Flemish nationalism

The Oral History Project was one of the first projects initiated by ADVN. During the period 1984-1986, it underwent considerable expansion by interviewing a large number of people who experienced the history of Flemish nationalism from various perspectives. The scholarly approach to those interviews was largely determined by the Oral History Working Group.

In the course of the project, a more thematic approach was adopted when identifying possible respondents. Interview series on the (political) reorganisation of Flemish nationalism after World War II (Flemish Concentration, Volksunie, etc.), on the women’s movement (e.g. on the Women’s Movement for Amnesty, in cooperation with the Federation of Flemish Women’s Groups), on the group Nederland Een! (origins, functioning, organisation, etc. of the opposition movement Nederland Een! and of similar movements during World War II).

The ADVN was able to further expand its files with a large number of oral sources, made available in original or copies by individuals or associations.

The methodology followed was laid down by Bruno De Wever in two instruction texts (on the interview and transcription) and in a manual for individual and collective projects.

REALISATIONS
– oral testimonies recorded on tape and included in the audiovisual archive department of ADVN, mainly concerning the reorganisation of Flemish nationalism after WWII, women in the Flemish movement and Nederland Eén!

After World War II, the era of nationalism seemed definitely over. However, the political and socio-economic evolution in Belgium ensured that the Flemish movement regained a mass following relatively quickly. In its wake, Flemish nationalism again became a factor of political importance in the 1960s. The text below examines how that Flemish nationalism managed to survive repression and reorganise itself.