Flemish Region

The Flemish Region is an administrative division in northern Belgium that stretches from the North Sea coast to the Dutch border. The area includes five provinces with urban centers like Antwerp and Ghent alongside rural polder landscapes and heathlands.

The region gained separate administrative powers following the federalization of Belgium from 1980, with many responsibilities later passing to the Flemish Community. Today's provincial boundaries reflect borders that evolved since the 19th century.

The region takes its name from medieval Flanders and now covers historic territories such as Brabant and the Kempen. Visitors quickly notice the linguistic uniformity and regional dialects that shift from coastal towns to the eastern provinces.

Large cities like Brussels offer easy access to the five provinces via motorways and rail links that connect regional centers. Visitors can use public transport such as buses and trams to move within cities and between smaller towns.

The Belgian enclaves of Baarle-Hertog sit entirely within the Dutch municipality of Baarle-Nassau and create one of the most complicated border formations in Europe. Houses and streets sometimes switch between Belgian and Dutch sovereignty in the middle of living spaces.

Location: Belgium

Inception: August 8, 1980

Capital city: City of Brussels

Part of: Belgium

Shares border with: Brussels-Capital Region, Hauts-de-France, Wallonia

Website: https://flandern.be

GPS coordinates: 51.00000,4.50000

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:03