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.

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 was 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, &c. 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. It was overrun by the French in 1794, but was united to the new kingdom of the Netherlands in 1814.

For a more particular history of Flanders, see the article NETHERLANDS.