Figure 1.-- This Belgian Belgian Boy Scout was probably photographed in the 1910s, perhaps before World war I, but we are unsure. The uniform looks very similar to the British Scout uniform.

We have begun to collect some information about Belgian Scouts in different chronological periods. We have little information on early Belgian Scout uniforms. We believe that the uniforms were quite similar to the British Scout uniforms. HBC believes the Scouts were the most popular boys' youth group during the inter-war years and that there were three principal associations, but have little information at this time. The were supressed during the occupation, but some Scouts continued to operate surepticiously. Relatively few Belgian boys joined the nationlist groups that the Germans permitted to organize in Flanders and Wallonie. The three principal Scout associations during the inter-war period were: Boy Scouts de Belgique, Federation des Scouts Catholiques, and Vlaamsch Verbond der Katholieke Scouts. German policy varied during the occupation, but the Scouts were supressed. There was a Rexist Organization youth group and also Hitler Youth groups, but I have few details. I think that there may have been boys involved in these groups in te early era of occupation during 1940-42, but by 1943 as the Germans became increasingly brutal and it became clearer that they were not going to win the war, membership in these groups became increasingly difficult to maintain. As with many European countries, there is no one single Scout association in Belgium. This is in part because of the differences between the two Belgian linguistic groups. Belgian has in fact several different Scout associations, each with different uniforms. The different groups are generally divided along linguistic-cultural lines, but most or at least nomimlly Catholic. There are also some Scout-like nationalist groups. These groups which compete with the Scouts (rarely will boys belong to both groups.). These competing groups seem more popular in Belgium than other European countries.

Early 20th Century (1900-18)

No information available yet. We beliebve that the uniforms were quite similar to the British Scout uniforms. Although we can not yet date the Belgian Scout uniform seen here (figure 1), it was prbably taken during the 1910s. We are not sure if it was taken before or during World war I. It clearly looks like the Britosh Scout uniform.

Inter-war and War Years (1919-45)

HBC believes the Scouts were the most popular boys' youth group during the inter-war years and that there were three principal associations, but have little information at this time. The were supressed during the occupation, but some Scouts continued to operate surepticiously. Relatively few Belgian boys joined the nationlist groups that the Germans permitted to organize in Flanders and Wallonie.

Scouts

The three principal Scout associations during the inter-war period were:
Boy Scouts de Belgique:
Federation des Scouts Catholiques:
Vlaamsch Verbond der Katholieke Scouts:

Nationalist groups

German policy varied during the occupation, but the Scouts were supressed. There was a Rexist Organization youth group and also Hitler Youth groups, but I have few details. I think that there may have been boys involved in these groups in te early era of occupation during 1940-42, but by 1943 as the Germans became increasingly brutal and it became clearer that they were not going to win the war, membership in these groups became increasingly difficult to maintain.

Post-war Era (1945- )

As with many European countries, there is no one single Scout association in Belgium. This is in part because of the differences between the two Belgian linguistic groups. Belgian has in fact several different Scout associations, each with different uniforms. The different groups are generally divided along linguistic-cultural lines, but most or at least nomimlly Catholic. There are also some Scout-like nationalist groups. These groups which compete with the Scouts (rarely will boys belong to both groups.). These competing groups seem more popular in Belgium than other European countries.