Belgian-ness

In contrast to its neighbouring country the Netherlands, where we had a demonstration of national "orange" pride during the World Cup, in Belgium there is no feeling of "Belgian-ness".

This is because there is no real Belgium: the country combines three linguistic and cultural groups, the Dutch-speaking people from Flanders, the French-speaking Walloons and a small percentage of German speakers. The only real "Belgian" people are the people who live in the capital Brussels. They are also usually bilingual.

Next week, the Belgian national holiday (21 July) will be celebrated again. But don't expect a lot of black, yellow and red Belgian flags, because the division in this country runs deep.

The only Belgian flag that is always out is the one on the picture, under the triumphal arch that celebrates the Belgian independence (from the Netherlands).