Belgian historic ignorance...

...or, how our 175th "birthday" isn't really it.

In 1815, the European powers decided that in order to quell any future French imperialistic tendencies, a new, strong kingdom was to be formed on its borders. To that effect, the United Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed, under the rule of the Dutch despotic monarch, Willem I. Willem I forced a very undemocratic constitution upon the Southern Netherlands (Belgium, Luxemburg and some others), despite it being rejected by a sound majority of Belgian politicians and nobles. Also, the SN were unfairly taxed and represented in the government; they formed the bulk of the cannon fodder, while being led by Dutch officers, and the Netherlands being mainly protestant didn't go over well for the devoutedly Catholic SN either. Willem I was also fond of forcing everything to be in the Dutch language, which the mainly Francophonic bourgeoisie and rich industrials didn't like very much.
All of this (and more - e.g. the French revolution of July 27th 1830 which led to a constitutional kingdom led by Louis-Philippe, roi des Français par la volonté nationale) brought great discontent in the SN and a heightening of nationalistic feelings in the southern part of the young kingdom.
On August 25th, 1830 (Willem's birthday) the romantic-nationalistic opera La muette de Portici was performed in Brussels. Afterwards (possibly due to agitation of French secret agents), riots broke out and the house of an unpopular Dutch minister (Van Maanen, responsible for the language policy) was torched. The next few days, riots broke out in Liège, Verviers, Hoei, Namur, Mons and Leuven, especially among the poor working class, who damaged several factories.
The middle and upper classes, seeing that the authorities were unable to cope with the situation, formed militias and regained control of the cities. Strenghtened by this, the Belgian nobility sent an emissary to Willem, demanding the resignation of minister Van Maanen and an emergency session of the Staten-Generaal, to discuss their issues.
Willem didn't respond very well to these events. He sent his son Willem (ah, such creativity in names...) to Brussels and his other son Frederik to Vilvoorde (near Brussels) with an army of 6,000 men, acting like an occupier.
Willem was unable to restore proper Dutch rule in Brussels... Riots broke out again and Frederik marched into Brussels with his army of (by then) 12,000 troops. The civil authorities managed to deflect the anger of the mobs towards this army and skirmishes broke out between this army and Belgian volunteers/idealists/nationalists and even French-backed irregulars (the French hoped to annex the Southern Netherlands again).
After 4 days of skirmishing, the Dutch army , consisting of 2/3rd southern troops, routed.
A temporary revolutionary government was formed. Meanwhile, the Dutch army in Belgium disintegrated and deserted to the Belgian cause. In matter of days, the territory was "freed" from Dutch troops, except for the citadel of Antwerp, the cities of Maastricht and Luxemburg, and Zeeuws-Vlaanderen.

On October 4th, Belgium formally declared independence.

The other major European powers, who had formed the United Kingdom in the first place, didn't interfere, much. France was still hoping for annexation of the Southern Netherlands, the UK didn't do anything because they felt France wasn't a threat anymore, and Russia had its hands full in Poland.
In November, the National Congress decides that Belgium is to be a monarchy, but simultaneously decided against an Oranje-monarch. Congress instead approached Leopold of Saxony-Coburg, who accepted and negotiated favourable terms for the continued indepence of Belgium.
On July 21st, 1831, Leopold ascended the throne and becamse the first king of Belgium.
Willlem wasn't too keen on accepting this situation though. In august 1831, his armies marched in Belgium and defeated the Belgian troops (quite obviously, since we had no experienced officers whatsoever) and would've taken Brussels if not for the French, who sent an army across the border to stop the advance.
New terms were again negotiated, but Willem still didn't want to accept. The French captured the Antwerp fortresses and, together with the British, embargoed Dutch trading vessels. In 1833, an armistice was signed but Willem never took full advantage of the pro-Dutch terms in it.


In short: Belgium's 175th "birthday" isn't tomorrow. It's in October. Our national holiday is the remembrance of the ascension of Leopold I, in 1831, not of our independence, in 1830.

But, any reason to have a party, right? ;-)


Also, went shopping today. I finally have all 10 Wheel of Time books. Bought some dvds (Murder on the Orient Express, The Longest Day and I, Claudius), a cool shirt (applause for 50% discounts!), some tea-stuff, miniature candles (40% off of €0.99 is ridiculous ;))and a Jack Wolfskin backpack. Had lunch at Wagamama, chicken chilli men (One of the waiters there is só hot). Yummy².


See you soon :-)

~ Addie