Flemish Region Vlaams Gewest
—  Region of Belgium  —
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: De Vlaamse Leeuw
Country	Belgium
Capital	Brussels
Government
- Minister-President	Kris Peeters
Area
- Total	13,522 km2 (5,220.9 sq mi)
Population (2008-01-01)[1]
- Total	6,161,600
Demographics
- Languages	Dutch
ISO 3166 code	BE-VLG
Celebration Day	July 11
Website	www.flanders.be

The Flemish Region (Dutch: Vlaams Gewest (help·info)) 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).

[edit] 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.

[edit] Administrative divisions

The Flemish region comprises 5 provinces (the provinces contain a total of 308 municipalities):

1. Antwerp (Dutch: Antwerpen)
2. Limburg (Limburg)
3. East Flanders (Oost-Vlaanderen)
4. Flemish Brabant (Vlaams-Brabant)
5. 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.

[edit] Cities

Largest cities in the region include (with population figures in 2007): [1]

• 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)

[edit] 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.

[edit] Education

• List of schools in Antwerp
• List of schools in East Flanders
• List of schools in Flemish Brabant
• List of schools in Limburg
• List of schools in West Flanders

[edit] See also

• Communities and regions of Belgium
• Provinces of regions in Belgium
• De Vlaamse Leeuw
• Count of Flanders
• St. Gummarus
• Flanders
• French Flemish

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• (English) Flemish authorities (Dutch: Vlaamse overheid).
• (English) Flanders online (also in French, German and Dutch).
• Toerisme Vlaanderen
• (French) French Flanders
• (Dutch) Frans-Vlaanderen
• (Dutch) The Flemish region reaches 6 million inhabitants

v • d • e Subdivisions of Belgium Communities Flemish · French · German Regions · Provinces Capital (Brussels)   Flemish (Flanders) Antwerp · East Flanders · Flemish Brabant · Limburg · West Flanders Walloon (Wallonia) Hainaut · Liège · Luxembourg · Namur  · Walloon Brabant Municipalities by region Capital (Brussels) · Flemish (Flanders) · Walloon (Wallonia) Arrondissements Administrative · Electoral · Judicial

Coordinates: 51°00′N 4°30′E / 51°N 4.5°E / 51; 4.5