Vincenzo DM
@vincenzodm.bsky.social
International politics i/t ´Brussels Bubble´. Historian (16th c. diplomacy). Also Teaching Assistant @VUBrussel (UK history). Belgian. My views are my own.
Imperial coat of arms at the entrance of the ‘Hof van Savoye’ in Mechelen, Belgium. Once the residence of Margaret of Austria, who raised her nephew Charles (V) at her magnificent court.
November 14, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Imperial coat of arms at the entrance of the ‘Hof van Savoye’ in Mechelen, Belgium. Once the residence of Margaret of Austria, who raised her nephew Charles (V) at her magnificent court.
- On the left: Ypres' medieval cloth hall - at some point one of the largest civic buildings in medieval Europe -
- On the right: the same building almost completely destroyed during #WWI
- On the right: the same building almost completely destroyed during #WWI
November 13, 2025 at 8:44 PM
- On the left: Ypres' medieval cloth hall - at some point one of the largest civic buildings in medieval Europe -
- On the right: the same building almost completely destroyed during #WWI
- On the right: the same building almost completely destroyed during #WWI
Smoking room of Prince Philip, Count of Flanders (1837-1905) at his palace in Brussels in 1902. Note the bust of Emperor Charles V on the mantelpiece and the large portrait of his beloved son Boudewijn who died in 1891 aged 21.
November 13, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Smoking room of Prince Philip, Count of Flanders (1837-1905) at his palace in Brussels in 1902. Note the bust of Emperor Charles V on the mantelpiece and the large portrait of his beloved son Boudewijn who died in 1891 aged 21.
The 'Dark Gate': one of the two remaining remnants of the Prinsenhof Palace in Ghent. The palace was huge, with over 300 rooms, and the place where Emperor Charles V was born in 1500. Photo: Visit Ghent.
November 12, 2025 at 8:23 AM
The 'Dark Gate': one of the two remaining remnants of the Prinsenhof Palace in Ghent. The palace was huge, with over 300 rooms, and the place where Emperor Charles V was born in 1500. Photo: Visit Ghent.
The 'Westhoek' (the area including Ypres, Diksmuide, Passendale, Messines) in Belgium is one of those places where every inch reminds you of the horrors of World War I. Every town or every plot of land have a story to tell about #WWI Photo: Toerisme Westhoek #ArmisticeDay
November 11, 2025 at 7:37 PM
The 'Westhoek' (the area including Ypres, Diksmuide, Passendale, Messines) in Belgium is one of those places where every inch reminds you of the horrors of World War I. Every town or every plot of land have a story to tell about #WWI Photo: Toerisme Westhoek #ArmisticeDay
Remembering my great-great grandfather who I never met. He fought in the Great War in the Belgian army, whilst his wife fled to the UK where she gave birth to my great-grandfather. #ArmisticeDay
November 11, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Remembering my great-great grandfather who I never met. He fought in the Great War in the Belgian army, whilst his wife fled to the UK where she gave birth to my great-grandfather. #ArmisticeDay
#OTD in 1922, the 'Unknown Soldier' was laid to rest in Brussels in the presence of King Albert I of the Belgians and his son, the Duke of Brabant. The coffin of the soldier was chosen by a blind Belgian #WWI veteran #ArmisticeDay
November 11, 2025 at 7:16 AM
#OTD in 1922, the 'Unknown Soldier' was laid to rest in Brussels in the presence of King Albert I of the Belgians and his son, the Duke of Brabant. The coffin of the soldier was chosen by a blind Belgian #WWI veteran #ArmisticeDay
The last Belgian soldier to be killed during WWI was a private called Marcel Terfve. He was shot at 10.42 on 11/11 by a German machine gun near the Gent-Terneuzen canal. He in the Belgian army since 1914 and sadly almost made it throught the entire war #armisticeday #LestWeForget
November 11, 2025 at 7:07 AM
The last Belgian soldier to be killed during WWI was a private called Marcel Terfve. He was shot at 10.42 on 11/11 by a German machine gun near the Gent-Terneuzen canal. He in the Belgian army since 1914 and sadly almost made it throught the entire war #armisticeday #LestWeForget
Noteer alvast in jullie agenda ! Op 22 maart 2026 stel ik mijn nieuwe boek ‘Karel V: de machtigste man ooit in Vlaanderen geboren’ voor in de geboortestad van de man: Gent. Meer info volgt !
