Flanders and Wallonia: Dutch MP's union proposal sparks debate
Martin Bosma, the chairman of the Dutch parliament, suggested that Flanders could join the Netherlands, and Wallonia could align with France. Currently, both regions are part of Belgium. This idea surprised the participants at a meeting with the French ambassador.
It is unclear whether Bosma was serious or merely joking. This politician, associated with Geert Wilders' far-right PVV party, rarely grants interviews.
"During such gatherings, people discuss politics and potential developments," Bosma explained in an interview with "NRC," referring to the meeting with the French ambassador.
Bosma's idea is not novel in right-wing circles. Geert Wilders, the leader of the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV), has previously expressed a similar stance.
The idea of uniting the Netherlands
The concept of uniting the Netherlands, known as Dietsland, is favoured by some right-wing parties and organisations in the Netherlands. The Vlaams Belang group once supported the idea of Flanders joining the Netherlands, though it no longer emphasises this topic.
Bart De Wever from the N-VA party has also expressed support for this idea. "I have never abandoned the dream that all Dutch speakers might one day live together. If I could die as a Southern Netherlander, I would be happier than as a Belgian," De Wever remarked four years ago.
Despite such declarations, as noted by Petra de Koning, few people in the Netherlands are concerned about the idea of uniting the Netherlands. Similar to Donald Trump's assertions about Greenland or the Panama Canal, some regard it as a curiosity.
