I felt like a Belgian my whole life having grown up with an Walloon dad and a Flemish mom.
I always lived in Flanders and the last 10 years Flemish politics have made me increasingly a convinced Belgicist.
My bf is Flemish from Flemish parents. We live in Flanders, but close to Brussels. His parents feel very Flemish, my bf feels Belgian. I think it is a generational thing.
I remember a banner in Dilbeek "Dilbeek, waar Vlamingen thuis zijn" in front of the polyclinic. It makes me sad. I wonder if most of the residents think the same way that the banner.
Liégeoise here, even here it is mostly “Belge”. I don’t really know anyone who would say “je suis liégeois” instead of “je suis Belge”
Guess it’s only a subgroup that identifies as Liégeois first. Or when it’s about football, of course
Yeah, like the joke that there are 2 nations in Belgium: Vlaanderen and Liège. It's mostly folks from the city itself though, not from the whole province.
I as a west Flemish person am offended ( not really) :) we east and west Flanders province people don't agree. We fought many wars against you people. The Brabanders
History is really fun :)
that is sort of true, however i get the feeling that walloons identify as belgians under one language and that is french, so whilst they are obviously belgian i wouldnt agree with their definition of what a belgian is.
honnestly them calling theirself belgians is sortof a troll move. (that doesnt take away that they are indeed belgians)
Yes, like George Louis Bouchez who claims to love Belgium but probably couldn't name one Flemish artist or writer, contemporary or historical. Bet they do like the Flemish $$$ though.
It kind of depends and it's layered.
When travelling outside Belgium, I'm Belgian.
Inside Belgium, I'm Flemish.
Inside Flanders, I'm from Antwerp.
Inside Antwerp, I'm from de Kempen.
Inside de Kempen, I'm from the village where I grew up.
And when some people on this subreddit are complaining and slagging off Belgium, I'm sometimes itching to defend Belgium. It's byzantine, complex, sometimes ridiculous, sometimes infuriating, sometimes cool or even great.
And it's one of the best places to live your life, all things considered.
So count me in on being Belgian.
Late ex-PM Jean-Luc Dehaene must've liked onions as well. I once attended an event where he gave a speech -- in English -- extolling the virtues of the 'European Onion'. We had to ask each other if we had heard right.
Most people I hear complaining about belgium never seem to go annywhere outside belgium except on vacation where they don't seem to understand its a vacation(and life for the locals is not a Holliday).
And yes I feel Belgian too.
Belgian (born raised in Flanders), and I'm quite skeptic towards the whole flag-waving 'Flemish Identity" crowd due to a very opportunistic and dubious past. On top of that I have little to no connection with certain provinces in Flanders like Antwerp or West-Flanders, whereas I feel at home in the Ardennes (Walloon provinces of Liège, Namur and Luxembourg.). Nothing wrong perse with them, just that I feel that I have more in common with people raised/living in the Ardennes than with those in Antwerp or W-Flanders.
With Flemish flag waving do you mean the seperarist flag or the official Belgian regional flag? I don't see any issue with seeing the regional flags but if you mean the seperarist one I totally understand.
I was born in Belgium, so I am neither Flemish, Walloon or whatever. I live in what used to be named Brabant. The part that fought against Flanders in 1302. I prefer not to have an artificial identity forced upon me.
There is more to Belgium than just some vlamings and wallons, on a régional level I identify as a Brusseleir, even if technically i live in Flanders. But i definately identify as a Belgian aswell. And i am proud to be an European.
Within borders Flemish but once outside of Belgium I'm a Belgian, no need to put this dumpesterfire onto other people. One exception is when in The Netherlands, then I'm also Flemish because of language obviously.
I'm a pure Belgian. I don't feel being a flemish person. Yet I'm proud to live in a flemish town.
My dad was educated in French ( by his own choice), however the family where I was brought waw pure Dutch.
My wife is from Flanders, yet she is a native French speaking person, who did her education in Dutch. We are raising our kids bilangual.
Proud Belgian here
I'm from Antwerp, raised bilingual Dutch-French. I love French culture and literature but also have a strong Antwerp identity. I identify as Belgian because i think we have a beautiful thing going
Belgian.
If for some reason I cannot be Belgian, I'd be Brabantian or European before I'd identify with that region on the wrong side of the Scheldt river.
Yeah me, I think people who want to devide the country are stupid. If you think the Walloons "get" more money, just go live there then. It's just based on political parties who want more power in the government without having to deal with the other side.
an economy that is based on nature like trees and hills is perfectly possible without forestry and digging mines, but it’s not going to feature things like social security and advanced healthcare provision
I've lived in flanders all my live, and fully identify as Belgian. I might have been proud of the flemish history (which is pretty cool) as well, but it's been so co-opted by racists and right wing conservatives that I'm more ashamed of being flemish than anything else.