November 10, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Noteer alvast in jullie agenda ! Op 22 maart 2026 stel ik mijn nieuwe boek ‘Karel V: de machtigste man ooit in Vlaanderen geboren’ voor in de geboortestad van de man: Gent. Meer info volgt !
Blind Belgian #WWI veteran Renold Haesebrouck. On 10 November 1922 he chose the 'Unknown Soldier' from 5 coffins. It is said he was selected to do so as he threw himself on King Albert I of the Belgians when the King visited the trenches & was shot at by the Germans #ArmisticeDay
November 10, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Blind Belgian #WWI veteran Renold Haesebrouck. On 10 November 1922 he chose the 'Unknown Soldier' from 5 coffins. It is said he was selected to do so as he threw himself on King Albert I of the Belgians when the King visited the trenches & was shot at by the Germans #ArmisticeDay
This morning, the burial ceremony for a Belgian soldier who fell during #WWI kicked off in Diksmuide. His remains were discovered in Sept 2025 during roadworks. Photo: Focus WTV #remembrance
November 10, 2025 at 7:29 AM
This morning, the burial ceremony for a Belgian soldier who fell during #WWI kicked off in Diksmuide. His remains were discovered in Sept 2025 during roadworks. Photo: Focus WTV #remembrance
For #RemembranceSunday here is the Anglo-Belgian Great War Memorial in Brussels, a testament to the joint fight during #WWI (photo: Traces of War) 🇧🇪🇬🇧
November 9, 2025 at 11:15 AM
For #RemembranceSunday here is the Anglo-Belgian Great War Memorial in Brussels, a testament to the joint fight during #WWI (photo: Traces of War) 🇧🇪🇬🇧
#OTD in 1641, Cardinal-infant Ferdinand, who governed the Habsburg Netherlands, died suddenly at the Coudenberg Palace in Brussels. Some suspected he was poisoned although most historians believe an ulcer killed him
November 9, 2025 at 9:37 AM
#OTD in 1641, Cardinal-infant Ferdinand, who governed the Habsburg Netherlands, died suddenly at the Coudenberg Palace in Brussels. Some suspected he was poisoned although most historians believe an ulcer killed him
Cool: a medieval 14th c. wooden road was discovered in Antwerp. Photo: Stad Antwerpen
November 8, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Cool: a medieval 14th c. wooden road was discovered in Antwerp. Photo: Stad Antwerpen
On the 6th of November 1814, Adolphe Sax was born in Dinant. After studying in Brussels he presented his most famous invention in 1841: the saxophone. Yes, one of the most iconic instruments ever was invented by a Belgian !
November 7, 2025 at 7:34 AM
On the 6th of November 1814, Adolphe Sax was born in Dinant. After studying in Brussels he presented his most famous invention in 1841: the saxophone. Yes, one of the most iconic instruments ever was invented by a Belgian !
The Habsburg Netherlands were governed by Archduchess Maria-Christina and her husband Albert Casimir who had to flee their residence near Brussels a few months later.
November 6, 2025 at 7:15 AM
The Habsburg Netherlands were governed by Archduchess Maria-Christina and her husband Albert Casimir who had to flee their residence near Brussels a few months later.
