Dutch sector

The Dutch sector (Dutch: Nederlandstalige sector) is a micronational comprised by Dutch and Belgian / Flemish micronations. Nations which have a culture that is based on the Netherlands or Flanders aren't seen as a part of this sector. The Sector has always been participating with the Anglophone Sector, which is nowadays (and also in the past) best seen by the presence of the three major nations on the MCS-map.

History

The beginning (1997)

The history of the Dutch sector started in 1997 with its first, as far as is known, micronation: the First Republic of Flanders. Because of this it's quite clear who placed the basics of the Sector. That was Gert Geens who had stumbled upon Anglophone nations and wanted to join one. Ironically, his impatience led to the establishment of Flanders. In that time the nation was officially bilingual and recognised both Dutch as English as national language (the legislation was, however, in English). So, the sector started as bilangual and slowly evolved.

Great changes (2004)

While the Sector was only composed of Flanders for a long time, this changed by the death of the First Republic on the 11th April 2003. The sector was death for quite some time, but in June 2004 the creation of Charlotta finally brought the needed changes. It was the beginning of an influx of new micronationalists (and micronations). Both Flanders, Charlotta, the Red Antilles, Mayo (which would secede from Charlotta on 4th August 2004 after the communist coup d'état), Liberi would become prominent and well-known nations from that era. The Principality of Victoria would also see the birth light, just like the move of Liberi from a MSN group to a forum.

Evolution and Lage Landen Confederatie (2004 - 2005)

For quite some time the Sector was flourishing. It not only saw a (sometimes bitter) struggle between the communist and more liberal nations (e.g.: Victoria was almost ripped apart between those two fronts), but also the development of unique projects. There were experiments with government systems (direct democracy in Mayo, parliamentary republic in Flanders, a one party system in Charlotta, etc.) and, more importantly, the creation of several newspapers that lead to economic activity and interaction between nations. Certain nations like the Rijk, Liberi, Victoria, Charlotta, DRA and Mayo even became members of the MCS.

The end of this all, however, was near: at the end of 2005 a lot of the nations had fallen in inactivity. Only Mayo, Charlotta and Flanders seemed to have survived but their most active periods seemed over. After long debates, ratification of new regulation and the change of (in case of Flanders) constitution the Low Land Confederation was established. It would only exist for one month: December 2005. The end result was the death of both Mayo and Charlotta and the de facto absorption of their remaining citizens in Flanders. Once more, the sector existed of just one nation.

Modern Times (2006 - present)

Flanders would, however, not held the title of only Dutch nation for very long. In February 2006 Batavia came to existence (as a result of Jodocus van Haltna, then called Vaderdesvaderlands, attempt to create a small nation).

A Flemish television program, Robland, lead to a new influx of micronationalists who had discovered micronations. Not much later Brabantia and even the communist SSR Novasibirsk were started up.

Both Brabantia and SSR Novasibirsk would ultimately become inactive. Batavia, as only kingdom, stayed around and developed from an amateurish micronation into a well-developed, stable country. This country would become the first of the Dutch nations of its generation to enter the MCS (being preceded by Charlotta, Mayo and the Red Antilles), which ultimately to get Flanders and the Netherlands (came to existence in January 2007) join the organisation.

Dutch organisations

Cooperation between Dutch nations is not unknown and pretty common. Between April 2007 and May 2010 the NEVO (Dutch Treaty Organisation) acted as a platform in which the representatives of each nation discussed the changes within the sector, debated about international law and introduced an exchange rate between the members. Ultimately, the organisation failed to achieve its main goal: attracting new micronationalists. It also frustrated economists because of the exchange rate which was too static and gave the inactive Netherlands a major advantage (because they had less money in their bank). After some heavy arguments, most of them between Batavia and the Netherlands, the nations left the organisation.

Nations

Current

• Kingdom of Batavia (Zesde Koninkrijk Batavië)
• Islamic Republic of New Batavia

Past

• Arzania
• Brabantia
• Charlotta
• Dragonsland (Drakenland)
• Second Virtual Republic of Flanders (Virtuele Republiek Vlaanderen)
• Islamic Internet Republic (former Republic of the Netherlands]
• Liberi
• Mayo
• Nederburg
• The Red Antilles (Rode Antillen)
• Het Rijk
• SSR Novasibirsk
• Terra Sectoria
• Victoria
• Free State Zeeburg (Vrijstaat Zeeburg)