Excerpt from the book HERALDRY OF THE WORLD Written and illustrated by Carl Alexander von Volborth , K.St.J., A.I.H. Copenhagen 1973 Internet version edited by Andrew Andersen, Ph.D.
	Belgium (pp. 80-81 and 196-197) Those areas which today make up the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Holland) and Belgium have had a far more complicated history than the British Isles. At various periods in time these countries have, either wholly or in part, belonged to the Holy Roman Empire, Burgundy, Austria, Spain and France. In 1581 the seven northern provinces declared themselves an independent republic. In 1815 the republic united with the southern Netherlands to form the United Netherlands under William I of Orange-Nassau but fifteen years later, in 1830, the South broke away and became the independent kingdom of Belgium under Leopold of Saxe-Coburg. Thus it cannot be expected that heraldry should have developed in these two countries along such methodical and controlled lines as in Great Britain. Belgium’s stormy history is reflected among other things in the heraldry of the Belgian aristocracy. Besides the ancient nobility in the old principalities of Brabant, Flanders, Hainault, Limburg etc., which make up the country, there are families who were ennobled by the Holy Roman Emperors, or by the Spanish, French and Netherlands kings (the latter during the period 1815-30), by Napoleon and since 1831 by the kings of the Belgians. It is hardly to be wondered at that Belgian heraldry is of such a varied nature. Nevertheless there has developed, at any rate since 1831, a specifically Belgian heraldic style. The helmets are mostly silver or steel-coloured, barred and edged with gold and there is a gold medallion on a gold collar around the neck (Figs 420, 422 and 423). The inside is as a rule red, but blue is also found. Nobility without title use neither coronet nor crowned hel¬met. Nobility of title (the lowest rank of which is knight - French: chevalier, Flemish: ridder) can use both coronet and crowned helmet. The coronet is set above the shield, the helmet with its crown and crest above this (see Figs 273, 422 and 423). The shield is often shown hanging by a strap from the helmet (Figs 420 and 422). For barons and higher ranks supporters are de rigueur. In contrast to the usual practice in British heraldry they stand not on a natural base but on an ornamental one (see Figs 273 and 415). Most of such coats of arms also include a motto. The royal family have a gold visored helmet with raised visor, red on the inside and surmounted by the royal crown. The king and queen have their helmets set affronty, while the Duke of Brabant (the heir apparent) and other princes have theirs set in profile. The king’s arms- on a field sable a lion rampant or langued and armed gules (see Fig. 415) - are borne without difference by the Duke of Brabant. Other princes bear the arms with a bordure or (Fig. 71b), unless they descend from a Duke of Brabant, in which case they bear a red label with three points (Fig. 370b). Princesses bear the king’s arms without difference, but in a lozenge-shaped shield (see Fig. 246) with the royal crown above. In Belgium’s civic heraldry the rampant lion seems to be even more popular than elsewhere and coronets of the nobility are used rather than mural crowns. Heraldic questions are dealt with by the Office Genealogique et Heraldique de Belgique, Musees Royaux d’Art et d’Histoire, 10, Parc du Cinquantenaire, B-1040 Brussels.