Official start of Treaty of Ghent commemoration

On 24 September the commemoration of the Treaty of Ghent officially started at Ghent town hall, attended by the ambassadors of the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Canada. 

200 years ago the Treaty of Ghent ended the 1812 war between the United States of America and the United Kingdom. The Flemish town of Ghent was the venue for the negotiations of this treaty which remains important today. The treaty drew the northern border of the USA, which remains until now the international boundary between the USA and Canada. It also put the foundations for the strong transatlantic alliance between both powers. The treaty was also progressive for its era: for the first time, it contained provisions concerning the abolition of slavery.

Although the treaty is not well-known in Flanders, its commemoration is important for the countries involved, witness the presence of ambassadors Denise Bauer (USA), Alison Rose (UK) and Denis Robert (Canada).

The Flanders Department of Foreign Affairs supports the commemoration of the Treaty of Ghent. It offers an opportunity to present Flanders not only as the venue of international battlefield but also as a place for international peace, and that it wants to continue to play a mediating role on the international stage.

For more information: www.treatyofghent.org