Every day several Japanese tourists visit the cathedral of Antwerp in Flanders. In front of Rubens’ Descent from the cross they start to cry. Why? Nobody in Flanders has any idea that they are moved because of a tiny book written by Louise de La Ramée 133 years ago. In its final scene the two main characters, Nello and Patrasche, die in each other’s arms in front of the Rubens’ painting. Today this tiny book, A Dog of Flanders is taught in Japanese high schools, it is a classic in the UK and the States and has inspired numerous films and TV series in Japan and the States. The most important of them being the Japanese animated series of 1975 that counted 52 episodes and influenced the Japanese culture intensely (30 million television Japanese viewed the last episode. Many of them can still sing the series opening song, … in Dutch! )