You are cordially invited to an exceptional lecture and special day of celebration.
The Order of the Prince member and chairman of SASNEV, Jan Mutton, will present a talk at SASNEV on Saturday, July 11, entitled: “The 16th century: Antwerp’s Golden Age”.
Come and listen to this interesting lecture on a topic presented by someone with a profound professional, cultural and academic background with insights from both Belgium and the exchange of history between the Low Countries and South Africa. As a respected figure in the Belgian-South African network, Mutton brings a unique perspective to a historical theme such as Antwerp’s Golden Age in the 16th century.
What makes this day even more special is that it is also the Feast Day of Flanders. It is the anniversary of the Battle of the Golden Spurs when foot militia from Flemish cities armed with only pikes and crossbows defeated French knights and heavy cavalry on July 11, 1302 at Kortrijk.
The OvdP, Cape of Good Hope section, and SASNEV cordially invite you to the lecture followed by a snack and a drink to celebrate the Flemish festival day.
When : Saturday 11 July
Location : SASNEV, Central Square 4, Pinelands.
Time : 10:00 for 10:30
RSVP : info@sasnev.co.za
Jan F. Mutton
Jan F. Mutton is the Chairperson of the South African Centre for the Netherlands and Flanders (SASNEV). He is a retired Belgian diplomat with a postgraduate degree in law and made Cape Town his home after his retirement as Belgian ambassador to South Africa.
Mutton joined the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1978. He spent more than three decades in the foreign service, where he specialized in African affairs and the Great Lakes region. He is currently affiliated as a research fellow with the Department of Political Science at the University of Pretoria (UP), with a focus on foreign policy and human rights. He is currently affiliated as an extraordinary lecturer at the Centre for Human Rights at the Faculty of Law of the University of Pretoria where he teaches the subject Human Rights in Foreign Policy.
More on the topic
During the first half of the 16th century, Antwerp was the richest, most important, and most cosmopolitan trading city in Europe. This heyday is known as Antwerp’s Golden Age and served as the blueprint for the later Dutch Golden Age.
We look forward to welcoming you to SASNEV on Saturday, July 11, 2026, for this exceptional event!