Belgium, rise and fall.

[draik]

Sorry to necro, but I feel like alot of outsiders don't understand the Flemish side of Belgium. And condemn us for being pissed of at the south.

Hope this clears some things up.

If embed isn't working, http://youtube.com/watch?v=ExbOlSlq6CE 

 

Here are some pro’s and contra’s for Flanders joining Netherlands. Since a few people mentioned it.

 

Pro:

 

1. The sum of the BNP of the Netherlands and Flanders results in the tenth largest economy in the world, bigger then that of super states Russia and India
2. Historical argument: the Netherlands and Flanders already were one country twice (it didn’t work out). The split of 1830 was due to pressure of France and Great Britain.
3. Today, there are many joined Flanders/Dutch companies like ING and Fortis.
4. The cooperation between the Netherlands and Flanders are numerous, as in film, music, tv shows … Media in general.
5. Belgium is a hopeless complicated constructions with 49 ministers etc., this costs a shitload. According to calculations, there is a yearly money flow from Flanders to French Belgium of 12 billion Euro, this number is heavily underestimated because the non-official channels aren’t calculated in. If this money were to stay in Flanders, the Person tax could be lowered by 60 % or the pensions could be doubled.
6. The Dutch and Flemings has a lot to learn from each other, example: Better quality of education in Flanders.

 

Contra:

 

1. Large cultural and linguistic differences.
2. Differences in the political landscape, The Dutch vote left, Flanders right.
3. Differences in nature: Cosmopolitism versus introspection, Progressivism versus conservatism, … Although over the past few years Flanders and the Netherlands seem to be approaching each other in these area’s.