Smaller UK of the Netherlands and its effect on the country's politics

Given that the POD is the same as OTL (1815-30), with some twist (e.g. French-speaking upper and middle class fleeing south, particularly in Namur and southern Brabant before, during and after Belgian independence), what could be the political system of a surviving but smaller United Kingdom of Netherlands (OTL Netherlands and Flemish Region) be like?


NOTE:
This thread originally tackled the effect of a smaller United Kingdom of the Netherlands on its broadcasting industry, in which I include a personal observation:
(Well, I noticed that while NPO is composed of "pillarized" broadcasters, its Flemish counterpart VRT is more-or-less inspired by the BBC, from the licence fee (until 2001 OTL) to programming and administration. Will the two models reconcile in this ATL version of the Netherlands?)
Some commentors noted pillarization that exist in contemporary Dutch society and its roots on the religious make-up of OTL Netherlands. Thus, I changed the topic a bit. Still, broadcasting-related commentes are still allowed.
 
Last edited:
impossible to say, they might go with a completely different model.
it is also highly dependent on politics.
 
What a delightfully specific question. I was just researching Dutch history a minute ago, too.

I have no idea! I'll just sit back and take it in.
 
Pillarisation started with the conservative protestants, who believed the other protestants were too liberal and the catholics were too....well catholic I suppose.

If the Netherlands keeps Catholic Flanders the percentage of protestants and catholics will be reversed from 60% protestants and 40% catholics to 40% protestants and 60% catholics. The question is would this encourage or discourage the protestants of forming a pillar. I could see the more conservative and more liberal protestants banding together more as they are now a minority, but the more conservative protestants are less relevant politicaly now, so it is possible that they remain more open towards other factions.
 
*Bumping for more*
The problem is that you are asking people about some obscure part of history from a country, that most people here don't care about. So you are bumping it at the wrong time. Do it when Dutch people are awake, like maybe now.

Anyway the crucial point is the development of Dutch political history. Will pilarisation still occur or not? A similar, but less extreme, version happened in Belgium (although probably in reaction to the Netherlands), so it certainly is possible.
 
Top