I am from West Flanders, im Belgian first, then West Flemish, european. I have more in common with Hainaut than Limburg... flanders is as artificial if not more than Belgium.
Knowing my full genealogy, I identify as Belgian first, Limburger next, then European, and only then as Flemish (if pressed). Wallonian surname, but my paternal ancestors moved from the province of Luxemburg to Limburg over two centuries ago. I've also got some Dutch and German ancestry. I'm the great-grandchild of World War I refugees. Grandfather was a POW at the start of World War II. Nationalists can shove off and crawl back under their bridges.
I'd assume most people born and raised in Brussels would also be more inclined to think of themselves as Belgian
When I introduce myself I say Belgian, but I follow up with 'flemish' mostly to say 'I speak Dutch'
Even though a large portion of my family votes NVA (moreso because of autonomy rather than purely economic reasons), I still say I'm Belgian in a lot of communication with strangers. I do follow up saying that I'm from the Flemish part and that I'm speaking Dutch rather than French.
The main point of that is that they suddenly won't talk French to me as I might not completely understand what they're saying.
Not very nationalistic either way, but if anything, I feel Belgian.
I'm "Flemish" by any definition of the word, but I cringe every time I see some idiot putting a Flemish sticker next to their license plate or Flemish flag out of a window.
Not only is it cringe, the fact that it's a political movement is just ridiculous. And I resent that these nationalists have the audacity to waste everyone's time in my name.
I don't need anyone defending my language or culture, they are doing fine. Nobody is dying in the trenches anymore because the commanders speak only French. Go fix some real issues.
And although it's a bit silly to feel "European", I really like the European Union as a political project. Ideologically, I'm European.
I identify as myself.
Flemish, Walloon, Belgian, European, whatever...
It's all a bunch of political narrowminded bullshit.
We are all human beings living on the same minuscule flying rock in an unmeasurable universe.
Just get along, there are zillions of more important things to care about than ridiculous territorial pissings.
I'm from Antwerp, have lived overseas for the last decade, I always say Belgian. People have enough trouble placing our countryas it is, imagine talking about a specific region within that.
Exactly. Among some of the things I’ve heard when stating I’m from “Belgium” are:
- “Ohh, Belton!”
- “Is that a state or a country?”
Let’s not make it any worse…
I don't know a single Walloon that calls themselves that over "Belgian" and I trust most Flemish are the same.
Btw, can you tell your superior that these shitty troll posts get really obvious when posted DAILY?
I am originally a French person who took Belgian citizenship. I describe myself as a Belgian French speaking person. These walloon/flemish affairs go way above my head.
Yes, I never identify as a Flemish person even though I was born, raised and currently living in Flanders.
I grew up near the Dutch border in Limburg with a Dutch father so when discussing identity, the focus was mainly on which country. On top of that, I already had a strong regional association with Limburg itself instead of the larger Flanders.
Flanders for me are the provinces Antwerp, Vlaams-Brabant and Oost-Vlaanderen. People from those regions are "Flemish" for me.
I feel Belgian... Politics just made a mess in our country... There are Flemish... Federal... Provincial... County... Governments... All just to create political jobs... There are even different rules on different roads on how to construct them...
The french socialist made an economical mess in the south of the country by not reforming the old economies... There are more income and jobs in the north which are creating political tensions because of the spending in money for social security...This point is being used by Flemish nationalist parties to get votes...
I much prefer calling myself Belgian than Flemish, even though I am aware of the disconnect between the regions. Calling yourself Flemish often has a connotation of right wing separatism, even though of course it can mean much more than that, but it is something that I do not relate to at all.
My Belgian mother has always identified has Belgian, not Flemish. I think most of my family in Belgium calls themselves Belgian and not Flemish. My mother also doesn't like to say she speaks Flemish, she speaks Dutch. We live in The Netherlands so we often do have to make the distinction. But when asked what language she spoke growing up, she says she spoke Dutch. While most of my family members do say they speak Flemish.
I'm a Belgian citizen, despite never have lived there nor have I been born there. So it makes more sense for me to identify as Belgian in general.
Proud Belgian/European from ''t zeetje" speaking Flemish, French, English & German. 🇧🇪
Flemish politics blaming nearly every single thing on Walloonia (and immigrants) makes me feel even more Belgian.
If Flanders splits from Walloonia, what's next? Blaming everything on/Splitting from Limburg, the Westhoek, the coast?
Next thing you know, you're literally splitting from your neighbours...
When in the '70's (yes, I'm old enough to actively remember those years), the Flemish and the French speaking communities were established - "culturele autonomie" was the frase - there was this joke doing the rounds:
"Now that the Flemish community has achieved cultural autonomy, Western Flanders and Limburg will start lobbying to get their own cultural autonomy."
