WI: Belgium ceased to exist by the Industrial Revolution

If Belgium had been kept by France following the War of the Austrian Succession, what would have been the effect on industrialisation in Europe? I can't imagine the British government allowing investment in the area, which might seriously curb the spread of industrialisation in Europe. Thoughts?
 
Don't understand the question, if it had been kept all subsequent history would have been different, and whatever Britain may have wanted to do or not to do would be governed by different imperatives

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
I'm just imagining the likely butterflies of this. Belgium was the first place to industrialise after Britain, partially due to the strong relationship between the two countries. If industrialisation did spread to mainland Europe this way, how much would it have been delayed?
 
ehh Belgium? During that period it still was the Southern Netherlands, first known as the Spanish Netherlands and later as the Austrian Netherlands after the main possession of their Sovereign Lord.

Regarding the question industrialization of the Southern Netherlands IOTL also started when this region was annexed by France during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic era.
 
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