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)

the Republic

Quite a few years ago I had my first gush of Orange interest. Back then the subject of my affections was Prince Johan Friso, son of Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus. He’s been in a coma for more than a year now after being caught in an avalange in 2012. My interest in him was way before Mabel gate, back in the ‘90s I think. Looking back I can’t remember why I felt attracted to him. Pretty much like now.


Prince Johan Friso


 I’m not a royalist. Observing it all, from a distance, to me it all feels very unnatural. And because it feels unnatural, I can’t see how certain things within a monarchie can work. Yes, I know, we regulated it and our monarchie, as it is now, is for a great part ceremonial. Still, a monarchie seems like a tricky thing to me.

Queen Sophie, Alexander’s mum, once said something like, if people could see behind the scenes of a monarchie, they would become republican (in the Dutch sense of the word).

I liked that, obviously. Not only because I don’t really believe in a monarchie, but mainly because someone high up and right in there had the wits to not only noticing it, but also to confirm it. I’m sure she wrote that in one of her letters to one of her many friends, and not in public. Not in public for whatever reasons. Maybe because she didn’t have the power to set up the republic, maybe not even the power to voice her ideas. Who knows her reasons?

In an earlier post I said I don’t think we can do without the Oranges anymore. That hasn’t changed. I did get more curious about the possibilities to go back to being a republic. What would it take? Do we have all characteristics, knowledge, skills and powers needed to making it a success? And how long would we need to build the republic back to strength? I mean, it’s been more than 200 years since we actually were a republic, the Republic. In the passed two centuries the Republic has crept out of our systems, out of our minds and heads. We are subjects to a King, and that’s how we’re living our lives. We can’t remember being inhabitants of a Republic. We don’t know that life, nor do we remember how to live those lives.

Those are objections that I think can be overcome, but it would take time. A lot of time. So what would be the pros? A democratically chosen leader. No money to an expensive royal family (but to the republic). No ridicule over an out of date and highly undemocratic tradition. Yeah, I can’t think of more.

What I do want to do is read a bit more about being a republic and the pros and cons people come up with. Who knows I will do some research. If I do, you will find the results here.

And now for something completely different: I said I would post the intro, or part of, of the book “Alexander – de vergeten kroonprins” on this blog in the, then, next entry. I didn’t, because I forget to bring the book so I could type over what I wanted you to read. I will do so as soon I don’t forget to bring the book, or when I’m back home. Maybe this weekend, maybe next week. Probably never. In other words, don’t hold your breath.