The Royal Flemish Academy of Dutch Language and Literature (abbreviated to KANTL) is a government organization which was established in 1886 by Royal Decree as
Koninklijke Vlaamse Academie voor Taal- en Letterkunde. In 1972 the name of The Royal Flemish Academy for language and literature was changed to The Royal Academy of Dutch language and literature, and in 1981 the existence of the academy was confirmed by a decree of the Council for Cultural Affairs for the Dutch cultural community (the predecessor of the Flemish Parliament) (decree of 13 February 1980). The KANTL is now an institution of the Flemish Government. The academy was the first official institution of Belgium where the Dutch language was examined scientifically and to encourage coordination between scientific academic fields using the Dutch language. This ended in 1938 when the
Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts and the
Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium were set up. From this point on the academy's power was limited to the Dutch language and its literature. To do this, it is still has an advisory function for the Flemish government. The Flemish Academy played an important role in Flemish emancipation and brought the Flemish Movement culturally and intellectually to a higher level. In political terms, however, the academy is always neutral. Since 1939 The academy consists of 30 members and 25 foreign honorary Members. The Royal Flemish Academy of Dutch Language and Literature is housed in the House of Oombergen in the Koningsstraat in Ghent. The building was restored in 2012. ==Royal Academy of Dutch language and literature Prize==