The Grand Duchy of Flandrensis (Dutch: Groothertogdom Flandrensis) is a micronation with claims over some territories of Antarctica, which was founded in 2008 by the Belgian Niels Vermeersch. Flandrensis is not recognised by any country or government,[1][2][3][4] nor is it their intention to get diplomatic recognition.[5][6] Since 2021 the micronation is registered in Belgium as the environmental non-profit organization “vzw Groothertogdom Flandrensis”.[7]
The Grand Duchy of Flandrensis was founded on September 4, 2008 as a temporary hobby for two weeks.[8] The micronation is inspired by the medieval County of Flanders (Pagus Flandrensis).[1][2] Flandrensis was regarded by the founder first as a hobby-micronation, and later as an ecological venture, to raise awareness of ice melting and climate change.[9][10][11] Since 2021 the micronation is also an environmental non-profit organization.[7]
Until 2014, Flandrensis was partly a political simulation, with political parties[12][13] and organised yearly elections. Professor Alastair Bonnett of the University of Newcastle described Flandrensis as an example of a micronation that is inspired by a city council in which young people learn to make decisions.[14]
In 2021 the micronation was composed of 741 citizens from 71 different nationalities.[15] Outside of the internet, the activities of Flandrensians were restricted to the region around Roeselare,[1][2] but the official embassy is now located in the West-Flemish town Sint-Juliaan.[15][12][16][17]
Flandrensis was represented at several international conferences on micronations, such as Polination London (2012) and Perugia (2015), and the MicroCon conventions in Atlanta (2017) and Las Vegas (2022).[5][18][19][20] In August 2023 Flandrensis hosted the first European edition of MicroCon in Ypres along with the Royal Republic of Ladonia.[21][22]
In May 2022 the founder was invited as a speaker at ChangeNow, an international climate summit in Paris to talk about Flandrensis and environmental micronationalism.[23]
Territoryedit
Flandrensis is regarded by the founder as an ecological venture, to raise awareness of ice melting, hereby Niels Vermeersch was one of the first who introduced the concept of environmental micronationalism.[5][9] Flandrensis has no intentions to visit their claimed territories.[12][1][2][24][6] Flandrensis claims five islands off the coasts of West Antarctica: Siple Island, Cherry Island, Maher Island, Pranke Island, and Carney Island.
Non profit organizationedit
On August 12, 2021, Flandrensis was registered in the Belgian Official Journal as “vzw Groothertogdom Flandrensis”. In the published bylaws Flandrensis describes itself as an environmental non-profit organization that focuses on climate change and Antarctica, using the concept of micronationalism to draw attention to the climate in a creative way.[7] Some of their projects are climate letters and clean-up actions.[15] The Grand Duchy of Flandrensis is among 1000+ non-governmental organizations that have received United Nations Environment Programme accreditation.[25]
Galleryedit
Flag of Flandrensis
Niels Vermeersch
Signing of a treaty between Flandrensis and the Republic of St. Charlie at Polination (2012)[1][2]
^ abcde(in Dutch) VANSTEENKISTE, A., "Hoogledenaar is Groothertog van micronatie Flandrensis", Het Nieuwsblad, 13 September 2012, page 22-22
^ abcde(in Dutch) VERHAEGHE, H., Middagpost West-Vlaanderen 2012-12-03 at the Wayback Machine, Radio 2, 13 September 2012 (interview with Niels Vermeersch)
^(in French) BELENFANT, M., Sa Majesté le Grand-Duc de Flandrensis brise la glace, 'Le Jeu de l'Oie: La Revue Internationale de Sciences – Po Lille', April 2014, page 30-31
^The Telegraph, Ten bizarre micronations, 14 May 2014
^ abcThe Brussels Times, Springtime of micronations spearheaded by Belgian "Grand-Duke" Niels, 8 December 2015
^ abHobbs, Harry; Williams, George (2022). Micronations and the Search for Sovereignty. Cambridge Studies in Constitutional Law. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN978-1-009-15012-5.
