Just like Americans like to make jokes about Canadians, about them being stupid, etc., the Dutch enjoy making fun of Belgians. We have a wide variety of Belgium jokes, ridiculing the intelligence of our southern neighbors.
Why is that, one might ask? Why do we laugh at Belgians?
Well, I hope that the following explains it:
The government of Belgium’s French-speaking region of Wallonia, which has a population of about 4 million, has approved a tax on barbequing, local media reported.
Experts said that between 50 and 100 grams of CO2, a so-called greenhouse gas, is emitted during barbequing. Beginning June 2007, residents of Wallonia will have to pay 20 euros for a grilling session.
‘How will they check whether people adhere to this law?’ I thought to myself while reading the article linked to above.
That’s easy:
The local authorities plan to monitor compliance with the new tax legislation from helicopters, whose thermal sensors will detect burning grills.
Which reminds me of a Dutch joke about the Belgians: what’s the latest invention of Belgium?
An airport with a roof on top.
Anyway, I’m still hoping that the article is some kind of delayed april fool’s joke.
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