Q1. Is Flandrensis a real country?
We have a defined territory, a well-functioning government, consulates arround the world, the ability to communicate with other states, national symbols like stamps, currency, … and even a national football team. We meet a lot of requirements to be considered as a country!
According to the Montevideo Convention (1933), a nation does not need recognition by other states in order to exist as a sovereign entity. Therefore, we consider ourselves a micronation.
Q2. What is a micronation?
For more information about micronations, go to the page “micronationalism”.
Q3. So Flandrensis is a fantasy nation?
No! Many imaginary countries or nations exist only on the internet or fictional maps. Those countries are active in online communities only and their claims are located on virtual maps or imaginary worlds. The correct definition for those imaginary countries is Geofiction. Flandrensis operates in the real world and regularly organizes ecological initiatives. All of its objectives and accomplishments are realistic and feasible.
Q4. Flandrensis is also a environmental non-profit organisation?
That’s correct. We’re official the “vzw Groothertogdom Flandrensis”, registered in the “Belgian Official Journal” as a non-profit organisation with number 0772.515.027. The unique combination of our self-declared sovereignty as a micronation and a non-profit, is a creative concept we use to raise awareness for climate change and Antarctica.
Q5. What is the connection between Flandrensis and the UN?
Flandrensis does not seek UN recognition or membership as a sovereign state. According to the Montevideo Convention (1933), a nation does not require recognition by other states to exist as a sovereign entity.
However, on 28 October 2022, Flandrensis was granted observer accreditation to the governing body of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This status does not constitute recognition of Flandrensis as a state by the UN or any of its organs. Rather, it recognizes Flandrensis in its capacity as an environmental non-profit organization!
In 2016, Flandrensis was briefly registered as an NGO with “non-consultative status” at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. This registration did not result in any substantive activity, and the UN formally discontinued the non-consultative status for all NGO ‘s in 2020.
Q6. What actions do you take to raise more attention for the global warming?
We’re not an NGO like Greenpeace or WWF with enough funds to launch huge campaigns. Flandrensis is a micronation/ small non-profit organisation and we remain realistic, but small actions together can make a difference to climate change. We send protest letters to governments or companies who violate environmental agreements in Antarctica (whale hunting, mining, pollution, tourism, etc.) or support letters to people and organizations who protect the white continent. In Flandrensis we promote the importance of green energy friendly alternatives, recycling, reducing Co2, etc. We encourage our citizens to plant trees, clean up streets, do volunteer work, etc.
Check our ecological mission for more details.
Q7. Most micronations are located on the personal property of the founder, but Flandrensis is in Antarctica. What made you start looking at the Antarctic in the first place?
Firstly, because we searched for a place that doesn’t belong to any country and was uninhabited by people. We could claim everything between 90-150 degrees but a small island was big enough for our plans. We are a community of people who are concerned about climate change and Antarctica is the perfect symbol for it.
Q8. What are your plans with your Antarctic territory?
What made Flandrensis unique is that we’re the only country in the world that doesn’t want people on its territory! Antarctica is one of the few places on this planet to remain relatively untouched by humans and we strongly believe that it should be a single nature reserve only available for scientific research.
Q8. Can I visit the Antarctic territory of Flandrensis?
Our motto is: “No humans, only nature”! Check also our Anti-Tourism Policy.
Q9. What about other Antarctic micronations?
There are quite a few micronations that claim parts of Antarctica, each of them has its own reasons for doing so. Some even dream of establishing a permanent settlement (which is against our philosophy), but most base their claims on the concept of terra nullius without a clearly defined agenda.
But Flandrensis was the first with a purely ecological mission: we truly care about Antarctica and the environment, and our government and citizens actively take action to protect our planet!
But when you Google Flandrensis, you will also find information about Westarctica, a notable micronation whose claimed territory surrounds that of Flandrensis. For more than 15 years, Flandrensis and Westarctica have maintained a close partnership as micronational allies, cooperating on matters related to Antarctica. Although the relationship did not begin without difficulty and started with a territorial dispute in 2009, this disagreement was resolved peacefully through dialogue, without any violence.
With the West-Antarctic Treaty , signed on September 24, 2010 both micronations reached a diplomatic agreement: Westarctica recognized the sovereignty and territorial claims of Flandrensis, in return Flandrensis and the micronational community recognized all the rest of Mary Byrd land as Westarctican territory.
Q10. Are your Antarctic claims legal?
From our view, yes. The Antarctic Treaty prevented any new claims on Antarctica by countries but the treaty didn’t mention claims by individual persons. So, the founder claimed the islands in his personal name and sent letters to the United Nations and to the nations who signed the Antarctic Treaty to inform them of his claim, thereafter he grants his islands to the Grand Duchy. No country has responded to these claims, and therefore no objections have been raised.
Q11. How is the Flandrensis concept legally protected?
A trademark was registered for Flandrensis with the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property, protecting the Flandrensis trademark. In addition to the trademark, Flandrensis has formally registered the concept of the creation and development of a non-recognized state on Siple, Carney, Maher, Pranke, and Cherry Island in Antarctica. This intellectual property, including the framework, territorial claims, and objectives of the micronation, has been officially recorded within the Benelux i-DEPOT system.
Any commercial use or reuse of the name Flandrensis or its symbols without the patent holder’s consent is strictly prohibited.
