21st July

Today is for the Belgians what 4th July is for the Americans or 14th July for the French - a day of national pride and  unity. Although...

The problem is, most of the time we don't feel 'Belgian'. We are Flemish or Walloon. Belgium is a country that was made artificially. After the Napoleontic wars, some big numbers decided they'd make a  new country, in which Leopold (related to Queen Victoria of England) could be king. So they just put together some pieces of land. Never mind that in one part Flemish people lived, and in the other French speaking. Two nationalities that don't agree a lot in most cases. Later on, after the World War, they even added a little part of Germany, with German speaking population. This is the reason why we have three official languages in Belgium: Dutch (or better named Flemish), French and German.

Each region has it own government (!) and there is also a federal government. Now, after the elections of last May, the differences between the regions stand even sharper. Flanders voted ultra right, while Wallony voted more to the left.

It'll be tough to form a new federal government, that's for sure. Our king, Filip, gave a speech yesterday in which he expressed his hope that a government would soon be formed. Of course he wishes this, because his job depends on it - he 'king of all the Belgians'. In Flanders there are ultra right parties which look for the independence of Flanders. The Walloons are very much afraid of this, because their main stream of tax money comes from us.

The only thing in which we are all Belgians is soccer. When the Red Devils play, there is a wave of national feeling.

Can Belgium survive? It remains to be seen...