From the start of the nineteenth century, Belgians had become increasingly unhappy under the rule of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands.
On the evening of August 25th 1830, a performance of Daniel Auber’s patriotic opera ‘La Muette de Portici’, led to revolution. The performance caused a riot, and the crowd poured into the streets after the opera ended, shouting patriotic slogans, and quickly taking control of government buildings.
The moderate Crown Prince William, who represented the monarchy in Brussels, announced on 1 September that the administrative separation of the north and south was the only workable solution to the crisis. His father, King William I, rejected this proposal and attempted to restore the establishment order by force.
The royal army was unable to retake Brussels after vicious street fighting from September 23rd to 26th. A provisional government was declared in Brussels on September 26th, and the Dutch troops retreated during the night of the 26th-27th.
The Flemish Community observes a community day, on July 11th, called the Battle of the Golden Spurs, commemorating a victory over the French in 1302.
It is interesting to note that the French Community Holiday celebrates the victory of French-speaking Belgians over the Dutch army, while the Flemish Community Holiday celebrates the victory of Dutch-speaking Belgians over the French army. #OccasionalDigest #Belgium