Grand Place in Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium — Northwestern Europe

Les Premiers Drapeaux Belges / De Eerste Belgische Vlaggen / The First Belgian Flags

The First Belgian Flags Marker - French panel image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, May 15, 2022

1. The First Belgian Flags Marker - French panel

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Le 26 aout 1830 M^me Abts confectionna ici les 2 premiers drapeaux belges

Den 26te augustus 1830 vervaardigde M^evr Abts alhier de 2 eerste belgische vlaggen

(English translation:)

Here on the 26th of August, 1830, Mrs. Abts made the first two Belgian flags.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is August 26, 1830.

Location. 50° 50.808′ N, 4° 21.24′ E. Marker is in Bruxelles, Brussels. It is in Grand Place. Marker is at the intersection of Rue du Marché Aux Herbes and Rue de la Colline, on the right when traveling south on Rue du Marché Aux Herbes. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Rue du Marché Aux Herbes 85, Bruxelles, Brussels 1000, Belgium. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Victor Hugo (within shouting distance of this marker); The Execution of the Counts of Egmont and Horn (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Expulsion of the Austrian Forces (about 90 meters away); Karl Marx

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(about 120 meters away); Hôtel de Ville de Bruxelles / Stadhuis van Brussel / The Brussels Town Hall (about 150 meters away); Verlaine blessa Rimbaud / Verlaine wounded Rimbaud (about 180 meters away); Église Saint-Nicholas / De Sint-Niklaaskerk / The Saint-Nicholas Church / Die Sankt Nikolaus-Kirche (about 210 meters away); Universite Libre de Bruxelles (1834 - 1984) (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bruxelles.

Also see . . . Marie Abts-Ermens (Wikipedia, in Dutch).

On how the flags came to be (in translation): Edouard Ducpétiaux, a doctor of law by training but an editor by profession, had Marie Abts-Ermens sew the first two Belgian flags they had designed on Thursday, August 26, 1830, at the request of fellow journalist and lawyer Lucien Jottrand, in her fabric store. He then went to the town hall where he replaced the French flag, which had been hung there during the uprising after the performance of Portici's opera De Mute the day before, with the new Belgian tricolour. The second flag sewn by Marie Abts-Ermens, commissioned by an official of the Ministry of War,
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, May 15, 2022

2. The First Belgian Flags Marker - Dutch panel
If the above flag looks odd, that is because it depicts the original Belgian flag, which is the same as the current flag, but for a 90 degree rotation.
Alexandre-Théodore Van Hulst, was taken in the processions through Brussels where the population was called upon to support the Belgian Revolution. The first Belgian flags had stripes that were horizontal to the flagpole. This continued until January 23, 1831.

(Submitted on May 24, 2023.)

The First Belgian Flags Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, May 15, 2022

3. The First Belgian Flags Marker - wide view

Credits. This page was last revised on December 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 24, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 59 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 24, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.