BENELUX: A COMPLETE UNION OF THE NETHERLANDS

It was a time when the Netherlands were a powerful land. During the XVI century, they ruled a big and united territory. They were also one of the main sailors lands of the world, being pioners in north America, funding a colonial province around the city of New Amsterdam, which today, is the city of New York.

But later they had a period of decline, in which they were invaded by France, who took for its domain a good part of dutch southern territories, and strengthening the presence of the french language in the area. Finally the former territory was divided into several countries: Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and some province, whick was into France.

In the middle of XX century, they created a project of union among the low countries, with an undefinied range of unity, inicially oriented into a common free market. The project was called BENELUX. So it means: BElgium + NEtherlands + LUXembourg.

These very little countries, once united and strong, have lost all their influence in this globalized world. Not only that, but they are even incurring in a big opportunity cost. If they were once again united, they would have a very rich country, with a big influence inside the European Union, with a new powerful voice in the international scene, and a strong internal market. A clear example of how union makes force.

This is the map and data of the new country:

BENELUX:

TERRITORIES

- Netherlands

- Belgium

- Luxemburg

- Nord-Pas de Calais (French Flanders)

- SURFACE: 87.071 km2

- POPULATION: 31.839.997

- GDP: 1.453.152

MAIN CITIES:

1- BRUSSELS: 1.885.319

2- AMSTERDAM: 1.364.422

3- ANTWERP: 1.190.769

4- ROTTERDAM: 1.181.284

5- LILLE: 1.164.716

6- DEN HAAG: 1.022.256

7- GENT: 594.582

8- LIEGE: 550.782

9- CHARLEROI: 522.522

10- UTRECHT: 489.734