American Reacts to Geography now! Belgium

[@greenwavepaul]

Hi, i am a Belgian of 62 years of age. I am flemish and used to live the most part of my life in the Brussels region (where french is in reality the main language). Since a few years i live in wallonia (french is the official language) in the city of Spa (a thermal town that gave his name to al the wellness facilities in the world). I can tell that Belgium is (generally) a good place to live. Yes, it's a complicated country, but most of us don't care much. Administration is rarely as complicated as suggested in the video you watched. Most of us also don't care much about the king, who has no real power. It's also a safe place to live (compared to the US) if you avoid some neighborhoods in some cities like Brussels and Antwerp. Hope you will visit my country some time!

[@pietergreveling]

It's also the place where the water comes from for the well-known bottled water company of the same name SPA®! 😁✌🏼

[@CobraChicken101]

That pretty much sums it up 😊 👍❤️

[@wannes9125]

He said "what does the king rule? All 4?" And I was here laughing at the idea of the king ruling anything

[@Diegotheparrot]

Coming from the Netherlands it's quite simple. When you get whiplash from driving down the road you know you've entered Belgium. Loveyou Belgische makkers.

[@Leviwosc]

In Belgium one also seems to lack aesthetics committees all types of houses are build together in one street. No matter how awful some styles contrast with each other. It's all fine in Belgium. There's even an Instagram account that shows ugly Belgian houses: uglybelgianhouses. Thus even when the road is properly maintained. If you suddenly see houses that differ a lot in their design and really create one big ugly mess, then you're most likely in Belgium.

[@flitsertheo]

The Dutch spend their money on roads, the Belgians on food. No wonder Dutch dishes taste as concrete.

[@Diegotheparrot]

@@flitsertheo I'll eat 100 frikandelbroodjes before i'll eat one Wafel.

[@johanvanoppen1627]

Love you too neighbours

[@flitsertheo]

@@Leviwosc At least we have houses. Is there still a housing shortage in the Netherlands ?

[@flitsertheo]

As a Belgian you never have to worry finding which administration you belong to because they will find you first. Especially when there are some taxes to pay.

[@Scrambledeggssometimeshit]

Fun fact: we hold the record of longest time without a federal government: 541 days!

[@macdieter23558]

Don´t try to understand Belgium, just enjoy it! That´s how we cope with it! Imagine sitting in a street cafe in France, then you cross the street and find yourself in Belgium. Or Netherlands. Or Germany! No "Build a wall"! No border agents! No immigrant caravan fears! Just people enjoying their lives! When I was on vacation in the Mosel area, we visited the city of Schengen. There is one place in that city where you can hop from Germany to France and with the next hop to Luxemburg. A few meters away in the middle of the river Mosel the Schengen Agreement was finalized in 1985 and made an Europe without borders official! By now 27 european nations with 420 million citizens are part of the Schengen Agreement!

[@haighton]

@macdieter23558, are you sure about that or confusing the EU with the Schengen area? Pls verify your own claims. Schengen area: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area Europe: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe EU: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union Euro zone (EUR €): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurozone Belgium: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium

[@arjenlaan4103]

I love Belgium in general, but what I love most of all is Belgian humor Where Brits have a great feel for irony and understatement, Belgians love the absurd and use it in the best and the most hilarious ways. And then there's the music. Sure, they have Jacques Brel, and Gotye and Stromae, but so much more besides that. It's very un-Belgian to be proud, but they really should be, about this (ok, and the beer, and the food, and having some of the prettiest places in Western Europe)

[@ro887]

Belgians like to make fun of themselves as well. I love that.

[@Michel-r6m]

Dans le port d'Amsterdam 👍 T.C. Matic 😎

[@aapje180]

Kamagurka & Her Seele, Urbanus van A., Jeroom and Philippe Geubels are the ones I watch every now and then

[@Leviwosc]

I'm a Dutchman and I love my Southern neighbours. I live near the Belgian border. They're cool people. They have amazing food, beer, and humour. Sometimes I want to hug them. 🙂

[@HansNederland]

Most Belgium people don't like hugging "strangers"

[@laziojohnny79]

@@HansNederland Most Belgians don't like strangers to begin with...

[@letheas6175]

@@laziojohnny79 Sad but true.. Glad I live in one of the most multicultural cities in Europe. Nothing beats xenophobia, than showing those ''people'' they are wrong.

[@laziojohnny79]

@@letheas6175 Not what I was refering to but ok... and to place people in between quotation marks is imo a disgrace.

[@letheas6175]

@@laziojohnny79 Really? Putting actual racists away as inhumane, is wrong? Wow. I see who's side you're on, jeez. I'd argue supporting xenophobia is a disgrace, but you do you, my racist Beneluxian

[@jancox8373]

As a Belgian I can say that everything runs quite smoothly, although there is always division, the only real disadvantage I experience is the large number of politicians due to the many different governments and the costs involved. Much love to your JPS and your down-to-earth view.

