Ghent (Municipality, Province of East Flanders, Belgium)

Gent - Gand

Last modified: 2005-11-12 by ivan sache
Keywords: ghent | gent | gand | lion (white) | lion (blue) | lion(white) | needle: netting | guilde of weavers |
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Municipal flag of Ghent - Image by Mark Sensen, 10 May 1999, after an image from the official Website of the city of Ghent, used with kind authorization of Jan de Baets [Voorlichtingsdienst Stad Gent - Information Service of the City of Ghent)]

• Municipal flag of Ghent
• Former flags of Ghent
• Flag of the Guilde of Weavers of Ghent (XIVth century)
• Royal Ghent Watersport Association (Koninklijke Gentse Watersport Vereniging)

See also:

• Belgium
• Province of East Flanders: Municipal flags
• Belgium: Municipal flags

Municipal flag of Ghent

The flag of Ghent was adopted on 9 October 1990 by ministeriel besluit (Minister Ordinance) of the Flemish Minister of Culture, after the approval by the Vlaamse Heraldische Raad (Flemish Heraldic Council). The picture in the ordinance is different from the one above, so it might be that the authorities of the municipality have re-drawn the flag so that it would be nicer.

Pascal Vagnat, 10 May 1999

Former flags of Ghent

Former municipal flags of Ghent, c. 1900 - Images by Ivan Sache, 12 June 2005

Nouveau Larousse Illustré, Dictionnaire Universel Encyclopédique (7 volumes, published in Paris, 1898-1904) shows the flags of the main Belgian cities, then based on the traditional colours of the cities.
Two flags are shown for Ghent, the first horizontally divided black-white and the second vertically divided black-white.

Jan Martens & Ivan Sache, 12 June 2005

Flag of the Guilde of Weavers of Ghent (XIVth century)

Flag of the Guilde of Weavers of Ghent - Image by Filip Van Laenen, 29 January 1997

A XIVth century drawing shows a flag containing the lion of Flanders, the lion of Ghent and a third lion which has at its sides two golden netting needles. The lion is blue, on a red field, its tongue and nails painted gold. This flag probably belonged to the Guild of Weavers in Ghent.

Filip Van Laenen, 29 January 1997

Royal Ghent Watersport Association (Koninklijke Gentse Watersport Vereniging)

Burgee of KGWV - Image by Ivan Sache, 15 June 2002

The KGWV burgee is made of two red triangles placed vertically along the hoist and a yellow lozenge. The lozenge does not reach the hoist of the burgee.

Source: KGWV website

Ivan Sache, 15 June 2002