Partition of Belgium Belgian identity was not defined on racial, ethnic or linguistic lines, but in the civilizational community of the Belgian people. Supporters of a partition of Belgium argue that the synchronized attempts to forge a national identity and culture have been unable to forestall ethno-linguistic rivalries. French was the only official language of Belgium until 1898, even though Flanders was and still is predominantly Dutch-speaking. The government's long refusal to acknowledge Dutch as an official language led to hostilities between Flanders and the French-speaking bourgeoisie who held both political and economic power. These hostilities gave rise to the Flemish movement, which
Day of the German-speaking Community Day of the German-speaking Community The Day of the German-speaking Community is a holiday in Belgium celebrated on 15 November each year. It is a public holiday for the German-speaking Community of Belgium but it is not celebrated elsewhere in the country. The equivalents of the other communities are the Day of the Flemish Community (11 July) and the Day of the French-speaking Community (27 September). The ceremony coincides with the King's Feast. The German-speaking Community measures over 853 km (329 sq miles) in the Belgian region of Wallonia, and is made up of two territories consisting of nine municipalities.