[@Alpha-Cephei]

What, no mention of Belgian beer culture? They have the best beers in the world and a much greater diversity than Germany which limits itself to the "German purity law", allowing only water, barley, hops and yeast as ingredients. In Belgium they have fruit beers, IPAs, Abbey beers and more. Many people make brewing a hobby or small business, renting professional breweries part time and doing their own stuff there. I'm German, but working for a Belgian company and I love the open mindedness and international spirit among my colleagues, and living in Germany close to East Belgium, also the nature of the Ardennes. And Brussels is almost like a smaller version of Paris, with a cuisine rivaling the French (there's much more than fries and waffles). And the beach bars along the coast are great. You just gotta love this little weird country.

[@biankakoettlitz6979]

Don't! Tell the German your beer is better🤣

[@KeesBoons]

@@biankakoettlitz6979 Being Dutch, I have to agree. Belgium beer is the best of all the beers I've ever encountered. Germany is "only" famous for a couple of types of beer, which they do well.

[@petedenton9434]

Belgium is probably my favourite European country to visit (from the UK).

[@pedrogaseoso3937]

I think it's also the European mainland country that is most like the UK.

[@Isengardtom]

I’m actually the other way around. From Belgium and I love the UK. Manchester next weekend

[@petedenton9434]

@@Isengardtom - nice. I work in Manchester!

[@SkinnyObelix]

Belgium and the UK are very similar in a lot of aspects. I'd argue that we have more in common with the UK than we have with the Dutch or the French.

[@dagmar_1]

Hello from Ghent @pete 👋👋

[@b_period9949]

I'm Flemish (Antwerp) and my boyfriend is Dutch. Everytime I'm there meeting his friends they keep on being so confused about how Belgium works. Always funny to explain 😂. A lot of people in my area, including myself, feel very connected to Holland though. We still have so many things in common, but also still stay so very different from each other.

[@TheKadanz]

Our closest allies are actually the Netherlands believe it or not. We're both in the EU but we're also part of the BeNeLux organisation which renders all those enclaves in the video moot, taxation is done to the municiples they belong to who are both financed by the Belgian and Dutch governments, same goes for infrastructure and economic integration. Also both our airforces patrol eachothers airspace and territorial waters.

[@margaretmacneill3133]

I am Scottish, raised in Rhodesia. Married my Belgian hubby in 1976 (he was born in the Congo to pure Belgian parents. We moved to Belgium in 1989 - pure culture shock after Africa😂 Our kids and grandkids have grown up in Belgium (French speaking, grandkids Fr/Flemish/English) It's a real melting pot. My favourite things, baguettes, frites and Mayo, the pastries and cakes, chocolates 😏😏. Biggest surprisecwhen we lived in USA for 7 years (Idaho) was the question "Where is Belgium?" 😂😂😂😂

[@CobraChicken101]

Well, to be fair ,... it is also a town in Wisconson 😂. A former colleague of mine has a very similar story, scottish, born in Rhodesia, etc. married a dutch guy, and finally moved to belgium,........ and she had a sister that lived in the US....😂. Chance of that being you is small but still, had to mention it tho, coz she was like a mother to me at that job, now 20ys ago. 😊 take care 🤘❤️, from Haselt

[@borisvandepoel2703]

Whoop whoop finally you're getting to Belgium!!

[@fifiroukine5331]

Hi! Belgian from Brussels who speaks French here! How our politics manage to function? The ART of Compromise is a Belgian speciality as much as beer and chocolate. There is always a way to find a peaceful solution...not perfect, nor good nor bad, just ok for everybody so there is no sore loser or braggy winner in Belgian politic. It is why we are kinda the diplomate of Europe cuz we have experience in managing differences. As a Brussels citizen, I would say that I'm used to the complexe administration (even if I'm sometimes upset by the lenght of some paper works) Anyway, I love my city...which is not as beautiful as Gent, Brugge or Leuven, but has its own charm. Brussels is also the second most multicultural and cosmopolitan city in the world just after Dubai! More than 180 nationalities live in Brussels!!!

[@CobraChicken101]

We are the most politcally engineered country in the world, it is complicated indeed, but it makes sure we settle our differences , between different cultural/language groups, in parliament and not on the streets , like many others . I'd say 90% of belgians , all educated, dont know how it exactly works either. I can explain it as i grew up around politicians, but it would take a 30 page paper, and i dont want to get political here. The structure evolved over time and many reforms of state to give each community more say . So power and responsability was passed from federal level to community level, closer to the people. Because it makes more sense (subsidiarity princiole) AND it is so hard to agree on things on a higher federal level. It is still evolving, some want greater unity , others greater independence. But meanwhile we alwasy also have other crises to manage, bigger fish to fry, ..... rarely is the time ripe for major reforms , so it is an evolution, not a revolution towards possibly a confederation. What from the outside looks like a house with endless addons seemingly unstable about to fall apart, is actually a layered operating system that cant fail. We've proven that by going without a fedaral government for over 500 days 😂. World recordholder longest gvmt formation, but it was business as usual for everyone but politicians Important to notice this is one of Geography Nows first videos ( he did it alphabetically) , you'll notice later videos are far more extensive. This one is also not entirely correct as far as the origine of the country goes, as not to say completely wrong, but hey, we're already happy to be noticed 😂 🤘❤️

[@SkinnyObelix]

In the end, the reason why Belgium still exists is that we don't want to be Dutch, French or German.

