In 1830, the Belgian revolution led to severe tensions between Brabant Catholics and Protestants. In the South Brabant, there was a predominance of Catholics. The Protestant communities, for fear of being attacked, fled to the North. They feared that the Catholics took part in the Belgian revolution and asked to be attached to Belgium. Some Dutch troops kept occupying the South Brabant. This situation remained strained for many years then eased because Belgium didn't want to rule the Brabant. Soon, there was a renewal of relations with Belgium and trade expanded again.