The Apostolic Nunciature to Flanders was the diplomatic mission of the Holy See to the Habsburg Netherlands (a predecessor state of modern Belgium commonly referred to as "Flanders" from its component part, the County of Flanders).[1] The diplomatic representative entrusted with this mission was an Apostolic Nuncio with the rank of an ambassador. The office came into existence in 1593 but fell into abeyance after 1634. It was recreated in 1725 and continued to 1795, ending with the annexation of the Austrian Netherlands to France.