Why Belgium?
Misha Glenny ends his travels in the Netherlands in Brussels, home of the EU.
Misha Glenny ends his Netherlandish travels in Brussels, and asks why does Belgium exist. With details on the brief Kingdom of the Netherlands - a union with the Dutch in the north - and the reason why the British went to war with Germany in 1914. There is a faultline in Europe, running from the North Sea to the Alps, and this is one reason Belgium exists.
With contributions from Gita Deneckere of Ghent University; Simon Winder, who's at work on a new book called Lotharingia; and Paul Arblaster, author of A History of the Low Countries.
The producer is Miles Warde.
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Broadcasts
- Mon 4 Jun 201820:00BBC Radio 4
- Wed 6 Jun 201811:00BBC Radio 4
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The Invention Of...
Misha Glenny investigates the histories and the people that make nations what they are.