[@CobraChicken101]

​​​​​​​@@SkinnyObelixwell that , like many things in Belgium, is open for discussion 😂. And many different practical and ideological reasons can be valid for different people. I for one , am one of the few who think 1830 was a big mistake and wouldnt mind to live in the United Netherlands or Groot-Nederland 😂. (Showing my cards here 😂.) For ideological and economic reasons . But it is an ideal, not a "conditio sin qua non" for my happyness 😊 Altho we ask reform, Very few things are worth a civil war, and this is not one of them. We always seem to have bigger fish to fry .... so be it. 😊

[@palantir135]

I’m dutch but I love Belgium beer, food, historical cities. Belgium people are friendly but they are a little distant to foreigners until they personally know you.

[@blanchemoyaert3714]

Belgium has a very close friendly relationship with Canada. It was missed.

[@rsrs8632]

Belgium is the best place for proving that diplomacy works! This place should have torn itself to pieces many times, but politics have always found a solution everyone can live with. It has left us with a complicated structure for sure 😂

[@aapje180]

you forgot to mention UK, England, is not far from the Belgian coast. As a Dutch I notice a lot of the Flemish speakers speak French very well, most of them are older though. So from the linguistic perspective the communities are separating slowly. I like the Belgians, the people behave more modestly than the Dutch (except when driving) they show more intellect and less arrogance, cook better and have fabulous sense of humour (fed by the absurdity that surrounds them, the Netherlands are boring in that sense).

[@flitsertheo]

Germany wasn't mentioned either. I wonder why.

[@AkiWetzels]

Hi from the german speaking part of Belgium.

[@oliverpeters7485]

That makes us two!

[@DJChappie001]

I'm Belgian and my country even confuses myself.

[@eurorpeen]

King of Belgians rules on every Belgians and is the commander in chief of the Belgians armies

[@Paul_C]

How smooth? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@mickypescatore9656]

Hi, Joel! I`m German. I have visited Belgium a few times. 4 times Bruges, 1 time Brussels, 1 time Eupen and 1 time Malmedy. (The last two ones I have started from Monschau in Germany). Bruges is a very beautiful medieval little city. Many tourists, but really worth a visit!!! There are some amazing things to see!!!!! Btw. There was a movie with Colin Farell which was called "In Bruges". It`s about two contract killers, but with some nice impressions of Bruges. 😄

[@Lucas-li8pm]

Fun fact: Belgium survived without a government during almost 550 days

[@flitsertheo]

That is not entirely true. As long a there is no new government the old one keeps taking care of business, they just can't implement anything new (such as inventing new taxes, their hobby). Besides, if 1 government isn't running we still have 5 other governments which still keep functioning.

[@kristienification]

I am from Belgium and I am Flemish, I am also married to a Dutchman, we live in Aalst (East Flanders), we also speak more dialect than in the Netherlands

[@SkinnyObelix]

Belgian politics are complicated, but as much as we like to shit on our own country, it kinda works a lot smoother than you would expect. There's a reason Belgium is used as a model to try and solve the situation in Israel, with Jerusalem in the Brussels role.

[@maniacsangel9046]

Also a very Popular Weapon Manufacturer FN is located in Herstal, Liege (Belgium) which has the US Gun Manufacturer "Browning" as a Subsidiary. In Herstal there is a FN and Browning Building more or less in the same Street. You know the P90 from the Stargate Sg-1 TV Series is from FN.

[@55jhjhjkjk]

Finally Belgium gets your attention ! 🙂

[@etiennedubois4050]

