Orangism (Belgium)
Encyclopedia
Orangism was a political current in what is now Belgium
that supported its inclusion in the short-lived United Kingdom of the Netherlands
(1815-1830). After the secession of Belgium in 1830, Orangist sentiment in Flanders
for a time sought a restoration of the United Kingdom. Some of the most prominent Flemish Orangists were Jan Frans Willems
and Hippolyte Metdepenningen
. It was one inspiration for the later Greater Netherlands movement, although that movement was not all monarchist. Belgian Orangism survived well into the 1830s, strongly opposing the Belgian Revolution
and rallying against independence, but at present there is no public support in Flanders, nor any evident public debate, on a restored United Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
that supported its inclusion in the short-lived United Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands is the unofficial name used to refer to Kingdom of the Netherlands during the period after it was first created from part of the First French Empire and before the new kingdom of Belgium split out in 1830...
(1815-1830). After the secession of Belgium in 1830, Orangist sentiment in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
for a time sought a restoration of the United Kingdom. Some of the most prominent Flemish Orangists were Jan Frans Willems
Jan Frans Willems
Jan Frans Willems , Flemish writer and father of the Flemish movement.Willems was born in the Belgian city of Boechout, while that was under French occupation. He started his career in the office of a notary in Antwerp....
and Hippolyte Metdepenningen
Hippolyte Metdepenningen
Hippolyte Désiré Metdepenningen was a Belgian lawyer, president of the Ghent Bar Association and a politician.After Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 he became a municipal councilor on the Orangist list. In 1846 he was co-founder of the Liberal Party, which was the first...
. It was one inspiration for the later Greater Netherlands movement, although that movement was not all monarchist. Belgian Orangism survived well into the 1830s, strongly opposing the Belgian Revolution
Belgian Revolution
The Belgian Revolution was the conflict which led to the secession of the Southern provinces from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and established an independent Kingdom of Belgium....
and rallying against independence, but at present there is no public support in Flanders, nor any evident public debate, on a restored United Kingdom of the Netherlands.