Q12. Your name and symbols have no references to the whitecontinent. Why not the Grand Duchy of Siple Island?
That’s true. Flandrensis was originally founded in 2008 by a history student as a temporary hobby for two weeks. With the first sketches, he searched for inspiration in medieval history and not in Antarctica. However, weeks turned into months, months into years and thanks to many enthusiastic people, Flandrensis developed into an environmental project.
Q13. Which countries have established diplomatic ties with Flandrensis?
According to the Montevideo Convention (1933), a nation does not need recognition by other states in order to exist as a sovereign entity. While Flandrensis meets all the criteria of nationhood, we do not seek formal recognition from the United Nations or from other states. Instead, we identify as a micronation and focus on diplomatic relations with smaller, like-minded, unrecognized nations. Since its foundation Flandrensis signed more than 200 treaties of friendship and mutual recognition with other micronations.
At the same time, Flandrensis holds accredited observer status with the United Nations Environment Programme. Through this role, we exercise our sovereignty by engaging with governments and organizations around the world on matters related to Antarctic affairs.
Q14. Do Flandrensians consider themselves “sovereign citizens”, or are they connected to such movements?
No! Flandrensis has never been part of such movements, nor has it ever been associated with them.
Sovereign citizens are individuals who reject the authority of governments and laws, claiming they are only bound by their own interpretation of common law or personal sovereignty. Many of them are right-wing extremists who spread conspiracy theories.
Micronationalists, on the other hand, use the concept of sovereignty creatively to promote human rights, raise awareness for issues like climate change or LGBTQ+ rights, support tourism, or simply as a community-building hobby.
Sovereign citizens seek to withdraw or distance themselves from society, while Flandrensians and other micronationalists use sovereignty as a way to improve it.
Q15. What kind of name is Flandrensis?
The micronation is primarily inspired on the medieval Flemish history. “Pagus Flandrensis” is the oldest Latin name of Flanders (8th century) and means “overflow, flooding”.
Q16. What is the symbolism of the Flandrensian national symbols?
For more information about micronations, go to the page “National Symbols”.
Q17. Do you have your own language?
Indeed, our language is called ‘Flandrian’Flandriaans”. This initiative was started in 2024 and is managed by the ‘CKomjesi vor Åna ov Flandriaans Langåfrega (KÅFL)’. The development of Flandriaans is a work in progress.”
For more information about our language, go to the page “Language”.
Q18. So Flandrensis is a mix of ecologic and medieval elements. Is Flandrensis a feudal state?
No, we’re a constitutional monarchy but we integrate several medieval elements that are part of our national heritage. Every citizen has the right to his own coat of arms and we have our own Order of Knighthood: the “Order of the Melting Mountain” that is dedicated to people who protect our white continent.
Q19. Why is Flandrensis a monarchy? Are you a community of royalists?
Not at all. The founder took the medieval region of Flanders as a source of inspiration for his micronation: name, symbols, heraldry, etc. To keep the feudal system, he chose for a Grand Duchy instead of a republic.
Q20. Can I have a title of nobility if I join your micronation?
If that is your intention to join Flandrensis the answer is: no! Title collectors are not welcome in our micronation. The Grand Duke of Flandrensis only awards titles to citizens as a sign of appreciation and respect for their efforts and contributions toward the nation or the environment.
Titles are always awarded on September 4th, Flandrensis Day, which is the national holiday of our micronation.
Q21. Are your titles of nobility real?
In Flandrensis, titles are entirely symbolic. The concept of nobility is preserved as a historical and cultural tradition. Flandrensian titles carry no juridical or legal standing in other countries. Consequently, citizens of Flandrensis do not use these titles outside the framework of Flandrensis or the wider micronational community, including the Grand Duke.
Q22. What is the national anthem of Flandrensis?
“Long live Flandrensis” was composed in 2015 by Anil Altinsoy of the Conservatorium of Izmir. The song symbolizes multiculturalism, diversity, Antarctica and nature. Our national anthem has no lyrics because there are no humans in Flandrensis to sing …
Q23. What is the population of Flandrensis?
As of 29 December 2025, Flandrensis had a population of 1.196 citizens, living in over 87 countries.
Q24. How can I become a Flandrensian?
Those wishing to apply for Flandrensisian citizenship can complete and submit our online application form. Participation is encouraged but not required. We have available jobs, but no one is required to take one.
There is also an alternative procedure to make new citizens: since 2008 there were 20 babies with both parents being a Flandrensian citizen.
Q25. What does it cost to join?
There is no charge to become a citizen of Flandrensis and you don’t need to pay taxes.
Q26. Can I get an official passport of Flandrensis?
No! All citizens receive a digital certificate of citizenship (in English and in Flandriaans). There are a lot of examples of micronations who produced professional looking documents as novelty souvenirs, but were later victims of criminals who sold them to ignorant refugees as passports from real existing countries. Or even worse, a few so-called “micronations” that welcomed refugees with these falsified documents just to make money… It is cruel to give those people false hope, they have lost everything already. Applications with the request to have passports, visas, etc. will be ignored.
Q27. Where can I meet other Flandrensians?
If you are registered as a citizen you are welcome to join the Facebookgroup “We are Flandrensians”. Ministers and diplomats also have access to the official Discord.