Understanding the Great Belgian Language Battle

Recent elections in Belgium are raising speculation that the country may soon be divided along linguistic lines with the possible secession of the Flemish-speaking region of Flanders. With three official languages — German, French and Flemish — the country of Belgium has long struggled with a divisive tension among its various linguistic groups, notably between French and Flemish speakers.

Belgium’s June elections saw unexpected gains made by the New Flemish Alliance – a Flemish separatist party – which won 27 out of 150 seats in the country’s lower house. The New Flemish Alliance’s gains still leave it in the minority, but when combined with the seats won by two smaller pro-secessionist parties, the power of the group as a whole has made fears of a future divided Belgium very real.  By taking a look at Belgium’s history, it’s easier to understand the complex Belgian language battle that has been raging for more than a hundred years.

History’s Role in the Belgian Language Battle

The linguistic tension evident in modern-day Belgium can largely be traced back to the country’s complicated past. Throughout history, parts of present-day Belgium have been under the control of the Holy Roman Empire, the First French Republic and the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Looking at Belgium’s location on the map today, nestled between France, the Netherlands and Germany, it’s easy to understand why the country has been such an easy target.

In 1830, the Belgian Revolution was sparked and, aided by French armed forces, Belgium waged a successful campaign for independence. The first king of the Belgians was inaugurated in 1831, and in 1839 Belgium signed an official peace treaty with the Netherlands, establishing the country as a fully sovereign independent state.

The Significance of Linguistic Identity in Modern Belgium

The contentious push and pull between French and Dutch influences in Belgium has always been problematic in the country’s political, cultural and social spheres. After Belgian independence in 1830, French was declared Belgium’s official language of government and a decidedly Francophone influence came to dominate cultural life.

In response to this French dominance, Flemish-speaking Belgians developed a new spirit of unity, demanding equal recognition of the Flemish language throughout the country. The Flemings largely achieved this goal in the early 20th century, when a series of new laws established Flemish as the primary language of government and education in Belgian’s northern Flemish-dominant provinces.

Can We Expect a Divided Belgium in the Future?

Tension between the French-speaking Walloons of the South and Flemish-speaking Flemings of the country still stands, as the results of Belgium’s recent elections show. Has the time finally come for the Belgium language battle to come to a head with a secession of the Flemish-dominant Flanders region?

Despite the speculation caused by the recent election, an actual secession is still unlikely. Instead, the country’s government will likely undergo many months of negotiations in order to meet demands of newly powerful pro-Flemish parties like the New Flemish Alliance. Belgian leaders have expressed confidence that the country’s different political parties will be able to come to a consensus satisfying both the Flemish north and French south. Still, one can’t help but wonder if Belgium’s great language battle will ever really be fully resolved.