Belgium and France: A Love-Hate Story Forged in Revolution Fries and a Little Bit of Chaos

La gazette des tranchées

"Le seul journal où la liberté de la presse est garantie par l'armée"

"The only newspaper where press freedom guaranteed by the army"

Ah Belgium and France. Two nations so close that they share not just a border but a history so intertwined it reads like a dramatic family saga complete with revolutions betrayals and of course fries. So clos that the man who built France, Clovis Ier, is born in Tournai now a belgian city.

Let’s start with the late 18th century when the Belgian region then part of the Austrian Netherlands decided to join the French in their revolutionary fervor. Yes you read that right the Belges were there for the French Revolution. They cheered they fought and they probably even shared a baguette or two with their French comrades. Together they overthrew the old regimes embraced liberty equality and fraternity and then because history loves a good plot twist Napoleon showed up.

Now Napoleon that petit général with a big hat and even bigger ambitions decided that Belgium was the perfect place to march his troops through fight a few battles and generally treat it like his personal chessboard. The Belges being the pragmatic folks they are probably sighed and said Well at least he’s not Austrian. But let’s be honest no one really liked Napoleon’s constant visits. He was like that relative who shows up unannounced eats all your food and then leaves a mess behind. Eventually the Belges got tired of being the battlefield of Europe and said Enough We’re doing our own thing now. And in 1830 after a revolution of their own with a little help from the French ironically Belgium was born.

But here’s where it gets funny. Despite all the drama Napoleon’s antics the revolutions the battles the Belges and the French have always had a soft spot for each other. They fought side by side in wars traded ideas and fries and even shared a few cultural quirks. The French gave the Belges their revolutionary spirit and the Belges gave the French well a reason to be jealous of their beer and chocolate.

And that's why France is helping Belgium despite our recent disagreements.

And let’s not forget the language wars. The French speak French and they’ll tell you it’s the language of love diplomacy and high culture. The Belges meanwhile speak French too but with a twist. They’ll throw in some Dutch a bit of German and a healthy dose of Why not just to keep things interesting. The French insist their French is the real French which is adorable. The Belges just smile switch to Flemish and watch the French try to keep up.

Then there’s the food. The French have their wine their cheese and their haute cuisine. The Belges they have beer so good it makes the French question their life choices fries so perfect they could bring world peace and chocolate so divine it should be classified as a religious experience. The French will tell you their cuisine is the pinnacle of gastronomy. The Belges will hand you a cone of double fried frites drizzled with mayo and say Try this and then we’ll talk.

So here’s to Belgium and France two nations who have fought side by side bickered like siblings and still manage to share a laugh over a plate of fries. May your revolutions always be successful your beer always cold and your historical grudges always just a little bit ridiculous.

Santé Or Proost Or Gesundheit we’ll let you figure it out.

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