Seventeen Provinces - Flanders

The same confusion exists around the word Flanders. Historically, it applied to the County of Flanders. But when the Dutch-speaking population of Belgium sought more rights in the 19th century, the word Flanders was reused, but now to indicate the Dutch speeking part of Belgium (see Flemish Movement).
There is hardly any match between the territory of the County of Flanders and present-day Flanders.

• French Flanders belonged to the County of Flanders, but is today part of France.
• Zeelandic Flanders belonged to the County of Flanders, but is today part of the Netherlands.
• Tournai and the Tournaisis was some period considered as part of the County of Flanders, but is today part of Wallonia.

• The present-day Belgian province of Flemish Brabant belongs to present-day Flanders, but was part of the Duchy of Brabant.
• The present-day Belgian province of Antwerp belongs to present-day Flanders, but was part of the Duchy of Brabant.
• The present-day Belgian province of Limburg belongs to present-day Flanders, but was part of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège.

This explains for instance why the province of East Flanders is not situated in the east of present-day Flanders.