Why does Belgium Exist? (Short Animated Documentary)

[@Ralphieboy]

I learned the term "Belgian Compromise" as "a half-assed compromise that neither solves the problem nor satisfies either side."

[@NS-li9jd]

Yes but we’re pragmatic people so if it sorta works, we’ll go along with it

[@Bheretus]

you mean like our reaction to covid...

[@TheGunkTv]

And for some reason the EU looked at that and said we want that too. For the second time they took a Belgian president for the European counsil.

[@Ralphieboy]

In the case of Covid, there can only be compromises: from a public health point of view, the best option would be to like people in their houses as was done in Wuhan, from the economic standpoint, just go for Herd Immunity.

[@jakubcidlik]

@@TheGunkTv So thats why EU sucks?

[@MrTacticalAce]

Belgium is just the center of a complicated love-triangle.

[@noth606]

More like the fight pit between Germany, France and Britain seems to me. As a dutch speaker flemish is funny for me as it's like a weird dialect of dutch, everything is written the same but pronounced like you have something uncomfortable in your mouth, as opposed to dutch which has the pronunciation like a similar object is in your throat lol.

[@dionysusssy]

**cries**

[@d3laiah]

*hate-triangle

[@ToastAbrikoos]

Thought it always is the it's own Europes Devil's Triangle where problem solving mysteriously disappears

[@Dark_Peace]

JP Beaubien approve

[@ChessedGamon]

Being a Belgian nationalist in the 19th and early 20th century must have been like having an existential crisis that never stopped

[@lessthanpinochet]

Belgium has almost zero national identity. You're either Flemish or Walloon . It's two completely different regions, with different cultures, languages and ways of life.

[@CarthagoMike]

And lets not forget the few who still identify as Brabantian, hating the Flemish, Walloons and the expats from Brussels.

[@robertjarman3703]

I guess the only one would have been the monarch, who is known as the King of the Belgians.

[@atruv2089]

@@lessthanpinochet "The United Kingdom has almost zero national identity. You're either Scottish, English, Welsh, Cornish, or Irish. They're completely different regions, with different cultures, languages, and ways of life"

[@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714]

You cant bee a belgian nationalist as there is no belgian nation, you can be a belguian patriot.

[@kellyjohns6612]

If schools would educate students with animated history, many more kids would pay attention. I'm 54 and enjoying history for the 1st time. Nice job, guys. Thank you

[@nicholasm7822]

It is the responsibility of students to study and pay attention to the teacher, but it is not the responsibility of the teacher to entertain the students. If a doctor tells a patient "you need to stop smoking and exercise more" would it be reasonable for the patient to ignore it because the doctor did not give the medical advice in an entertaining way?

[@kellyjohns6612]

@@nicholasm7822 Who asked for your opinion? I did not.

[@nicholasm7822]

@@kellyjohns6612 have a nice day

[@tehspoderman7491]

@@nicholasm7822that’s a bit of a false equivalence though. A doctors advice is usually for the benefit for the patient and their health, so if the patient ignores it, it is under their discretion. History isn’t really necessary or even interesting for a lot of people. Making history interesting for people who don’t have an inherent interest in the subject is something that I think is pretty impressive, which I think history matters does pretty well no?

[@nicholasm7822]

@@tehspoderman7491 i think it is an appropriate analogy. Whether a student is interested in history or not, school is for the student's benefit, and the student would do well to listen to the teacher. Similarly medical advice is for the patient's benefit, whether the patient has a sufficient interest in taking care of his or her health or not.

[@houssem.khaled]

There's a Belgian saying that goes: "if you understood something about Belgium, it means we didn't explain it to you properly".

[@theemirofjaffa2266]

😅🤣😂👍

[@ramsesbams]

first time hearing that one, but i don't disagree. i'm not actually even sure what happened with the elections

[@landerlaurits]

in Dutch, French or German?

[@ilovehats7638]

Same thing about the polish language.

[@fclp67]

Anyone who isn't confused clearly doesn't understand the situation

[@judecaruso434]

As a Belgian I wake up every morning and ask myself this question

[@abloodorange5233]

Would you like to be split up?

[@sid2112]

It's the chocolate.

[@chombus2602]

I wish i was belgian

[@viktorcipo]

And now belgium does include all the European institutions... Guess who won Dat.

[@judecaruso434]

Andrea CastiGo yes it does but that is because we are seen as a point of neutrality. Imagine if the EU took place in Germany!

[@noahtra]

Luxembourg be like: if I don't move, they won't harm me

[@PaStef37]

They did succeed at being unoticed. And now they're rich.

[@cirmogcirmog3088]

Amsterdam=🚬🍄🌵

[@on2td]

Our leader is probably motion detecting

[@hhiippiittyy]

Gets hot under the covers and decides it can sacrifice a leg.

[@harbl99]

Luxemburg: "I was emperor of all this." Garmeny: "What you say?" Luxemburg: "Nothing. Nothing. Don't mind me."

[@Trigm]

0:11 I love the realism. As a resident of Brussels, I certainly agree about coloring it French. The "Dual Language" area speaks French first, and Dutch third. The Second Language of Brussels is English, the unofficial fourth language of Belgium.

[@SunlessSage]

As someone from Flanders, it's exactly the same around here just switch Dutch and French around in the ranking. My English is better than my French.

[@Antikyth]

@@SunlessSage I think I can tell based on you and @Trigm's English being perfect. Ik zou graag in Vlaanderen willen wonen, en ik leer Nederlands om dat te doen (maar het is nog steeds slecht). Engels is mijn moedertaal.

[@DoomsYann]

@@AntikythKomt goed

[@claudedecruyenaere3161]

Arabic only, in a few years

[@abarette_]

same in Wallonia, because for some god-forsaken reason school teaches you English before Dutch

[@jmhanelineiv]

"...and was rejected by the British because 'France can't have nice things' had been British foreign policy for over 400 years at this point" had me ROLLING

[@habib6499]

Cause tradition

[@matei8master8]

And that wasn't going to change anytime soon.

[@RDA000]

We all know that Elizabeth II secretly hates the French...its in her blood

[@himaro101]

I mean, we and the French really have a love hate relationship. It's like we will stand up for our rights to independently hate each other...

[@R0ssMM]

@@himaro101 Yep, we'll defend each other's independence, as without it we wouldn't have our dearest frenemy

[@WantedVisual]

"Zero out of three isn't bad" was the political philosophy we started with, and we will stick with it, dammit.

[@mitchellline3398]

Well King Albert I was all 3. So you just needed patience

[@Edmonton-of2ec]

@@mitchellline3398 Not to mention he was BADASS

[@bonsoir5170]

@@loscilla so it's 0,5 out of 3, even better :)

[@josedelapinio]

@wantedVisual. Truer words have never been spoken.

