European Kingdoms

Kingdom of the Netherlands (House of Orange-Nassau) (Northern Netherlands) (Low Countries)
AD 1830 - Present Day

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Formerly the 'United Kingdom of the Netherlands', in 1830 the split with Belgium forced the state's recreation within the Low Countries as the 'Kingdom of the Netherlands'.

The oldest traces of the Frisian population (proto-Frisians) in the Low Countries date back to the end of the Bronze Age in 700 BC, which makes the Frisians one of the oldest still-surviving tribes in Europe. Their origin circa 1000 BC probably lies in southern Scandinavia, along with the other Germanic peoples.

The coastal area around Friesland (Zwin, near Sluis in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, and Weser, Bremen) was initially ruled after the collapse of the Roman empire by local Frisian leaders. During this turmoil smaller tribes in the Low Countries, like the Canninefates and the Batavi, merged with the bigger tribe of the Frisians, while some communities joined the Jutish/Saxon migration to southern Britain.

The modern kingdom includes territory that in the first century AD was occupied by various Celtic and Germanic tribes including the Batavi and Canninefates. They were eventually subsumed either by the Franks to the south or the Frisii to the north. The Netherlands also includes parts of former Lower Lorraine which was made up of Breda, Antwerp, Brabant, and Aix-la-Chapelle. This had passed to the dukes of Brabant in 1100 and the title of Lower Lorraine had fallen out of use in 1190.

Following Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo (see feature link), the Congress of Vienna in June 1815 agreed on the creation of a unified state out of the various territories of the Netherlands. Much of the grand duchy of Luxembourg and even the prince-bishopric of Liège would also be included. The Belgian territories were not to be left in the hands of France but instead would create a single strong buffer state against any further potential French aggression. This new state would be ruled by King William I of the Netherlands, prince of Orange-Nassau. However, it was created largely for the convenience of Europe, regardless of the wishes of the Belgian and Dutch people. Internal stresses would tear it apart by 1830.

(Information by Peter Kessler, Drs Dirk van Duijvenbode, and William Willems, with additional information from BBC News, from Foreign Policy and the French Revolution: Charles-François Dumouriez, Pierre LeBrun, and the Belgian Plan, 1789-1793, Patricia Howe (Palgrave Macmillan, 2008), from The First World War, John Keegan (Vintage Books, 2000), and from External Links: A Short History of Holland, Belgium & Luxembourg (available for download as a PDF from Stanford University), and Encyclopaedia Britannica, and Belgium from Revolution to the War of the Sixth Coalition 1789-1814, Dale Pappas (The Napoleon Series Archive), and List of Dutch Sovereigns (dead link).)

1830 - 1840

Son of Prince William V. Ruler of Netherlands 1813-1830.

1831

With Belgium having proclaimed its own kingdom, the 'United Kingdom of the Netherlands' shortens its name to 'Kingdom of the Netherlands', although the king remains monarch of Luxembourg. In 1839 he also becomes duke of Limberg.

Belatedly realising that international support for the continuation of his united kingdom of the Netherlands is not going to be forthcoming, William I launches the Ten Days Campaign on 2 August 1831.

His troops plunge deep into Belgian territory, winning several encounters and occupying Antwerp. Leopold appeals to France for assistance which sends its own forces. The Dutch are unwilling to face the French, instead withdrawing almost entirely. Only Antwerp remains occupied, until November 1832.

1840

William abdicates and three years later dies in Berlin. The title 'Duke of Limberg' passes to his son along with the Dutch throne.

1840 - 1848

Son. Nicknamed Little Frog by British in the Peninsula War.

1848

In a year of European revolutions, the citizens of France revolt against their government and the monarchy is overthrown. William II heads off potential revolt in the Netherlands by instituting a more liberal regime. A committee headed by a prominent liberal, Johan Rudolf Thorbecke, is selected to create a new constitution, which allows for the Eerste Kamer (the Dutch Senate) to be filled by indirect election through the Provincial States. The Tweede Kamer (the House of Representatives) is to be elected directly, although only through census suffrage rather than universal suffrage (until 1917). By instituting these changes, the king greatly decreases royal power.