^(in French) Oeuillet, J., Le business des vanités : enquête sur les arnaques à la noblesse, Ed. du Moment, 16 April 2015, pages 207, ISBN978-2-35417-370-8
^ ab(in Dutch) STROCHLIC, N., Ieder zijn eigen koninkrijk, National Geographic, April 2016, page 8-9
^(in Polish) BARTKIEWICZ, A., Jak zostać królem, RZECZPOSPOLITA (Minus Plus), 20 July 2017, page 10-12
^BEANLAND, C., King of your castle, Open Skies, Emirates Printing Press, 01 May 2019, page 49-50
^ abc(in Dutch) GHEERAERT, T., Diplomatieke rel om een deel van Antarctica, Het Wekelijks Nieuws, 05 September 2013, page 10-11
^(in Dutch) GHEERAERT, T., Verkiezingen in Flandrensis, Het Wekelijks Nieuws, 17 October 2014, page 62
^(in Russian) APPARAT, 5 steps to create your own micronations 2015-01-22 at the Wayback Machine, December 2014
^ abcBAUDET, M., Voyage dans les micronations, ces pays de fantaisie qui réinventent la démocratie, Le Monde, 16 August 2021
^(in French) MAZARS, P., “Micronations: la tournée du grand-duc", Le Journal du Dimanche, 28 July 2014
^(in Dutch) CORNILLIE, B., “Niels, groothertog van Flandrensis, Het Laatste Nieuws, 29 August 2014, page 20
^THE TELEGRAPH, T. Coote, Inside the weird world of the micronation, 14 July 2015
^(in French) BONZOM, N., « Le sommet francophone des micronations, entre folkore et engagement citoyen », 20 minutes, 26 September 2016,
^(in French) PLACER, A., Sommet de micronations sur le pavé: folklorique et citoyen, La Voix du Nord, 21 January 2018
^MicroCon 2023 – official website. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
^(in Dutch) GHEERAERT, T., “(Belgium) GHEERAERT, T., "Groothertog van Flandrensis organiseert conventie in Ieper", Het Wekelijks Nieuws, 04 August 2023, page 26
^ChangeNow – official website. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
^(in French) PRUDENT, R., Envie d’être chef ? Toi aussi, crée ta micronation en dix leçons , ‘Rue 89', 12 June 2014
^"List of accredited organizations". UNEP. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
grand, duchy, flandrensis, dutch, groothertogdom, flandrensis, micronation, with, claims, over, some, territories, antarctica, which, founded, 2008, belgian, niels, vermeersch, flandrensis, recognised, country, government, their, intention, diplomatic, recogni. The Grand Duchy of Flandrensis Dutch Groothertogdom Flandrensis is a micronation with claims over some territories of Antarctica which was founded in 2008 by the Belgian Niels Vermeersch Flandrensis is not recognised by any country or government 1 2 3 4 nor is it their intention to get diplomatic recognition 5 6 Since 2021 the micronation is registered in Belgium as the environmental non profit organization vzw Groothertogdom Flandrensis 7 Grand Duchy of FlandrensisUnrecognized micronationClaimed byNiels VermeerschDate claimed4 September 2008Area claimedTerritories of Antarctica Contents 1 History 2 Territory 3 Non profit organization 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory editThe Grand Duchy of Flandrensis was founded on September 4 2008 as a temporary hobby for two weeks 8 The micronation is inspired by the medieval County of Flanders Pagus Flandrensis 1 2 Flandrensis was regarded by the founder first as a hobby micronation and later as an ecological venture to raise awareness of ice melting and climate change 9 10 11 Since 2021 the micronation is also an environmental non profit organization 7 The micronation has its own identity cards currency heraldry newspaper constitution and national anthem Until 2014 Flandrensis was partly a political simulation with political parties 12 13 and organised yearly elections Professor Alastair Bonnett of the University of Newcastle described Flandrensis as an example of a micronation that is inspired by a city council in which young people learn to make decisions 14 In 2021 the micronation was composed of 741 citizens from 71 different nationalities 15 Outside of the internet the activities of Flandrensians were restricted to the region around Roeselare 1 2 but the official embassy is now located in the West Flemish town Sint Juliaan 15 12 16 17 Flandrensis was represented at several international conferences on micronations such as Polination London 2012 and Perugia 2015 and the MicroCon conventions in Atlanta 2017 and Las Vegas 2022 5 18 19 20 In August 2023 Flandrensis hosted the first European edition of MicroCon in Ypres along with the