Belgian government at Sainte-Adresse


Two successive Belgian governments were established at Sainte-Adresse, near Le Havre, in France during World War I when most of Belgium was under German occupation after October 1914. They were both led by Charles de Broqueville as prime minister. The first government, known as the de Broqueville I government, was a Catholic government which elected in 1911 and continued until 1916, when it was joined by Socialists and Liberals expanding it into the de Broqueville II government which would last until 1 June 1918.

Departure for Le Havre

By October 1914, the vast majority of Belgian territory was under German occupation. The only portion of Belgium that remained controlled by the Kingdom of Belgium in exile was the strip of territory behind the Yser Front.
In October 1914, the government moved to the French coastal city of Le Havre. It was established in the large Immeuble Dufayel, built by the French businessman Georges Dufayel in 1911, situated in the suburb of Sainte-Adresse. The whole area of Sainte-Adresse, which still carries the national colours of Belgium on its shield, was leased to Belgium by the French government as a temporary administrative centre while the rest of Belgium was occupied. The area had a sizeable Belgian émigré population, and even used Belgian postage stamps.
King Albert I considered that it was inappropriate for the King to leave his own country and so did not join his government in Le Havre. Instead, he established his staff in the Flemish town of Veurne, just behind the Yser Front, in the last strip of unoccupied Belgian territory.

Composition

The de Broqueville government comprised:
The Flamingant poet René de Clercq published a poem called Aan Die Van Havere in 1916, in which he accused the government of having forgotten the plight of Flanders.