I love Belgium & the Belgians. Great neighbours & friends. Lot's of culture & history, great nature & food. There is nothing wrong with Belgium. It's just a shame that catholics & protestants in the low countries in the 16th century couldn't get along. Otherwise there could be a united Burgundistan. Belgium is perhaps just one of history's oddities. But honour it & keep it close to one's heart. I am Dutch & I am well aware that without the people and or refrugees (in the 16th & 17th century) from the southern parts of the low countries there wasn't a mighty & rich Amsterdam or even a Dutch Golden Age. Despite all it's problem & strife amongst the language communities, the country still functions. A few months ago I was in Namur. The people there were so nice & welcoming. Some of the younger generation would strike up a conversation with me in Dutch. Just because they wanted to practise it. Don't forget: the motto of the Belgian state is in unison lies our strength. You could laugh about it, because of the problems of the Flemish & the Walloons. But it used to be also the motto of the old Dutch Republic, and very suitable for the European Union. More reason why Brussels should stay the 'capital' of the EU. Fun fact: did you know that the Belgian king is not a king with a territory, but of a bunch of individuals? King Philippe is King of the Belgians, not of Belgium. They should change it after almost 200 years. Perhaps a reminder for the 25th of July 2030 or 2031? * Low countries in the 16th century: nowadays Netherlands, Belgium & Luxemburg. * 25th of July: day of coronation of the 1st king of the Belgians (in 1831). But the Belgians claimed their indepenence a year earlier. A Belgian national holiday.

[@CobraChicken101]

If not Burgundistan, then the United Netherlands or Groot-Nederland. 1830 was a big mistake, Greetz from Hasselt 😊 🤘❤️

[@oliverpeters7485]

The national holiday is on 21st of July and that corresponds to the day on which the first king in Belgium, Leopold I, made his oath on the constitution in 1831. There is no such thing like a coronation in Belgium

[@eurorpeen]

​@@CobraChicken101 Just Belgium with the Netherlands inside like it was from all time. Do you know 1830 was not a revolution? Some people said enough is enough and sent a letter to the Dutch king. He answered by sending troops hence causing a revolution

[@GuyWets-zy5yt]

Greetings from Belgium 🇧🇪🍀🍀🍀

[@Sadlander2]

0:21 Thank you! 😉 _(cheers from Luxembourg)_

[@larsthomann3412]

Hey Jps, have you ever visited Switzerland? Can show you some beautiful and interessting places and peaceful festivals.

[@gordonjohnhinds519]

It is a very interesting place to live, the people are friendly and it has some very beautiful architecture. Conversations at parties or events often occur with a mix of languages (with English often used as a "middle" language).

[@teroholopainen1017]

I don't know about living in Belgium (I'm a Finn), but I have visited about dozen times. I love it. I love the food, chocolate, beer as well as the old architecture, culture and history. And the people are lovely.

[@DavidPaulMorgan]

the host of the clip is very amusing! My company has an office in Namur. French Speaking. I used my broken 'dutch' when I was in Ypres and the coffee shop assistant laughed - she was surprised, as most 'english' don't bother to try and speak the language 🙂. I was 10yo when I first visited Belgium - Bredene-aan-Zee near Oostende. family of four in a little red mini-clubman car! pommes frittes with mayo. super! Also, remember visiting the Mele Park - a bee & honey based theme park. I can 'taste' the honey as I type. I love Belgian beer, Leonidas' chocolates are possibly the best in Europe and I love the waffles. (although I prefer my pommes-frites with mushy peas 🙂)

[@jandejong1122]

For the complicated Dutch/Belgian borders you might like the video "This Bizarre Town is Stuck in 2 Countries!"

[@cyrielwollring4622]

there used to be violent riots in the 1960s and 1980s called De taalstrijd - language battle. But the complicated structure is there to defuse tensions. I think Walloons and Flemish speak English when talking to each other? At least the younger generation. Belgian beers are the best. I saw you drinking Affligem, but have you tried trappist beer?

[@SilionVD]

Fun fact about the Affligem beer... It's been around for about 950 years.

[@saladspinner3200]

I can confirm that the younger generations have started to use English to communicate amongst each other. Fun fact; the cities of Ghent & Leuven have a population that's most proficient in English as non-native speakers, in the world!

[@CobraChicken101]

Oh btw in Belgium we got local elections ( city and towns) today. For the first time it is not mandatory to vote....... so i'm more curious to see how many will turn up than the actual results 😂

[@aphextwin5712]

One aspect of the complicated political structure is that even at a federal level, almost all political parties are either French or Flemish speaking. This results in there being a French and a Flemish socialist party, ditto for the Greens and the Liberals (in the European sense), on the conservative side the parties don’t match up as neatly on both linguistic sides, in particular those parties supporting Flemish autonomy/independence. As a consequence there are currently 12 political parties in (the lower chamber of) the Belgian federal parliament (though the two Green parties have formed a joined group/faction). This makes forming governing coalitions lengthy and complicated. After the elections in 2018, it took 652 days to form a new federal government.

[@alansmithee8831]

Hello Joel. I found out a bit about Belgian history from History with Hilbert. I have visited when younger. I had great fish and chips in Bruges, but the fish was on a kebab stick and the side sauce was of course mayonnaise, but it was so right with the chips. See also Belgium and the Netherlands compared by Mr Beat.

[@JordiVanderwaal]

I'm Catalan but I lived in Belgium for a few months in 2023 (it was intense, but there were more positives than negatives imo and I'd go back in a heartbeat). The politics and regional differences in Belgium are so interesting to me btw.

