Belgians, too, were among those who sought a new future on the other side of the ocean. However, Belgians figured only as a small portion of the Red Star Line’s passengers. Between 1871 and 1930, some 137,000 emigrated to the United States. Most did this from Antwerp, although the ports of Rotterdam and Le Havre were also popular.
In the United States they ended up chiefly in the Great Lakes region (Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois) and also in the Midwest. From the end of the nineteenth century onwards, increasing numbers of Belgians began to choose Canada as their destination country. The image of Canada as a wealthy country with many opportunities for migrants persisted for virtually the whole of the twentieth century.
All things considered, Belgian emigration to countries outside of Europe was relatively limited. Population growth and rapid industrial growth were also in Belgium the cause of knock-on problems, but the majority of people chose to try their luck in Wallonia or Northern France.
- Louis van Engelen (1856-1940)
- Belgian emigrants, 1890
- Oil on canvas, 258 × 395 cm
- Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp