Flanders (and Brussels) gets ready to party like it's 1302

Denzil Walton
© The Bulletin
04/07/2016

To mark Flemish Community Day, Brussels is holding its annual dance-off, while all around the region events celebrate the Battle of the Golden Spurs, a landmark in Flemish history.

What’s the connection between the Battle of the Golden Spurs in Kortrijk in 1302 and the Battle of the Dance taking place on Muntplein in Brussels? The answer is 11 July.

That was the date in 1302 when a huge battle took place on the the Groeningheveld outside Kortrijk. Lining up defiantly on one side was the impressive French army, consisting mainly of heavily armoured cavalry. Facing them were untrained and poorly armed Flemish infantry tradesmen. The result looked inevitable.

However, the Flemish had chosen their field of battle well; the Groeningheveld was a boggy field. The French horses sank in the mud, the heavy armour of the French knights became an impediment, and the Flemish peasants seized their opportunity. The battle became a rout.

Among the victors’ trophies were numerous golden spurs from the boots of the French knights, so it became known as the Battle of the Golden Spurs. Afterwards, Dutch became the official language of Flanders.

In the 19th century, the commemoration of the battle became a symbol of the struggle for Flemish recognition in the French-dominated Belgian State. In 1973, 11 July was declared the official Flemish Community Day.


Common future
Which brings us to 2016 and the Dance Battle on Muntplein. It’s just one of the events taking place as part of Brussels Danst, an event to commemorate Flemish Community Day in the capital. Young dancers will be seeking fame and prizes in front of an international panel of judges in a variety of categories. After the competition, you can join in and dance until late.

There are plenty of other ways to enjoy Flemish Community Day. You could join a tango dance gathering in the Mirror Hall of the Brussels Parliament or a guided historical pub crawl, setting off from the Grote Markt. And then you could return to Grote Markt for a concert by Flemish singer Bart Peeters with his mix of folk, world music, cabaret and jazz.

That’s only in Brussels. Throughout Flanders, municipal and city governments, local cultural councils, neighbourhood associations and residents’ groups are putting on hundreds of activities big and small. It’s the culmination of 11 days of celebrations called Vlaanderen Feest, or Flanders Celebrates. We asked chair An De Moor to explain the event’s significance.

Read more at TheBulletin.be

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