Why does Belgium Exist? (Short Animated Documentary)

Why does Belgium exist? A question which is often asked given its location between two historically annex-happy states and its linguistically-divided population. If you want to find out why happy little Belgium became and managed to stay a thing then watch this short and simple animated history documentary to find out why.

A special thanks to all of these Patrons below, without whom the show wouldn't be possible:

Franco La Bruna
Kevin Sanders
Chris Fatta
Richard Wolfe
Gregory - The Bittersteel
Stefan Møller
anon
sharpie660
Ian Jensen
SirAlpaka
D. Mahlik
Qi Xiao
Dragan
Andrew Miraut
Dexter_McAaron
Wolf
Andrew Niedbala
Rod D. Martin
John Garcia
Ariadni Voulgari
Paul McGee
Nathan Perlman
Bernardo Santos
Danny Anstess
Henry Rabung
Tristan Kreller
Jane Sumpter
Chris Hall
Christopher Godfrey
Christopher S Nelson
Perry Gagne
Shaun Pullin
Warren Rudkin
James Bisonette Fan #1
Magdalena Reinberg-Leibel
bas mensink
Joooooshhhhhh
jdk
Troy Schmidt
Alen
Blake Dryad
I'm Not In The Description
Cap
William Wold
Jeffrey Schneider
FF Nelly
Mark Ploegstra
Liam Gilleece
Kinfe85
Luke Robinson
Haydn Noble
MrPalomino
Josh Cornelius
Colm Boyle
TooMuchWaterYouDie
HelloAgainThere
Julian Baumann
Richard Manklow
Nick Finan
Colin Steele
Gabriel Lunde
João Santos
Christine Purvis
Konstantin Bredyuk
Big Nick
Donald Weaver
Steve Bonds
Seth Reeves
Pierre Le Mouel

Sources:
A Concise History of the Netherlands by James Kennedy.
Belgium, Luxemburg, and the Defence of Western Europe, 1914-1920 by D. Stevenson.

[MrTacticalAce]

Belgium is just the center of a complicated love-triangle.

[Ralphieboy]

I learned the term "Belgian Compromise" as "a half-assed compromise that neither solves the problem nor satisfies either side."

[davidlasdon]

As near as I can tell Belgium exists so that a bunch of French speakers can claim they aren't French and a bunch of Dutch speakers can claim they aren't Dutch. But damn the beer is incredible.

[timroz]

I love that the belgian have the "I rather put up with family then strangers" mentality

[houssem.khaled]

There's a Belgian saying that goes: "if you understood something about Belgium, it means we didn't explain it to you properly".

[WantedVisual]

"Zero out of three isn't bad" was the political philosophy we started with, and we will stick with it, dammit.

[kellyjohns]

If schools would educate students with animated history, many more kids would pay attention.
I'm 54 and enjoying history for the 1st time.
Nice job, guys. Thank you

[Trigm]

0:11 I love the realism. As a resident of Brussels, I certainly agree about coloring it French. The "Dual Language" area speaks French first, and Dutch third.
The Second Language of Brussels is English, the unofficial fourth language of Belgium.

[ChessedGamon]

Being a Belgian nationalist in the 19th and early 20th century must have been like having an existential crisis that never stopped

[judecaruso]

As a Belgian I wake up every morning and ask myself this question

[Space-Poes]

I don't know why Belgium exists but as a belgian I am happy I live in Belgium.

[romulusnr]

Love the consistent use of orange, because of William of Orange.

[noahtra]

Luxembourg be like: if I don't move, they won't harm me

[jmhanelineiv]

"...and was rejected by the British because 'France can't have nice things' had been British foreign policy for over 400 years at this point" had me ROLLING

[jamesibm]

It's kind of remarkable that they even found a name for this collection of Dutch, French and German leftovers.

It's equally remarkable that to France and Germany, Belgium was never an enemy or an ally, but simply "in the way". Like a geographically challenged Switzerland.

[PulseRasar]

“Why Does Belgium exist?” Asked Hitler Calmly

[edh]

"If you understand Belgian politics, you understand politics everywhere in the world."
US embassador to Belgium in the 80s.

[kaiserwilhelmii]

'Why does Belgium exist?'

Alfred von Schlieffen: Good question

[ICaImI]

Me, a german, can completely understand the sentiment of "france can't have nice things".

[HoustonBrown]

You have quickly become one of my favorite channels. I now look forward to see how you incorporate someone dancing thru the daisies into every episode. You never disappoint