[@ralfpimpernel7031]

Hey, thanks for your nice video about Belgium. I'm Belgian myself and still a little bit proud now. Yes, it's the country of beer, Belgian fries, chocolate, waffles and more delicious things like that. I hear you like to eat mussels, well you can eat them best here... yes with fries and mayonnaise. If you want to come and taste them, the month of August is the best month for it because it's more seasonal food. A fresh Belgian pilsner beer is its best friend. It's a strange country for foreigners... but hey, once you know it a bit, you don't want anything else. Old buildings, castles, museums, terraces. The people are the descendants of the old Belgians, tribes that bravely fought the Romans. Don't let anyone tell you that Belgium is divided by language. We do speak different languages ​​but have always been one area that stands for cooperation, peace and progress. If you were to plan a trip to Belgium in the future...it's a small country but don't let anyone tell you that you can see everything in a few days. I'd love to see you. Greetings

[@saladspinner3200]

Belgium is that one quiet guy you never paid much attention to, that turns out to be the craziest, funniest and most creative person that you have met in your life. Good music, heavenly food, crazy politics, people with an amazing sense of humor that rivals the British. Add to that that Belgium somehow always manages to end up in the middle of major European events, dating back thousands of years. You'll find yourselves in the synthesis of what Europe represents, covered with a salsa of absurdism, je ne sais quois, fueled by amazing beers.

[@Wrecker3D]

He skipped this: before the EU (European Union, not Europe -that's the continent) there was Benelux a consortium like 'friendship' thing, this was to make trades and exchanges easier and with less red tape, this kept evolving though... Border checks were almost non-existent before EU opened it all up, police would work together making crossing the border to stay in pursuit possible, it went from 'not allowed by law(s)' to, sometimes 'looking the other way' to 'just make sure your dispatch calls our dispatch and we'll gladly help' and this is now how most of Europe fights criminals ... borders are just suggestions, (well of course a shoplifter wouldn't be chased across the border like a murderer would)

[@meerlejack6131]

Jps just like this one 🥰😍🤩❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤💋🤗🤗😘

[@derpeek]

To make the border Belgium more complicated. From their independence til the ens of WW1 it had an independent country within its border. The former country of Neutal Moresnet.

[@world_production]

Hello from Belgium 🇧🇪 😂

[@olli1068]

Already confused even BEFORE the Baarle-Nassau part? You better sit down and fasten your seat belt! 😂

[@boretti1307]

Not enough mentioned in the video: Music from Belgium. Jacques Brel was a very famous singer songwriter and his songs are covered many times, all over the world. For example Port of Amsterdam by David Bowie kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqazi3x9aqd7epYsi=dQPZRmI5M9s3pHKT Season in the Sun by Terry Jacks and many more. Brel's performances were really amazing. The way he put emontions in his songs were unique. Port of Amsterdam kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4uThnp9q8dnqbMsi=kwOPXxLTn3TmYQIM Le Moribond kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZWof3xtqtejh9Esi=zZDzv4ULx-e2RJTN Bruxelles kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHbQdaB7bMiNeqcsi=KucwVsKm6RwMjQeG

[@garrys8314]

Now a brit in Michigan Iived close to felixstowe so sailed across often. love their history cobbled roads in brugge and cathedrals.Belgium invented the French frie or British chip and the sausage roll and the beaches are white sand

[@eurorpeen]

We have been together for more than 2000 years

[@vicentdelatorre7537]

As a Spanish/Catalan I think Belgians are cheerful. I think they are the northern Mediterraneans.

[@kwintendebruyn3738]

You're more than welcome in Belgium! Dont try to understand everything about our country a lot of things dont make sense. If you're ever in Belgium, I would like to show you around Ghent. It's a very nice city and I was born there, so I know all the little streets and beautiful places.

[@mvanb5723]

If you come, visit Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp, Brussels, Leuven

[@jan-matthisweng4437]

Regarding mussels: "Why is a snot from a rock considered a delicacy?" -- Jim Gaffigan

[@TonCKroon]

We, as Dutch people, are crazy about our Belgian neighbours. They have something we lack. They think the same about us. So including Flanders in our ranks would be a nice idea. And yet... When the Flemish have finished thinking and are back on our doorstep to rejoin the Netherlands, I think the Dutch will think about it for a long time. We probably just love that crazy separation and those two strange peoples we have become too much... (Only... Belgians, we love you, but do something about the bumpy roads...!!)

[@growbloomthrive]

And you Dutch should do something about the horsepiss you call beer, the bad food and bad healthcare you guys have so we Belgians dont have to wait for 3 months to get a doctor's appointement becouse of all the Dutch comming to our country for healthcare/Cancer Treatment!!! #FACT

[@flitsertheo]

Why must Flanders always join the Netherlands ? Why not the Netherlands joining Flanders ? After all, not a small part of the Dutch have Flemish ancestors, often they were fugitives running away from the Spanish inquisition. Getting their Flemish identity back would only be logical.

