish
government) therefore represent all the Flemish people, including those living in the
Brussels-Capital Region. Hence, the Flemish Region is
governed by the Flemish Community institutions. However, members of
the Flemish Community parliament who were elected in
Brussels-Capital Region, have no right to vote on Flemish regional
affairs.
Administrative divisions
The Flemish region comprises 5
province (the provinces
contain a total of 308 municipalities):
- Antwerp
( )
- Limburg
(Limburg)
- East Flanders
(Oost-Vlaanderen)
- Flemish Brabant
(Vlaams-Brabant)
- West Flanders
(West-Vlaanderen)
Brussels
is sometimes considered a part of Flanders, but
only for its Flemish inhabitants and local institutions, who are in
both the region of Flanders and the Brussels Capital Region.
Brussels is also the official capital of Flanders.
Cities
Largest cities in the region include (with population figures in
2007):
[62490]
- Antwerp
(466,484)
- Gent
(234,602)
- Brugge (116,500)
- Leuven
(95,232)
- Mechelen
(78,480)
- Aalst
(78,184)
- Kortrijk
(73,376)
- Oostende
(69,845)
- Hasselt
(69,455)
- Sint-Niklaas
(69,277)
- Genk
(64,071)
- Roeselare
(56,797)
Language
The official language is Dutch, often referred to by its
inhabitants as
Flemish.
French may be used
for certain administrative purposes in a limited number of the
so-called "municipalities with
language facilities" around the Brussels Capital Region and on
the border with Wallonia
.
Education
See also
References
External links