CARSON, Patricia

The British Connection

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We come now to our last question - why? Why has the British connection been, as we have seen, such a close one. Why do Flemish and British people on the whole get on so well? Why do we, coming from England, find here such a welcome? Is this because of our history, or our character, or is it just because we are all so nice? Obviously geography has a bit to do with it. The Channel is really not an insuperable obstacle even to those plagued by sea-sickness, and now we can fly or hover it, it may seem not to count any more. Nevertheless it has counted very much sometime in the past, and it seems a good idea that we as British people remember how lucky we have been to have it as a barrier between us and less friendly parts of the Continent.

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Queen Elizabeth I was never averse to stirring up trouble in the land ruled by her favourite enemy Philip II. She was happy certainly to receive emigrants from the Low Countries whose religieus convictions had brought them to a head-on collision with Philip – ably assisted by the Inquistition. Flemish religiuous emigrants can be traced thus in the sixteenth century in Canterbury, in London, in Sandwich and particularly in Norwhich. One diplomat estimated there to be about 30.000 people.

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The Fair Face of Flanders

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He has also left a self-portrait so small, that he must have needed spectacles and magnifying glass for such delicate work. The European network of artists functioned rather well without technical means of communication and transport and the dedication, inspiration and craftsmanship remain a source of inspiration.

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One of the most typical scenes in Flanders takes place after Mass on a Sunday morning, when families visit their favourite cake shop and go home each with an interesting cake-box suspended by a string from someone's finger. 

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Even to the historian Flanders means many things. Simplicity has never been one of its characteristics.

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