I always say that it would have been best for the Dutch, French and the Flemish if Belgium would have been split on the lingustic lines. With the extended population, the Netherlands would have been in a better position during the 19th century. The Flemsih would not have been a second rate citizen in their own country, certainly not after 1848. And the adddition of the Walloon industrial potential would have strengthen France, possibly even enough to be more equal to Germany. Even for the Walloons it might have been pretty good to become French, since they would probably end up one of the most important regions, thus become pretty influential.