Limburg and the Oranges

That I am now this interested in the Oranges is a bit strange. When I was young I grew up in Limburg, the appendix hanging on the bottom. A piece of land that for whatever reasons didn't rebel as hard against the king (King Willem I) and decided it rhater be Dutch than Belgian, or rather independent, but not the guts. I don't know. In any case, Limburg became and still is part of the Netherlands. Do Limburgish people feel Orange? To some extend, but not too much. Limburgish people are atypical Dutch people, mainly Catholic, not Protestant or Reformed. Neither as spoken out or enterprising. Not as loud either, except when it's Carnaval, which they don't celebrate, not really, above the rivers. But Dutch none-the-less.

What I remember, from my childhood, of Queensday? Not much. It was a public holiday. No school, some activities, not too many. Definately not a big party.

Nowadays I live in Amsterdam. Amsterdam, like many other big cities colour orange. It's been since I live in Amsterdam I really celebrate Queensday. A party to watch all the boats on the canals and weirdoes in orange. Even for me it was something new to experience, and I was Dutch.

The Belgium revolution started in 1830. Well, you can read all about it here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Revolution
http://www.authorama.com/history-of-holland-33.html
https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/explore-the-collection/timeline-dutch-history/1830-1831-the-belgian-revolution
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~noemeetjesland/1830/1830.htm
http://www.belgium.be/en/about_belgium/country/history/belgium_from_1830/
Google search: Belgian revolution

After reading a bit of the wiki-page, I found out a part of Limburg was given back. That's even more depressing. On the other hand, we kept the tradition of being flung from one power to another going.

Does Limburg feel Dutch? No. The Dutch not-Limburgish people don't think so. Even the Limburgish people don't think so. And I have to confess, neither do I. And yet, I feel Dutch. I can even tell you most Limburgish people feel Dutch, but they feel Limburgish first. How else could it be. For the greatest time in all times, Limburg wasn't one of the seven united Netherlands. Most of the time they didn't fall under the Orange leadership, they fell under the French, Spanish or other power. So it's no surprise Limburg wasn't that keen to sing along with the King's song last Queensday. Neither is it surprising they feel like an appendix hanging on. It's the strangest of situations.

So if the King is thrown out, and the Republic returns, what would that mean for Dutch- or East-Limburg? I wonder.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limburg_(Netherlands)