The Nationalistische Studentenvereniging (NSV) (Nationalist Student Association) is Flemish nationalist student organization with chapters in Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, Leuven, West-Flanders (uniting Bruges, Roeselare, Ostend, Kortrijk), Hasselt and Mechelen.
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The NSV was founded in 1976 by Edwin Truyens as a radical splinter group of the Katholiek Vlaams Hoogstudentenverbond (Catholic Flemish Student Union). This split came after the national council of the KVHV resented the radical Flemish-nationalist stances of Truyens and his faction, including accepting nothing less than Flemish independence.
Throughout their history, they have made the news several times by being present at manifestations of the radical side of the Flemish Movement. They are considered the counterweight to leftist student organisations in the universities and other institutions of higher education. The NSV celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2006.
The NSV maintains an ideology of conservative radical nationalism and is very active in the Flemish movement. They are often said to be closely associated with the Vlaams Belang, formerly the Vlaams Blok, but deny this connection themselves. They also have very close ties to other grassroots organisations in the Flemish independence movement like the VVB and Voorpost.[1]
Members of the NSV can be easily 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 are black-white-red, these colours are also present on the student's hat. The black relates to the Flemish flag, and white and red are the heraldic colours of Antwerp (the city where the NSV was founded).