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Where to go at Brussels MIDI
Manneken Pis
Laboratoire Warocquier
Metro Station at LouiseFlag of the Region of Brussels-Capital
Belgium is a Federation of 3 main entities. The Flemish-speaking community of Flanders in the north, the French-speaking community of Wallonia in the south and the neutral capital region of Brussels (whereby both Flemish & French are official languages).
Each community is represented by a flag and which is why when you are travelling through Belgium, there are so many flags fluttering around. There is the EU flag, the National flag, the regional flag, the provincial flag and in some cases, the city flag. Made for great photography with all those colours but confusing for folks..if they ever wanted to know what flag represents what.
I think even the Belgians are themselves stumped at times. Extracted from Flags Of The World
..."Iris pseudacorus is the scientific name of the golden iris, the symbol of the region of Brussels-Capital, which is widely used (tramways, subway, taxis etc...) but ill-known.
The choice of this marsh iris as the symbol of Brussels did not occur for the creation of the region of Brussels-Capital (18 June 1989), as often believed.
In 1924, R. Cornette wrote that "this flower was chosen because it grows in the marshes, recalling that the capital was funded on the marshy banks of the Senne river and its tributaries (Maalbeek, Roodkloosterbeek, Geleytsbeek, Vuylbeek, Kerkebeek, Leybeek,...).
Nowadays, in spite of the ultra-rapid urbanisation, the iris can still be found in its naturel habit in the vale of Vuylbeek, in the forest of Soignes.
On 5 March 1991, the Regional Council of Brussels-Capital decided to chose an iris as emblem for the region. A public contest was organized to define its design. After several adventures, the proposal of Jacques Richez was granted by the authorities."
Ivan Sache, 28 November 1999"...