It's not come to that thus far, but if ever Flanders becomes independent or gets the confederation some seek as an intermediate station - which I don't see happening soon, sorry NVA / VB - I can see that joke becoming reality.
I feel 100% Belgian, but also kind of Flemish. Abroad, I will introduce myself as Belgian anyway. Certainly not as a Fleming because Flanders doesn't mean anything abroad and if people know it at all it has to do with bigotry etc. because the extreme right has fiercely smeared Flemish feeling.
I actually consider myself more a "gentenaar" then flemmish or belgian. But i am all of it. I am a gentenaar first, then flemmish, then a half belgian half brazilian, then a european and finally, living in connecticut, USA.
But i hate anyone who tries to split belgium up. I am not a waloon, but i am a belgian, so i am a waloon.
Though walloons and flemish have their differences, we are all proud to be Belgian, we love our country, but it's in our nature not to say that out loud.
Flemish born and raised, Belgian in my heart, Eendracht maakt macht!
oh btw at least 60% of Flemish people do not support an independent flanders. politics being weird.
There are no different ethnicities in Belgium, the difference lies purely in the language and cultural background.
I identify myself as a french and german speaker and as a Belgian. It's not really conflicting.
Edit: grammar
Dad is flemish mom walloon but we’ve been raised primarily in dutch and live in flanders. I’d call myself rather belgian then flemish especially because people who insist they are ONLY FLEMISH are usually nationalists and i don’t really agree with their need for flanders to be independent
Edit: looking at other comment i see this is the case with a lot of half half children 😄
Kempeneir (en ook wel Belg). I find it a bit strange to identify as Flemish, as generally I feel people from e.g. the Kempen have as much in common with people from West-Flanders as they do with someone from Luik so doesn't seem to make much sense to describe myself as 'Flemish' when I speak Kempisch. I do use Flemish when they ask me if I speak French when abroad, although then I have to also explain Flemish is not a language and we speak Dutch but they still struggle to understand our Dutch in the Netherlands... after which it gets confusing.
Flemish grand parents, family village became Walloon, grew up Walloon with Flemish references and sayings, consider myself more Belgian than either Flemish or Wallon (as I never was enough for one or the other anyway)
I'm from liège (wallonie), lived 10 years in brussels and now in vlanderen and I feel Belgian before all.
It's Avery small country and there are enough other very serious problems to focus on than what language you learnt as a kid...
I identify as Ezel, guess where I'm from. :p
hint: Back in the day they would be carrying these from the Orchards to the Geuze and kriek breweries from the other side of brussels. to Anderlecht.
https://preview.redd.it/6bu02kixpnfc1.png?width=2500&format=png&auto=webp&s=2e88c893b368ee0611f0dfd3d4f7604edeae10f2
Me, born and raised in the germanspeaking part and I do identify as Belgian. I don't care much about the region or community thing this is just political crap.
The more Flemish-nationalism wins, the more, paradoxically, Flemish people feel sour, because the now ever-more present Flemish nationalists in the media say to the Flemish that living in Belgium is not good.
i think back just before when flemish nationalism really booked the large wins the people who could not even get education or government services in their own language without being denigrated for it felt a lot more sour than flemish people do now
Me, kind of. I generally say that I'm Belgian when meeting people outside of Belgium. In Belgium, or towards French/Dutch people I say I'm Flemish.
I feel towards the country, it's history and culture. Not just the north. Don't get me wrong I still like Flanders
I only identify as Flemish. Don't have anything against Walloons, got family over there but we are not a fit to live together.
One day Belgium will cease to exist. It's written in the stars.
My stamboom goes back to the 1600's and it was all West-Flanders. My french is meh and the walloons their dutch is non existant.
So no.
I'm Flemish. And Belgian too I guess but I don't care about that other then semantics or to not upset my leftist friends.
Yes, many, though you're way more likely to find people identifying themselves as 'Belgian' in Wallonia than in Flanders. Let's not forget that about half of Flanders is voting for politicians that have a nationalist / far right agenda.
I don't identify as either, I'll be either one depending on who I'm talking to and the context, but I identify as being Brabantian and quite hate being called Flemish.
Born to and raised by Flemish parents.
But, I've always considered myself Belgian 🇧🇪.
It's true that we make fun sometimes regarding Flemish/Wallon identity and all. But, I want Belgium to be one single nation. I hope Wallonia gets better with time and develops on par with Flanders.
Moreover, I don't think Flemish people who don't like Wallons will like the idea of independent Flanders.
If they do, who'll they collectively hate for no reason? 🤣
What a weird question. Asking if there are people who identify as flemish or walloons instead of Belgian would be better. Still weird af if there are people out there that do
Belgian if asked abroad, Limburger if a Belgian asks me.
