Greater Netherlands

Map of a theoritcal Greater Netherlands, and a theoritical Pan-Netherlands.

Greater Netherlands ideology or Greater Netherlandism (Dutch: Grootneerlandisme) is an irredentist movement which calls for the Netherlands to establish a Greater Netherlands state incorporating various (historically) Dutch-speaking European territories in modern-day Belgium, mainly Flanders, and France. It has sometimes claimed extra-European territories such as South Africa, Indonesia, or the Democratic Republic of the Congo although its precise objectives have historically varied significantly.

The majority of the movement focus on a union between The Netherlands and Flanders, more expansive and far less common versions of the state may include the additional annexation of the French Westhoek, Suriname, formerly Dutch-speaking areas of Germany and France, or even the ethnically Dutch and/or Afrikaans-speaking parts of South Africa.

The concept was originally developed by Pieter Geyl, who argued that the "Dutch tribe", encompassing the Flemish and Dutch people, only separated due to the Eighty Years' War against Spain in the 16th century. It is currently considered a fringe ideology associated mainly with some far-right political groups in the Netherlands and Belgian Flanders.

Terminology

The potential country is also known as Dutchland (Dietsland), which incorporates the word Diets – an archaic term for (Middle) Dutch. This label was popular until the Second World War, but its associations with collaboration (especially in Flanders), ment that modern supporters generally avoid using it. "Greater Dutch Movement" or "Greater Netherlandism" (Grootneerlandisme) are other terms often used for the movement, while in literature it is often called the "Greater Netherlands Thought" (Grootnederlandse Gedachte).

Greater Netherlandism is often confused with the Orangist movement in Belgium which fought for the reunification of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands after Belgian Independence. While many Orangists are Greater Netherlandists, the Orangists mainly focus on restoring Orange-Nassau's control over the South often for legitimist reasons.

The Prince's Flag is sometimes used by both Orangist and Greater Netherlandist groups, because it was flown by supporters of William I of Orange during the Eighty Years' War, who was the leader of the revolt of the Low Countries against the Spanish. During this rebellion the Dutch-speaking regions of the Low Countries, encompassing modern day Flanders and the Netherlands, banded together under the Union Of Utrecht, the precursor to the modern Dutch state. The flag was also used by the Dutch Republic and United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Today the flag is generally associated with the far-right in the Netherlands.

Pan-Netherlands

A related movement is "Whole-Netherlandism" or "Pan-Netherlandism" (Dutch: Heelneerlandisme), also called "Burgundism" (Dutch: Bourgondicisme), after the historical Burgundian Circle.

"Pan-Netherlands" (Dutch: Heel-Nederland) is another term that was used for the theoretical Greater Netherlands state, but this term is now used mainly for the movement that aims to unite all of the Low Countries (Benelux) as a single multilingual entity, also including Wallonia, Luxembourg, and possibly Northern France (see French Netherlands), which would be similar to the former United Kingdom of the Netherlands.

This idea was first made popular in Belgium by progressive liberal Lucien Jottrand who was a prominent member of the National Congress of Belgium shortly after the Belgian revolution. He called himself a 'Dutch-Walloon' and proposed the creation of a federal Dutch realm which would also encompass modern day Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg. In the first half of the 20th century the movement was dominated by Fascist thinkers, among them Joris van Severen and his Verdinaso party being the most prominent. After being tainted with this far-right image Pan-Netherlandism became a niche ideology mostly found in extremist circles.

Examples of modern Pan-Netherlandist organisations are Zannekin and Werkgemeenschap de Lage Landen. Other moderate groups and individuals argue for further integration of the Benelux Union, which could also possibly lead to a kind of "Pan-Netherlandist" polity. This, they say, would function as a precursor to further European integration.

History

The Greater Netherlandist movement emerged at the end of the 19th century. In Belgium, some Dutch-speaking citizens opposed the privileged position of French-speaking bourgeoisie, and the corresponding subordination of the Dutch-speaking population in government and in public life which led to the formation of a movement fighting for the rights of the Flemish population in Belgium (see Flemish Movement), in which some called for the union of Flanders and the Netherlands. 'Waar Maas en Schelde vloeien', also known as 'Het Lied der Vlamingen' is a popular Greater Netherlandist song written around this time by Peter Benoit and Emmaniel Hiel.

In 1895, Nationalists from both Belgian Flanders and the Netherlands created the Greater Netherlandist General Dutch Union or 'Algemeen-Nederlands Verbond', often shortened to ANV which sought to stimulate collaboration between the Flemish region and the Netherlands.

