Currently, Belgium is divided into three major regions: Flanders, Wallonia and the Brussels-Capital Region. While Brussels does its own thing, being one-hundred per cent bilingual and bicultural, Flanders and Wallonia are vastly different. Let’s take a look at them and compare.
About the regions
The Flemish and Walloon regions of Belgium are home to two very different groups of people. The Flemish are the Dutch-speaking people who live in the northern part of the country, while the Walloons are the French-speaking people who live in the southern part.
The two groups have a long history of conflict, dating back to the Middle Ages. In the late 1800s, the Walloons tried to secede from Belgium, but the Flemish opposed this. The two groups eventually reached a compromise, with the Flemish getting their region and the Walloons getting theirs.
The differences
There are many differences between Wallonia and Flanders. The most obvious difference is the language. Wallonia is exclusively French-speaking, while Flanders is Dutch-speaking. This can make communication between the two regions difficult.
Another difference is the history. Wallonia was once part of the Roman Empire which results in Wallonia having a lot of Roman ruins, while in Flanders, they’re.
Wallonia is also poorer than Flanders since the industrial revolution happened first in Flanders. As a result, Flanders had a head start in becoming wealthy.
The two groups also have different views on life. The Flemish tend to be more pragmatic, while the Walloons are more idealistic. This difference is reflected in the way that each region is governed. The Flemish region is governed by a coalition of parties, while the Walloon region is governed by a single party.
The similarities
There are as many similarities between the regions, almost as much as there are differences. Both are located in the western part of the country and share a border with France. Both regions are also home to a large number of bilingual people, with French and Dutch being the most common languages spoken.
Both regions have their governments and parliaments. Both regions are known for their beautiful countryside and medieval towns. Wallonia is especially known for its picturesque Ardennes region, while Flanders is known for its canals and windmills.
The cultural differences between the Flemish and the Walloons are evident in the way that they live their lives. However, there is one thing that they have in common: their love of Belgium.
