History, Wonder Tales, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends The Flemish | Page 29

LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
Main articles: Dutch language, Flemish people, and Flemish Movement
The standard language is in Flanders the same as in the Netherlands, i.e., Dutch. The
Dutch dialects spoken in Belgium and the standard language with influences from
these dialects, are often referred to as Flemish (Dutch: Vlaams).
At first sight, Flemish culture is defined by its language and its gourmandic mentality.
Some claim Flemish literature does not exist, because it is said to be 'readable' by
both the Dutch as well as Flemings. This is correct for the vast majority of the literature
written by Flemings, although one might argue a distinct Flemish literature already
began in the 19th century, when most of the European Nation-states arose, with
writers and poets such as Guido Gezelle, who not only explicitly referred to his
writings as Flemish, but actually used it in many of his poems, and strongly defended
it:
This distinction in literature is also made by some experts, such as Kris Humbeeck,
professor in Literature of the University of Antwerp here. Nevertheless, the near
totality of Dutch-language literature read (and appreciated to varying degrees) in
Flanders is the same as in the Netherlands.
Some other writers representative of Flemish culture are Ernest Claes, Stijn Streuvels
and Felix Timmermans. Their novels mostly describe rural life in Flanders in the 19th
and beginning of the 20th century. They were widely read by the elder generation but
are considered somewhat old fashioned by present day critics.
Some famous flemish writers from the early 20th century wrote in French, like nobelprize winner (1911) Maurice Maeterlinck and Emile Verhaeren.
Still widely read and translated into other languages (including English) are the novels
of authors like Willem Elsschot, Louis Paul Boon and Hugo Claus. The younger
generation is represented by novelists like Tom Lanoye, Herman Brusselmans and the
poet Herman de Coninck.
The Family Name "Fleming"
The Family Name "Fleming" or "Flemming" is common in England, Scotland, Ireland
and later-settled English-speaking countries, and also occurs in Scandinavian
countries such as Denmark, Sweden and Finland. The wide distribution of the name
indicates a long-standing Flemish diaspora.

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