Flamingant

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The Dutch word Flamingant refers to all Flemish nationalists and was initially used by Belgicists to offend the more radical Flemings. Nowadays, the word is commonly accepted as a neutral term to describe Flemish nationalists. Recently, the word Wallingant has also been introduced to talk about Walloon nationalists. The word flamingant is probably derived from Flamins, the French pronunciation of Vlamingen ("Flemings" in Dutch). The word can be equally used as an adjective or substantive.

The flamingant movement was originally initiated by the priests in Flanders under the French occupation of 1792. The secular republic invaded the Austrian Netherlands three years later, retaining them until 1815. This was very badly received in the Catholic provinces. Not only threatening the clergy, it also ruined economic sectors in competition with those of metropolitan France. Thus all the Walloon vineyards were ruined and the textile sector in Flanders went into decay. The French language was imposed throughout the administration, which had been the language of the eleisured classes under feudalism.

With the fall of the French Empire in 1815, the movement became dormant. In 1830, the north Belgians alongside those of the south overthrew Dutch rule, uniting behind their common Roman Catholic religion. The choice of the French language for the young Belgian nation seemed natural, as French-speaking citizens formed the majority of the revolutionists.

The word flamingant remains a loaded term. For example, see the song Les Flamingants by Jacques Brel criticizing the flamingants.