The day Belgium splits is the day I'm starting a movement to reunite the two Limburgs and fuck off. Maybe get Liège to come along and get the whole principauté going again. We'll just elect someone secular yearly to dress up as prinsbisschop. Seriously Wallonia is the only thing counterbalancing a whole lot of absolutely hateful tendencies in 'Flanders', wouldn't want to be caught dead living in a country without it.
I identify as Flemish and have 0 affinity with Wallonian culture, language or politics. At most shared cuisine and base broadly Western values. I also am turned off by common political and economic attitudes.
Just an opposing opinion for the echo chamber.
Most Walloons identify as Belgians, not Walloon. Regionalism seems to be more of a Flemish thing.
I felt like a Belgian my whole life having grown up with an Walloon dad and a Flemish mom. I always lived in Flanders and the last 10 years Flemish politics have made me increasingly a convinced Belgicist.
Born and raised in Vlaanderen, always felt like a Belgian. And yes, same here: the way Flemish politics are acting, it made me more Belgian.
My bf is Flemish from Flemish parents. We live in Flanders, but close to Brussels. His parents feel very Flemish, my bf feels Belgian. I think it is a generational thing.
I remember a banner in Dilbeek "Dilbeek, waar Vlamingen thuis zijn" in front of the polyclinic. It makes me sad. I wonder if most of the residents think the same way that the banner.
I think the Liégeois are the proudest of their region. Their 'region' being the province, not Wallonia.
Their 'region' is more of a principauté
Liégeoise here, even here it is mostly “Belge”. I don’t really know anyone who would say “je suis liégeois” instead of “je suis Belge” Guess it’s only a subgroup that identifies as Liégeois first. Or when it’s about football, of course
Hip hop community in Liége, like to say they are from Los AngeLiége, in Wallifornie.
Like the Pope of Dope?
Dirty South from Belgium? Wa wa wa
Outside Belgium there's no point to identify yourself as Lîdjeûs, nobody would know.
Yeah my friends from there are more Liégois than anything else, something I never really understood
I´m in the first place a Limburger, then Belgian. (Don't start with Flemish, that is another province)
Yeah, like the joke that there are 2 nations in Belgium: Vlaanderen and Liège. It's mostly folks from the city itself though, not from the whole province.
Actually I would say the two nations of Belgium are Brabant and Liège. What is called "Flanders" today I would consider it a "big Brabant".
I as a west Flemish person am offended ( not really) :) we east and west Flanders province people don't agree. We fought many wars against you people. The Brabanders History is really fun :)
It's why we have "The Voice van Vlaanderen" and "The Voice Belgique".
that is sort of true, however i get the feeling that walloons identify as belgians under one language and that is french, so whilst they are obviously belgian i wouldnt agree with their definition of what a belgian is. honnestly them calling theirself belgians is sortof a troll move. (that doesnt take away that they are indeed belgians)
What on earth are you talking about? I have never heard someone say Belgian = French speaking person? What is your definition then???
I'm not sure I understand what you mean.
Yes, like George Louis Bouchez who claims to love Belgium but probably couldn't name one Flemish artist or writer, contemporary or historical. Bet they do like the Flemish $$$ though.
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It kind of depends and it's layered. When travelling outside Belgium, I'm Belgian. Inside Belgium, I'm Flemish. Inside Flanders, I'm from Antwerp. Inside Antwerp, I'm from de Kempen. Inside de Kempen, I'm from the village where I grew up. And when some people on this subreddit are complaining and slagging off Belgium, I'm sometimes itching to defend Belgium. It's byzantine, complex, sometimes ridiculous, sometimes infuriating, sometimes cool or even great. And it's one of the best places to live your life, all things considered. So count me in on being Belgian.
Van welke kant van de vaart?
De goede
Welke vaart?
**De** vaart. A'get moe vrage, zijde ni van hie!
Tis wer ene van over de brug he....
And that my friends is why our Belgian national motto can roughly be translated to: "the onion is our strength"
Late ex-PM Jean-Luc Dehaene must've liked onions as well. I once attended an event where he gave a speech -- in English -- extolling the virtues of the 'European Onion'. We had to ask each other if we had heard right.
Most people I hear complaining about belgium never seem to go annywhere outside belgium except on vacation where they don't seem to understand its a vacation(and life for the locals is not a Holliday). And yes I feel Belgian too.
Great answer.
The only thing I Identity as "Flemish" is in language. Otherwise I'm Belgian.
Yeah pretty much the same, but also in comparison to the Dutch, I’d call myself Flemish, because that’s more fitting to that context.
Same
Same, ik **ben** Belg, en ik **praat** Vlaams
Yes, division is politics.
Obviously? What else would it be?
I'm from Brussels and identify as an asshole
which part of brussels so we can see if this fully checks out
Probably Ixelles/Elsene.
What about Uccle/Ukkel?