[@TonCKroon]

@@flitsertheo Now that's what I call logic indeed. But unfortunately you're too late. If we're going to use that logic, the Netherlands must join Morocco. :-)

[@flitsertheo]

​@@TonCKroon In general Moroccans aren't fleeing Morocco (some do, to avoid military service) and they can go back if and when they wish to.

[@TonCKroon]

@@flitsertheo The same goes for those with Flemish ancestors. In case you missed it, good to know, there is free movement of people in all Schengen countries. Dutch people originally from Flanders who long for their Belgian nationality can go and live in Belgium tomorrow. They will probably not be prosecuted. And that is an understatement. :-)

[@charliee869]

i need you to react to sassy the sasquatch. funniest aussie show ive ever watched

[@sushi777300]

You should definitely visit Belgium and Luxembourg

[@Treinbouwer]

10:43 Belgium is complicated😂

[@RecoverForest]

6:11 let me help you there. that's not a door. just a window with a slot for mail. I know. I've been there. also, no door knob.

[@laziojohnny79]

Imagine the powerhouse you would create if you would join the Netherlands and Flanders; the two biggest seaports in Europe (could be connected and intertwined even more as they already are), two major international airports, two major economies join forces and all would speak the same language... But that would mean Wallonia would be on it's own, making it very, very poor or the French would have to adopt it which I don't think the Frenchies would be very keen on. So yeah, probably will never happen. Maybe a (re-)unification of the BeNeLux would be more realistic, but even that would take a lot of negotiations. Truly A LOT!

[@SIG442]

Belgium is that little brother you love to tease as the Netherlands.

[@vanesOnYT]

We went without a government (2010-2011) for 541 days. It all just kept going smoothly for the people. lol.

[@piepkwiep4312]

The Bicky burger original must be the best item sold in Belgium.

[@lennert1nevejans]

Does it all run smooth? Well... we do have the world record for longest time without a federal government in a country at peace. Took it from ourselves after taking it from Cambodja (354days). On the flip side.. you dont really notice not having a central government for 541 days when you still have 4 other governments running 😂

[@BunnyslippersEUC]

Jean Claude van Damme is born Flemish. His parents are Flemish. Yet now he can only speak French or English, but not Dutch or Flemish. Car free day in Brussel is awesome.

[@EJannings]

"No way the smurfs are from Belgium, bro?!" (11:29). After watching the first part, that shouldn't come as a surprise.

[@flitsertheo]

Belgium is one of the worlds main comics producing countries. Not in quantity maybe but in quality certainly.

[@EJannings]

@@flitsertheo Ach, mijn grapje blijkt dus niet aan u besteed te zijn.. Tja..

[@kerouac2]

and "nothing going wrong?" Yes, you have a lot to learn!

[@danieldevries5203]

Let's say nothing going really wrong. Somehow it all still works.

[@Frahamen]

Things are not going more wrong than it does in any other countries.

[@kerouac2]

@@Frahamen I salute your optimism but how many other countries have needed more than 500 days to form a government after a legislative election?

[@BarrySuridge]

In a nutshell - just blame Napoleon. 🤣🤣

[@ganymedes62]

Yep, and I hate it when, in books about the Napoleonic wars they're mentioning 'Belgian troops', as the country didn't even exist at the time.

[@flitsertheo]

@@ganymedes62It isn't a totally wrong name for troops originating from an area once known as Gallia Belgica, a Roman province. We couldn't call those troops Austrian, Spanish, French (all gone) or Dutch (not yet).

[@JordiVanderwaal]

Belgian "French" fries are SO good, that is true.

[@TheMarilith]

Not complicated, just Belgian 😄

[@030beh]

Did you had any bad experiences on your last Germany visit? Because you rarely mention it now? Or is it just time to focus on other countries

[@michelekelly1862]

My Aunt lives in Belgium in Ostend It is a beautiful country. But I don't understand the Belgium people mentality they can be rude and feel like they're stuck in the 70s era.

[@saladspinner3200]

That's more a thing for the people who live at the coast. The more eastern you go, the nicer they get.

[@pvisit]

Don't worry too much. We either don't 😂😂

[@Blgfx-70]

