Region of Brussels-Capital (Belgium)

Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale

Last modified: 2002-10-12 by ivan sache
Keywords: brussels | brussel | bruxelles | iris | belgium | law | coat of arms | roaster (red) | lion (grey) | lion (black) |
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by Mark Sensen

• Origin and meaning of the flag
• Law concerning the flag and the emblem
• French Community Commission of the Region of Brussels-Capital
• Flemish Community Commission of the Region of Brussels-Capital
  • Former flag

See also:

• Belgium
• Belgium: Administrative divisions
• Belgium: Flanders
• Belgium: Wallonia
• Municipal flags in the region of Brussels-Capital

Origin and meaning of the flag

The valley of the river Senne has been housing Brussels for more than1,000 years. With time, the lower town has progressively spread through the marshy bottoms. In the Dukes of Brabant's times, the marshy plains covered with golden irises encircled the town walls.
According to a legend, this simple plant gave a great strategic victory to the Duke's soldiers. Those knew that iris can grow immersed only in a few centimeters of water. They broke into a gallop through the flooded plains but carefully let their horses stamping iris hills. Their opponents, less knowledgeable in botanics and encouraged by the apparently careless gallop of the Duke's soldiers, got definitively bogged into the marshes.

Iris pseudacorus is the scientific name of the golden iris, the symbol of the region of Brussels-Capital, which is widely used (tramways, subway, taxis etc...) but ill-known.

The choice of this marsh iris as the symbol of Brussels did not occur for the creation of the region of Brussels-Capital (18 June 1989), as often believed.
In 1924, R. Cornette wrote that "this flower was chosen because it grows in the marshes, recalling that the capital was funded on the marshy banks of the Senne river and its tributaries (Maalbeek, Roodkloosterbeek, Geleytsbeek, Vuylbeek, Kerkebeek, Leybeek,...).
Nowadays, in spite of the ultra-rapid urbanisation, the iris can still be found in its naturel habit in the vale of Vuylbeek, in the forest of Soignes.

On 5 March 1991, the Regional Council of Brussels-Capital decided to chose an iris as emblem for the region. A public contest was organized to define its design. After several adventures, the proposal of Jacques Richez was granted by the authorities."

Translated from the EuroBru Website, with kind permission of F. Henrion, general Secretary of EuroBru.

Ivan Sache, 28 November 1999<