Portuguese in Belgium (also known as Portuguese-Belgians / Belgian-Portuguese Community or, in Portuguese, as Portugueses na Bélgica / Comunidade portuguesa na Bélgica / Luso-belgas) are the citizens or residents of Belgium whose ethnic origins lie in Portugal.
Portuguese Belgians are Portuguese-born citizens with a Belgian citizenship or Belgian-born citizens of Portuguese ancestry or citizenship.
History
15th Century
Until the 19th century, Belgium, as we know it today, did not exist as an independent nation. The territory that is now Belgium was part of various larger political entities, including the Spanish Netherlands, the Austrian Netherlands, and the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Nevertheless, there have always been interactions between Portugal and the region that would later become Belgium, mostly through trade or diplomatic relations.
As commercial relations intensified in the 15th century, the Duke of Burgundy granted privileges to the Portuguese in Flanders on December 26, 1411. These privileges pertained to the weighing of goods, loading and unloading at various ports, carrying arms, and ensuring secure transactions with money changers.
On January 10, 1430, Isabel of Portugal, daughter of D. João I and Philippa of Lancaster, the only sister in the renowned "illustrious generation," married Philip III, Duke of Burgundy, and Count of Flanders, whose territories already extended to Antwerp. With her came an additional 2,000 Portuguese, who engaged in significant activities in commerce, finance, and the arts. Isabel (1397–1471), amidst the wealthiest and most refined European court of the time, became a patron of the arts, represented her husband in several diplomatic missions, and exerted influence over her son, Charles the Bold, who succeeded him.
With the support of the Portuguese, Philip initiated a shipyard for ship construction in Bruges. The privileges of the Portuguese were expanded on November 2, 1438, by a letter from the Duke in Brussels. This granted Portuguese merchants the ability to elect consuls with legal powers, as they knew and judged disputes arising among the Portuguese, with the right to appeal to the local judges. They were also granted the power to impose fines on those who did not comply, thereby acquiring complete civil jurisdiction over the Portuguese community, which governed itself by its own statutes.
In 1445, the Portuguese feitoria (factory) was established in Bruges.
16th Century
By the late 15th century, the decline of Bruges' port and the rise of Antwerp as the economic center of the Low Countries resulted in Portuguese merchants relocating to Antwerp.
In 1499, the Portuguese trading post moved to Antwerp, and the community gained special privileges.
In the early 16th century, Antwerp emerged as a prominent shipping hub, frequented by Portuguese vessels laden with valuable spices such as pepper and cinnamon from Asia. The bustling port played a pivotal role in the lucrative spice trade. This unprecedented economic success positioned Antwerp as a vital player in the global trade landscape. During the 16th century, Antwerp's Portuguese trading post played a significant role as a commercial hub, exchanging goods from the Atlantic Islands, Africa, the Orient, and Portugal for metals, artillery, and fabrics from Europe.
In 1510, the Portuguese community obtained the status of "most-favored nation", gaining privileges, especially regarding the jurisdiction of two annually elected consuls, with one sometimes serving as the royal factor. These privileges were acknowledged and renewed in subsequent years.
In 1523, Damião de Góis became the secretary of the Portuguese Trading Post in Antwerp due to his Flemish ancestry, appointed by King John III.