a province of the Netherlands, bounded by the German sea and the United Provinces on the north, by the province of Brabant on the east, by Hainault and Artois on the south, and by another part of Artois and the German sea on the west; being about 60 miles long, and 50 broad, and divided between the Austrians, the French, and the Dutch.

Flanders is a perfectly champaign country, with not a rising ground or hill in it, and watered with many fine rivers and canals. Its chief commodities are fine lace, linen, and tapestry.

In this country some important arts were invented and improved. Weaving in general was greatly improved, and that of figures of all sorts in linen were invented; also the art of dyeing cloths and stuffs, and of oil-colours; the curing of herrings, &c. The manufactures of this country are not now in the flourishing state they were formerly; yet silk, cotton, and woollen stuffs, brocades, camlets, tapestry, lace, and linen, are still manufactured here in great quantities. This province had counts of its own from the ninth century to the year 1369, when it went by marriage to the dukes of Burgundy; and afterwards from them, by marriage also, to the house of Austria. France, in 1667, seized the southern part; and the States-General obtained the northern, partly by the treaty of Munster, and partly by the barrier-treaty of 1715.

For a more particular history of Flanders, with a continuation down to the present times, see the article NETHERLANDS.