Royal Republic of Ladonia 21 22 In May 2022 the founder was invited as a speaker at ChangeNow an international climate summit in Paris to talk about Flandrensis and environmental micronationalism 23 Territory editFlandrensis is regarded by the founder as an ecological venture to raise awareness of ice melting hereby Niels Vermeersch was one of the first who introduced the concept of environmental micronationalism 5 9 Flandrensis has no intentions to visit their claimed territories 12 1 2 24 6 Flandrensis claims five islands off the coasts of West Antarctica Siple Island Cherry Island Maher Island Pranke Island and Carney Island Non profit organization editOn August 12 2021 Flandrensis was registered in the Belgian Official Journal as vzw Groothertogdom Flandrensis In the published bylaws Flandrensis describes itself as an environmental non profit organization that focuses on climate change and Antarctica using the concept of micronationalism to draw attention to the climate in a creative way 7 Some of their projects are climate letters and clean up actions 15 The Grand Duchy of Flandrensis is among 1000 non governmental organizations that have received United Nations Environment Programme accreditation 25 Gallery edit nbsp Flag of Flandrensis nbsp Niels Vermeersch nbsp Signing of a treaty between Flandrensis and the Republic of St Charlie at Polination 2012 1 2 See also editList of micronations Flags of micronations List of Antarctic territorial claimsReferences edit a b c d e in Dutch VANSTEENKISTE A Hoogledenaar is Groothertog van micronatie Flandrensis Het Nieuwsblad 13 September 2012 page 22 22 a b c d e in Dutch VERHAEGHE H Middagpost West Vlaanderen Archived 2012 12 03 at the Wayback Machine Radio 2 13 September 2012 interview with Niels Vermeersch in French BELENFANT M Sa Majeste le Grand Duc de Flandrensis brise la glace Le Jeu de l Oie La Revue Internationale de Sciences Po Lille April 2014 page 30 31 The Telegraph Ten bizarre micronations 14 May 2014 a b c The Brussels Times Springtime of micronations spearheaded by Belgian Grand Duke Niels 8 December 2015 a b Hobbs Harry Williams George 2022 Micronations and the Search for Sovereignty Cambridge Studies in Constitutional Law Cambridge Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 1 009 15012 5 a b c Registration non profit vzw Groothertogdom Flandrensis Kruispuntbank Ondernemingen 12 August 2021 in French Oeuillet J Le business des vanites enquete sur les arnaques a la noblesse Ed du Moment 16 April 2015 pages 207 ISBN 978 2 35417 370 8 a b in Dutch STROCHLIC N Ieder zijn eigen koninkrijk National Geographic April 2016 page 8 9 in Polish BARTKIEWICZ A Jak zostac krolem RZECZPOSPOLITA Minus Plus 20 July 2017 page 10 12 BEANLAND C King of your castle Open Skies Emirates Printing Press 01 May 2019 page 49 50 a b c in Dutch GHEERAERT T Diplomatieke rel om een deel van Antarctica Het Wekelijks Nieuws 05 September 2013 page 10 11 in Dutch GHEERAERT T Verkiezingen in Flandrensis Het Wekelijks Nieuws 17 October 2014 page 62 in Russian APPARAT 5 steps to create your own micronations Archived 2015 01 22 at the Wayback Machine December 2014 a b c BAUDET M Voyage dans les micronations ces pays de fantaisie qui reinventent la democratie Le Monde 16 August 2021 in French MAZARS P Micronations la tournee du grand duc Le Journal du Dimanche 28 July 2014 in Dutch CORNILLIE B Niels groothertog van Flandrensis Het Laatste Nieuws 29 August 2014 page 20 THE TELEGRAPH T Coote Inside the weird world of the micronation 14 July 2015 in French BONZOM N Le sommet francophone des micronations entre folkore et engagement citoyen 20 minutes 26 September 2016 in French PLACER A Sommet de micronations sur le pave folklorique et citoyen La Voix du Nord 21 January 2018 MicroCon 2023 official website Retrieved 7 July 2023 in Dutch GHEERAERT T Belgium GHEERAERT T Groothertog van Flandrensis organiseert conventie in Ieper Het Wekelijks Nieuws 04 August 2023 page 26 ChangeNow official website Retrieved 27 May 2022 in French PRUDENT R Envie d etre chef Toi aussi cree ta micronation en dix lecons Rue 89 12 June 2014 List of accredited organizations UNEP Retrieved 13 October 2023 External links editOfficial website Grand Duchy of Flandrensis on MicroWiki Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Grand Duchy of Flandrensis amp oldid 1221368059, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
