French, German and Austrian states providing direction in the low countries (8)
I believe the answer is:
flanders
'direction in the low countries' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both locations as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'french german and austrian states' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'french' could be 'f' and 'f' is located in the answer.
'german' could be 'd' and 'd' is present in the answer.
'and' could be 'n' (common abbreviation for 'and') and 'n' is found within the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'providing' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for flanders that I've seen before include "Historic European region, now divided between Belgium, the Netherlands and France" , "Battle scene" , "See 1" , "Battlefield" , "French/Belgian region" .)