Flanders

(flănˈdərz)

1. A historical region of northwest Europe including parts of northern France, western Belgium, and southwest Netherlands along the North Sea. For many centuries it enjoyed virtual independence and great prosperity as a center of the cloth industry. The Hapsburg wars in the Low Countries caused the eventual division of the region, which suffered heavy damage during both World Wars.
2. A Dutch-speaking region of northern Belgium. It was granted limited autonomy in 1980.