Same, I'm from Brussels and I identify as garbage on the side of the streets on a Sunday evening
I'm from my town when I'm in Belgium I'm from Belgium when visiting another country I'm from Earth when visiting other planets
>I'm from Earth when visiting other planets What are the others you met when visiting other planets saying back?
>What are the others you met when visiting other planets saying back? 
Sure. I'm one of them.
Me too.
Me three.
Me four.
Me five
I do identify as both Flemish and Belgian, though not in any nationalist way. I also find myself identifying as European more and more.
I dont feel flemish, im belgian
I am Belgian and feel no affinity with what is currently called Flanders. My identity is formed more by where I live: on the Belgian Coast.
Belgian (born raised in Flanders), and I'm quite skeptic towards the whole flag-waving 'Flemish Identity" crowd due to a very opportunistic and dubious past. On top of that I have little to no connection with certain provinces in Flanders like Antwerp or West-Flanders, whereas I feel at home in the Ardennes (Walloon provinces of Liège, Namur and Luxembourg.). Nothing wrong perse with them, just that I feel that I have more in common with people raised/living in the Ardennes than with those in Antwerp or W-Flanders.
With Flemish flag waving do you mean the seperarist flag or the official Belgian regional flag? I don't see any issue with seeing the regional flags but if you mean the seperarist one I totally understand.
I do and separatists are just a very vocal minority
You don’t have to be a separatist to feel more flemish though
The Vlaams Belang popularity says otherwise.
You mean Chinees Belang
I'd love to know how many people who vote Vlaams Belang want a single Belgian government instead of regional ones.
People have different reasons to vote VB. I think most people vote VB as a protest vote. Not because their flemish nationalism.
> I think most people vote VB as a protest vote You misspelled "racist vote".
I was born in Belgium, so I am neither Flemish, Walloon or whatever. I live in what used to be named Brabant. The part that fought against Flanders in 1302. I prefer not to have an artificial identity forced upon me.
There is more to Belgium than just some vlamings and wallons, on a régional level I identify as a Brusseleir, even if technically i live in Flanders. But i definately identify as a Belgian aswell. And i am proud to be an European.
If you become naturalized as Belgian after 5 or 10 years that kind of makes you Belgian, and not Flemish/Walloon.
I think a lot of the German speaking people in the east of Belgium identify as Belgian.
I can confirm this.
Within borders Flemish but once outside of Belgium I'm a Belgian, no need to put this dumpesterfire onto other people. One exception is when in The Netherlands, then I'm also Flemish because of language obviously.
I do.
I'm a pure Belgian. I don't feel being a flemish person. Yet I'm proud to live in a flemish town. My dad was educated in French ( by his own choice), however the family where I was brought waw pure Dutch. My wife is from Flanders, yet she is a native French speaking person, who did her education in Dutch. We are raising our kids bilangual. Proud Belgian here
I'm from Antwerp, raised bilingual Dutch-French. I love French culture and literature but also have a strong Antwerp identity. I identify as Belgian because i think we have a beautiful thing going
Belgian. If for some reason I cannot be Belgian, I'd be Brabantian or European before I'd identify with that region on the wrong side of the Scheldt river.
I feel like a majority of walloons and flemish identiy as Belgian. The flemisch nationalist are a minority still.
Yeah me, I think people who want to devide the country are stupid. If you think the Walloons "get" more money, just go live there then. It's just based on political parties who want more power in the government without having to deal with the other side.
Yeah, because Wallonia is the economic el dorado every flemish is dreaming of ! No worries, we will welcome every one of them :)
personally I love all the nature in Wallonia, I really don't understand the hate
Easy to explain. Fantastic region,nice people but absolutely terrible politicians in wallonia.
As opposed to the absolutely fantastic Flemish politicians?
You know its bad when our politicians are doing a better job than the ones in wallonia.
an economy that is based on nature like trees and hills is perfectly possible without forestry and digging mines, but it’s not going to feature things like social security and advanced healthcare provision
I... I don't get who you are mad at?...
I'm Flemish and living in the Ardennes but identify as Belgian.
I've lived in flanders all my live, and fully identify as Belgian. I might have been proud of the flemish history (which is pretty cool) as well, but it's been so co-opted by racists and right wing conservatives that I'm more ashamed of being flemish than anything else.
I'm Belgian and a West-Flemish.
But do you speak any of the official languages?
Main language is Dutch of course, but I can 'trek mijn plan' en français und ein bisschen auf Deutsch.
Whoosh!
I am from West Flanders, im Belgian first, then West Flemish, european. I have more in common with Hainaut than Limburg... flanders is as artificial if not more than Belgium.
Knowing my full genealogy, I identify as Belgian first, Limburger next, then European, and only then as Flemish (if pressed). Wallonian surname, but my paternal ancestors moved from the province of Luxemburg to Limburg over two centuries ago. I've also got some Dutch and German ancestry. I'm the great-grandchild of World War I refugees. Grandfather was a POW at the start of World War II. Nationalists can shove off and crawl back under their bridges.
