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Belgische Gemeentewapens - Armories communales de Belgique Belgian Civic Heraldry WEST VLAANDEREN Origin/meaning : The province of West-Vlaanderen was created in 1816 and the provincial council applied for the 'oldest historical arms of Vlaanderen, used until 1178'. These arms were a shield divided into 8 pieces with a red escutcheon. These arms have been described in several sources and in the late 13th century the arms were mentioned as Oud-Vlaanderen (old Vlaanderen). However, later historical research has shown that these arms have never been used and were probably a 14th century fantasy. The black lion on a golden field is the true historical arms of the Counts and county of Vlaanderen, and these have been used since the late 12th century. In 1816 the arms of Old and New Vlaanderen were combined. The chief showed the upper half of the Dutch Royal arms, similar to the Oost Vlaanderen province. After the Belgian independence the chief was removed and the arms were regranted in 1830. Literature : Vries, H. de : Wapens van de Nederlanden, Amsterdam, 1995.

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