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Nationalistische Studentenvereniging

The Nationalistische Studentenvereniging (NSV!) () is a far-right Flemish nationalist student union, with chapters in Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, Leuven, West Flanders (including Bruges, Roeselare, Ostend and Kortrijk), Hasselt and Mechelen.

History

The NSV was founded in 1976 by Edwin Truyens as a radical splinter group of the Katholiek Vlaams Hoogstudentenverbond (KVHV; "Catholic Flemish High Student Pact"). This split occurred after the national council of the KVHV resented the radical Flemish nationalist stances of Truyens and his faction, including accepting nothing less than full Flemish independence.

In 2024, the student union had their recognition rescinded and were banned from using KU Leuven facilities after using racist language during a lecture. The group has also received a suspension from the University of Ghent for discriminatory behavior.

Ideology

The NSV maintains an ideology of conservative, radical nationalism and is active in the Flemish Movement. Many top figures in the Vlaams Belang (formerly Vlaams Blok) started their political activities in the NSV, although the organization claims party-political independence. They also have close ties to other grassroots organisations in the Flemish independence movement like the Vlaamse Volksbeweging (VVB) and Voorpost. Smaller numbers of former NSV members have also been elected to office for the newer and more moderate New Flemish Alliance party.

Internationally the NSV maintains informal relations with several European nationalist organizations, such as Generation Identity, the Movimento Giovani Padani and the publishing house Arktos.

Colours and symbols

Members of the NSV can be recognised by their grey student's hat and student's ribbons (a tradition in Flanders, imported in the early 20th century from Germany). The colours of their ribbons and student's hats are black-white-red. The black relates to the Flemish flag, and white and red are the heraldic colours of Antwerp, the city where the NSV was founded.

NSV has continually used Nazi collaborationist imagery and rhetoric in its organization, such as the tyr-rune, an appropriated Armanen rune that has been used by both Nazi Germany and Neo-Nazis, a flag identical to that of the German Reich (1871–1918 and 1933–1935), and the black-clawed, black-tongued lion of the Flemish Movement (as opposed to the red-clawed, red-tongued flag of the Flemish flag) in its coat of arms. NSV protestors have also repeatedly performed Nazi salutes.

Notable (former) members of the NSV

See also

  • Nationalistisch Jong Studenten Verbond ("Nationalist Young Students Association"): An affiliated organization with similar ideological profile for secondary school students between 15 and 18 years old
  • Voorpost ("Frontline"): A far-right (Diets) organization that works in close cooperation with the NSV
  • Katholiek Vlaams Hoogstudentenverbond ("Catholic Flemish Students Union"): a Roman Catholic and conservative Flemish nationalist student society that is active in Flemish universities, from which the NSV split
  • Groot-Nederlandse Studentenvereniging ("Greater Netherlands Student Association"): Student association in the Netherlands modeled after and working closely with the NSV!

Notes

References

External links