Far-right Belgian mayor says 'nee!' to residents who can't speak Dutch

The new far-right mayor of a Belgian town took office on December 5, pledging to enact his most contentious electoral promise - insisting all newcomers learn to speak Dutch.

A Flemish Dutch dialect is spoken by about 60 percent of East Flanders' population and Ninove mayor - or burgomaster - Guy D'haeseleer wants that figure increased. 

He's promised to withhold social benefits from those who refuse to comply.

D'haeseleer insisted that by securing almost half of the vote in October's election, he has a mandate to enact the policy.

"We're going to link knowledge of Dutch to access to social benefits," he declared. "Via the CPAS (public social welfare centre), we will only grant social benefits to people who acquire a knowledge of Dutch within a reasonable period of time. If they don't, if they don't make any effort, they won't receive any more benefits."

Divisive

Ninove's population has increased by about 7,000 since 1990 to approximately 40,000 people and immigration has become an increasingly divisive subject among inhabitants.

"We received almost 50 percent of the votes," said D'haeseleer. "Every second inhabitant of Ninove voted for us. That's because people are concerned about immigration and insecurity in the town."

He added: "We really want to tell these people that they need to know Dutch. It's very important to us."

The Belgian capital Brussels is 25 kilometers away and D'haeseleer said anyone wanting to move to Ninove from there should consider the implications of his new rule.

"We're also going to call on people, if they want to leave Brussels, to move to the other side of the language border. That is, to Wallonia, where French is spoken. There, the language problem doesn't arise."

According to the Vlaams Belang party politician: "There will be far fewer problems if they stay on the other side of the language border in Wallonia rather than coming here to Ninove. Because arrivals from Brussels are increasing every year."

Outgoing mayor Tania De Jonge said D'haeseleer's aim of targeting non-Dutch speaking residents would fail. 

"Mr D'haeseleer is mistaken if he thinks that residents are suddenly going to sell their houses because they are French-speaking," she insisted. "Linguistic freedom is a constitutional right."

De Jonge said that during her tenure, she had "worked with respect for all people, for all cultures, and for diversity. We hope that everyone will continue to be treated equally, but I have my concerns."

National service broadcaster VRT recently reported concerns by local schools about the new policy. 

"Dutch is a particularly difficult language and you really need a lot of time to get it right," explained Ghislain De Bondt of LIGO, a center for basic education. 

Locals will have two years to master the language. 

VRT explained that a Dutch language course is already compulsory for people from outside the EU settling in Flanders as part of their compulsory integration package.