Weird & Strange

In the 17th century, Liège was the armoury of Europe with real steelmaking know-how. Sweden benefited from this thanks to the people of Liège and their Walloon Protestant workers. Since then, having Walloon roots has been a source of pride in Sweden.

Walloon workers are praised and venerated in Sweden. At least those who arrived between 1620 and 1650. Several thousand Walloons fled the Catholic persecution of the Spanish Netherlands at the call of Louis de Geer (image) and Guillaume de Bèche. These people of Liège then settled in Sweden. Guillaume de Bèche had already been operating the forges of Nyköping and Finspång since 1595. In 1618, Louis de Geer saw the opportunity for a flourishing business and responded to the call of King Gustav II Adolf of Sweden after the war against Denmark. He got in contact with Guillaume de Bèche and his brother to develop the Swedish military and steel industry. And to succeed in this mission, an entire Walloon colony settled in this Scandinavian country. At present, a tenth of the Swedish population has an ancestor of Walloon origin, or nearly a million people.

Efficiency

5,000 to 10,000 Liège workers therefore left their native lands and ended up in the south of Sweden. It's thanks to them that the Swedish metallurgical industry became so efficient. Because it's in Liège that wrought iron casting was invented. The Kingdom of Sweden was then able to arm itself with cannons and become prosperous. This exile of the people of Liège made Sweden  a leader in the sale of iron and steel. Thus, in 30 years, exports have tripled. They reached 17,500 tons of iron per year. Their main customer became the English navy! To the great delight of Louis de Geer's treasury, who was naturalized in 1627 and ennobled, and became the richest man in Sweden. It must be said that he also had ties to Amsterdam, where he died in 1652, a center of European trade.

Model society

The Walloon way of life would really change that of the Swedes. This colony would first live in a closed society, around the stoves. This society had set up a system of protection for women and widows with a survivor's allowance. Girls and boys alike went to school until the age of 12. They also received a "cereal" allowance. For adult men, the salary was guaranteed for life. There was also a career progression based on health and physical condition. At the end of life, it was possible to stay in the infirmary to benefit from permanent care. Habits that would intrigue and then interest the Swedes.

Strikers

The Walloons were guaranteed freedom of worship, they were Calvinists, while the Swedes were Lutherans.These "emigrants" were concerned about their hygiene. One of their rituals became a legend in Sweden: the Saturday bath. They also imported their language, their dances, their songs and their folklore. A culture that would also affect Swedish society. 

(MH with Olivier Duquesne - Sources: Paris Match, WBI (Wallonie Bruxelles International), Wikipedia - Picture: © Public Domain-Merket 1.0 Universal)