Belgian and Dutch frigate-program tradeoffs

What ships would make sense for a navy like Belgium, across past, present, and future needs?

Destroyers and monitors are proposed for Belgium's historical needs. The modern comparison questions the cost of a bespoke joint frigate when Belgium wants less armament than its partner.

Destroyers and monitors are the preferred historical force for Belgium, with a possible case for cruisers during the 1920s and 1930s. The modern procurement criticism concerns paying for a bespoke joint frigate while resisting the cost of the Dutch partner's desired armament. An existing Japanese design with a reduced weapons fit is proposed as an alternative. Without Belgium in the joint programme, Dutch participation in Type 31 is suggested as a possible outcome. That could in turn have affected British-Dutch cooperation over amphibious ships.