[@edh9999]

"If you understand Belgian politics, you understand politics everywhere in the world." US embassador to Belgium in the 80s.

[@robbelambrechts9693]

As a Belgian, I can agree lol

[@sfx9387]

One does not simply understand Belgian politics

[@desven123]

it's true

[@edh9999]

@@helenarichard One for each comunity (3), one for each language group (3), one for Brussel and one Federal. So, yeah, we have 8 cabinets for a nation the size of a pancake:)

[@rohyourboat]

@@edh9999 This is incorrect, since the Flanders community and the Dutch language group have been merged into 1 government for quite a while. We have 7 cabinets.

[@davidlasdon457]

As near as I can tell Belgium exists so that a bunch of French speakers can claim they aren't French and a bunch of Dutch speakers can claim they aren't Dutch. But damn the beer is incredible.

[@leonpaelinck]

Don't forget the chocolate and the waffles and of cours the totally not Frech Fries :-)

[@cochonchon4223]

Exactly but you forget the FRENCH fries

[@PieterFret]

As a Belgian, I agree on all counts 😄

[@resolvanlemmy]

Smurfs

[@eleb48]

@Davy Anthonissen It was an American and a Belgian who worked on the W3C

[@thesnoopmeistersnoops5167]

“France can’t have nice things” - British foreign policy for 400 years. Love it.

[@yc2673]

Its wrong, as British and French divided the world between themselves for 2 centuries now...

[@thesnoopmeistersnoops5167]

YC please try watching videos before commentating on the validity of their content. I quoted a rough outline of Britains foreign policy.........from some time ago.

[@OptLab]

British policy has always been about making a coalition about the strongest european country. Meanwhile they colonised the planet. But be careful, this is what China is saying to do the same thing to the world. With network control, data control, international institutions, intellectual property control, supply chain dependancy, dept loans diplomacy, and acquisition of foreign medias.

[@johnmcalinden4293]

Taken from "Yes, Prime Minister".

[@leonoreskovic2535]

@@yc2673 Yea and there came Germany and... France surrendered in 40 days, British were saved by Americans.

[@melvindebosscher826]

As a Belgian I can confirm that we don't know why we exist.

[@iAmThatOneDuck]

As a belgian I can confirm that the belgian above can confirm that we don't know why we exist.

[@arefkr]

Why you exist or why your country exists?

[@caporal8]

I can confirm too

[@iAmThatOneDuck]

@@arefkr both

[@axellukkien]

Belgium exists to give the world André Franquin and Raymond van het Groenewoud. And we thank you.

[@choonbox]

Everyone always asks: 'Why is Belgium' never *"How is Belgium?"*

[@merrittanimation7721]

Who is Belgium?

[@AAREONN]

What is Belgium

[@joehudson3042]

Why is Belgium?

[@Randomperson-ts8bm]

We are fine... Most of the time

[@kingbookser]

With who is Belgium

[@timroz]

I love that the belgian have the "I rather put up with family then strangers" mentality

[@Atlas3060]

"We'll all be painful TOGETHER! Go Team!" yeah I can see that being a Belgian motivational poster somehow.

[@josedelapinio]

@timroz every election where they have to make a federal government is like an uncomfortable christmass dinner. They all start banging on the table, shouting at eachother, making insulting or provocative statements,.... But when they all sobered up (after months and months). They realize they are stuck together and look for a shitty compromise because after all they are family 😂

[@kaiserwilhelmii9897]

'Why does Belgium exist?' Alfred von Schlieffen: Good question

[@someguywithadog3239]

Nice

[@janicechristiedenton0451]

Just imagine, in another world, Flanders-Wallonia exists instead, under King Adalbert.

[@trevorhanlin4247]

name checks out

[@kaiserwilhelmii9897]

Melinda Louise imagine that in another universe, Belgium is ruled by the house of Hohenzollern

[@Pierrick2009]

Ouch!! Lol

[@magnusengeseth5060]

Belgium has made quite a career out of going "Wouldn't it suck if this belonged to your enemy?" They managed to turn Brussels into the center of EU bureaucracy in much the same way since the big early EU countries couldn't tolerate the idea that one of the other big boys had the EU "capital". Vote Brussels, at least it's not Paris, Berlin, London (lol) or Rome!

[@thunderbird1921]

Or Madrid (after Spain became more democratic).

[@swamidude2214]

If it even splits I would suggest making Brussels a city state from the EU, much as Washington DC is not a state but the capital city.

[@TexboyGamer]

@@swamidude2214 gross

[@Sanu.sk167]

@@swamidude2214 never gonna happen, the Flemish army will then invade Brussels and take it over by any costs...

[@lv2668]

The same way we acquired congo at the Berlin conference, the british didn’t want the french to have it and the french didn’t want the british to have it 🤣

[@Corneliusoco]

A country can't work without a good government Belgium: hold my waffle

[@Aranimda]

German Waffle SS: *Takes waffle*

[@BibiBoJ]

That's why we have 6 governments xD if they all do 1/6th right, it is functioning well

[@Vanessa-dx7dy]

@@Aranimda Ha

[@yeetumuscoppos6034]

how bout no government

[@amargabela7018]

Bosnia: Hold my... Actualy he has a point!

[@Space-Poes]

I don't know why Belgium exists but as a belgian I am happy I live in Belgium.

[@archer9338]

Because of waffles :)

[@pindol69]

So,are you from the dutch,german,or french speaking part?

[@Space-Poes]

@@pindol69 dutch

[@bradcapello6875]

​@@Space-Poes Hoi. 👋

[@gameknightjek2640]

Yeah, it's a great country. I mean, i can study for free, same as my medecine, my salary is bond to follow the inflation by law, we have a super economy... Like, that's really a great place to live. Long live the King, the Law, the Liberty!

[@PyroPuffs777]

“0/3 isn’t bad” -History Matters

[@AndrewPonti]

“2/3 AIN’T bad” -Meat Loaf

[@djohn4904]

"We still have 2 out of 3 branches of government and that ain't half bad." -Jack Nicholson, Mars Attacks

[@CA999]

That was hilarious! I like the whitty humour in this narrator. It keeps me hooked.

[@roelvanderstukken6377]

Leopold 1' son: i can do worse, -2/3.

[@hildeschmid8400]

​@@AndrewPonti😂❤

[@arnosaxena]

Grandma of my wife here in East-Belgium changed nationality multiple times, without ever leaving her village :D

[@memzboiz]

Ahh yes i live there too, in eupen to be exact

[@arnosaxena]

@@memzboiz wie ich auch :D

[@zurafar6954]

@@arnosaxena Grüße an meine Deutsch-Belgischen Freunde aus Österreich :D

[@WCGreeny]

"Where are you from?" "Luxembourg this week"

[@BadDayLp]

Ich mag Belgien.