First World War

World War I further intensified the conflict between Dutch and French speakers in Belgium. For instance, the Flamenpolitik of the Germans, involving the administrative separation of the Dutch and the French-speaking regions of Belgium, was influenced by the Flemish Movement, which they wanted to use as an ally.

Before and after World War I, a considerable amount of people started joining the ANV, both in the Netherlands and in Flanders. It also enjoyed some popularity among students, leading to the creation of the more radical Dutch Student Association (Dietsch Studentenverbond).

Second World War

During World War II, both Belgium and the Netherlands were occupied by Nazi Germany. It was believed in nationalist circles that a Greater Netherlands state could be created through collaboration with the German occupiers. The German Nazis however did not value this idea, and desired either a Pan-Germanist union of the ethnically Germanic Dutch speakers with Germany or a New Order in which both Belgium and the Netherlands would continue to exist as de jure independent German satellite states. And although Pieter Geyl was strongly anti-Nazi and argued from a historical and cultural perspective, Fascist and Nazi movements built upon the Greater Netherlandist idea during the Second World War with a focus on ethnic nationalism, which is still prominent among some on the political far right.

After the war, the movement was tainted with the stigma of collaboration, notably due to the Flemish National Union (VNV) in Flanders and the National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands.

Post-World War II

While less common after the war, proponents of a Greater Netherlands do exist, mostly on the far-right of Belgian and Dutch politics.

The Belgian far-right party Vlaams Belang voiced support for the idea, since they see the formation of a "Federation of the Netherlands" as a logical and desirable consequence of a Flemish secession from Belgium.

On 12 May 2008, Dutch politician Geert Wilders (PVV), who was previously quoted arguing that a Greater Netherlands was "a Nazi and old-fashioned policy", said in De Telegraaf that he was interested in the possibility of a merger between the Netherlands and Flanders. Wilders proposed that, in accordance with previous polls, referendums would have to be held in the Netherlands and Flanders on the merger. He was quoted as saying that "the Netherlands must print the Flemish Lion on its chest and say: welcome home, we never forgot about you." He argued that he was not planning to impose unification on the Flemish, but stated that then-Dutch Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende needed to talk with his Flemish colleagues on the subject. Balkenende responded by saying that "the fate of Belgium is not for us to decide".

Then-Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme replied on 13 June 2008, in The Times that a merger between Belgium and the Netherlands was "science fiction" and that Wilders was being naive about the Belgian Crisis. Leterme said that he supported further cooperation within Benelux instead. On 7 July 2008, Wilders with Martin Bosma, wrote a follow-up piece in the NRC Handelsblad.

Opinion polling

A union with Flanders has not been a political issue in the Netherlands, and it is on the agenda of only one political party, the populist right-wing Party for Freedom. Also Thierry Baudet of Forum for Democracy once replied that "we welcome Flanders in our kingdom." and that "Flanders actually belongs to us" when asked at a conference. A 21 August 2007, poll indicated that two-thirds of the population would welcome a union with Flanders. Another poll published by RTL4 found that 77% of respondents living in the Netherlands would support a Greater Netherlands.

In Flanders, support for the idea is less clear. A 1999 study by Jaak Billiet of the Catholic University of Leuven showed that 1 to 2% of Flemish people were in favor of the idea. In non-representative opinion polls on the internet, the results vary: from 2% to 51%. While the Dutch see unification primarily as growth of the Dutch territory, the Flemish sometimes fear to be culturally assimulated by the larger and more populous (northern) Netherlands.

Although, given the difficulties experienced in the 2007 Belgian government formation and to a lesser extend during the 2019–2020 Belgian government formation, and the victory of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) and Vlaams Belang, in the recent federal elections, the likelihood of Flanders seceding from Belgium appears greater than before. The political parties Vlaams Belang and N-VA parties are the primary advocates of secession in Belgian Flanders. Neither party has strong interests in a "Greater Netherlands" however, Vlaams Belang president Tom Van Grieken spoke out in favour of a Greater Netherlands after Flemish independence.

See also

• Bakker-Schut Plan
• Burgundian Netherlands
• Flemish movement
• Low Countries
• Orangism
• Partition of Belgium
• Rattachism- A similar movement in Wallonia aiming for unification with France
• Seventeen Provinces
• Union of Utrecht
• United Kingdom of the Netherlands

External links

• Whole-Netherlands (in politics) – Government and Politics Research