Greater Netherlands

Most common view of the concept: A political union between Flanders and The Netherlands

Groot-Nederland or Grootneerlandisme (English Greater Netherlands) is political ideology, mainly situated in the Netherlands and Flanders which advocated the (re)unification of the Netherlands and Flanders in a unitary state, a federation or a confederation. Another name for the Greater Netherlands is Dietsland, which uses the word "Diets" which is an archaicism for "Dutch". Sometimes it is confused with the Heel-Nederland (lit. "whole-Netherlands) ideology and orangism.

The ideology bases itself on the fact that the Dutch and Dutch-speaking Belgians (Flemings) share a common history, culture and language. It emphasises that a new state unifying most Dutch speakers in Europe would create a more powerful political and economical bloc. It's supporters, especially in bilingual Belgium also advocate that a monolingual state would prove to be less burocratic and more efficient.

Greater Netherlandism is sometimes associated with the extreme-right. This is because during the Second World War fascistic organisations in both the Netherlands and Belgium used part of the ideology and some of its symbols to achieve their own goals. Greater Netherlandism itselfs however only seeks to unite Flanders and the Netherlands.

Various politicians have expressed their support for this particular ideology. They include:

• Domela Nieuwenhuis
• Marcel Minnaert
• Hugo Schiltz
• Derk Jan Eppink
• Jan Terlouw
• Matthias Storme
• Bert Anciaux
• Louis Tobback
• Frits Bolkestein

See also

• Orangism
• Dietsch
• Flemish movement
• Pieter Geyl