Interactive maps
Flanders as we know it now only took shape from the 19th century on in the context of modern Belgium. Before that time the name referred to the old county, which roughly speaking covered the present-day provinces of East- and West-Flanders as well as Zeeland-Flanders and French-Flanders. However, what today is called Flanders was in the past a colourful amalgam of territories that led a fairly independent existence before becoming part of wider political units such as the Burgundian, the Spanish or the Austrian Netherlands. For a long time he language border, which today marks off the Flemish Region, had little political meaning. Language only became a nation-forming factor in Europe in the 19th century.
For this canon 17 historical maps were designed by the committee and Hans Blomme of the Ghent Center for Digital Humanities. You will find these maps in some windows. 16 maps are included in the animation below. [here you can click to find the sources used]