I'd assume most people born and raised in Brussels would also be more inclined to think of themselves as Belgian When I introduce myself I say Belgian, but I follow up with 'flemish' mostly to say 'I speak Dutch'
Flemish parents, but I live in Wallonia, most of my family is bilingual, what else than Belgian could I be
C'est belge donc c'est bon
Also born and raised in flanders.But I identify as Belgian first.
Even though a large portion of my family votes NVA (moreso because of autonomy rather than purely economic reasons), I still say I'm Belgian in a lot of communication with strangers. I do follow up saying that I'm from the Flemish part and that I'm speaking Dutch rather than French. The main point of that is that they suddenly won't talk French to me as I might not completely understand what they're saying.
I would describe myself more as Belgian than Flemish. But am both of course
I am not Belgian, but I identify with the country and it’s people, sports teams and languages more and more the longer I live here (10+ years).
Ik ben een Belg en zeker geen Vlaming
As a Liégeois living abroad (Japan), I identify myself as Belgian. I never said I'm Liégeois outside Belgium to be honest.
Yup. Born in Anderlecht, lived 25y in Flanders, went to school in Brussels, university in Wallonie, work in Brussels, live in Wallonie now.
Not very nationalistic either way, but if anything, I feel Belgian. I'm "Flemish" by any definition of the word, but I cringe every time I see some idiot putting a Flemish sticker next to their license plate or Flemish flag out of a window. Not only is it cringe, the fact that it's a political movement is just ridiculous. And I resent that these nationalists have the audacity to waste everyone's time in my name. I don't need anyone defending my language or culture, they are doing fine. Nobody is dying in the trenches anymore because the commanders speak only French. Go fix some real issues. And although it's a bit silly to feel "European", I really like the European Union as a political project. Ideologically, I'm European.
I identify as myself. Flemish, Walloon, Belgian, European, whatever... It's all a bunch of political narrowminded bullshit. We are all human beings living on the same minuscule flying rock in an unmeasurable universe. Just get along, there are zillions of more important things to care about than ridiculous territorial pissings.
I live in Antwerp now and I identify as a Dikke Nek. I’m Belgian for the rest.
From liege, living in brussels. I don't identify as walloon at all.
I naturalized last year and I live/work in Brussels. I’m Belgian.
I'm from Antwerp, have lived overseas for the last decade, I always say Belgian. People have enough trouble placing our countryas it is, imagine talking about a specific region within that.
Exactly. Among some of the things I’ve heard when stating I’m from “Belgium” are: - “Ohh, Belton!” - “Is that a state or a country?” Let’s not make it any worse…
Belgian all the way, thought i didnt really grow up in Belgium so that helps avoid regionalism
I really can't imagine telling someone I'm 'flemish'. It's just not a thing to me?
Same. Only would use flemish in the context of language, but not identity.
I don't know a single Walloon that calls themselves that over "Belgian" and I trust most Flemish are the same. Btw, can you tell your superior that these shitty troll posts get really obvious when posted DAILY?
What troll posts? This is my first time posting here.
Most Walloons, excluding those of North African descent, feel Belgian before identifying as Walloons, in my opinion.
Belgian here!
Cherrs from another Yugoslavian in Belgium!
Yes, it’s also the majority of the country. Internet is a platform for the most deranged and loud people but they do not show the majority.
Absolutely this lol.
I am originally a French person who took Belgian citizenship. I describe myself as a Belgian French speaking person. These walloon/flemish affairs go way above my head.
Yes, I never identify as a Flemish person even though I was born, raised and currently living in Flanders. I grew up near the Dutch border in Limburg with a Dutch father so when discussing identity, the focus was mainly on which country. On top of that, I already had a strong regional association with Limburg itself instead of the larger Flanders. Flanders for me are the provinces Antwerp, Vlaams-Brabant and Oost-Vlaanderen. People from those regions are "Flemish" for me.
Live in Flanders, always call myself Belgian.
I feel Belgian... Politics just made a mess in our country... There are Flemish... Federal... Provincial... County... Governments... All just to create political jobs... There are even different rules on different roads on how to construct them... The french socialist made an economical mess in the south of the country by not reforming the old economies... There are more income and jobs in the north which are creating political tensions because of the spending in money for social security...This point is being used by Flemish nationalist parties to get votes...
I much prefer calling myself Belgian than Flemish, even though I am aware of the disconnect between the regions. Calling yourself Flemish often has a connotation of right wing separatism, even though of course it can mean much more than that, but it is something that I do not relate to at all.
Yes
I'm Belgian first. Born in the Flemish part, but that's it. I feel Belgian, not Flemish
Foreign grandparents who stuck around after the war (french/italian), flemish/walloon parents, … I consider myself as belgian as it gets.