[@rager1969]

"Zero out of three isn't bad." Brilliant.

[@Gangkoyt]

Yea if you score at least a zero out of three you can rule is the rule

[@MrMaro1995]

Sounds like something I could put in my tinder bio.

[@hetedeleambacht6608]

the Belgian schizofrenic mind in a nutshell

[@Mi_Fa_Volare]

It isn't bad, it's a failure.

[@Furienna]

All of the later Belgian kings seem to have been Catholics though.

[@PulseRasar]

“Why Does Belgium exist?” Asked Hitler Calmly

[@stevenbastin8741]

To give the Ardenese hunters a place to live when they don't wreack german tanks

[@rubenskiii]

Belgium: _"We hate eachother. But we hate the neighbours even more..."_

[@jaspertepas8433]

Nee die graftakken Bende bij jullie word je vrolijk van

[@rubenskiii]

@@jaspertepas8433 kalmeert uw tieten buurman.

[@jaspertepas8433]

@RUBENSKI wablief?

[@marcsiefer1678]

Als Belg kan ik ik dit bevestigen.

[@bertcornelissen6294]

It's when you go abroad you notice you might have more in common with those damn Flemings/Francophones than you'd thought.

[@TheAnonymous4545]

In Germany there is a saying that Belgium is like high school. We just need to pass through it.

[@economicapple2609]

For both, it's easier said than done.

[@Brentlolgamez]

Here in Belgium we have the saying 'all Germans are welcome here, just not all at once' lol

[@simongoossens2840]

I would say: in Belgium we have a saying: keep on trying....

[@gromit3315]

TheAnonymous1940, you already did. Short memory? Or you just didn’t know...

[@KR-jt4ut]

So, why did you wanted to stay here, in 1914 and 1940? Strange, ...

[@link-nh4dj]

Belgium: * exist * History matters: Why?

[@KimliksizDevlet.]

More like Belgium: * exists * Almost everyone who is interested in geoghraphy and history: Why?

[@Thumbsupurbum]

Because Germany can't win a World War.

[@quintiax]

@@Thumbsupurbum As a Belgian myself I find this the best answer tbh.

[@PANZERFAUST90]

exists*

[@seanm241]

Hey Vsauce

[@james64ibm]

It's kind of remarkable that they even found a name for this collection of Dutch, French and German leftovers. It's equally remarkable that to France and Germany, Belgium was never an enemy or an ally, but simply "in the way". Like a geographically challenged Switzerland.

[@essaly7969]

'Geographically and politically challenged Switzerland' is the most fitting title for Belgium.

[@remington2216]

Belgium come from the name of an old Germanic tribes first written by the Romans 'belgae' which also gave the region they inhabit it's name

[@ekn_38]

The Belgae were Celtic not Germanic

[@Stryfe564]

They were not just leftovers. It has been a politically and culturally connected region for hundreds of years. Also, the region was of incredible importance relative to its size. Throughout the middle ages and later it was consistently one of the more economically and strategically important regions under whatever crown ruled it. It has its internal divisions especially nowadays, but the same would go if it was part of any other adjacent nation.

[@RustieFawn]

Remarkably is have your pfp and also have the ability to read or set up a KZbin account.

[@Krazee9]

"I don't believe in Luxembourg." Proceeds to reference the existence of Luxembourg several times.

[@BobbyBaratheon998]

What're you looking at? You haven't seen a hypocrite before?

[@Christophe.C]

It's the grand duchy of Luxembourg!you should read a book form time to time!

[@DiamondDust132]

It's almost like it's a joke or something.

[@PANZERFAUST90]

@@DiamondDust132 It's almost like you missed the joke within the joke.

[@geoffreycharles6330]

@@DiamondDust132 the money ze have here is not a joke

[@TotallyNotElPresidente]

Why does Belgium exist? France: Shield from Germany Germany: Invasion path into France England: Reason to fight Germany Netherlands: Give us back our land

[@voided_sun]

Some people still want it, but it's not a real concern. Here in the Netherlands, it's kinda nice having Belgium as a BFF though.

[@maneskin8097]

@@voided_sun We dont want them back I rather prefer to join Germany. Belgium go with France and make a lot of debt.

[@michaellin4553]

Congo: Give us back our hand

[@dutchtheguy849]

Yes.

[@heronofheaven]

@@michaellin4553 Congo: Give us back our hands

[@arohsix]

France: **Has lots of defences along the german border** Germany in the 20th century: *Why does Belgium exist?*

[@vitaurea]

*does belgium really need to exist?*

[@bwc153]

To bait Germany into fighting an offensive war in the Belgian lowlands.

[@massyarchai146]

Alfred Von Schleiffen And Nazi Generals: *"Good Question."*

[@YuiFunami]

France: *has an agreement to use the existing belgian defenses in case of war* Belgium: *doesn't like the french response to the rhineland so ends the agreement with france leaving them open to invasion and ruining french plans*

[@HoustonBrown1963]

You have quickly become one of my favorite channels. I now look forward to see how you incorporate someone dancing thru the daisies into every episode. You never disappoint

[@nielsreyngoud2870]

Fun fact: the border between Belgium and the Netherlands follows the front line between the Dutch Republic and the Spanish troops in the 80-year war. On aerial photographs, you can still see traces of this front line such as old ramparts.

[@richardweil8813]

And in Baarle-Nassau the border is totally mixed up because of feudal land holdings that came along with the national division in 1839. About two dozen enclaves and counter-enclaves exist between Belgium and the Netherlands. Walking down the street markers in the sidewalk show what country you are in. Shops next to each other may have different national rules, building permits and so on. Somehow it works.

[@IHaveALotOfNamesI]

Thats a cool little fact i didnt know about my country are you bzlgian too?

[@nielsreyngoud2870]

@@IHaveALotOfNamesI I’m Dutch ☺️.

[@DarthJacob12]

Belgium: **exists for centuries as a sovereign nation despite being sandwiched between two great powers that want to annex it** Poland: “God I wish that were me”

[@hsdjsdshdhsdnsmsd6247]

I am learning english. Is "were" here correct or should it be "was"? "I wish that was me" sounds better to me.

[@jarritasgael]

hsdjsd shdhsdnsmsd I agree that “was” works

[@SoftBreadSoft]

Were is correct, it's subjunctive form. I wish it were, if it were, etc.

[@SoftBreadSoft]

Example: if you were writing a sentence such as this, it would seem more natural. If you was writing a sentence like this, I'd think you're from the south.

[@TheAngryPheonix]

Was is used when a condition/ wish is more real, where as were is used when it isn’t. So “I wish that were me” is technically correct as that isn’t them. However most people say “was”, so it’s really fine either way.

