Proposal: Belgian Roots sticker

Question

Since the question just arose, I have just been working on a new sticker for Belgian Roots. It could be used on profiles of Belgian people and people with Belgian ancestry.

For now the language switch only covers French and... Dutch, though I hope (perhaps with the assistance of our magician) to have it available in at least three languages, English, French, Dutch, and if possible German as a fourth option.

See it in action in French: Violette Roothooft

In Dutch (which should really be in English, and will be changed to English, but I wanted to see it in Dutch): Andréa Dequeker

Please answer to this thread if you would be interested in such a sticker, so that we can get it approved !

Comments

Hi Isabelle,

A Belgium Roots sticker is wonderful, but to make a sticker that can be used on all Profiles born in a place that's now part of Belgium, perhaps it's an idea to use this image (Leo Belgicus) ? The modern flag perhaps would not be really accurate for profiles born far before there was a country Belgie ? Belgica at some point was the name of the Low Countries (and earlier it was Gallia Belgica..or maybe there should be two stickers a modern and a more ancient one from when Belgium didn't excist or was ruled by others or part of other countries ? 

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I agree the flag is not accurate before 1830 and actually have the same problem with the French Roots template, as the flag was not used before 1812. We decided to keep it because it (the French flag) is recognizable... I'd love to have a sticker than can be used for anybody from the area that is now Belgium. This one was created having descendants of recent emigration in mind (people who knew the country Belgium).

Perhaps with a switch it would be possible to adapt the sticker with different images. I envy the lovely visuals on the Dutch Roots templates and wish there was something similar for French Roots.

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Yes I think a switch could work, the Dutch Roots template has a switch for the different timeframes and each timeframe has its own image...hmm..the template was designed by Rob Ton, but I'm sure Ales knows how to fix it so that automatically if it's added to profiles from before it was officially Belgium and without having to add a year parameter (he can make it work so that it correspondents with the date fields if I'm correct) That would pretty awesome :D

And for the Dutch text I think ''... heeft Belgische voorouders'' is or sounds better.  Is there a Belgium Roots Project started already ? There are loads of Profiles from that area and it would be great if we all could work together on them, WikiTree also has some Belgium members who probably would love to help :)

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Hi Isabelle, 

Not sure if it could work, but here's a mixed image a bit old and a bit new and another one also mix with the typical Belgium statue +flag (old stamp)

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Did anything happen with this?

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No, nothing at all, just shelved it until there was more interest. Ah. And these profiles have been privatized, but the sticker had been removed before that since an un-approved sticker triggers a DB error and I don't like to clutter my suggestions list.

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I have been adding lots of Belgians, so I keep hoping more linking possibilities will appear. In terms of symbols I think the various Belgian heraldic symbols are great (I think medieval heraldry originates here) and nicely family related. We could make a block of them based on medieval counties or modern provinces? Or simply the modern national arms?

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not sure if this is still ongoing, but im in!

Answer 1

You have been very busy!! I would very much like a Belgian Roots sticker on my Belgium profiles. Merci!  I like the different language choices too.

Answer 2

Hi Isabelle,

All four of my grandparents were born in different European countries and my father in yet another. My mother was born here. I have spent countless hours, days and months trying to discover more about my ancestors. The most successful efforts were with my Flemish grandmother as far back as the 16th century.

I would be interested in a Belgian sticker and would hope that it includes some reference to the Flemish people.

Answer 3

I'm all for the nice bling for the profiles!

Comments

Thanks for your support! I was about to table the suggestion until there was more interest in it.

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And you have made me think seriously about having a Swedish Roots sticker. I just haven't had the time to work on it yet, and it'll be a while before I do.

Answer 4

Belgian Roots sticker, yes please!