Indestructibe Bond [BE/NL Relationship]

Day 1,738, 18:55 • Published in Belgium Belgium • by Konrad Neumann




There are a lot of talks about new alliances and it has become a hot topic not only for eBelgium but in eRep as a whole. While I am not going to talk about which alliance combination is the best, I do have personal bias for a certain few countries. However, regardless of our course of action be it joining an alliance or remain neutral, we should not forget a constant ally and friend of the Belgian people.

The Dutch and the Belgian shared a long but at times troubled history. However, the Belgian Dutch experience creates a special bond that few countries experiences. While I am not an expert in eUNL history, but the union between the Dutch and the Belgians was formed out of necessity. For small countries faces many problems from PTO's to threats of invasions. The union of the Dutch and the Belgian peoples created something beautiful in which both parties benefited politically, economically, and more importantly, created a strong bond.

We hold the people we love to a much higher and tougher standard. For we care about them so much and we expect them to be more or less "perfect". There is love between the Belgians and the Dutch and like all love stories, there are frustrations. There are peoples in both community that points to faults in each other. The Dutch thinks eBE is not as neutral as it can be while the Belgians points out that NL had an illegal TW against the Belgians. These issues are small issues and the pain it cause is great. The frustration and anger is less on the deed itself but the break and violation of trust and expectations. In each case, I think our communities overcome. While we hurt each other at times, we are there for each other in our times of need. The Dutch worked soundlessly and with great diligence to prevent PTO's from the G50 as well as the LCC. The British never showed up despite of their promises. The Belgians fought hard and valiantly after the Hungarian fiasco (which ONE abused Belgian Trust) for Dutch sovereignty



Like in my past articles, the BE/NL relationship is summed up best as a brother-sister/ sibling relationship. There will always be disagreements but in the end, there is a special bond that will overcome short term disagreement in dire situation. For it is not just emotional rhetoric or bleeding heart emotional crap, it is in both countries interest to continue to maintain this special relationship. Despite alliances etc, both countries are there for each other. Despite rhetoric of hardliners like NLSP or Auggy etc, there is a vested interest in the bond for throughout history, it is the only real relationship and help that both country can depend on with a certainty.



There are some that supports the idea of a new union. However there are some problems with this plan. While I do see the benefits and I do want to see a union one day, many of the issues today prevents it. Mainly the Dutch problems with the Pole's occupation of Dutch regions is one of the biggest obstacles for the Belgians do not want to go against the Poles but the occupation of Dutch lands is not a choice or something the Dutch people truly accepts. Another problem is national pride. While there is love between the two countries, pride and nationalism is another factor that many are not able to overcome. Both countries are proud of their traditions and their country to a point that it is hard on the political level as it is hard to give up their sovereignty. Name is an issue for United Netherlands or United Belgium are not neutral names. These names suggest dominance of one party which will antagonize the nationalist. If there is going to be a union, it needs to have a neutral name like that of the German-Danish union, Germark. That is why like my past article, something like Nethergium is needed. Sadly, Nethergium does not sound nice and it is a bit long. So maybe we should call it the Union of Belgium/Netherlands (UBN) for short...

Until the day that the Union of Belgium/Netherlands comes, governments of both sides should not take this special relationship for granted. While they can choose which ever alliance they want to join or not join, they need to keep in mind that we do get each other's back. For we do share a common history, a common interest, and a special relationship that few other countries experience.