[@MrZochoR]

As a Belgian, I've been asking myself this question since 31 years and even after 5 minutes of this video, my questions remain unanswered.

[@BozesanVlad]

Maybe Belgium exists so UK can fuck France and Nederland, and the last two to have a diplomatic lever against each other? Always are some "frozen" countries/ places left in the world so the powerful continue to have power. Sadly for the people who continue to have hope from the exact powers who fuck em.

[@thunderbird1921]

I'm honestly amazed you guys never swallowed up Luxembourg entirely and simply made its Duchy another title for your king. And honestly, the reason you exist from what I can tell is to keep Germany, France and the Netherlands at bay (while consisting of ethnic lands of all three backgrounds). It's honestly why you guys struggle to form governments: You're not really one country, but a union of 2-3 microstates under one crown.

[@chaoticdanor]

@@thunderbird1921 this is true but as a Flemish, i would just rather be part of the Netherlands and have the Walloons be part of France because it just makes more sense and the dutch have better laws anyway. The german part is so tiny that even we don't talk or think about them.

[@EncIave-]

@@chaoticdanor Based Vlaamse Broeder

[@VintageCR]

@@chaoticdanor as a Dutchy i agree, but i also disagree because your country keeps everything balanced. if your country became part of the Netherlands (border removed) our laws would then intertwine, meaning the combined laws would make everything worse. and why your country STILL exists today comes down to 1 word: POLITICS

[@Jan_Koopman]

"Why does Belgium exist?" Me, a Dutchman, grabbing my shotgun: "Good question..."

[@edcallebaut9457]

The Dutch had Belgium, but then they got greedy!

[@teeqx7361]

Dutch: who is Belgium. Germans: where is Belgium Congo: why is Belgium?!

[@kermitthefrog9818]

No USA: *Where* *is* *Belgium*

[@attiepollard7847]

@@kermitthefrog9818 I still have a special hate for Belgium for beating the USA in the world playoffs in 2014. Damnit

[@BuriedFlame]

I never thought Drax was Congolese...

[@theyoshi202]

@ShadowRaven If you’re not sad when your country loses you’re not watching the World Cup correctly

[@vzheyko]

Netherlanders will say this: 'Belgium? Southern Netherlands!'

[@noeL-sp6wn]

"Leopold I, a German speaking protestant who quickly expanded the power of the monarchy, but you know 0/3 isn't bad" got me laughing

[@algiz21]

And they threw a revolution to get away from us so that they could get the same only now less powerful?

[@faraoofegypt]

@@algiz21 Less powerfull? I would argue that the Belgians became much more powerfull (you know The Congo and stuff)

[@brandonlyon730]

The Greeks had one time a Danish Protestant as their King.

[@sdsd2e2321]

But he wasn't bad really. Leopold was quite liberal (so no killing catholics) and he sponsored the industrial revolution

[@brandonlyon730]

There was also that time in Russia where the help overthrow there Russian Tsar in favor of his German wife.

[@capulet6669]

"Belgian Lives Matter" - ISP 2017

[@atleastimnotgae2124]

anonymous opinions agreed

[@augustopinochet6899]

I was looking for an ISP reference, and now found it

[@jumperwilli7770]

Revolver Ocelot nah they don’t

[@MrRamazanLale2]

That's so true in 2020

[@noahbrasseur1490]

There it is

[@ICaImI]

Me, a german, can completely understand the sentiment of "france can't have nice things".

[@reeseman1932]

Belgium: *wins war* Britain: “what are your demands?” Belgium: “... *Netherlands* “

[@robindemeyer8960]

We got Rwanda and Burundi

[@grangermontag1824]

"Wins" war

[@feartheghus]

It’s like watching a retard hoi4 game, the country didn’t win the war by itself, it wasn’t a major power, and apparently it wanted land from the Netherlands, not one of its enemies in the war.

[@philippeverhoosel2740]

It would literally never have gotten it

[@emilandersen2195]

@@feartheghus the amount of dumb demands and border gore that can happen in that game is staggering.

[@timmy7201]

During wartime Belgium exists as a place where the Dutch, Germans, French and British can have a fight outside their own borders. . Outside of wartime Belgium exists as a political reality comedy show for the rest of Europe.

[@valentinmassart1962]

I think you're overestimating our political system. It is far too complex and dull to be worth a reality show. Especially when you see what some of our neighbors are up to sometimes, they're the real clowns.

[@grepominer8820]

@@valentinmassart1962 Calimero much?

[@timmy7201]

​@@valentinmassart1962 I would say: There is the political system for complexity and the politicians for the comedy, with additionally some healthy political soap opera competition from our neighbors to keep everything in balance.

[@MysteryOfMovies]

@@valentinmassart1962 Belgian spotted. How? The fatalism & negativism while having it better than 99% of the world showed it.

[@timmy7201]

@@MysteryOfMovies We could also just ignore all problems and warning signs and be overly positive. It would probably take another decade or two before you wake up one morning wondering why the electricity is out and why your crazy neighbor is wearing his hazmat suit, so why worry now. Instead of building new nuclear power plants let's postpone it for another decade or two and see how long those old plants keep on going...

[@roflmywaffles1313]

World: Belgium is a country France: Belgium is a meat shield

[@karath51]

Germany: Belgium is a speed bump

[@anne.andromeda]

Germany: Belgium is the shortest route to Paris

[@PyroPuffs777]

A very flimsy meat shield.

[@boi-chan150]

I made it 69 likes

[@gamebawesome]

Netherlands: Southern Netherlands

[@ysteinfjr7529]

Belgium exists because of neighboring tyrants wanting to annex it, so the Belgians decided we better stick together no matter what.

[@devingraves8044]

Sandwiched between France, Germany, and the Netherlands... Luxembourg: Am I a joke to you

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

Exactly...

[@rockonmadonna]

Mais, oui ! MdR Mon ami alsacien a appelé le Luxembourg le pays le plus étrange de l’Europe occidentale. Je n’y suis jamais allé, et donc j’en reste agnostique. Toutefois, il me semble que d’être plus étrange qu’un pays qui veut garder son patrimoine culturel et sa langue et à la fois ne parler qu’en franglais en s’ouvrant grand les portes aux plus grands associations américaines comme McDonalds, Starbucks, Walmart partout et à tout musulman, même s’il veut venir sans devenir français (la langue, du vin, du porc, du catholicisme culturel, etc., même la loi laïque) ça serait vraiment un défi de taille ! Sauf faire de l’anglais une des langues nationales quand aucune région ne l’a comme langue principale et historique, la Suisse me semblait plus raisonnable et plus réussite que la France -sauf si l’on parle des vins. 😂🤣🍷😍

[@yobhsiFehT]

Yeah, no offense to anyone, but did I somehow miss the part explaining why *Luxembourg* exists?? 🤔 lol

[@mauricematla1215]

Yes.

