What happened to Belgium in the 80s?
Belgium, country of northwestern Europe. In the 1980s and ’90s, however, steps were taken to turn Belgium into a federal state with powers shared among the regions of Flanders, Wallonia, and the Brussels-Capital Region.
Is Flanders part of the Netherlands?
Flanders remained with the other southern provinces of the Netherlands under Spanish rule in the 17th century and then (from 1714) under Austrian rule until it disappeared as a political entity during the French Revolutionary Wars.
When did Belgium join the Netherlands?
Revolution and independence At the Congress of Vienna, in 1815, Belgium (The Southern Netherlands) and the Northern Netherlands (Holland) were united to form one State. This new state was ruled by King William I. Although his policy was beneficial to the Belgian bourgeoisie, there was protest.
Is Flemish different than Dutch?
After all, Flemish is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as the “Dutch language spoken in Northern Belgium”. So, the terms ‘Flemish’ and ‘Belgian Dutch’ actually refer to the same language. Whatever you do with this new-found knowledge, please do not head to Flanders to tell the locals they speak a dialect of Dutch.
What was the purpose of the Flemish Movement?
The Flemish Movement (Dutch: Vlaamse Beweging) is the political movement for greater autonomy of the Belgian region of Flanders, for protection of the Dutch language, for the overall protection of Flemish culture and history, and in some cases, for splitting from Belgium and forming an independent state.
Are there any moderate groups in the Flemish Movement?
The militant wing also still comprises several moderate groups such as the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA, Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie), and several extra-parliamentary organisations, many of which are represented in the Overlegcentrum van Vlaamse Verenigingen (OVV, Consultation Centre of Flemish Associations).
Why did William I of the Netherlands impose Dutch on Belgium?
William I of the Netherlands imposed the standard Dutch everywhere in the Flemish-speaking part of Belgium, provoking the anger of the Flemish (albeit close to their language, Flemish people didn’t master at the time standard Dutch and weren’t considering this language as theirs) and of the French-speaking upper-class of today’s Belgium.
When did Belgium gain independence from the Netherlands?
On October 4, 1830, Belgian separatists who were mainly French speaking declared the independence of Belgium from the Netherlands. The Flemish provinces were subordinated by a Belgian army consisting mainly of volunteers from Wallonia, supported by French troops.