End of Belgium, what next? - Historum

Irish Yankee · August 11th, 2012, 10:21 AM

If Belgium were to split up, which remains possible, what would the region look like, especially long term? Initially, Belgium would split into two nations; Flanders and Wallonia. But what would happen then?

Would Wallonia become a part of France due to cultural and historical ties?

What of Flanders?

Would each nation become part of the EU?

I specifically would like input from and Belgians on this forum, thanks in advance

Vrank_Bouleen · August 11th, 2012, 12:14 PM

I like that idea, to be perfectly honest.

I am Dutch, and I'll tell you it would be great if Flanders joined the Netherlands. We all would change the name of the resulting new country into....hmmm.... Batavia?? Like it was once called? Ehrm, no, the Frisians would object against that. I propose "Inguaevonia" or something.

And Wallonia would join France, and 'voila': everybody happy.

NOT.

The Flemish people do not want to join the Netherlands, and I don't think the Wallonians want to join France.

Maybe someone should bomb Bruxelles, and things would finally start going.

I hope anyone realizes I am just kidding.

But I want to say this: I have spent several nice holidays on the Flandrian coast.

To me the Flandrians/Flemish people are not so fkd up as we Dutch often are.

And damn, they brew the greatest beers on the planet !!

+++++++

EDIT:

I think Flandria could exist as a separate country, but not Wallonia.

And Bruxelles would have to be split into two parts.

+++++++

ANOTHER EDIT

Yes, I keep thinking about this, and that for a long time.

Let me add: if what I posted will ever happen, I hope Antwerp will be the new capital of the new country. Antwerp will be the perfect place for a new capital. And we should get rid of those 'Royal families'. Let them only do ceremonial things like in Sweden, and no interference in political issues. They are nothing but 'fossils', and should be treated as such.

And... if any damned Anglo-Saxon starts making jokes about 'twerps', we - the united forces of the new country - will invade England (heh, yes, them) and again occupy their territory, like we did 1500 years ago.

.

**Naomasa298** · August 11th, 2012, 12:36 PM

I suspect if Belgium breaks up, the world will carry on much as it did before.

Vrank_Bouleen · August 11th, 2012, 12:44 PM

Of course it does, like when Yugoslavia split up, or the Soviet Union.

But somehow I like the idea the the Dutch/Flemish speaking people re-join us Netherlanders.

I would be truely at ease with that ever happening.

I always thought we were ONE people, but politics fkd us up , and created antagonism.

OK, now where are the Belgians on this forum to set me straight?

WeisSaul · August 11th, 2012, 12:46 PM

Belgium splits.

Flanders goes to Netherlands. Netherlands is renamed Dutchland (leading to much confusion among Germans

)

Wallonia takes Brussels and a bit of territory to make it contiguous. It may or may not go to France.

France/Wallonia gets Brussels, and Flanders/Netherlands/Dutchland gets Antwerp.

Germany takes its pre WW1 and WW2 territory back from Wallonia.

**Naomasa298** · August 11th, 2012, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vrank_Bouleen

Of course it does, like when Yugoslavia split up, or the Soviet Union.

You may recall that there were one or two minor problems when Yugoslavia split up.

Grimald · August 11th, 2012, 12:53 PM

Then Great Britain would go to war, as it guaranteed the existence and neutrality of Belgium, as we all know from WWI!

More seriously, the fate of Brussels is too important for Belgium to split up. Neither would a predominantly francophone city like to be a part of an independent Dutch-speaking Flanders, nor would it like to join the Netherlands. On the other hand, the Flemings would not let go of a city which for the most part of its history was Dutch-speaking and the capital of the region of Brabant, which is so important for Flemish history. Even the usually forgotten German-speaking part of Belgium does not want to rejoin Germany after almost a century.

One solution would have been to make Brussels into something like Washington DC, that is a federal district of the European Union. However, as things are developing right now, I am not sure whether there is a future for the European Union, at least for one which requires a huge bureaucratic capital.

Vrank_Bouleen · August 11th, 2012, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Naomasa298

You may recall that there were one or two minor problems when Yugoslavia split up.

Ye, but Ex-Yugoslavia was nothing but a forced union of different peoples.

Irish Yankee · August 11th, 2012, 12:58 PM

I suppose it would be an easier split if the EU ended first and Brussels wasn't so important to the rest of the continent?

Vrank_Bouleen · August 11th, 2012, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimald

Then Great Britain would go to war, as it guaranteed the existence and neutrality of Belgium, as we all know from WWI!

More seriously, the fate of Brussels is too important for Belgium to split up. Neither would a predominantly francophone city like to be a part of an independent Dutch-speaking Flanders, nor would it like to join the Netherlands. On the other hand, the Flemings would not let go of a city which for the most part of its history was Dutch-speaking and the capital of the region of Brabant, which is so important for Flemish history. Even the usually forgotten German-speaking part of Belgium does not want to rejoin Germany after almost a century.

One solution would have been to make Brussels into something like Washington DC, that is a federal district of the European Union. However, as things are developing right now, I am not sure whether there is a future for the European Union, at least for one which requires a huge bureaucratic capital.

We, the Inguavonians would go to war, occupy London and the rest of England (like we did before; and the Flandrians would poison the Londeners with their best beers; the Londeners would drop to the ground with a smile, lol - they are not used to real strong beer), and Inguavonia would rule the North Sea area again.

Fk Brusseles, that city has done more damage to Belgium than anything else.

Maybe we Inguavonians should build a large stone wall around it, hahahaha !!

And watch its inhabitants like we watch chimps in a zoo.