Flag-waving Guild Gelmelzwaaiers
..::Country, Region of Origin::..
The group is from Hoogstraten, a small town in the north of Belgium, approximately 5 km from the border with the Netherlands and 40 km from Antwerp.
..::Name::..
The name 'Gelmelzwaaiers' originates from the Viking chief Gelmel. According to the legend, Gelmel sailed up the small river 'The Marck' in Flanders up to the place where Hoogstraten is now situated. That was in the 9th century. There he built a fortress. In 1210, this settlement had grown into the town Hoogstraten. In 1518 under the ruling of count Antoon de Lalaing, it became the capital of the county of Hoogstraten. The guild members wave their flags to remind us of the Viking chief Gelmel.
..::Where?::..
Flag-waving with large flags (2m by 1,8 m) is only known in the north of Belgium (Flanders), the south of the Netherlands and in some parts of Germany near the borders with the Netherlands and Belgium. Smaller flags are waved in more parts of Europe: Switzerland, Austria, and Italy and in the regions where the large flags are waved.
Visit our website at
http://www.gelmelzwaaiers.be