Thanks for reacting to Belgium. This video about Belgium is old and not at all accurate. Flanders and Wallonia have historically more in common than is suggested in this video. Pre-Roman Belgic Gaul (B.C.) and medieval Burgundy consisted already of large parts of Flanders and Wallonia. So, even though different languages are spoken, it’s not that weird that a Belgium state was created in 1830 as a buffer state between the powerful countries. During the Middle Ages this wealthy region (especially Flanders with Bruges & Ghent and Brabant) even was the economic heartland/powerhouse of Europe. As such the Belgian region has been the battleground of many wars between the different European powers throughout the centuries. After the UK, Belgium was the second country (first country in continental Europe) to experience the industrial revolution with focus on iron, coal and textile. The south of Belgium (Walloon region) became economically strong and the French language became the dominant one during that period because it was the language of the economic and social elite (even in Flanders). But by the end of the 19th century the Flemish people started to react to this and standing up for their culture and language. Hence the language division that still exists today. Since the heavy industry has fizzled out, so did the economy in the south of Belgium and since then Flanders in the north, who invested heavily in modernizing their economy, has become the dominant economy in Belgium. Politically it is very complicated but up until the 80ies there was only 1 Belgian government. As of the 80ies and 90ies Belgium has more and more regionalized which has led to now 6 governments (5 regional and 1 central) each with their own specific areas of authority. So even if it takes forever to form a central government, it doesn’t matter that much as there’s always the other governments (and the resigning government that monitors until there’s a new one). The king is the King of the Belgians and not of Belgium and is more a ceremonial/representational king with virtually no power and more a unifying symbol. The most controversial king was Leopold II, due to his atrocious rule of the Congo. The Congo Free State was a privately owned colony of Leopold II from 1885 to 1908 and did not belong to Belgium. Due to reports that came out about atrocities that were committed in the name of Leopold II, Belgium reluctantly annexed Congo as a colony in 1908 after international pressure. So, it was not the Belgians that committed atrocious acts but Leopold II and his mercenary force. As Belgium is such a complex country, it has specialized in the art of compromising and that is something which comes in handy and appreciated in European politics, and which also has contributed to the sometimes absurd sense of humour and art. In the arts world, Belgium is known for its ancient architecture and artists (e.g. renaissance & baroque painters), more modern artists (surrealist, CoBrA, Art Nouveau, contemporary), Fashion (the Antwerp 6), music (Toots Tielemans, Jacques Brel, Stromae, Angèle, dEus, Lost Frequencies, Hooverphonic,...) and festivals (Tomorrowland, Rock Werchter, Graspop, Dour, Pukkelpop...). And when visiting you certainly have to try our local cuisine with e.g. more than 1000 varieties of beer, Hasselt gin, chocolate and pralines, Brussels and Liège waffles, Belgian fries, steak and fries, mussels with fries, Flemish carbonade, eel in a green herb sauce (paling in 't groen), speculaas/speculoos, and so many other local specialties. So many cities to visit with ancient history like Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Leuven (oldest university - 1425 - of low countries), Tongeren, Brussels and during carnaval (carnival) season Aalst and Binche, etc. A small country with lots to offer.

[@commando2113]

Belgium was not or is not a buffer state , that was the united kingdom of the nederland's that was the buffer state that was made after the napolionic war's

[@BomberFletch31]

They do have a beautiful national anthem, though, musically speaking. Certainly much better than the Dutch one, or the German one! I started taking an interest in Belgium after meeting (virtually) some friends there. Then I learnt that Tintin was from there. I'm a massive fan of Tintin, and I hope to visit Brussels at some point in the future. I'll be watching with interest.

[@jsb7975]

The german anthem is from HAYDN !! 18th century (fantastic); The Dutch anthem is the oldest in the world and is concidered to be the most beautiful from a musical perspective.16th century.

[@Irsu85]

As a Dutchie living in Flemish Limburg, I can tell ya, don't go south of Herstappen if you don't speak French. The government is so complex that about half a year of the middelbare school geschiedenis is talking about how the government works. For taxes and stuff, you just go to the federal government, but you get the final papers from the Flemish government. About Baarle, thats just Baarle, and idk how that works

[@Marco-zt6fz]

Has many funny Borders. On the border Switzerland und Germany is a Restaurant , wenn you order your Coffee and your drink your coffee on the terrasse then your are in Switzerland. Its a small Town Buesingen.

[@macdieter23558]

Ordering the coffee in Germany, drinking it in Switzerland! That´s Europe!

[@reneket2295]

I am from Netherlands and what I am missing in the video is that most Flemish and Wallonians hate each other so much, that they refuse to speak the other's language if they meet, although they learned both languages at school. If they meet, they rather speak English to each other, then Dutch or French.

[@pvisit]

That's because the current flemish generation got bored that the walloons never learned flemish now and in the past while they themselves were obliged to learn french.

[@biankakoettlitz6979]

This enclaves you have because of WW1, I think. Germany is full of them:Kleines Walserthal is the most famous, then there is the Danish /German one, Swiss has its share with Germany and perhaps with Italy, Italy and Austria :Tiyrol/Südtirol and so on😁

[@erikbehaeghel]

greetings from the Belgian coast. Belgium is fun and crazy at the same time lol

[@micade2518]

If England supported the independance of Belgium, it was not disinterested: they supported the creation of a buffer - neutral country - between their Ally, The Netherlands that they didn't want to become too powerful, and their arch-enemy France, for the same reason. The first king of Belgium, Leopold I (born December 16, 1790, Coburg, Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Germany) married Charlotte, the only child of the future king George IV of Great Britain, in 1816. Although the princess died in 1817, Leopold continued to live in England until 1831, when he accepted his election as king of the Belgians.

