Tags
1581, 1585, Flanders, Poner una pica en Flandes, Spanish Netherlands, to achieve the imposible, Why on earth
Who would have thought that our ancestors had made it into the Spanish language?
I as baffled when I first heard this expression : “poner una pica en Flandes” (literally, to put a pike in Flanders) means “to achieve the impossible, to reach a milestone”.
My ancestors suffered a lot during the Spanish times, it is quite a dark period in Flemish history, due to the inquisition and the repression. They have filled up quite a few history books there.
In fact it was a constant battle against the Spanish, which eventually led to the splitting up of the Netherlands in 1581 in the Northern (now known as the Netherlands) and the Southern (now part of Belgium, also called Flanders) Netherlands (who remained under Spanish rule until 1713).
For the Flanders this meant the end of their economic importance and the beginning or poverty. In 1585 the North closed down the river the Scheldt and thus closed the harbour of Antwerp, which was the biggest port of Europe. It is because of this Spanish period that all the Flemish are catholic, where as the Dutch are all Protestant. In 1585 every Flemish who had money, who had studied, who had a profession, fled to the north. Only the rich who owned land and the poor farmers had no choice but to stay. Thus began the poorest and darkest period in Flemish history.
We have a few Spanish words incorporated in Flemish, especially in the dialects. For example, in our dialect we say “en tons” which is “en dan” in correct flemish, but has the exact same meaning as “entonces”. “Zavatten” are house shoes… Even today the nickname of inhabitants of Antwerp is ‘sinjoren’ (señor).
But I didn’t know that we -my ancestors- made it into the Spanish language. I am proud of them!
Interesting! Something similar happens in Venice. Thes streets are named Calle instead of Via like in the rest of Italy. I don’t know until when Venice was under the dominion of Spain
I still fail to understand the etymology, the background of the phrase itself.
Why would be so hard to place a pike on fleming soil? I don’t catch the metaphor =(
Still, even in modern times, is Flanders considered to be the “poor” part of Belgium? or has the situation reversed over the course fo history?
Flanders (mainly the city Bruges and Ghent) were extremely rich at that time, and very much ‘wanted’ by our neighboring countries. But the Flemish people were difficult and didnt like to be conquered or ruled by the Spanish (or any other country). On top of that it was extremely hard for the Spanish to get to the Flanders, because they were at war with both France and England. They had to come through Italy. So it was a real hard job for them to finally put their pike in Flemish soil, and to maintain it for that long.
Now Flanders is the richest part of Belgium, that’s why it took Belgium about a year and a half to finally form a government : basically the Flemish are sick and tired of paying (through taxes and social security) for the “poor and lazy” south. At least that is the general Flemish opinion. It is more complicated than just this, but yes, it always comes back to money…
Hi, Katti. Did you know that, here in Argentina, there´s a football (soccer) team named Flandria?
The club and it´s stadium, are located in Villa Flandria, also known as Jáuregui, a small town nearby Luján, prov of Buenos Aires.
All those lands, belonged to a flemish inmigrant, but I can´t remember his name now.
Luján is the city which has the principal catholic “basílica”: Nuestra Señora de Luján.
Nice to met you and your family at El Muelle del Silencio, yesterday.
You are right, Mr Steverlinck has not only founded a factory in Argentina, but also a village for his employees which is a copy of a small flemish town called Vichte, and a soccer team which uses the Flemish lion as flag… I still have to go there and check it out 😉
Thanks for your comment!