[@CrowColdblade]

@@yobhsiFehT because nobody wanted it when they signed the peace at Westphalia

[@MatijaCG]

History Matters: "Why does Belgium exist?" Answer: So Germany can go through shortcut when it attacks France.

[@LF-hj8kk]

*so that germany can lose WW1 thinking it can go through shortcut when it attacks France

[@ziadjouini1671]

@@LF-hj8kk u gotta cut the germans some slack .. in ww1 they fought france uk blegium and later the usa in the west and russia in the east and later italy in the south .. lets face the facts in a duel germany would've won against the frensh with ease ! in ww2 it did"nt even matter france lost so quickly it became a meme

[@GdotWdot]

"Belgium is like school, one has to go through it," - old German joke

[@skiteufr]

@@si-jd9oq but France never lost to Germany in ww1. France fought back in 1914 and was the main winner of the allies in 1918 by looking at the contribution

[@elbentos7803]

@@ziadjouini1671 Not exactly, you seem to conveniently forget the very existence of Austria- Hungary empire (quite a huge country at the time) who faced Italy alone (germans were barely involved on this front) and shared the burden against Russia. You also conveniently forget the importance of Turkey, notably against Russia in Caucasus, as well as well as minor allies (Bulgaria...). You are hugely mistaken when you implies that Germany have fought the allied coalition all alone.

[@Dfathurr]

Why does Belgium exists? Something that even Belgians themselves often asking

[@davute9546]

We have good BELGIAN FRIES

[@nielsdecoene2925]

Bc Europe needed a country to preserve amazing fries, beer and waffles and honestly, I think that’s beautiful

[@user-wi8mn3id8z]

@@davute9546 HEX: DELETE LEGION

[@devos2560]

@Strawberry Kiys Same

[@mugofbrown6234]

Their food and drink.

[@dominokid511]

"Sandwiched between France, Germany, and the Netherlands." Luxembourg: *Am I a joke to you?*

[@coltonsupergame]

"I mean, it wasn't a bad plan exactly." -History Matters (or 10 minute History depending on how long you have been following) end Card.

[@slewone4905]

What Plan. To Poland Belgium.

[@sally232]

The Real Question is Who is James Bissonnette?

[@joelthomastr]

Bise en nette

[@センナ-h4c]

He's been the mastermind all along, changing the history based of what he wanted it to be, cause he's the patron (French for boss) That's just a theory, a GAME THEORY

[@yarpen26]

The French know him as Jacques the Little Bison.

[@CBielski87]

biz nasty

[@Jaxon-IF]

Better question, what happened to David Archeologist?

[@cecilevanderputten7542]

There is one major error in this video: When French was chosen as the official language it wasn't yet the language of the south (Wallonia). At the time, Walloons spoke different dialects of mostly Walloon, Picard and Lorrain languages, which are separate languages from the same family as French but quasi non intelligible with the French language. French was chosen as the official language because it was the lingua franca of the bourgeoisie and nobility of the country (both Flemish and Walloon). At that time, French was thus as much a foreign language for the Walloons as it was for the Flemish. It is only after WW1 that Walloons began to widely speak French (and were punished at school and considered inferior if they spoke Walloon). This is something a lot of Flemish separatists still don't understand today: Walloons have been as much as the Flemish the victims of the frenchification of Belgium and, contrary to the Flemish, they have now completely lost their language.

[@cecilevanderputten7542]

A second error is that on your map you've colored Brussels as being "Walloon" and french-speaking in 1830. It is false for two reasons 1) At that time, inhabitants of Brussels spoke Brabantian (language close to Dutch) and it is only since the begining of the 20th century that people in Brussels widely speak French ; 2) French speakers in Brussels are not "Walloons", they are usually descendants of Brabantian speakers who have changed their language to French overtime (to climb up the social ladder) and do not identify neither as Flemish nor as Walloons.

[@carthkaras6449]

My parents and grand-parents spoke walloon and even if they think that walloon was a "convivial" language, they consider that french is better. Better for all the cultural heritage to which it gives acces and on how it sounds. I think that this is a shared sentiment.

[@carthkaras6449]

You mention a frenchification of Belgium but you could also mention that there has been a dutchification of the four flemish provinces under Wilhelm von Oranien (1822) and flemishes were hostile to dutch. Wilhelm with a royal decree made Dutch necessary to acces public employment. It is one of the reasons Belgium was created because the wallons and the bourgeoisie didn't want to be forced to speak dutch.

[@cecilevanderputten7542]

@@carthkaras6449 Of course, but it was also the case for a lot of Flemish people in the first century of existence of Belgium. That's why there are so many French speaking Belgians in Brussels for instance who have Flemish (or Brabantian) names, because their grand parents and parents progressivey stopped to speak Dutch as they thought French was more usefull and seemed more "educated" at the time. But what you notice is indeed interesting, maybe the conversion of Wallons to French was easier because they had a more "positive view" on the French language or felt it was closely related to Walloon, it's difficult to know.

[@cecilevanderputten7542]

@@carthkaras6449 That is of course another important fact to be remembered but I was talking specifically about the creation of Belgium and why it is false to say that "Walloons imposed their language to the Flemish". What you say is indeed true but there is a little inaccuracy in my opinion when you say that "It is one of the reasons Belgium was created because the wallons and the bourgeoisie didn't want to be forced to speak dutch". The language reform of Willem was badly welcomed by Flemish people and by the French-speaking aristocracy but as you said, it was only imposed on the Flemish provinces, not on (modern-day) Wallonia. If I am not mistaken, the only impact on "all Belgians" was on the central administration where people had to use Dutch (but it was composed mostly of educated people from the aristocracy/bourgeoisie). In fact, Belgium was created, among other factors, because the Francophone bourgeoisie as much as Flemish people and Walloons were hostile to this reform (and not just because Walloons and the french-speaking bourgeoisie didn't want to speak dutch).

[@markwright4385]

You're a great history teacher. I've never learned so much of it in such a short time.

[@wally2gen]

Netherlands: I want it France: No Also France: I want it Britain: no

[@nicopacabana6611]

British : speak english please ! France : non

[@a.vanwijk2268]

Belgium is just seperate from the Netherlands because the Austrians took it in the 17th century.

[@matthiasfoets7989]

A. van Wijk; you mean Spanish Habsburgs in the 16th centrury 🙂

[@Intreductor]

Germany: I'll just take it.

