It sounds like an international match, ‘Netherlands-Belgium’, but it’s more or less like that. King Willem-Alexander will pay a state visit to our southern neighbor in the coming days at the invitation of King Philippe. That’s 26^st state visits by the king in the more than 10 years he has been king.

This is a return visit, because 7 years ago Filip and Mathilde from Belgium made a state visit to the Netherlands. During a state banquet at the Palace on Dam Square, the king gave his usual speech. Willem-Alexander spoke during the toast: “To the King and Queen of Belgium and the warm, unbreakable friendship between the Kingdom of Belgium and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.” Warm historical ties between the Netherlands and Belgium? There were times when we could shoot each other. literally.

Netherlands and Belgium 1 country

In early 19^That century, the Netherlands and Belgium were 1 country, united under the crown of King William I. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg was the private property of the king, so the young kingdom of Oranges formed a major European country. King Willem worked hard to bring about a successful union between north and south, but it was complicated to keep all parties friendly.

In the end, his empire did not last long. Belgium rebelled against Orange. The Ten Days campaign to bring Belgium to its knees by force failed. The international community forced William I to recognize the independence of the young Belgian state. Finally he did, sulking. Belgium finds its own king: Leopold I.

50 years of enemies

The Dutch king, furious with the ungrateful Belgians, refused to have anything to do with the Belgian king. The enmity between the two royal houses lasted more than 50 years! Contact started to return a bit after Willem III became king. He had met the King of Belgium Leopold I, his grandfather’s enemy, once. But the chill lingered in the air. It wasn’t until 1883, more than 50 years after the break, that the hatchet was buried. At the Grand Hôtel Brittanique in Spa, Belgium, Willem III and Emma and the Belgian royal couple Leopold II and Marie-Henriette (the ‘Spa Reine’ spring is named after him) share a meal.

The royal couple’s ‘informal’ lunch was an important event in international politics. Many ‘massages’ have preceded it. A month earlier, the pair of Belgian crown princes had paid a very courteous visit to Willem III and Emma,​​who lived in Luxembourg. Visit to neutral territory. Has the Belgian crown prince said any words of peace? Is a formal visit to the Spa arranged there?

Reconciliation lunch

After all, the result was a victory for both kings. Gathering in the popular spa town Spa looks like a state visit! All streets are decorated with Belgian and Dutch flags. William III was waiting on the platform for his old rival. After Leopold II left the drawing-room carriage, the princes embraced each other enthusiastically. In the open carriage, clearly visible to the assembled tourists and press, the two royal couples rode in the open carriage to the hotel.

After both national anthems were sounded, a generous 12 course lunch was consumed, while outside, in front of the hotel, was black with people. The ‘lunch of reconciliation’ was a resounding success and less than three months later, Leopold II and Marie-Henriette paid a state visit to our country, followed by a return visit by Willem III and Emma to Belgium.

The “warm and unbreakable friendship” that King Willem-Alexander spoke of could finally begin.

Paul Rem is an art historian and curator at Het Loo Palace. He is a board member of various museums, an internationally recognized expert on ‘Old furniture’ and a member of the ‘TEFAF fat committee‘. He regularly joins as a table guest Time for the MAX. read Here Already column.

(Photo: ANP)