Gerrit,
 
GK> Your royal household is somewhat special and was established after the
GK> French Revolution (and your king was /elected/ as 3rd choice after the
GK> others didn't accept). So I guess you wanted it this way, and you
GK> certainly could decide to take a different route.
 
Long after the French revolution ... close to 40 years after.
 
I hope you won't take any offence over this but the current generation of
Belgians is as much to blame for turning this country into a kingdom or for the
attrocities of Leopold II in the Congo as the current generations of Germans is
to be blamed for world war 2 and the attrocities of the Nazis.
 
I'm here and now because two people decided to have ... well ... you know what.
It was none of my choice.
 
There is no majority in Belgium anymore among the commoners to maintain the
royal household, but there's no political majority and it would be such a
legalistic upset that no-one wants to eat that hot potato.
 
 \%/@rd

--- D'Bridge 4