Flemish immigration to Wallonia
Encyclopedia
Flemish immigration to Wallonia was an important phenomenon in the History of Belgium
. Kas Deprez wrote : Flanders was poor and backward in the 19th century. It hardly took part in the first industrial revolution. Flemings migrated to Wallonia (amongst other areas), to escape frome the poverty at home.
Yves Quairiaux published the figures of the census from 1866 to 1910 which allow to understand the importance of this phenomenon
These figures correspond to the figures of the recent book (translated in French), of a Flemish journalist Pascal Verbeken. Both authors agree with the fact that this phenomen was very important in the nation building or in any case of the identity building of the two greatest Belgian population, the Walloons and the Flemings. Among the industrial areas along the Sillon industriel
, the Borinage
(in the West of Wallonia) and the region of Verviers
(in the East) are less concerned by the phenomenon. The most important area of the Flemish immigration are three basins of the industrial Wallonia: Charleroi
, Liège
and the Centre
around La Louvière
. In the period of the census published by Quairiaux, almost 500.000 Flemings came in Wallonia to find a job in the industry.
The Belgian census calculate the number of Belgians who are speaking French, Flemish (now Dutch), and German. Quairiaux estimates the number of the Flemings in Wallonia on the basis that in Wallonia in this period only the Flemings were Flemish-speaking or bilingual (Flemish-French). They quickly adopted the regional culture and the regional language (more Walloon
than French in any case in the beginning).
literature (as a regional language), did have its golden age during the peak of the Flemish immigration: That period saw an efflorescence of Walloon literature, plays and poems primarily, and the founding of many theaters and periodicals. And that is mainly in the plays that the Flemish people has been shown. Quairiaux learned more than 200 plays where he tried to describe the image of the Flemish people for Walloons. In this period plays were almost the only popular show in Wallonia.
History of Belgium
The history of Belgium, from pre-history to the present day, is intertwined with the histories of its European neighbours, in particular those of the Netherlands and Luxembourg...
. Kas Deprez wrote : Flanders was poor and backward in the 19th century. It hardly took part in the first industrial revolution. Flemings migrated to Wallonia (amongst other areas), to escape frome the poverty at home.
Yves Quairiaux published the figures of the census from 1866 to 1910 which allow to understand the importance of this phenomenon
The figures of the Flemish immigration
| Census | Arrondissements ([Provinces]) | Ath Ath Ath is a Belgian municipality located in the Walloon province of Hainaut. The Ath municipality includes the old communes of Lanquesaint, Irchonwelz, Ormeignies, Bouvignies, Ostiches, Rebaix, Maffle, Arbre, Houtaing, Ligne, Mainvault, Moulbaix, Villers-Notre-Dame, Villers-Saint-Amand, Ghislenghien... [Hainaut] |
Charleroi Charleroi Charleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. , the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of and had a total population of 522,522 as of 1 January 2008, ranking it as... [Hainaut] |
Mons Mons Mons is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, of which it is the capital. The Mons municipality includes the old communes of Cuesmes, Flénu, Ghlin, Hyon, Nimy, Obourg, Baudour , Jemappes, Ciply, Harmignies, Harveng, Havré, Maisières, Mesvin, Nouvelles,... [Hainaut] |
Soignies Soignies Soignies is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut.The municipality is composed of the Town of Soignies together with the villages of Casteau, Chaussée-Notre-Dame-Louvignies, Horrues, Neufvilles, Naast and Thieusies... [Hainaut] |
Thuin Thuin Thuin is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. The Thuin municipality includes the old communes of Leers-et-Fosteau, Biesme-sous-Thuin, Ragnies, Biercée, Gozée, Donstiennes, and Thuillies.-Origins:... [Hainaut] |
Tournai Tournai Tournai is a Walloon city and municipality of Belgium located 85 kilometres southwest of Brussels, on the river Scheldt, in the province of Hainaut.... [Hainaut] |
Huy Huy Huy is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liege. Huy lies along the river Meuse, at the mouth of the small river Hoyoux. It is in the sillon industriel, the former industrial backbone of Wallonia, home to about two-thirds of the Walloon population... [Liège] |
Liège Liège Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium.... [Liège] |
Verviers Verviers Verviers is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège. The Verviers municipality includes the old communes of Ensival, Lambermont, Petit-Rechain, Stembert, and Heusy... [Liège] |
Waremme Waremme Waremme is a Walloon municipality located in the province of Liège, in Belgium. The city is located on the River Geer , in the loessic Hesbaye region... [Liège] |
Walloon Brabant Walloon Brabant Walloon Brabant is a province of Wallonia in Belgium. It borders on the province of Flemish Brabant and the provinces of Liège, Namur and Hainaut . Its capital is Wavre... |
Luxembourg (Belgium) Luxembourg (Belgium) Luxembourg is the southernmost province of Wallonia and of Belgium. It borders on the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, France, and the Belgian provinces of Namur and Liège. Its capital is Arlon, in the south-east of the province.It has an area of 4,443 km², making it the largest Belgian province... |
