What-if (AHC/PC) Limburg broke away with Belgium in 1830?

[raharris1973]

Could Limburg/Maastricht have gone with Belgium during the Belgian revolution rather than staying with Netherlands?

What would be the long-term impact?

Consider a free, flourishing butterfly and knock-ons mode, of a less Walloony, Belgium with an additional Dutch/Flemish area of Limburg with the city of Maastricht.

Also consider the same idea in a heavy butterfly-net mode for any effects it might have on WWI's 1914 campaign as we know it.

Did the Limburgers have too little in common with the Flemings to unite with them politically, even if they could have been roused to revolt against the Dutch King? If so, could Limburg have become an independent principality, like little Luxemburg?

 

[raharris1973]

@Skallagrim - any knowledge about this region, its sectarian affiliation, or whether its population’s sentiments could have plausibly supported a change in allegiance?

 

[Skallagrim]

Limburg in fact wanted to join Belgium, and half of Limburg did. But Orangist military forces held Maastricht, and forced what became "Dutch Limburg" to remain with the Netherlands.

The population of Limburg is, in any case almost entirely Catholic and would readily join Belgium if given the chance.

(More impressive would be if the Belgians get Dutch Brabant, too. But that's far trickier to accomplish...)

 

[Buba]

effects it might have on WWI's 1914 campaign as we know it.

Luttich is less of bottleneck. There should be a RR line through Masstricht, plus another slightly further north - but the borders might run in a manner making latter could pass through Netherlands.
An easier life for the 1st Army.