Flabenelux

[Ari Rahikkala]

There. I said it. (and if Google is to be trusted, I coined it, too )

Not that it's going to happen, but seriously, you guys are failing it for even making it an issue. We've got enough tiny nations in Europe already.

[Jonas]

Flabenelux?
I know the Benelux but not the Flabenelux.

[Aurangzeb Khan]

Flanders-Belgium-Netherland-Luxembourg.

And Ari is right, it is very silly - they should all be a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands!

[Jonas]

Flanders-Belgium-Netherland-Luxembourg.

And Ari is right, it is very silly - they should all be a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands!

Flanders is a part of Belgium. So it's just Benelux.

Belgium, or the Southern Netherlands have a long history together. The only thing Flanders is sharing with Netherland is the language and a bit of history.
I don't say that I'm against forming a nation together, but like it is now the Netherlanders see Belgium as a possible colony.

[b3n|<3r|\|]

Revive the house of the Habsburgs and give the Netherlands back to Spain. AEIOU!

[Jonas]

Revive the house of the Habsburgs and give the Netherlands back to Spain. AEIOU!

Now you say it, we have some Habsburgs in the royal family (Prince Amadeo).And to be honest, I wouldn't be angry to have a Habsburg on the Throne. I like that 'kid'.

[Aurangzeb Khan]

Flanders-Belgium-Netherland-Luxembourg.

And Ari is right, it is very silly - they should all be a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands!

Flanders is a part of Belgium. So it's just Benelux.

Belgium, or the Southern Netherlands have a long history together. The only thing Flanders is sharing with Netherland is the language and a bit of history.
I don't say that I'm against forming a nation together, but like it is now the Netherlanders see Belgium as a possible colony.

Don't be daft - you only seperated because the Duke of Parma used the religious divide to play you for fools. I sincerely hope that Belgium is destroyed as a nation, perhaps a partition between France and Holland would be for the best.

Edit: I should add that the "sincere hope" was a bit of sacrasm - I would only, in actual fact, "moderately enjoy" Belgium being dissestablished.

[Jonas]

What do you know about our nation? This looks like the Congres of Vienna where other countries decide about what happens with the people.
Maybe you don't know but we almost didn't had a national debt until the Netherlands got our land and gave us a part of there debts. And if you listen to the Dutch politicians they will not hesitate tu use us as a colony and take away our wealth.

There where and still are catholic provinces in the Netherlands by the way.


Ow wait. I'm talking to Ardy in the Shrine of Controversy...

[hypatias mom]

Right. Why even bother? Ardy loves to argue and stir up troubles in this forum. That's one of his favorite pastimes, I think.

[Aurangzeb Khan]

Ow wait. I'm talking to Ardy in the Shrine of Controversy...

Congratulations you are indeed.

What do you know about our nation?

Visited a couple of times and heard what the different local ethnic and linguistic groupings had to say about each other... seriously you do have rather too many parliaments, what was it - six in all?

Maybe you don't know but we almost didn't had a national debt until the Netherlands got our land and gave us a part of there debts. And if you listen to the Dutch politicians they will not hesitate tu use us as a colony and take away our wealth.

Good ole Treaty of London I assume.

Well it is the contention that Flanders is the revenue generating portion of Belgium while Wallonia is the benefits absorbing part - so let the Netherland's take the profitable part while France can take the rust-belt. I'm sure that'll keep Sarkozy amused, or at least distracted from causing disasters elswehere.

Then again I am given to understand that a share of the national debt is given to the seccessionist state by the mother country as part of the dividing up of the silverware - certainly I consider that something to look forward too, off-loading some of our debt onto Scotland once they finally break away.

There where and still are catholic provinces in the Netherlands by the way.

I'll assume that they are a part of that little hanging down enclave centred around Maastricht

[Aurangzeb Khan]

Right. Why even bother? Ardy loves to argue and stir up troubles in this forum. That's one of his favorite pastimes, I think.

I prefer Christopher Hitchens term for it; "contrarian". However you may also consider Ben Gray's description "shit-stirrer for the sake of shit-stirring" to be equally apt.

[Jonas]

Visited a couple of times and heard what the different local ethnic and linguistic groupings had to say about each other... seriously you do have rather too many parliaments, what was it - six in all?

Indeed, I'm from the same opinion and I prefer the old way... one parliament. But that you visited us a couple of times doesn't make you an expert.

Good ole Treaty of London I assume.

Well it is the contention that Flanders is the revenue generating portion of Belgium while Wallonia is the benefits absorbing part - so let the Netherland's take the profitable part while France can take the rust-belt. I'm sure that'll keep Sarkozy amused, or at least distracted from causing disasters elswehere.

Don't forget Flanders is rich because the Wallons invested in us in the past, otherwise we where still a farmland.

Then again I am given to understand that a share of the national debt is given to the seccessionist state by the mother country as part of the dividing up of the silverware - certainly I consider that something to look forward too, off-loading some of our debt onto Scotland once they finally break away.

I don't think you understand. Before the unification we had a national debt of 100 million florijnen, the North had a debt of 1,25 milliard florijnen (a little difference, isn't it?).
With the unification of both the Netherlands the debt was devided equal over the country parts.

I'll assume that they are a part of that little hanging down enclave centred around Maastricht

Around the 27% of the population, what I call a lot if it's forbidden.

[Aurangzeb Khan]

Indeed, I'm from the same opinion and I prefer the old way... one parliament. But that you visited us a couple of times doesn't make you an expert.

I do not claim to be an expert. I am an Englishman, it is my God given right to meddle in the affairs of other countries without being an expert. An honour I share with my American cousins.

Don't forget Flanders is rich because the Wallons invested in us in the past, otherwise we where still a farmland.

Swings and roundabouts - we used to invest in India, and exploited that fact by taking over, now India invests in us...

I don't think you understand. Before the unification we had a national debt of 100 million florijnen, the North had a debt of 1,25 milliard florijnen (a little difference, isn't it?).
With the unification of both the Netherlands the debt was devided equal over the country parts.

Yeah I think I was driving at the fact they gave you a part of their national debt as a leaden goodbye. No idea they shafted you that bad, but still it was payback for the whole revolution thing.

Around the 27% of the population, what I call a lot if it's forbidden.

Oh we're talking overall population? I'll just put that down to them being "prolific".