How a Flemish nationalist party redefined Belgium's political landscape to reach the premiership

Cultures · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The New Flemish Alliance, or N-VA, began as a modest successor to the People's Union in 2001. By evolving from a big-tent movement into a conservative, nationalist force, it transformed from a fringe group into Belgium's dominant political power, eventually securing the prime ministership for Bart De Wever in 2025.

Founded in the autumn of 2001, the N-VA emerged from the right-leaning faction of the People's Union (Volksunie). Following the dissolution of the Volksunie, the N-VA sought to promote Flemish autonomy through a pragmatic, non-revolutionary approach. Initially, the party operated as a big-tent, centre-right movement, advocating for the gradual transformation of Belgium into a confederal union. This strategy was based on the belief that transferring powers from the federal government to the Flemish and Walloon regions would eventually pave the way for Flemish independence.

Under the leadership of Bart De Wever, the party shifted significantly toward a conservative identity. By the 2010 federal election, the N-VA achieved a major breakthrough, becoming the largest party in both Flanders and Belgium. This rise was fueled by a platform emphasizing economic liberalism, stricter law and order, and controlled immigration. The party's ideology, sometimes described as 'scientific nationalism,' distinguishes itself from the far-right Vlaams Belang by focusing on civic and cultural integration, such as the mandatory learning of the Dutch language and the defense of Western values.

The N-VA's relationship with international institutions has also undergone a notable transformation. Once strongly pro-European, the party has adopted a 'Eurorealist' stance, opposing the creation of a federal EU superstate and advocating for greater national self-determination. This shift toward skepticism is mirrored in their domestic policies, such as the 2018 withdrawal from the federal government over the UN Global Compact for Migration. Today, the party remains a central force in Belgian politics, balancing its regionalist roots with a broader conservative agenda that prioritizes Flemish identity and structural reform of the Belgian state.

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