1849 - 1890

Son. His own sons predeceased him.

1856

In what is known as 'The Luxembourg Coup of 1856', William III revises Luxembourg's constitution on 27 November. Probably as a reaction to the loss of authority in the Netherlands, William greatly expands his powers. The announcement of the changes is made by Prince Henry, governor of Luxembourg.

1872

British influence over the Gold Coast increases further when Elmina Castle is purchased, this being the last of the Dutch forts along the coast. The Asante, who for years have considered the Dutch at Elmina to be their allies, now lose their last trade outlet to the sea. To prevent this loss and to ensure that their revenue stream continues, an invasion of the coast is planned for the following year.

1890

William III has no surviving male heirs, so his daughter Wilhelmina becomes queen of the Netherlands. Under Salic Law, the grand duchy of Luxembourg cannot be ruled by a woman, so the position of duke is granted to a distant relative of William III. This ends the personal union between the Netherlands and Luxembourg, but it grants a ducal seat to Adolphe, the dispossessed duke of Nassau.

1890 - 1948

Dau. Queen. m Prince Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

1940 - 1945

In the first full year of the Second World War, Wilhelmina and the Dutch Government flee to London to escape the Nazi German army as it makes a lighting strike on the Netherlands and Belgium, and proclaim a Dutch Government in Exile.

At the end of 1941 and the beginning of 1942, Dutch and Australian forces occupy the Portuguese colony of East Timor. They are driven out by the Japanese, who occupy East Timor from 1942 to 1945.

1945 - 1948

Following its release from renewed German occupation during the Second World War, Luxembourg abandons its neutrality and becomes a front-rank enthusiast for international co-operation. In 1948 Luxembourg furthers its attempts to encourage a more unified Europe by becoming a founder member of a customs union with Belgium and the Netherlands.

1948

Wilhelmina abdicates to make way for her daughter, Juliana. With the latter having married Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld in 1937, their children are technically members of the House of Lippe, but officially they remain part of the House of Orange-Nassau.

The marriage between Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld and Princess Juliana of the Netherlands was a major social event in 1937

1948 - 1980

Dau. Queen. m Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. Abdicated.

1948 - 2004

Juliana becomes known as the Bicycling Queen, due to her fondness for cycling alone in public in the days before heavy personal security. Juliana abdicates in 1980 in favour of her daughter and remains Princess Juliana until her death on 19 March 2004 from pneumonia.

1954

The Dutch West Indies become the semi-autonomous Netherlands Antilles. Aruba also remains a possession.

1975

The Dutch colony of Suriname in South America gains independence as a republic.

1980 - 2013

Dau. Queen. m Claus von Amsberg. Abdicated.

2004

The queen's second son, Prince Johan Friso, gives up his rights to the throne when he marries human rights activist Mabel Wisse Smit. The government had refused to give its support to the marriage, because the couple had given misleading information about the bride's relationship with a dead gangster. Under Dutch law, royals who aspire to the throne must receive permission from the government and parliament to marry as the cabinet will bear responsibility for their actions.

2010

The Netherlands Antilles ceases to exist with a change of the five islands' constitutional status. Curacao and St Maarten become autonomous countries within the kingdom of the Netherlands, joining Aruba (which had gained the status in 1986). Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba become autonomous special municipalities of the kingdom. The Netherlands retains responsibility for defence and foreign policy. The Dutch government also has initial oversight over Curacao's finances under a debt-relief arrangement.

2013

On 28 January 2013, Queen Beatrix announces that she is to abdicate in April in favour of her son. She formally stands down on 30 April, following a twentieth-century tradition of Dutch monarchs abdicating the throne in favour of a mature heir. The decision is taken as she approaches her seventy-fifth birthday, and has been widely expected.

2013 - Present

Son. m Argentinean Máxima Zorreguieta on 2 Feb 2002.