[@Artselen]

Belgium has the first and second place in "longest time without head of state"

[@wallygator3875]

best thing Belgium did together with the Netherlands was "2Unlimited"

[@znjzblj7995]

Check Bosnia and Herzegovina if you like complications.

[@Dutch1961]

Right. I vaguely remember a country with a federal government, 50 states with their own governments modelled after the federal government and a district that isn't a state, just like brussels. Where Belgium has three official languages this country has NO official language.

[@AVDB95]

While Belgium didn't start like said in the video the truth is still funny. Basicly a riot happend against the Dutch rule (suposedly inspired by a play) and while the belgian people didn't expect it the Dutch just left after that. Making everyone wonder the next day what to do with the new country. The UK back in the day took responsibility for the new country off Belgium and offered themselfs as being the protector off Belgium. (Likely just wanted a friendly port on mainland europe) This was eventually what would lead the UK to join the first world war, Belgium got invaded by Germany and they where suposed to help defend Belgium.

[@szabados1980]

16:20 They weren't kings. One was a prince, the other a duke.

[@keejj]

For the borders between the regions, that is now better then in the past I would say. After BHV was finally split (not yet in this video you're reacting to apparently), political stability is now better. In the past, there were border disputes between the regions, where politicians from one region made claims on parts of the other region, and leading to regions sabotaging each other (never to the point of fighting luckily), but relations are better now, although not perfect. For all the governments, in general it is ok, but there are area's where there are disputes about which government is responsible for what. E.g. federal government is for the sea, Flemish government for the beach, but problem is the tides of course. Another thing is that only the federal government has income taxes, and there is some arrangement to divide part of it over the other governments, but is a point of discussion of course. Another thing that doesn't work very well is that the regions are responsible for employment, but the federal government pays the money for the unemployed people, meaning that although the regions are responsible for trying to get people a job, it only costs money to the regions to do that, there is no financial benefit in terms of less people unemployed since the federal government pays for that, so less incentive to invest in that. About the fact that in Brussels, both the Flemish and Walloon communities are active, this is mainly a point for schools (education is a responsibility of the community governments), but it only means that as a parent, it depends on if you send your kid to a Dutch speaking or French speaking school in Brussels. A point of discussion there I know from a former job was that there was a big mess about cheaper public transport plans for students in Brussels, because it was payed by the French and Walloon communities and different depending the school system (Flemish vs Walloon), and a huge mess to deal with for the public transport company in Brussels, which is responsibility of the government of the region of Brussels. So the government of the Brussels region decided to take this responsibility over from the Flemish and Walloon communities and make 1 reduction system for all students. But of course this took a lot of time and discussions between governments to settle this.

[@gertvanderstraaten6352]

Kamagurka is also an absurdist comic artist.

[@neuralwarp]

I don't know why you find Belgium so difficult. They have regions districts taxes and a king; America has states counties taxes and a president. No internal borders.

[@dragonforce2724]

House quality is praticly the same The king is basicly a glorified stamping device, each law passed needs to have the kings stamp

[@brightdarkness420]

we dont understand the politics here either lol

[@heidivanbrabant830]

I agree with you it is just rediculous. but all the rest I love the fries, the waffles, the chocolat and of course the best beer.

[@abbofun9022]

There’s a good reason Belgians are champions in absurdist humour. 😊

[@bertkassing8541]

As a Dutch person you always know when you are driving into Belgium. Power cables along the road and bad roads and the signposting....well, forget about that. But anyway, Flanders is our cousin and we kind of love each other. But the Netherlands and Flanders together? No, that is really not going to happen. The Dutch are really different from the Flemish. We speak one language and that is enough I think :-) I see a merger of Nordrhein-Westfalen with the Netherlands rather than with Flanders.

[@KeesBoons]

As you well know, we speak more than 1 language on the mainland of the Netherlands. If differences where reasons not to cooperate, the Netherlands wouldn't be a country either. The difference between Nordrhein-Westfalen or Flanders with the Randstad are probably comparable. Nordrhein-Westfalen is closer to the culture of the East of the Netherlands, and Flanders closer to the South.

[@growbloomthrive]

As Belgians we also know when we cross the border with the Netherlands, houses shrink to the size of a average Belgian garden house and the food and beer is getting aweful!

[@flitsertheo]

Never invite the Germans to "merger".

[@152glorfindel]

Belgians do love to make fun of the Dutch and the French and they of us but if they needed help we would help without a second thought.

[@saphounetheteajunkie8626]

If you come to Belgium you will see more confusing stuff but it kinda works. Just don't take it seriously.

[@Blackadder75]

oh no, it's not 4 forces acting as one... It;s 4 forces acting as none