BELGIUM – A RICH SOURCE OF PHILATELIC MATERIAL

Belgium’s history plays a significant part in understanding its philately that in turn offers a wealth of collecting themes and opportunities to suit every taste and pocket.

Prior to 1830 the region now known as Belgium were southern provinces of the Netherlands known as Gallia Belgica in Roman times, subsequently the Spanish and then Austrian Netherlands. There was a short period of “independence” from 1598 to 1628 under a Spanish Infanta.

Opposition to the revolutionary government led to the French Revolutionary Wars and the occupation of both the United (Holland) and the Austrian Netherlands with the United Netherlands becoming the Batavian republic and eventual absorption the Austrian Netherlands as Departments of France.

The abdication of Napoleon in 1814 saw the amalgamation of Holland and Belgium as a monarchy under the House of Orange with the eastern provinces of Eupen and Malmedy becoming part of Prussia. In 1830 both the French speaking Belgians (Walloons) and the Flemish speaking Belgians (Flemings) rose against the house of Orange and a new state of Belgium was proclaimed. Fearing the political implications of declaring a republic the new state’s provisional government elected Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha as the first King of Belgium (1830-1865). Almost immediately there was a brief conflict with Holland resulting in the loss of Luxembourg and the isolation of a few pockets of Belgium inside the Dutch state. Subsequently the borders of Belgium remained intact until the First World War possibly aided by King Leopold’s strong links with Queen Victoria. Belgium is a true constitutional monarchy requiring from the earliest days that the acts of the King be “countersigned” by a minister. Outwardly there was little to unite the nations two different factions except perhaps for the Monarchy.

King Leopold I was succeeded by his son Leopold, the Duke of Brabant in 1865. Leopold II (1865-1909) was chiefly responsible for the colonisation of the Congo which he held as his personal fiefdom until pressure from philanthropists throughout Europe forced the Belgian government to take control. Leopold II was succeeded in 1909 by his nephew Albert who established precedence by taking his oath in both French and Flemish, as the question of Belgium’s official language had become a significant political issue. King Albert and Queen Elisabeth devoted themselves to fostering a spirit of unity within the country and became real heroes during the First World War. The German invasion in defiance of Belgium’s neutrality saw the occupation of the majority of the country. The King as head of the armed forces staunchly defended the last few acres of free Belgium whilst Queen Elizabeth, at some personal danger worked relentlessly for the wounded close to the front. Albert I (1909-1934) has been described as the best constitutional monarch ever to reign in Europe and it was a national tragedy when his reign was cut short in 1934 in a rock-climbing accident.

Albert I was succeeded by his son Leopold III, whose early reign was marred by the death of his wife Queen Astrid in 1935. The German invasion of 1940 once more saw the Belgian King at the head of his army but with its inevitable defeat Leopold decided to remain with his people under occupation rather than go into exile with his government. This was a controversial decision and caused great animosity between King and government to the extent that the government in exile declared him unfit to rule in 1941. The King was taken to Germany in 1944 and held until liberated by the Americans in 1945 but the controversy over his actions kept him in exile until 1951 when he abdicated in favour of his son King Baudouin. The intervening years saw regency with Charles, Count of Flanders taking the place of Leopold. Leopold III lived in retirement in Belgium until his death in 1983.

The reign of King Baudouin (1951-1993) and his Spanish Queen Fabiola has seen Brussels become the heart of the E.E.C and an important centre for N.A.T.O. In 1993 his brother King Albert II succeeded King Baudouin. King Albert and Queen Paola have three children Princes Philippe and Laurent and Princess Astrid.

The serious collector of Belgium is advised to obtain a copy of the Catalogue Officiel de Timbres-Poste known as COB and now in its 50^th edition. This can be obtained through the website www.philately.post.be currently priced £18 plus £5 p&p. To save on postage the Circle usually makes a bulk purchase for the benefit of members to be collected at circle meetings. Prices quoted are the selling prices of a group of Belgian dealers the “Chambre Professionnelle Belge des Negociants en Timbre-Poste”. The prices quoted reflect the asking prices within the group so buyers in Belgium might expect to pay this price, which might not be the case with say the Stanley Gibbons catalogue. COB is published in both French and Flemish and recently has included a copy of a miniature sheet that was considered for issue but not adopted these are now collectable items. Gibbons Benelux catalogue Part 4, now at Issue 5 2003 is an acceptable alternative but lacks many of the nuances found in COB. Details of new issues, including photographs, can be obtained from www.philately.post.be.

Philately remains a very popular hobby in Belgium with many local clubs and specialist societies with whom the Circle maintains contacts. There are more large international exhibitions in Belgium than in the UK and the Belgian Post makes strenuous efforts to encourage philately especially amongst the young. The Circle regularly arranges visits to major exhibitions and attempts to hold meetings in collaboration with the organisers. Naturally Belgium remains the best place where choice items may be obtained but the circle's auctions and the Internet are also excellent sources of the unusual.

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The country’s name BELGIQUE did not appear on the stamps until 1869