#OTD in 1792, French troops led by General Demouriez defeated the Habsburg troops led by Archduke Albert, Regent of the Habsburg Netherlands at Jemappes. The victory would lead to the occupation of the Habsburg Netherlands by the French Republic
November 6, 2025 at 6:53 AM
#OTD in 1792, French troops led by General Demouriez defeated the Habsburg troops led by Archduke Albert, Regent of the Habsburg Netherlands at Jemappes. The victory would lead to the occupation of the Habsburg Netherlands by the French Republic
Somewhat hidden from view in Brussels, one can find the cool remnants of a 17th c. aristocratic mansion called the ‘Bellona House’. Photo: Visit Brussels
November 5, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Somewhat hidden from view in Brussels, one can find the cool remnants of a 17th c. aristocratic mansion called the ‘Bellona House’. Photo: Visit Brussels
A mysterious and vanished pavilion in Mons, Belgium. Built around 1531, it featured Emperor Charles V’s various coat of arms although it is still not clear who commissioned the building that collapsed in 1955.
November 5, 2025 at 8:06 AM
A mysterious and vanished pavilion in Mons, Belgium. Built around 1531, it featured Emperor Charles V’s various coat of arms although it is still not clear who commissioned the building that collapsed in 1955.
#OTD in 1549, Emperor Charles V, in his capacity as Lord of the Habsburg Netherlands, issued the Pragmatic Sanction stipulating the area was one and would be inherited by one heir
November 4, 2025 at 5:19 PM
#OTD in 1549, Emperor Charles V, in his capacity as Lord of the Habsburg Netherlands, issued the Pragmatic Sanction stipulating the area was one and would be inherited by one heir
#OTD in 1576, disgruntled troops of the Habsburg Army of Flanders kicked off the Sack of Antwerp. Known as the ‘Spanish Fury’, the city, once known as the economic and financial heart of Europe, countless people were killed and buildings destroyed.
November 4, 2025 at 7:09 AM
#OTD in 1576, disgruntled troops of the Habsburg Army of Flanders kicked off the Sack of Antwerp. Known as the ‘Spanish Fury’, the city, once known as the economic and financial heart of Europe, countless people were killed and buildings destroyed.
Fascinating: the Royal Library in Brussels holds a liturgical book used for the swearing in ceremony of Albert and Isabella (1599), sovereigns of the Habsburg Netherlands and Charles Alexander (1744), Regent of the Habsburg Netherlands. Photo shared by Jan Pauwels
November 3, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Fascinating: the Royal Library in Brussels holds a liturgical book used for the swearing in ceremony of Albert and Isabella (1599), sovereigns of the Habsburg Netherlands and Charles Alexander (1744), Regent of the Habsburg Netherlands. Photo shared by Jan Pauwels
#OTD in 1468, Charles the Bold’s troops sacked Liège after which the city was set on fire. The sack was part of the ongoing attempts for Burgundian influence over the Prince-Bishopric of Liège
November 3, 2025 at 7:01 AM
#OTD in 1468, Charles the Bold’s troops sacked Liège after which the city was set on fire. The sack was part of the ongoing attempts for Burgundian influence over the Prince-Bishopric of Liège
#OTD in 1082, Mathilda of Flanders, Queen of England died. Born as d. of the powerful Count Baldwin V of Flanders, she married William of Normandy in 1051. After his conquest of England in 1066, she was crowned Queen in 1086. William was devastated after her death.
November 2, 2025 at 5:56 PM
#OTD in 1082, Mathilda of Flanders, Queen of England died. Born as d. of the powerful Count Baldwin V of Flanders, she married William of Normandy in 1051. After his conquest of England in 1066, she was crowned Queen in 1086. William was devastated after her death.
Met veel trots stel ik mijn nieuwe boek voor: '' Karel V - De machtigste man ooit in Vlaanderen geboren '' (publicatie: 13 maart 2026). Een biografie over de fascinerende Habsburgse keizer die werd geboren in Gent, opgevoed in Mechelen en over een wereldrijk zou heersen.
November 1, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Met veel trots stel ik mijn nieuwe boek voor: '' Karel V - De machtigste man ooit in Vlaanderen geboren '' (publicatie: 13 maart 2026). Een biografie over de fascinerende Habsburgse keizer die werd geboren in Gent, opgevoed in Mechelen en over een wereldrijk zou heersen.