[@maxpayne7459]

@@Intreductor France and Britain: NOOOOOO

[@naregkassardjian7477]

Two months into quarantine: questioning an entire country’s existence

[@kensley94]

🤣

[@bigbrother6333]

Captain Cook it’s already here

[@randomverse8770]

That's so funny man😂🤣😂🤣

[@cannedbaef]

Belgium: *exists* Germany in both World wars: *interesting*

[@Nutnchancy]

Germany: hold my beer stein!

[@NyJoanzy]

Germany invades Belgium. Canada: alright. I'm getting up.

[@123akash121]

Germany: Holde my Schlieffen plan

[@kingnothing5678]

Get in loser we're going to get come Belgium chocolate

[@ianhammock4564]

0:07 Good to know History Matters' stance on the extremely complex geopolitical issue of Luxembourg.

[@OceanHedgehog]

History Matters: Why does Belgium exist? Germany: Look, we tried, okay?

[@alihani1830]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@matthies8431]

The Netherlands tried better

[@nielsdecoene2925]

M4tth13s and still failed

[@matthies8431]

@@nielsdecoene2925 yes and that is very sad

[@historywithhilbert]

Wait, it does?

[@a_random_dane7492]

Your lucky you exist where fading here in Denmark

[@omokok1877]

woah blud

[@AudieHolland]

More's the pity.

[@letheas6175]

Omg you here, love your channel. I was as shocked to find out this ''belgium'' thing is real too o:

[@AudieHolland]

Belgium used to be the bumpy first stretch of the annual Dutch holiday trek to the south.

[@johnmartens4632]

To prove to the world that you can perfectly function without a government.

[@Minox_]

To be honest, I barely notice when we do or don't have a government, so this probably is correct.

[@maikwouters2415]

Look at brussel and say no more

[@Flat_E-ric]

As a northern neighbour it looks to me that the infrastructure is being upgraded tho.

[@vilkiee]

@@Minox_ as a belgian i highly agree

[@cirmogcirmog3088]

I hate all government. Criminals.

[@homelessmike2068]

as a true belgian i can only say that we are pretty good into finding solutions to create problems, even when everything is doing perfect..

[@LookBackHistory]

"And that, is why Belgium exists." Excellent ending to an excellent video!

[@vasishtvasudevan4059]

But that wasn't the end 4:55 "wasn't a bad plan exactly"

[@LookBackHistory]

@@vasishtvasudevan4059 Ending, not end. But, yeah that line's not too bad either.

[@casperprime]

as a belgian, I'm less concerned with the why and more with the 'how'

[@nielsdoumen9277]

Het zelfde haha onze politiek werkt weer is ni

[@bingola45]

@@nielsdoumen9277 Do you still have Belgian Futurists?

[@nielsdoumen9277]

@@bingola45 no, not that i know 😂

[@010Rotterdamm0]

@@bingola45 the netherlands is better

[@bjvink0130]

Niels Doumen kunnen jullie je wegen eens fixen het lijkt wel een Afrikaans land

[@FredericSchwarzSim]

« Sandwiched between France, Germany and the Netherlands... » - me: starts crying in luxembourgish

[@putraduha3176]

Wait, luxembourg actually has a population??

[@abloodorange5233]

putra duha WhAtT???

[@FredericSchwarzSim]

putra duha Man ... my disappointment is unmeasurable

[@FiredAndIced]

0:07 "I don't believe in Luxembourg." Someone's channeling big brain technology.

[@youcantalwaysgetwhatyouwan6687]

@@putraduha3176 No one lives in Luxembourg 😂

[@stephena.6425]

I live in Belgium and I learned more in those 5 minutes than in my whole school career until now

[@davidvidmar3736]

“I don’t believe in Luxembourg” (History Matters, 2020)

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

@Caleb Hall 😓

[@questionmark532]

Luxembourg is British because France can’t have nice things so Britain annexed it before France

[@KangarooCheese55]

I sense a r/woooosh coming

[@jayseaandfriends]

Cheese98752 people who say “I can smell a wooooosh coming” are just as obnoxious and annoying as people who can’t take painfully obvious jokes

[@Valandix]

"The Belgian Revolution" Why everyone forget about the first one in the 1790's who get crushed after 1 year. Also, the 1831's revolution wasn't so religion-driven and more about autonomy, representation, economic disparity, and other things... And the linguistic in Belgium is pretty complicated : The french wasn't the people's language for both Flanders and Wallonia (A lot more for Brussels tho', since it was a city growing up with popular migration), the Wealthy and Noble one was speaking french (Flemish, brusseller, walloon alike), and since they had power during the first 50 years, they choose this language to unify linguisticly the country, wich backfired, the birth of the Flemish and Walloon identity, the dominance of flemish politician in the parlement, the lingustic "warfare" around Brussels (Seriously, this was and stil a fucking meme),... The only thing that had done, is to be a dominant language in Wallonia only since the early 20th century

[@bluedevil3765]

congratulations, you are one of the few people who actually knows our national history :)

[@jacobtrowbridge9767]

The dutch should have the north, The french should have the south, and the germans should have the east

[@brandonlyon730]

@@jacobtrowbridge9767 What about the actual people that live there say on the matter?

[@jacobtrowbridge9767]

@@brandonlyon730 The people who live there are Dutch, French, and German, and they shouldn't be living in a made up country with a made up nationality

[@bluedevil3765]

@@jacobtrowbridge9767 We aren't Dutch or French just because we speak the same language... We have been a seperate entity for hundreds of years.

[@PhilWood82]

0:06 😆 Luxembourg: Am I a joke to you? Next episode: Why does Luxembourg exist?

[@Darkfawfulx]

I hope.

[@alexanderherckenrath7099]

Ask any eurosceptic and you'll know why 😅

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

Exactly

[@mikeolson7011]

Look in the bottom right corner, there's text that reads "I don't believe in Luxembourg."

[@leobthelionshow]

I love the humor in the videos especially the skipping through daisies haha

[@jba8472]

Or, to quote James May: "Belgium: A country invented so that Britain and Germany would have a place to sort out their differences."

[@Spido68_the_spectator]

LEGEND

[@SandipanNath123]

@martin corderoy I wouldn't take Nigel's word on what is or isn't a country.

[@SandipanNath123]

@Brad dіe Irriterend III And it makes him the primary historian and arbitrator of Human Species for Eternity?

[@petergriffin2399]

@@SandipanNath123 Yes

[@IloveTide1997]

Sandipan Nath judging by your name you arent even british so hush

[@adriencarton614]

Should we mention we have the high score for longest country with no government?

[@paulneeds]

Adrien Carton oh I don’t know - Italy hasn’t had a real one since Mussolini.. ;)

[@graueliot9327]

@Paul Needs everyone knows the pope the chief of many Italians 😂

[@reds.victim1023]

In a row, certainly, added up, I think Italy's longer.