Province of Namur |
| 1866 | Total population Flemings | 88.811 1.877 2,11 % | 212.446 9.044 4,26 % | 189.168 1.575 0,83 % | 100.869 7.890 7,91 % | 96.283 485 0,50 % | 176.653 6.342 3,59 % | 80.874 433 0,54 % | 284.668 20.399 7,17 % | 128.041 6.300 4,92 % | 49.130 2.500 5,09 % | 150.162 2.960 5,09 % | 199.910 ..... 645 .... 0,32 % | 302.778 2.100 0,69 % |
| 1880 | Total population Flemings | 90.080 1.738 1,93 % | 212.466 9.044 4,26 % | 189.168 1.575 0,83 % | 118.227 8.905 7,51 % | 108.823 6.342 3,59 % | 184.177 9.380 5,09 % | 89.969 431 0,48 % | 351.860 23.984 6,79 % | 151.238 6.021 3,98 % | 55.444 2.338 4,21 % | 147.889 3.127 2,11% | 209.118 ... 916 ........ 0,44 | 322.654 2.606 0,81 % |
| 1890 | Total population Flemings | 88.554 2.638 2,98 % | 347.179 15.912 4,58 % | 227.835 2.921 1,28 % | 129.323 11.526 8,91 % | 114.496 1.078 0,94 % | 183.751 17.901 9,74 % | 98.847 753 0,76 % | 419.163 39.537 9,43 % | 166.996 5.818 3,48 % | 57.361 3.359 5,86 % | 162.571 6.397 3,93 % | 211.711 ... 842 ..... 0,40 % | 333.471 4.198 1,26 % |
| 1900 | Total population Flemings | 88.658 3.556 4,01% | 377.590 21.267 5,63 % | 245.244 3.968 1,62 % | 143.702 15.114 10,52 % | 125.298 1.806 1,44 % | 200.900 25.626 12,76 % | 100.387 876 0,87 % | 475.624 40.829 8,58 % | 169.780 4.976 2,93 % | 50.090 3.670 6,21 % | 169.219 7.243 4,28 % | 219.210 ... 1.225 ... 0,56 % | 346.512 4.035 1,16 % |
| 1910 | Total population Flemings | 87.707 2.958 3,37% | 421.024 26.986 6,41 % | 260.780 4.070 1,56 % | 156.484 15.044 9,61% | 137.522 3.327 2,42 % | 215.860 33.455 15,50 % | 103.385 971 0,94 % | 528.728 41.848 7,91 % | 168.893 4.914 2,89 % | 63.842 4.441 6,96 % | 178.697 8.372 4,69 % | 231.215 ... 1.546 ... 0,67 % | 362.846 5.169 1,42 % |
These figures correspond to the figures of the recent book (translated in French), of a Flemish journalist Pascal Verbeken. Both authors agree with the fact that this phenomen was very important in the nation building or in any case of the identity building of the two greatest Belgian population, the Walloons and the Flemings. Among the industrial areas along the Sillon industriel
Sillon industriel
The sillon industriel is the former industrial backbone of Wallonia and thus of Belgium. It runs across Wallonia, passing from Dour, in Borinage, in the west, to Verviers in the east, through Mons, La Louvière, Charleroi, Namur, Huy, and Liège, following the valleys of the rivers Haine, Sambre,...
, the Borinage
Borinage
The Borinage is an area in the Walloon province of Hainaut. The provincial capital Mons is located in the east of the Borinage. In French the inhabitants are called Borains...
(in the West of Wallonia) and the region of Verviers
Verviers
Verviers is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège. The Verviers municipality includes the old communes of Ensival, Lambermont, Petit-Rechain, Stembert, and Heusy...
(in the East) are less concerned by the phenomenon. The most important area of the Flemish immigration are three basins of the industrial Wallonia: Charleroi
Charleroi
Charleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. , the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of and had a total population of 522,522 as of 1 January 2008, ranking it as...
, Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
and the Centre
Centre (Wallonia)
The Centre is the name of an important basin of the Sillon industriel in Wallonia between Mons and Charleroi . Its most important town is La Louvière...
around La Louvière
La Louvière
La Louvière is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. La Louvière's municipality includes the old communes of Haine-Saint-Paul, Haine-Saint-Pierre, Saint-Vaast, Trivières, Boussoit, Houdeng-Aimeries, Houdeng-Gœgnies, Maurage, and Strépy-Bracquegnies...
. In the period of the census published by Quairiaux, almost 500.000 Flemings came in Wallonia to find a job in the industry.
The Belgian census calculate the number of Belgians who are speaking French, Flemish (now Dutch), and German. Quairiaux estimates the number of the Flemings in Wallonia on the basis that in Wallonia in this period only the Flemings were Flemish-speaking or bilingual (Flemish-French). They quickly adopted the regional culture and the regional language (more Walloon
Walloon language
Walloon is a Romance language which was spoken as a primary language in large portions of the Walloon Region of Belgium and some villages of Northern France until the middle of the 20th century. It belongs to the langue d'oïl language family, whose most prominent member is the French language...
than French in any case in the beginning).
Reception of the Flemings by the Walloons
WalloonWalloon language
Walloon is a Romance language which was spoken as a primary language in large portions of the Walloon Region of Belgium and some villages of Northern France until the middle of the 20th century. It belongs to the langue d'oïl language family, whose most prominent member is the French language...
literature (as a regional language), did have its golden age during the peak of the Flemish immigration: That period saw an efflorescence of Walloon literature, plays and poems primarily, and the founding of many theaters and periodicals. And that is mainly in the plays that the Flemish people has been shown. Quairiaux learned more than 200 plays where he tried to describe the image of the Flemish people for Walloons. In this period plays were almost the only popular show in Wallonia.