Figure 1.--This photograph shows Flemish Catholic Scouts (VVKS) at the World Scout Jamboree in 1937.

This photograph shows Flemish Catholic Scouts (VVKS) at the World Scout Jamboree in 1937. "Belgium was represented by a total of one thousand boy scouts. The postcard shows the marching of the VVKS (Flemish League of Catholic Scouts)-members. This Jamboree is remembered more particularly as the last Jamboree B.-P. was able to attend before his death in January 1941. Queen Wilhelmina opened the Jamboree and before her were assembled 27,000 Scouts from 51 countries. The largest group is the Flemish Catholic Scouts--VVKS) and they are as the name suggest strongly assocauted with the Ctatholic Church.

Photograph

The photograph here has an inspription in Dutch, "België was verteggenwoordigd door in totaal duizend padvinders. De fotokaart toont het voorbijtrekken van de leden der V.V.K.S., het Vlaams Verbond der Katholieke Scouts. Samen met de Fédération de Scoutisme Catholique (die de scouts uit Wallonië groepeerde) vormden zij de associatie van "Basen Powell Belgian Scouts", op dat moment zesduizend leden sterk en verdeeld over hondred tien groepen. Al in het eerste nummer van het kampdagblad, de Jamboree-Post, namen de Vlamingen een uitnodiging voor de Nederlanders op om een volgend maal op "De Kluis", het Vlaamse buitencentrum, te komen kamperen." This translate as, "Belgium was represented by a total of one thousand boy scouts. The postcard shows the marching of the VVKS (Flemish League of Catholic Scouts)-members. Together with the Federation de Scoutisme Catholique (with grouped the scouts from Wallonia) they formed the "Baden Powel Belgian Scouts", at that moment six thousand members strong and divided into one hundred and ten troupes. Already in the first issue of the daily newsletter, "The Jamboree Post", the Flemings extended an invitation to the Dutch to come camping at "De Kluis" (the Hermitage), the Flemish country center." Note that the Dutch word for boy scout is padvinder (pathfinder).

1937 World Jamboree

This Jamboree is remembered more particularly as the last Jamboree B.-P. was able to attend before his death in January 1941. Queen Wilhelmina opened the Jamboree and before her were assembled 27,000 Scouts from 51 countries - including 8,000 from the British Commonwealth. B.-P. was 81 when he attended the Jamboree and in his message to Scouts of the world, he said: "I ... am nearing the end of my life. Most of you are at the beginning , and I want your lives to be happy and successful. You can make them so by doing your best to carry out the Scout Law all your days, whatever your station and wherever you are ... Now goodbye. God bless you all! God bless you!" It was as though he knew he would not be able to attend another Jamboree and was giving his blessing to the Scouts of all nations.

VVKS

The largest group is the Flemish Catholic Scouts--VVKS) and they are as the name suggest strongly assocauted with the Ctatholic Church. The VVKS before World War II can be seen in the image on this page (figure 1). The VVKS appears to be one of the more traditional Scout groups in Belgium. It is based in Flannders, the Dutch speaking portion of Belgium. As in most of Europe, the Belgian Scout movement is divided along ethnic and religious lines. The division in Belgium follows ethnic, but not religious lines. Both the French Waloons and the Flemish (similar to Dutch) speaking populations are mostly Catholic, or at least nominally Catholic. Many of the Scout groups take the symbols of the two nationalities that comprise Belgium. The VVKS however bridges the gap somewhat, as it is a Catholic Scout group.