Wallonian reaction

The Walloons were quick to react to these developments in Flanders. A counter movement, the Walloon Movement, soon developed. Among other things, the movement was concerned that the Flemish might attempt to establish the use of their tongue throughout Belgium.

This Walloon-Flemish polarization increased during the run up to World War I. In 1912 the Wallonian socialist Jules Destrée wrote unequivocally to the Belgian King Albert I: “Sire, you reign over two peoples. In Belgium there are Walloons and Flemings; there are no Belgians as such.”