[@zydian_]

Also biggest traffic network in eu or even the world percentage-wise

[@danielmcleod2674]

CANADA HERE .....WE HAVE A CLOWN

[@BoldOne8760]

"Germany then formally annexed Belgium, a plan that had one snag, it had already been liberated and that's not how that works"

[@AndrewPonti]

Literally made me lol

[@CookRacingUK]

Loved that line best!

[@williamstuartmitchell5480]

I always enjoy your videos. They are concise, educational and enjoyable. I also appreciate your sarcasm and humour in addition to the information each video contains.

[@samsum3738]

I have been to Belgium , twice , i think . So much history in such a small country , i would highly recommend a week or two visiting many of the towns and sights .

[@genghissmith4949]

@Sam Sum. We had a short break visiting Bruges and Brussels, and a friendly Belgian on the connecting train recommended Ghent, which is between the two. Thank god he did....it’s wonderful, and we have many great memories of all three cities. It’s good to talk 😀

[@samsum3738]

@@genghissmith4949 i would also recommed Antwerp and Liege .

[@aaronmarks9366]

Visited the Ypres battlefield sites in November 2018. Highly, highly recommend, the scars of the war are still very visible on the land there.

[@samsum3738]

@@aaronmarks9366 A relation of mine was named Ypres as a middle name , because her father was fighting in the Ypres salient in the Great War . She was born in 1919 .

[@scott19087]

Shitiest country ever. We let it be a country but damn, they should just break it apart and divide it

[@bruensal7182]

Everyone asks: "Why is Belgium?" But nobody asks: "How is Belgium?" ... 😔

[@noidontwantthat7237]

Sad waffle hours

[@kyleplatter8954]

TRUEnsal I can do one up... when is Belgium?

[@mrrandom1265]

Belgium is not doing well. It has no government for more than one year and half the people in the North are separatist.

[@poubelle317]

Still have nice beers, and fantastic fries. The rest really is superfluous.

[@fullmetalalchemist9126]

Because they don't need to

[@middlecovemotors2474]

It exists to keep the chocolate standard at an acceptable level.

[@margaretjbuckley]

Spot on! If it wasn't for Belgium we'd have to eat cheap, sugary, Yank chocolate.

[@lightbrand_]

Tbh I don’t think Belgian chocolate is that good

[@dorjjodvo1992]

@@lightbrand_ you never ate real artisanal ones then

[@davidderuiter726]

@@margaretjbuckley No you would be eating Dutch Chocolate which is better as Belgian in the first place

[@davidderuiter726]

@@margaretjbuckley Also Yank chocolate is not real chocolate, at least it is forbidden in the Netherlands to be called that way.

[@BelgianMapper.]

Im from belgium and its so BEUTIFUL

[@duran9664]

“Ireland can’t have nice things” is also another British doctrine 😅

[@samrevlej9331]

More like "Ireland can't be alive".

[@AirRicDo]

Next episode: Why does Ireland exist?

[@jorisderijck1779]

"Scotland can't have nice things" as well?

[@brandonlyon730]

@@jorisderijck1779 I mean it was a Scottish King who did take over England after Queen Elizabeth’s death.

[@GeographyWorld]

@@AirRicDo Great idea. While others failed to get independence, Ireland somehow achieved it (except the 6 counties)

[@rileytao3503]

0:07 Don't you know? Every time you say "I don't believe in Luxembourg," somewhere in the world, a tiny Luxembourg dies. (inspired by this guy's blog: rileyriles.wordpress.com)

[@kingalfred2014]

Clap your hands if you believe in Luxembourg!

[@mrrandom1265]

There's only one tiny Luxembourg :D

[@wmfa95]

I try to stay strong when I have to read that, I don't die physically but I do die inside :'(

[@rocketraccoon1976]

What's a Luxembourg? 🤔

[@rocketraccoon1976]

A type of Mercedes automobile? ☝️😃

[@ErikVanRent]

That little part of Belgium remaining yellow at 3:04 is one of the reasons to be proud to be a Belgian. Never forget the Battle of Passchendaele.

[@MaXtreme91]

Resist and bite as we say in the Ardennes ! :-)

[@bartdegryse9345]

hah, ik woon daar maar 5km vanaf xD

[@Sophiedorian0535]

As I always say to American visitors: if it wasn’t for Belgium telling the Kaiser in 1914 to go forth and have intercourse with himself, you would be reading the Neuyorker Allgemeine Zeitung today.

[@nickbell4984]

That place was an absolute bloodbath with hundreds of thousands dead. It must be a proud reason to be Belgian because if it was not for holding the line Belgium would have fallen. What a pointless war that only sparked a second one. I went to Ypres a couple years ago and the amount of names on the arc memorial is insane.

[@Sophiedorian0535]

@@nickbell4984 Now that Putin is murdering Ukrainian civilians whilst getting his ass kicked by Ukrainian soldiers, I am thinking: 1914: Belgium said no to the Kaiser and got slaughtered, fighting like hell. 2022: a bigger Belgium said no to a bigger Kaiser, and is getting slaughtered, fighting like hell. Vive la Belgique 🇧🇪! Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦!

[@Outoftheboxization]

As a Belgian I know Belgium is a mistake. The nothern part had to be Dutch. The southern part French. Belgium is a small European Union, with the same problems included. "To speak another language, is to live another culture".

[@abarette_]

Belgium was honestly a good experiment until the French populace just went "you know what, no" to learning or accepting Dutch only Bruxelles was successful in that regard, although it is plagued by Engl*sh

[@stevenbastin8741]

@@abarette_ Lol blaming the French speakers ? That's dumb, the country is what. 200 years old ? And you act like that slightest inconvenience is the reason why there'e tension? you can't be serious ...

[@daviddavis4885]

Well, someone had to oppress the Congo

[@frank_h2878]

I think you missed the most important part of the exictance of belgium. The dutch revolt. The modern day border is mosty based on the peacetreaty between the netherlands and spain. If spain didnt fight back there would never have been a belgium

[@pbezunartea]

@Frank _H: _If spain didnt fight back there would never have been a belgium_ ¡De nada! which means: You're welcome! :)

[@valkyriediaries308]

@@pbezunartea Damn you Spanish for fighting back against our Revolt!

[@seppalastname4574]

Goddam Spanish, why must we suffer because of them

[@jeannebouwman1970]

Foiled again by philip II

[@clakoclakson]

@@valkyriediaries308 But you will still honour the king of Spain, as the anthem sings :D

[@horsenuggets1018]

If the Netherlands and Belgium were one country they would easily win the world cup so EA had to nerf it

[@sebinho6922]

Except the south xho is francophone... so Hazard Meunier and Lukaku would be french wherzas De Bruyne Mertens would be dutch.... 2 huge football teams

[@jochenvloebergh6183]

@@sebinho6922 lukaku isn't from the French part mate

[@jochenvloebergh6183]

@Theo Delikaris born in Antwerp*

[@jasoneaton4520]

Horse Nuggets if they allied, and annexed a bit more land, they could be a sizable threat to eaurope in all aspects...one day they should unite with Switzerland, they’d be unbeatable.

