Flobecq
Encyclopedia
Flobecq is a Walloon municipality
(with language facilities for Dutch) located in the Belgian
province of Hainaut. It borders to the municipalities of Ellezelles
(to the west) and Lessines
(to the east) in the same province and to Brakel
in the province of East Flanders
, on the other side of the language border.
On January 1, 2008, Flobecq had a total population of 3,287. The total area is 23.00 km² which gives a population density
of 143 inhabitants per km².
Flobecq is a touristic village. Each year, on the nearest Friday to 17 January, there is a marvelous local feast based on the adoration of Saint Antony.
and, as in Tournai, Picard
was spoken there. Since the 13th century, the area was continuously disputed between the County of Flanders
and the County of Hainaut
. Therefore, the region (including neighbouring places like Lessines
, Ellezelles
, ...) was often called "debate land" (Dutch: debattenland; French: terre des débats).
In 1963, when the language border was fixed, within the municipality of Flobecq, only the village of La Houppe/D'Hoppe was Dutch-speaking. However, the village was not transferred to Dutch-speaking East Flanders
and remained in French-speaking area. Instead, Flobecq as a whole became a municipality with language facilities for Dutch.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
(with language facilities for Dutch) located in the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
province of Hainaut. It borders to the municipalities of Ellezelles
Ellezelles
Ellezelles is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Hainaut. It comprises the former municipalities of Ellezelles, La Hamaide, and Wodecq. Bordering Flanders, the town is home to a minority of Dutch-speakers.- Trivia :...
(to the west) and Lessines
Lessines
Lessines is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Lessines had a total population of 17,848. The total area is 72.29 km² which gives a population density of 247 inhabitants per km²...
(to the east) in the same province and to Brakel
Brakel
Brakel is a municipality in the Belgian province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek and the Flemish Ardennes. The name is derived from a Carolingian villa Braglo first mentioned in 866 and located in the center of Opbrakel. Since 1970, the municipality has comprised the villages of Nederbrakel,...
in the province of East Flanders
East Flanders
East Flanders is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Netherlands and in Belgium on the provinces of Antwerp, Flemish Brabant , of Hainaut and of West Flanders...
, on the other side of the language border.
On January 1, 2008, Flobecq had a total population of 3,287. The total area is 23.00 km² which gives a population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 143 inhabitants per km².
Flobecq is a touristic village. Each year, on the nearest Friday to 17 January, there is a marvelous local feast based on the adoration of Saint Antony.
History
Flobecq was initially under strong influence of TournaiTournai
Tournai is a Walloon city and municipality of Belgium located 85 kilometres southwest of Brussels, on the river Scheldt, in the province of Hainaut....
and, as in Tournai, Picard
Picard language
Picard is a language closely related to French, and as such is one of the larger group of Romance languages. It is spoken in two regions in the far north of France – Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy – and in parts of the Belgian region of Wallonia, the district of Tournai and a part of...
was spoken there. Since the 13th century, the area was continuously disputed between the County of Flanders
County of Flanders
The County of Flanders was one of the territories constituting the Low Countries. The county existed from 862 to 1795. It was one of the original secular fiefs of France and for centuries was one of the most affluent regions in Europe....
and the County of Hainaut
County of Hainaut
The County of Hainaut was a historical region in the Low Countries with its capital at Mons . In English sources it is often given the archaic spelling Hainault....
. Therefore, the region (including neighbouring places like Lessines
Lessines
Lessines is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Lessines had a total population of 17,848. The total area is 72.29 km² which gives a population density of 247 inhabitants per km²...
, Ellezelles
Ellezelles
Ellezelles is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Hainaut. It comprises the former municipalities of Ellezelles, La Hamaide, and Wodecq. Bordering Flanders, the town is home to a minority of Dutch-speakers.- Trivia :...
, ...) was often called "debate land" (Dutch: debattenland; French: terre des débats).
In 1963, when the language border was fixed, within the municipality of Flobecq, only the village of La Houppe/D'Hoppe was Dutch-speaking. However, the village was not transferred to Dutch-speaking East Flanders
East Flanders
East Flanders is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Netherlands and in Belgium on the provinces of Antwerp, Flemish Brabant , of Hainaut and of West Flanders...
and remained in French-speaking area. Instead, Flobecq as a whole became a municipality with language facilities for Dutch.