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Dutch Would Reunify with Belgium’s Flanders
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many Dutch adults would welcome the Flemish region of Belgium into their country, according to a poll by TNS Nipo released by RTL. 67 per cent of respondents support the reunification of the Netherlands and Flanders, while 33 per cent disagree.
Flanders is the Flemish region of Belgium, and is located in the north side of the country. It has its own legislature and government, just as Wallonia, the French south of Belgium. The native Flemings descend from Germanic and Gaulish tribes. Flemish people speak a variant of Dutch, as opposed to the rest of Belgium's residents. The Flemish provinces were part of the Netherlands until 1831, when the Kingdom of Belgium was established.
A federal election took place in Belgium on Jun. 10. Final results gave the Christian Democratic and Flemish (CDV) / New Flemish Alliance (NVA) 30 seats in the Chamber of People's Representatives. The NVA calls for Flanders' peaceful secession from Belgium.
On Aug. 23, the office of King Albert II announced that CVD/NVA leader Yves Leterme was unable to form a coalition administration and would be discharged. Leterme issued a statement, which read: "I realized that it was impossible to move forward with an ambitious government programme, the perspective and direction of which the electors clearly defined on 10 June." Some Flemish politicians have called for a larger degree of autonomy for Flanders, but lawmakers from Wallonia have voiced their opposition.
Polling Data
Do you support or oppose the reunification of the Netherlands and Flanders?
Support | 67% |
Oppose | 33% |
Source: TNS Nipo / RTL
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 600 Dutch adults, conducted on Aug. 21, 2007. No margin of error was provided.