Why Belgium’s Prime Minister Thinks Belgium Shouldn’t Exist

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A Prime Minister of a nation is usually quite proud of its country’s existence. But not in Belgium where the Prime Minister, Bart De Wever, even says he’d rather be a Dutchman than a Belgian. In this video, we’re taking a look at how De Wever became Prime Minister, explain the Flemish movement and whether the country could actually split up.

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Bart De Wever comments on Belgium & Flanders:
https://www.brusselstimes.com/1673847/francophones-outraged-as-belgian-pm-de-wever-refuses-to-say-vive-la-belgique-tbtb
https://www.brusselstimes.com/178380/reunify-flanders-and-the-netherlands-argues-bart-de-wever
https://www.brusselstimes.com/1645195/belgian-pm-de-wever-still-supports-reunification-of-belgium-and-the-netherlands
https://wnl.tv/2025/06/24/belgische-premier-nog-steeds-voorstander-van-een-belgie-en-nederland-afsplitsen-grootste-ramp-die-ons-is-overkomen
https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2010/12/13/de_wever_belgie_ziekemanvaneuropa-1-923874/

Bart De Wever background:
https://www.politico.eu/article/bart-de-wever-belgium-antwerp-elections-europe/

Origins of Belgium:
https://www.belgium.be/en/about_belgium/country/history/belgium_from_1830
https://opil.ouplaw.com/page/944

Economic changes and development of the Flemish movement:
https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/belgium/82267.htm
https://www.brusselstimes.com/46484/how-200-years-of-industry-shaped-belgium-s-identity-2
https://www.brusselstimes.com/45009/how-economics-explains-belgium-s-rifts
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37755267

Belgium’s political structure:
https://www.brusselstimes.com/307885/why-belgium-has-six-governments-and-not-seven
https://www.belgium.be/en/about_belgium/government/federale_staat
https://www.belgium.be/sites/default/files/downloads/belgium_at_a_glance.pdf
https://www.dekamer.be/kvvcr/pdf_sections/publications/constitution/grondwetuk.pdf

N-VA’s ‘confederalism’:
https://english.n-va.be/frequently-asked-questions
https://www.n-va.be/confederalisme

Flemish Interest’s independence plan:
https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2023/06/11/vlaams-belang-stappenplan-onafhankelijkheid/
https://www.politico.eu/article/belgium-break-up-flanders-wallonia-tom-van-grieken-vlaams-belang-far-right/
https://www.brusselstimes.com/236054/far-right-vlaams-belang-party-wants-to-declare-flemish-sovereignty-in-2029

De Wever’s coalition agreement:
https://www.scribd.com/document/822752573/Regeerakkoord

2024 pre-election polling on top issues:
https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2024/02/26/de-stemming-hoe-kijkt-vlaming-naar-samenleving/

Flemish independence polling:
https://www.brusselstimes.com/1013366/poll-showing-that-40-of-flemish-people-want-independence-was-flawed

00:00 – Introduction
01:18 – De Wever and Flanders
03:02 – Rise of Flemish Nationalism
04:52 – Separatism Today
06:56 – Could It Happen
08:15 – Sponsored Content

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