Poperinge (Municipality, Province of West Flanders, Belgium)

Last modified: 2002-11-30 by ivan sache
Keywords: poperinge | hop |
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by Filip van Laenen

• Description of the flag

See also:

• Belgium
• Province of West Flanders: Municipal flags
• Belgium: Municipal flags

Description of the flag

Poperinge (19,000 inhabitants) is located in the arrondissement of Ieper.

The colours red and yellow are derived from the municipal arms, to which were added five green hops placed in a circle. Poperinge is famous for its hop culture, a plant yielding hop cones which are dried and used to give beer a bitter taste.

The flag was adopted by the Municipal Council on 26 February 1981, approved by Royal Decree on 5 May 1981 and promulgated by a Flemish Decree published on 4 January 1995.

Dirk Frimout, the first Belgian astronaut, took his home town flag with him on the STS-45 flight (Atlantis / Spacelab / Atlas 1) in March-April 1992, and was created a Viscount for his troubles.

Jan Mertens, 28 October 2002