Surviving Southern Netherlands

What are good PoDs (post Peace of Westphalia) for the Southern Netherlands to continue to exist as a polity into the XIXth century?
I'm aware of Karl Theodor's attempt to trade Bavaria for the Netherlands, but it would likely have been overrun by the Fürstenbund or, if not, by the French revolutionaries a decade later.
 
No French Revolution. And then Austria decides it's not worth keeping and gives it to a cadet prince.

Or it already ends up with a under a ruler of its own after the war of the Spanish succession. For instance the ruler of Lorraine & Bar is compensated with the Southern Netherlands.
 
Yes, AH writers should use them more often. But how do you get them to avoid either reconquest by Austria and absorption by the French?

Britain's involvement? IIRC they had a stake in keeping Belgium independent because they controlled an easy passage across the Channel.
 
The British protectorate of the United States of Belgium. Wow.

That actually gives me an idea:

French Revolution begins as OTL, and at the same time the Habsburg possessions rise in revolt against Joseph II's centralizing reforms. United States of Belgium are founded.

If the First Republic is proclaimed as OTL and begins fighting the War of the First Coalition, here we can enter our POD: Suppose Valmy doesn't go as well for the nascent Republic?
 
Britain's involvement? IIRC they had a stake in keeping Belgium independent because they controlled an easy passage across the Channel.

Pssh. Passage across the Channel wasn't the important issue here. Far more important was keeping the mouth of the Scheldt River in neutral/friendly hands. It would be disastrous for British trade (and for the local economy) for France to take control of it.
 
Pssh. Passage across the Channel wasn't the important issue here. Far more important was keeping the mouth of the Scheldt River in neutral/friendly hands. It would be disastrous for British trade (and for the local economy) for France to take control of it.

Re-opening the Scheldt river for the Southern Netherlands would be good for their economy, but it won't be good for Dutch trade*, so I doubt that Northern Netherlands would like that, unless the Northern & Southern Netherlands re-unite like IOTL 1815-1830 (de facto)/1839 (Belgium finally recognized by the (Northern) Netherlands as well).

(*= hence Britain and the Netherlands usually were in agreement about this matter)
 
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