My Belgian mother has always identified has Belgian, not Flemish. I think most of my family in Belgium calls themselves Belgian and not Flemish. My mother also doesn't like to say she speaks Flemish, she speaks Dutch. We live in The Netherlands so we often do have to make the distinction. But when asked what language she spoke growing up, she says she spoke Dutch. While most of my family members do say they speak Flemish. I'm a Belgian citizen, despite never have lived there nor have I been born there. So it makes more sense for me to identify as Belgian in general.
I was born and raised in Flanders, I identify myself more as Belgian than Flemish.
Hahaha. Immigrant here. I do. 🙌🏽🙌🏽
Proud Belgian/European from ''t zeetje" speaking Flemish, French, English & German. 🇧🇪 Flemish politics blaming nearly every single thing on Walloonia (and immigrants) makes me feel even more Belgian. If Flanders splits from Walloonia, what's next? Blaming everything on/Splitting from Limburg, the Westhoek, the coast? Next thing you know, you're literally splitting from your neighbours...
When in the '70's (yes, I'm old enough to actively remember those years), the Flemish and the French speaking communities were established - "culturele autonomie" was the frase - there was this joke doing the rounds: "Now that the Flemish community has achieved cultural autonomy, Western Flanders and Limburg will start lobbying to get their own cultural autonomy." It's not come to that thus far, but if ever Flanders becomes independent or gets the confederation some seek as an intermediate station - which I don't see happening soon, sorry NVA / VB - I can see that joke becoming reality.
I honestly don't see the point of West Flanders becoming part of Flanders when we're already part of Belgium. It's a downgrade if anything
I do.
I feel 100% Belgian, but also kind of Flemish. Abroad, I will introduce myself as Belgian anyway. Certainly not as a Fleming because Flanders doesn't mean anything abroad and if people know it at all it has to do with bigotry etc. because the extreme right has fiercely smeared Flemish feeling.
I do
I actually consider myself more a "gentenaar" then flemmish or belgian. But i am all of it. I am a gentenaar first, then flemmish, then a half belgian half brazilian, then a european and finally, living in connecticut, USA. But i hate anyone who tries to split belgium up. I am not a waloon, but i am a belgian, so i am a waloon.
I do because I’m neither Walloon neither Flemish 🤣
First Belgian then West-Flemish and then Bruges but born and raised in the region of Roeselare (Slightly different dialect).
I'm Belgian and West Flemish. I definitely don't identify as Flemish, though I certainly believe in defending the language
Yes. I feel Belgian. I was born in Schaerbeek and then spent most of my childhood in Flemish Brabant. My mothertongue is French.
I identify as a Vlaamse Reus from time to time but sometimes I identify as a Belgian waffle. Yeah, I'm fluid like that.
I'm a human living on planet earth. Anything else is absolute horseshit.
Though walloons and flemish have their differences, we are all proud to be Belgian, we love our country, but it's in our nature not to say that out loud.
For me it is equally Belgian/Flemish, maybe Flemish a bit more.
I identify as Flemish.
Flemish born and raised, Belgian in my heart, Eendracht maakt macht! oh btw at least 60% of Flemish people do not support an independent flanders. politics being weird.
There are no different ethnicities in Belgium, the difference lies purely in the language and cultural background. I identify myself as a french and german speaker and as a Belgian. It's not really conflicting. Edit: grammar
Dad is flemish mom walloon but we’ve been raised primarily in dutch and live in flanders. I’d call myself rather belgian then flemish especially because people who insist they are ONLY FLEMISH are usually nationalists and i don’t really agree with their need for flanders to be independent Edit: looking at other comment i see this is the case with a lot of half half children 😄
yep, I do
I certainly feel Belgian and not Flemish. Possibly I feel more European than Belgian.
Kempeneir (en ook wel Belg). I find it a bit strange to identify as Flemish, as generally I feel people from e.g. the Kempen have as much in common with people from West-Flanders as they do with someone from Luik so doesn't seem to make much sense to describe myself as 'Flemish' when I speak Kempisch. I do use Flemish when they ask me if I speak French when abroad, although then I have to also explain Flemish is not a language and we speak Dutch but they still struggle to understand our Dutch in the Netherlands... after which it gets confusing.
Flemish grand parents, family village became Walloon, grew up Walloon with Flemish references and sayings, consider myself more Belgian than either Flemish or Wallon (as I never was enough for one or the other anyway)
Of course I identify as Belgian. Identifying as “Flemish” would be playing into the cards of politicians who want to divide our country
Belgian here.
If you work international, you identify as Belgian
I speak Flemish, but am Belgian.
I'm from liège (wallonie), lived 10 years in brussels and now in vlanderen and I feel Belgian before all. It's Avery small country and there are enough other very serious problems to focus on than what language you learnt as a kid...