[@adadthatwentformilk1950]

dang, imagine the dutch defence and belgian offence and keeper

[@oliversherman2414]

I love your channel keep up the great stuff!!

[@Jedi_Spartan]

James May: We settled on Belgium which is a country invented so that Britain and Germany could have somewhere to sort out their differences.

[@rizka7945]

What a lovely arrengement it was. Was.

[@robot_girlyman1556]

Indeed

[@allanshort8264]

Doesn't explain Quatre Bras or Waterloo

[@alexraychev92]

I came for this comment. But I think it was Clarkson who said it.

[@dannyperdaen]

Belgium invented? The Belgiums already exist in the time of Julius Ceasar. So before Britain, Germany, France and the Netherlands. Learn your history.

[@deasys]

"fun fact: No" "germany annexed them but at that point they were liberated and thats not how that works" "but you know 0/3 isnt bad" i love this channel

[@JillWouters]

Some Belgians ask themselves this question, specially when talking about the goverment that doesn't properly work

[@MrBlindbird]

We have a government??? :-D

[@gillhantson5318]

@@MrBlindbird If a puppet-show stealing ideas/decisions from France is a government. Then yes, we have a government :)

[@hvhvgitaar]

Most Belgians are however grateful they don’t have to live with a government like that of the U.K..

[@romanplays1]

@@hvhvgitaar yeah. a semi-functional one would make the whole damn country explode! (talking bout belgium btw. suck it ya waffle fuckers)

[@enginesandmore1013]

Try and name 3 countries in the whole world that are better to live in then Belgium (political and economical)

[@KutWrite]

I love your humo(u)r and the questions you raise that I never thought of.

[@iksdebro9608]

History matters: Why does Belgium Exist? Bosnia and Herzegovina: Am i a joke to you?

[@domesticdingo1417]

That's the Balkans, we don't ask too many questions about them, hairy stuff

[@CarthagoMike]

Congo: _you might not be a joke to me, but I certainly was a joke to them_

[@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714]

The dartn turks are to blame.

[@lazarjovanovic4388]

@@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714 who are those

[@runtav_guz8564]

It shouldn't.

[@Nebo8ful]

I'm belgian, the fact that we exist is still a national debate

[@MrOK-yb3rw]

Jasper Op de Beeck it hasn’t been tried yet, so how can you know

[@heatea5255]

I was talking with a walloon once that despite being very patriotic for belgium somehow disliked the flemish more than the french, she was convinced that with the current political situation in belgium there wouldnt be a belgium anymore within the next 100 years because tensions with the south and the north are just too much

[@Jart988]

In the hypothetical case there was no Belgium, what would you be?

[@dailydose8035]

Jart988 Wallonia and Flanders.

[@Litovskyy]

Bruh

[@samikshajuikar]

3:35 "since apparently Belgium holds a grudge" lmao

[@moisetopaz]

Great narration of history. 👏🏽👏🏽🙌🏽

[@elie8680]

Belgium is that one friend who somethimes joines the friend group and has a lot of fun and then disspears for a while.

[@airplane8326]

Nah that’s Poland

[@mchluka4241]

So there is a reason why I'm living in belguim...

[@airplane8326]

@@mchluka4241 That’s rough buddy

[@mchluka4241]

@@airplane8326 being an 👻 is indead tough...😥

[@harbl99]

Belgium is the "And Bob was there too" of nations. But then Bob gets his friends into a massive fight that's not really their problem in the first place. Dammit Bob!

[@davebowman9000]

"Why does Belgium exist?" France and Germany: We always have use for a speed bumper

[@Jaegerwolf]

"Germany then formally annexed Belgium, a plan which had one snag; it had already been liberated and so that's not how that works" Subscribed for that line alone

[@XD-bx6ee]

Jaegerwolf get this to the top

[@Alphanerd2]

i adore the tone of your humor i must have it

[@tomaszzalewski4541]

"Given that It spend one of the most dangerous periods in european history sandwiched between two Nations that really liked annexing" One word: Poland

[@maxpayne7459]

The Balkans States

[@thewatchman2515]

Oh come on. Get over it allready. You got your country for 70 years now and the thread in the west is now your friend. Well, if you let him be considering your anti German politics 😂

[@maxpayne7459]

@@thewatchman2515 even as Example hungary was even annex for over 400 years. Much Longer as Poland

[@tomaszzalewski4541]

@@thewatchman2515 Well, good to know that you really believe in that because in reality we've got our independent and free (at least for now) country for 30 years. And as for that "Anti-German". It's unfortunately true our government is pursuing not only Anti-German but anti-Union politics all to remain in power. If you think about it, it makes sense because they are blaming EU for some of their own failures, they target the people's anger on EU not them. But that doesn't mean all people including me agree with it. Besides there is one threat (besides the stupidity of the people) that hasn't disappeared. The threat which tradition is meddling in other countries business despite the fact that they aren't welcome, the threat that uses internet trolls to help useful idiots be elected and gain power.

[@thewatchman2515]

@@tomaszzalewski4541 My point was about the polish state and not about the freedom of the state from foreign powers. That's why I said 70 years. I totally agree with your other things. Well said!

[@moonraygrunewald556]

There's a saying that is often used among European leaders that goes: "If you can lead Belgium, then you can lead the European Union"

[@banditmc12]

Guess who leads the eu

[@MrSythez]

It's crazy how the president of the European council has been a Belgian 2 times out of the 3. Especially because both of them were also prime minister of Belgium before that. Thus, the saying is very, very, very true.

[@mindspank]

@@MrSythez Whilst that's true, there's something to be said about our government though. Truth is: before Covid-19, we didn't have a federal government for almost 1,5 years. Only because of Covid we got an emergency government. I imagine after the crisis is over, we're back at square one. The Flemish side is mostly right-leaning, whilst the French side are mostly left-leaning socialists. The Flemish have wanted to seccede from French side, for as long as I can remember, but French don't want to concede to that.

[@felahidispascalis6990]

@@mindspank sometimes im proud that i live in a country that has no federal gov for +1,5j.

[@felahidispascalis6990]

@@mindspank like, wow we dont even need a federal government dude hahaha

[@bennymeister]

everyone be talkin bout James Bissonnette... but noone out here talkin bout Filda Oink Oink

[@davidgerle7502]

Love the comment in the first ten seconds regarding Luxembourg. Quality move

[@ouaisjsuisbelgeetquoi]

fax