Today is the National Holiday of Belgium. On 21 July 1831, Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha took the constitutional oath to become King of the Belgians. But I want to look at something else.
Triggered by an Instagram reel by member of the municipal council Niel Staes (Groen), let me present to you the flags which are flown on Antwerp‘s City Hall in the summer months.
It’s not clear to everyone which flags are chosen or eligible. For one, there’s no space for the 193 member states of the United Nations, but the UN flag does get a pole.
So, which flags are on display?
Category 1: from city to union
The most prominent spot, just above the main entrance of city hall is reserved for the official protocol: Belgium, Flanders, the European Union, the Province of Antwerp and the City of Antwerp.
Belgium is in the epicentre. Mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA) may not be the biggest fan of the Belgian flag, but he respects the protocol. On the left you have the flag of Flanders, on the right the EU flag. More left the chequered provincial flag and more the right the city flag. Not to be confused with the ‘Beaming A’, the corporate logo of the city government.
Category 2: the districts of Antwerp
Antwerp is administratively dived in nine districts. One storey above you see from left to right: Berchem, Borgerhout, Hoboken, Wilrijk, Deurne, Merksem, Ekeren, Berendrecht-Zandvliet-Lillo, Antwerp.
There’s a spot reserved for Borsbeek, which will become the tenth district of Antwerp.
Category 3: European Union
On the first storey, left and right from the centre, you’ll see the flags of the melber states of European Union in the order in which they joined. Probably to compensate for for Brexit, the United Kingdom has been replaced by the United Nations.
From left to right: Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Ireland, the UN, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Finland, Austria, Sweden, Cyprus and Estonia.
One storey up, its a bit less clear. I think, from left to right: Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czechia, Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia. 26 out of 27. Next to Croatia, other country flags start. Having no extra clues, it’s too hard to be sure. Tunisia or Turkey (Türkiye). Followed by what seems to be Morocco.
Category 4: consulates
Which countries can have their flags flown? Countries with a consulate-general in Antwerp, then countries with an honorary consulate in the city of Antwerp, then countries with an honorary consulate in the province of Antwerp and then countries with an honorary consulate in Flanders.
Don’t forget to look at the side façade on Suikerrui for more flags.
So now you know.
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