Context

An increasing number of Flemish are interested in the Netherlands, an increasing number of Dutch are interested in Flanders. We have known each others culture for a while now, but at present day we are also discovering each others political landscape and sensitivities, each others cities and regions, each others economies. Our political systems are getting closer, our laws and institutions are being synchronised, our economies are getting interlocked.

The current political evolutions, local and also geopolitical, are starting to reverse this interest in a desire to come closer politically too.

• The European integration is not going smoothly and is progressing in a direction making a lot of civilians feel uncomfortable;
• The global threat of terror makes many of us longing for a competitive state;
• The globalising economy and the threat of a European decline, forces us to larger entities, able to adapt flexible at changes;
• The Dutch language is under siege;
• Co-existence of Flemish and French speaking Belgians is getting difficult, and the future of the state of Belgium is doubtfull.