He was born as
Jeroom Gustaaf De Clercq in
Everbeek,
East Flanders on 16 September 1884. He was a member of the moderate
Frontpartij, became party leader in 1932, and moved them to the right, converting them into VNV the following year. In 1936 his new party gained 13.6% of the votes in
Flanders, and 14.7% in 1939. Welcoming of the
Nazi German occupation, De Clercq believed it to constitute a chance for the creation of a
Diets state, an unprecedented (apart from the medieval
Burgundian personal union) Dutch language-based community uniting Flanders, the
Netherlands and even the part of northern France with Flemish dialects (corresponding to
French Flanders). His organization supported the German occupiers in the identification and round-up of
Jews for deportation. He died in
Ghent and was succeeded by
Hendrik Elias. In 1978 the
Vlaamse Militanten Orde had his body transferred to the cemetery in
Asse. He remains revered among some far-right Flemish nationalists in modern Belgium. ==References==