Why did Belgian writers seek to create a native literature after Belgium became independent in 1830?

Following the founding of the modern Belgian nation in 1830, writers sought to create an original, native literature to establish a distinct national identity, as the country had previously suffered from a period of literary sterility. This stagnation was largely due to unstable economic conditions, a lack of interest in native culture by successive foreign governments, and the overwhelming influence of 17th- and 18th-century French literature.1

In the decades following independence, efforts were made to move away from these external influences and foster a unique literary voice. While the era was initially marked by a lack of prominent writers, this period of transition eventually paved the way for later movements, such as the Jeune Belgique movement in the 1880s, which further promoted a national literary consciousness. Additionally, the Romantic movement in the 19th century contributed to this goal by linking literary production to a revival of nationalist consciousness and a rediscovery of the region's rich medieval inheritance.123