Monday 20 July 2009

The World of My Neighbours!! Belgium's National Day


















Félicitations à la Belgigue! Congratulations to Belgium! Gefeliciteerd België!


Na de Belgische Revolutie in 1830 die leidde tot de Belgische onafhankelijkheid werd door het Nationaal Congres besloten van België een koninkrijk te maken. Datzelfde congres riep Leopold van Saksken-Coburg-Gotha op 4 juni 1831 uit tot eerste Koning der Belgen.

De koning kwam per boot van Engeland en kwam aan in Calais waarna hij per koets naar De Panne werd gebracht.

Hij trok verder door het land en op 21 juli 1831 legde hij op het Koningsplein te Brussel de grondwettelijke eed af als eerste koning de Belgen. Sindsdien wordt deze datum gevierd als de Belgische nationale feestdag.

La Fête nationale belge est célébrée le 21 juillet, depuis une loi du 27 mai 1890. Cette journée commémore le serment prêté, le 21 juillet 1831 par Léopold de Saxe-Cobourg, premier roi des Belges, de rester fidèle à la Constitution. Le serment du roi marquait le début d'une Belgique indépendante, sous le régime d'une monarchie constitutionnelle et parlementaire.

After the Belgian Revolution in 1830 which resulted in the Belgian independence of the Netherlands, the National Congress decided to turn Belgium into a kingdom. That same congress proclaimed Leopold van Saksen-Coburg-Gotha first king of the Belgians.

The king came from England and arrived in Calais after this he was taken to Panne by coach. On the 21st July he was sworn in as first king of Belgium in Brussels. Since that time this day has been celebrated as a National Day.


Belgium is a unique country: half of the population speaks French and the other half Flemish which is related to Dutch. In fact we have the same grammar rules and understand each other perfectly well.

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20 comments:

The Weaver of Grass said...

It is strange reader wil, how little we seem to know of Belgium - yet it seems a fair sized country. So thank you for that little bit of history.

Vicki Lane said...

We visited Belgium almost forty years ago and were delighted at the friendliness of everyone. And with the frites sould in roadside stands and accompanied by curry sauce!

Vicki Lane said...

SOLD is what I meant to type!

Arija said...

Strange to willinglyb ask a atranger to be your overlord when France had already been a republic for half a century.

Inday said...

Very interesting! All these kingships. I love watching the pompous ceremonies about them.

Congratulations on their Independence! Are you close to Belgium? Are you on the French speaking region of Belgium Ma'am?

Good morning from Down Under.

Marja said...

Interesting 3 languages Very clever
I love Belgium I had many trips to Antwerpen, Brussel and Brugge (Had a boyfriend from Zeebrugge for a while) and my parents had a house in the Ardennnen

Dina said...

Mazal tov to Belgium.
Thanks for the lesson, Wil.

Wolynski said...

Happy Belgian Day! I used to travel through Belgium as a child - we'd catch the English Channel ferry to Ostend and go across to France. Lovely country.

Reader Wil said...

France was not yet a real republique. It had been a republique when Louis XVI was excecuted in 1793. Napoleon however turned the country, and the occupied countries, among which Belgium and Holland, into an
empire in 1804. He had to abdicate in 1815. Then came king Charles, the last representative of the Bourbon royal family. He had to abdicate in 1830. His successor King Louis Philippe I had to abdicate in 1848 and that was the moment that France became a republique and still is.

Arkansas Patti said...

Where were you when I was in school? I just love these history lessons that seem facinating and new or perhaps I just didn't pay attention to when in school. Thank you.

Miss_Yves said...

Je pars le 27 pour Sarlat, dans le Périgord .
Permettez-moi de vous féliciter pour votre Français !

Rajesh said...

Very interesting information. It is surprising to see that person from England is sworn in as King of Belgium.

penny said...

Its nice of you to translate for 'all' of your readers, Wil. You are a wonderful ambassador...
Thanks for the history lesson, I enjoy learning the backgrounds of other countries.

Reader Wil said...

Rajesh! You said to be surprised that the first Belgian king came from England. Well he was German but married the English Crownprinses. He got the British nationality, but when his wife died in childbirth, he left England and became king of Belgian.

SandyCarlson said...

Belgium is unique. Thanks for the history lesson. I learn more here than I ever did in school.

Sylvia K said...

Interesting post as always, Wil! Like Sandy, I learn more history here than I did in school!

Snap said...

Thank you so much for the history lesson!

Jane Hards Photography said...

A fascinating country, one I'm yet to visit. As always a pleasure and an education.

Louise said...

Very interesting! I didn't know that half the nation spoke one language and half the other.

Euroangel said...

great info about Belgium....another city i want to visit...me and my blogs are happily following you now..

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