The establishment of Benelux
Note by F. Van Langenhove on the Belgo–Dutch Customs Union (London, 2 July 1941)
TexteIn this note drawn up for the Belgian Commission for the Study of Post-war Problems (CEPAG), Fernand Van Langenhove, Secretary-General of the Belgian Foreign Ministry, analyses the conditions required for the conclusion and the operation of a Netherlands–Belgium Customs Union.
Monetary Convention between Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands (London, 21 October 1943)
TexteOn 21 October 1943, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands sign a monetary convention in London which sets the exchange rate between the Belgian and Luxembourg franc and the Dutch guilder and establishes a mutual funding mechanism in the event of a balance of payments deficit of one of the signatories.
Circular from the Belgian Foreign Ministry (2 November 1943)
TexteOn 2 November 1943, the Belgian Foreign Ministry distributes this circular which refers to the address given by Camille Gutt, Belgian Finance Minister, at the signing of the Monetary Convention between Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands on 21 October 1943, in London.
Circular letter from Paul-Henri Spaak (London, 9 September 1944)
TexteOn 9 September 1944, Paul-Henri Spaak, Belgian Foreign Minister, officially informs Belgian diplomats of the conclusion of a transitional agreement on a customs union between the Governments of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
Netherlands–Belgium–Luxembourg Customs Convention (London, 5 September 1944)
TexteOn 5 September 1944, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands sign a Customs Convention which, together with an additional Protocol of 14 March 1947, enters into force on 1 January 1948.
Protocol of the discussions between Belgian, Luxembourg and Dutch Ministers (The Hague, 17–18 April 1946)
TexteOn 17 and 18 April 1946, representatives of the Belgian, Luxembourg and Dutch Governments meet in The Hague to discuss the economic relations between their three countries.
Protocol to the Netherlands–Belgium–Luxembourg Customs Convention (The Hague, 14 March 1947)
TexteOn 14 March 1947, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands sign an additional Protocol to the Benelux Customs Convention, which enters into force on 1 January 1948.
Annex II: Belgium–Luxembourg–Netherlands Customs Convention (The Hague, 14 March 1947)
TexteText of the Belgium–Luxembourg–Netherlands Customs Convention, signed in London on 5 September 1944, specified and interpreted in accordance with the Protocol signed in The Hague on 14 March 1947.
Protocol of the discussions between Belgian, Luxembourg and Dutch Ministers (Brussels, 2–3 May 1947)
TexteOn 2 and 3 May 1947, representatives of the Belgian, Luxembourg and Dutch Governments meet in Brussels to discuss the economic relations between the three countries.
Minutes of the discussions between Belgian, Luxembourg and Netherlands Ministers (Luxembourg, 29–31 January 1948)
TexteFrom 29 to 31 January 1948, representatives of the Belgian, Luxembourg and Dutch Governments meet in Luxembourg to coordinate their financial, economic and social policies.
Cartoon by Simon on the Benelux (23 March 1948)
Image‘Under the sign of the Benelux.’ On 23 March 1948, the Luxembourg daily newspaper Tageblatt publishes a cartoon by Simon illustrating the entry into force of the Benelux Customs Union.
Cartoon by Gacq on Benelux (30 October 1949)
Image‘Pre-union. Do you love me? No!’ On 30 October 1949, the Brussels newspaper Le Phare Dimanche portrays the tensions within the Benelux Customs Union which are dividing Belgium and the Netherlands and are based on the pre-union agreement signed two weeks earlier in order to prepare for the Benelux Economic Union.
Raymond Scheyven, Is a customs and economic union between France and Benelux both desirable and achievable?
TexteIn a report presented to the Franco–Belgian section of the Inter-Parliamentary Union on 1 November 1947, the Belgian MP, Raymond Scheyven, calls for a customs and economic union between France and Benelux.
Benelux stamp (1969)
ImageStamp issued in 1969 by the Luxembourg Post Office to mark the 25th anniversary of the Benelux Customs Convention.
Stamp for the Belgium–Luxembourg Economic Union (1972)
ImageStamp issued in 1972 by the Luxembourg Post Office on the 50th anniversary of the Belgium–Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU).