How did the psychological novel replace the regional novel in Flemish literature after 1930?

By 1930, the influence of Expressionism in Flemish literature had waned, allowing the novel to emerge as a dominant form. The regional novel, which had previously flourished, was supplanted by the psychological novel as writers shifted their focus toward human complexity and the internal struggles of individuals attempting to make sense of their world and others.1

This transition was initiated by Maurice Roelants with his work Komen en gaan (1927). Following this shift, authors such as Maurice Gilliams elevated the genre to new stylistic heights, while others like Lode Zielens and Gerard Walschap explored social, religious, and moral problems through a more forceful and colloquial lens. This move toward psychological depth marked a departure from the picturesque rural settings and nature-focused narratives that had characterized earlier regional works.12