Flemings

Flemings, or Flemish people, are the inhabitants of Flanders, the Dutch-speaking northern portion of Belgium, and people who identify with Flemish culture and language. The term has historically referred to residents of the medieval County of Flanders and later broad regional identities tied to the area’s Dutch-speaking heritage.

Geography and language

Most Flemings live in the Belgian provinces of West Flanders, East Flanders, Antwerp, Limburg, and Flemish Brabant. They speak Flemish, a variety of Dutch, with standard Dutch used in education, media, and public life. Regional dialects and linguistic varieties are common across communities within Flanders. Flemish is one of the linguistic pillars of Belgium, alongside French and German.

History and political status

The name derives from the medieval County of Flanders, a prosperous coastal region that played a major role in medieval trade and politics. Over the centuries, Flanders passed under Burgundian and Habsburg rule before becoming part of the modern Kingdom of Belgium. In contemporary Belgium, Flemings form the Flemish Community, which is responsible for language and cultural matters and operates through the Flemish Parliament and Government, in relation to the Belgian federal state.

Culture and identity

Flemish identity encompasses language, traditions, and contributions across art, literature, music, and cuisine. Historically rooted in Catholicism, contemporary Flemish society is diverse and increasingly secular. The culture emphasizes regional autonomy within Belgium, and there is extensive cooperation and, at times, political tension between Flemish and broader Belgian communities.

Demographics and diaspora

While centered in Flanders, Flemings also live in Brussels and other regions, and there is a global Flemish diaspora reflecting historic and economic links to Dutch-speaking communities in Europe and beyond.