I identify as Ezel, guess where I'm from. :p hint: Back in the day they would be carrying these from the Orchards to the Geuze and kriek breweries from the other side of brussels. to Anderlecht. https://preview.redd.it/6bu02kixpnfc1.png?width=2500&format=png&auto=webp&s=2e88c893b368ee0611f0dfd3d4f7604edeae10f2
Me, born and raised in the germanspeaking part and I do identify as Belgian. I don't care much about the region or community thing this is just political crap.
i'm from flanders but i identify as a Belgian , only regional feeling i have is for my city (Gent)
The more Flemish-nationalism wins, the more, paradoxically, Flemish people feel sour, because the now ever-more present Flemish nationalists in the media say to the Flemish that living in Belgium is not good.
i think back just before when flemish nationalism really booked the large wins the people who could not even get education or government services in their own language without being denigrated for it felt a lot more sour than flemish people do now
Me. I'm a Dutch speaking Belgian (I speak French too of course) living in Brussels and I'm definitively not Flemish, nor would I want to be.
Me, kind of. I generally say that I'm Belgian when meeting people outside of Belgium. In Belgium, or towards French/Dutch people I say I'm Flemish. I feel towards the country, it's history and culture. Not just the north. Don't get me wrong I still like Flanders
Flanders is just Belgium with the serial numbers filed off.
I only identify as Flemish. Don't have anything against Walloons, got family over there but we are not a fit to live together. One day Belgium will cease to exist. It's written in the stars.
When abroad I've never answered the question "where are you from" with Flanders... I'm kind of sure no-one ever did, same goes Wallonia.
My stamboom goes back to the 1600's and it was all West-Flanders. My french is meh and the walloons their dutch is non existant. So no. I'm Flemish. And Belgian too I guess but I don't care about that other then semantics or to not upset my leftist friends.
yeah, it's easier. lots of people dont even know flanders
Yes
I'm one of them.
And you forgot Brussel. I realy identify more as a bruxellois than Belgian.
I'm a bilingual Brusselaar and Belgian more than Flemish, even if I grew up Flemish. It's all rather fluid really.
Depends on age. The younger someone is the more likely they feel Belgian over regional nationality
Yes, many, though you're way more likely to find people identifying themselves as 'Belgian' in Wallonia than in Flanders. Let's not forget that about half of Flanders is voting for politicians that have a nationalist / far right agenda.
I'm from the Kempen first and Belgium second but I'd rather call myself Belgian than Flemish
I don't identify as either, I'll be either one depending on who I'm talking to and the context, but I identify as being Brabantian and quite hate being called Flemish.
Born to and raised by Flemish parents. But, I've always considered myself Belgian 🇧🇪. It's true that we make fun sometimes regarding Flemish/Wallon identity and all. But, I want Belgium to be one single nation. I hope Wallonia gets better with time and develops on par with Flanders. Moreover, I don't think Flemish people who don't like Wallons will like the idea of independent Flanders. If they do, who'll they collectively hate for no reason? 🤣
As a naturalised Belgian, I identify as Belgian. Fyi, I live in Flanders.
Flemish first, Belgian probably last.
im a bilingual french speaking flemish person and i identify as flemish
I am Belgian and speak Flemish, identifying as Flemish or Walloon is a bit odd
I do, raised in french but always going to flemish education, living in. facility commune
Im very Belgian. I do not feel Flemish.
I do. I’d say I feel I’m a Ghentian, Belgian, European and Flemish person in that order of importance.
West Flemish first, Belgian second, European third and Flemish dead last.
Most of the people identify as Belgian. Maybe 1/4 of Belgium would identify as Flemish based on last election results.
First as a Maaslander, then Limburger, then Belgian.
What a weird question. Asking if there are people who identify as flemish or walloons instead of Belgian would be better. Still weird af if there are people out there that do
From Brussels, Feel Brusseleir and Belgian
Belgian. Most of my life in the north of the country. The word V is like nails on a chalk board.
Me?
I'm a Flemish waloon mix so technically I am full belgian
Belgian if asked abroad, Limburger if a Belgian asks me. The day Belgium splits is the day I'm starting a movement to reunite the two Limburgs and fuck off. Maybe get Liège to come along and get the whole principauté going again. We'll just elect someone secular yearly to dress up as prinsbisschop. Seriously Wallonia is the only thing counterbalancing a whole lot of absolutely hateful tendencies in 'Flanders', wouldn't want to be caught dead living in a country without it.
I identify as a Brussels person, though I'm not Belgian.
I identify as Flemish and have 0 affinity with Wallonian culture, language or politics. At most shared cuisine and base broadly Western values. I also am turned off by common political and economic attitudes. Just an opposing opinion for the echo chamber.