Retie

RETIE

Official blazon

(1851) D'or, à trois pas de gueules, au franc quartier d'hermines au lambel d'azur à trois pendants, brochant sur le tout.
(1993) In goud drie palen van keel met een vrijkwartier van hermelijn en een barensteel met drie hangers van lazuur over alles heen.

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on February 26, 1851 and confirmed on March 1, 1993.

The arms are those of Gerard van Duffel, Lord of Retie in the early 14^th century. The arms are derived from those of the Lords of Berthout. Retie formed part of the Estate of Geel, a possession of Hendrik Berthout. In 1331 Retie had become its own estate and council and became a possession of one of the bastard sons of Hendrik Berthout, Gerard van Duffel (hence the label in the arms of Berthout-Geel). The oldest known seal of the village dates from the 14^th century and showed the arms of Gerard van Duffel.

The number of ermine tails is not specified in the blazon, but should be 13. Servais showed the arms in 1956 with a wrong number though, see below.