SSRF, the main languages are Flemish (Dutch) and French. In the east is a small part where German is spoken. That said, one could opt for the Flemish part (Vlaanderen, Brabant, Limburg) to be added to the Netherlands, and the south to France. Problem is, it isn't that easy. Being a Dutchman myself, I know any serious thought on the 'Groot-Nederlandse gedachte' (Greater Netherlands idea) is from before WW2, and it's not really a big thing in Dutch politics. Even if we wanted to add parts of Belgium to our fair nation, I don't think they'd want to lose their own autonomy.

That said, to chamois: why are you putting this question forward? Are you from Belgium yourself?

I should remain like it is. Different cultures are only positive thing, society is rich in every aspect. No splitting of Belgium.

Mostly German or French is spoken there. Yeah. You're right! We should split up Denmark too, cause they only speak Danish in Copenhagen. Most of the country speaks Zulu too, with a way different culture. Also, even though Nepalese people make up 20% of the population in Denmark, it's rather unwise to have Denmark split up in three.

Or rather: Dude, wtf, as far as i know they hardly speak German in Belgium as their native language, and second, splitting it up would cause some serious imbalance.

And why not split up Switzerland? The north speaks German and the south speaks French after all.

@ Ursa : I thought everybody in this forum known me as a nationalist French prick xD. I am French but I find that topic interresting. Someone start to speak about Belgium in the "Re : St-Pierre and Miquelon" thread and i found that it deserves its own thread. Don't you think?

I think people are confusing Dutch and Deutsch.
The German speaking community of Belgium is very small.

SSRF and FyreNL, please consult the following:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German-speaking_Community_of_Belgium

Italian, Draugnar, Italian (French is spoken in the west, around the lake of Geneva).


Belgium is a different case than those other countries. It's roughly cut in two by the language border, with different sub-governments for the provinces in those 'language zones'. I believe Belgium even has five different parliaments. For years, certain groups have tried to antagonize the other. Thereby there's a certain economical difference between both regions and that's not helping either. I spoke to a Flemish business guy who was really ranting on the Wallonians, for one thing because he believed the wealth of the north was used to support the faltering economy of the south.

@chamois: you've showed up quite recently on this forum so I didn't know about your chauvinistic vices. Are you a republican, a Napoleontic monarchist, a Bourbon monarchist or an anarchist? ;)

As for this thread, would you want part of Belgium to be added to France? I thought the north of France was doing not very well economicly, so why add southern Belgium to make it even worse? I mean, it would look nice on a map and for the 'grandeur' and all but would it be smart.

* economically

To sum up : most of the Flemish (Dutch-speaking, 60% of the population) are racist (the far right is the majority in Flanders).Plus they are very upset that Brussel is a 95% french speaking city. That hatred toward them creat much ressentment in the francophone community.

The Flemish take revenge for XIX century and early XX when the francophone community was much richer and more industrialized than them and when flemish was concidered by many francophone as a trash language. Now Wallonia (Francophone side) is economically poor due to industrial colapse, and the richer flemish don't want to pay taxes for them. The economical situation in Wallonia doesn't improve that makes the flemish being mad about the Wallonians)

@Ursa : as most of the French I am a proud Republican (not Republican in the american sense of the word). Bonapartism is realy dead in France xD. If I were living in the early XIX century I would be a Bonapartist. The monarchist can be splited in two : the Legitimists (for the Bourbon) and the Orleanists (for the house of Orleans).
But actually monarchist are very rare here.

So if far right parties have the majority vote (in Flanders and not in Brabant or Limburg) 'most of the Flemish are racist'? Wow, couldn't it just be they are unhappy with the political situation as it is and vote for the party that says something must be changed?

I can imagine, since most of the houses have died out and/or dissolved into history. Oh yeah, and there was a revolution. :)

Okay "not most of the Flemish" but I think Flanders si very racist compared to other European Countries. My brother lives in Brussel suburb with his girlfriend, of course he cannot speak flemish, he came there just for his girlfriend and he was beaten by Flemish youngsters just because he spoke French. The far-right paint the signboard writed in French etc...

@Ursa : there was several revolutions, plus who really think that someone must be king just because of his birth? At least Bonaparte managed to become emperor without any Royal or high-aristocratic parents.

writen*

Seems like a culture war is going on. The guy I spoke said the Wallonians didn't *want* to learn another language and the Flemish on the other hand adapted themselves and did learn French.

Normally I would agree to the image of the chauvinistic French guy not willing to learn any other language, but when people are getting beaten up for the language they speak... that's just not right.

written ;)

The francophone Belgians didn't tried to spoke flemish but nowadays things are changing, more and more people are trying to learn the flemish. My brother's grilfriend for instance speaks french as a native language, but went to a Flemish school, so more and more Belgians are bilingual. The problem is that some Flemish schools don't accept children whose parents don't speak Flemish...
The Wallonians attitude towards the Flemish wasn't very fair in the past, and now the are facing the consequences. The question is should Belgian being splitted and what is going to happen for Brussel if that happens?

Belgium is a scene of a linguistic, ethnic, and cultural war. I am very, very pessimistic that a nation so EVENLY split can remain united. "A house divided cannot stand."

You can cite Canada as an example of an officially bilingual nation but even they have a problem with Quebec separatists. India and China both have varied ethnicities and languages but the vast majority share a cultural or linguistic family tree.

Language will become less divisive as the Internet, iPads and soon, cellphones, allow instant translation, and as people slowly find it easier to be bilingual. Anytime you create more unity, more free trade, more easily allowable access to schools and colleges (and transfer of educational credits), you make people richer. That is why Canada, Switzerland and Belgium should remain one.

As previously mentioned is a big exception but then again Switzerland is a BIG exception in so many categories.

*Switzerland is a big exception.

If that happens, and I think that's unlikely, Brussels should become an international city state, the capital of Europe, with a permanent seat for the European institutions (instead of moving between Strassbourg and Brussels again and again). That would be neat, wouldn't it?

Btw I found out that we must say Walloons and not Wallonians xD. Sorry.

With that said, language and culture remain somewhat thorny problems in Canada. But splitting costs money and creates "Old Millenium" problems. Like new borders. Canada thrives as one, and wants even more unity with the USA and Mexico.

In 50 years, maybe sooner, we will look back and think that geopolitical lines based solely or mostly upon culture and language is an old barbaric ritual. I am not knocking nationalism. Just ultranationalism.

Culture can change and shift but language remains for a very long time. It's remarkable think of how long French has remained in use by Quebecois centuries after Nouvelle France was ceded to the British. In the United States, English swallowed all other European languages being used in parts of the country (French, Spanish, Dutch).

Culture can be overcome with communication but if you can't even communicate to begin with...

@CJTKirk: I think your last remark is too optimistic. After WW2 nationalism was declared dead and outdated and after the fall of the Berlin wall history would end because there was no great ideologic battle to be fought anymore. With the collapse of Yugoslavia in 1992 and 9-11 we now better. Nationalism is still alive, if perhaps not in 'the West'. In Eastern Europe your language, religion and nationality are still very important. As for optimistic ideas about the future, I expect nothing from mankind.

* we now know better