While I might have been born and grew up in South Africa, my father was a Belgian immigrant, thanks to which, I have have Belgian citizenship. This is one of the main reasons I could so easily move to the Netherlands last year from South Africa. mybloggingplanet.com

Now though, it seems that, if I am reading the political landscape correctly, my Belgian passport might not be valid quite as long as its expiry date.

No, I am not intent on renouncing my nationality or anything of that sort, before you start thinking that that is what I have on my mind. My thoughts have turned to think about what would happen if Belgium were to collapse as a country.

First, as a bit of background to Belgium, the country is a manufactured state created in 1830 to act as a bit of a buffer between the Netherlands and France, and the population comprises of mainly the Dutch-speaking Flemish in the north of the country (Flanders), and the French-speaking Walloons in the south (Wallonia).

Brussels is within Flemish territory, but is officially bilingual, while the rest of the country is rigidly divided between the two languages. The Flemish do not tolerate much French in Flanders, and the Walloons don’t appreciate Dutch in Wallonia.

This is nothing new, and has been a problem as long as Belgium has existed.

What is a problem, however, is that the separatist movement in Belgium is growing steadily, while the antagonism between the French and Flemish is so severe, that the goverment formed after the 2009 elections collapsed in April 2010 after the prime minister resigned.

In June last year elections were held to establish a new government, resulting in no clear majority. This was over 6 months ago now, and the coalition talks have still not been able to put a new parliament together.

The party with the leading support in last years election was the New Flemish Alliance (Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie), whose main goal is to push for the splitting up of Belgium.

The rising separatism and continuing inability of Belgium to form a stable government are sure signs to me that there is a distinct possibility that a split might actually happen, and not too far in the future either.

Now, if Belgium does split up, Flanders and Wallonia will either become autonomous states, or else be absorbed by the Netherlands and France respectively.

The second option is particularly attractive to me, since I am living in the Netherlands already, I would effectively become a full Dutch citizen then.

The real difficulty is, what would happen to Brussels, with its bilingual status? Will it be absorbed into Flanders, or become an automous state in its own right?

This is a situation that I am keen to watch very closely over the coming months and years.

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