Bart De Wever sounded the alarm bell in the television show about the financial situation of both Flanders and Wallonia. “There is no more money. The federal government is bankrupt. The Walloon authorities are squarely bankrupt. And even the Flemish cash register is currently empty.”
According to the mayor, a merger of the Netherlands and Flanders would be a solution. It is a dream that De Wever has cherished for some time. “Together, they would be one of the strongest economies in the world. The ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam could merge into the gateway of the northwestern European economy. That seems like a fantastic story to me. There will of course still be some water through the Rhine and the Scheldt have to flow and people are not mentally ready for it yet, I notice that,” said De Wever in the program.
‘At least we can sit here comfortably’
And you notice this on the street in Sluis: not every Fleming is thrilled with the idea of De Wever. Sluis is known for being flooded with Flemish people when the weather is nice, who enjoy a day’s holiday, close to home, but abroad.
Yet there are also supporters of De Wever’s plan. An elderly couple enjoys the shade on a bench near Walplein. “In Ghent, where we live, you can only count the benches on one hand. They have removed all the benches there. At least we can sit here comfortably. We like coming here and would not mind at all if Flanders was added to the Netherlands. “
‘Reservebelgen’
Bart De Wever’s plan is also no problem for a Sluise entrepreneur who has just sold an ice cream to a Flemish couple. “They think we are already reserve Belgians from Zeeland, so why not take Flanders as well,” she jokes. “In addition, I speak more Flemish people than Dutch people here every day, so they are already here!”
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