Neo Westphalian Europe Part 20: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

The Duchy of Luxembourg is another border nation that was created to ease tensions between the surrounding larger states. It has served the purpose of being a neutral border state for much of its history. In the wake of the collapse of the European Union its importance in this role will once again come to the fore. It is therefore not expected that any territorial changes will occur here. 

It is a parliamentarian Monarchy, whose executive branch is currently under the command of the Royal House of Nassau-Wellburg.  The territory of this nation is made up of the Diekirch, Grevenmacher and Luxembourg districts of Luxembourg.

The flag of Luxembourg is a tricolour based on the colours of the coat of arms of the Counts of Luxembourg. Because of this the flag is almost identical to the neighbouring Netherlands flag. To avoid confusion the red and the blue are often stipulated as a lighter shade. Previous attempts to have the flag changed have failed so it is likely that this flag will remain as the national flag going forward.

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Neo Westphalian Europe Part 19: Kingdom of Belgium

The Kingdom of Belgium will be a tiny rump nation, left over after the distribution of most of its lands between the French and Dutch states. It will remain as a buffer state to prevent conflicts between the neighbouring nations that surround it. It will remain a Monarchy under the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. This effectively makes it a German based nation given its German royal house. It will also be a German-speaking nation. 

To prevent conflict between the Dutch and the French it will maintain sovereignty over Brussels. It will also act as a buffer to prevent France and Germany sharing a border with each other, which could see these old foes sink into conflict again. Keeping the French and German states separate, via smaller buffer states, will be a much better way of preventing the cycle of violence on the continent that traditionally exists, than the creation of the ridiculous ‘united’ super state which many argue for. A United States of Europe is not the only way to prevent warfare in Europe. Indeed the creation of this super state is ironically pushing Europe to a new round of such bloodshed. 

To create this buffer zone Belgium will maintain sovereignty over the German Speaking Community, of the current Belgian state. This will leave a nation with its final borders defined by the exclave of the Brussels Capital Region of Belgium. Added to this will be the Burg-Reuland, Sankt Vith, Amel, Builingen, Butgenbach, Waimes, Malmedy, Eupen, Raeren, Lontzen and Kelmis municipalities, of the Verviers arrondissement in Liege province in the current Belgian state.

The flag of Belgium is based on the colours of the Duchy of Brabant, which were used during the Brabant Revolution in the late 1700’s. They were put into the tricolour format of many of the revolutionary flags of Europe of the time, which the French revolution had pioneered.

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Neo Westphalian Europe Part 18: Kingdom of the Netherlands

Although for a time a Republic, after its liberation from the Kingdom of Spain, the Netherlands has slowly drifted back into the Monarchist model. Even with all the radical changes, taking place across the continent, it is likely to maintain its Monarchy as a point of some conservatism in the region. It is not expected therefore that a Republican movement would come to the fore in this country.

There will however be the territorial changes of its borders. The new shape of the nation will include the provinces of South Holland, Utrecht, Limburg, North Brabant, Gelderland, Overijssel, Flevoland, Zeeland and Drenthe in the existing Netherlands.

It will also include the Beverwijk, Castricum, Heemskerk, Uitgeest, Velsen, Bloemendaal, Haarlem, Haarlemmerliede en Spaarnwoude, Heemstede, Zandvoort, Wormerland, Zaanstad, Aalsmeer, Amstelveen, Amsterdam, Beemster, Diemen, Edam-Volendam, Haarlemmermeer, Landsmeer, Oostzaan, Ouder-Amstel, Purmerend, Uithoorn, Waterland, Blaircum, Gooise Meren, Hilversum, Huizen, Laren, Weesp, Wijdemeren, Schermer and Graft-De Rijp municipalities in the North Holland province of the Netherlands. The territories of the Dutch-speaking Flemish Region of Blegium will also unite with this nation.

The flag of the Netherlands is based on the Red White and Blue tricolour that the nation adopted during its time as a client state of Napoleons French Empire.

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Neo Westphalian Europe Part 17: Republic of Friesland

The Republic of Friesland is a nation made up of the Frisian lands and islands of the North Sea region. It is made up of the provinces of Friesland and Groningen in the Netherlands. It also includes the Municipalities in the historic West Frisian part of the North Holland Province of the Netherlands. These include Bergen, Heiloo, Alkmaar, Heerhugowaard, Koggenland, Drechterland, Enkhuizen, Hollands Kroon, Hoorn, Langedijk, Medemblik, Opmeer, Schagen, Stede Broec, Den Helder, Harenkarspel, Wervershoof, Andijk, Zijpe and Texel municipalities.

Added to this are the East Frisian regions of Germany. These include the Aurich, Emden Urban, Leer, Wittmund, Friesland and Wilhelmshaven Urban districts, in the Lower Saxony State of Germany. Finally the North Frisian region of Nordfriesland district, in the Schleswig-Holstein state of Germany, is part of this new nation. Linking these mainland regions are the islands of the Frisian archipelago.

The German parts of this nation are currently used to operating under a republican model. The Dutch parts are currently under a Monarchist system, however they have a historical precedent of having operated under a republican model, during the historical Dutch Republic period. There are therefore no foreseeable systemic shocks to this region shifting to a republican model, after reunification.

The flag of this Frisian nation is the flag of the united Frisian regions, which was adopted by the Interfrisian Council in 2006.

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