Julius Caesar found the region which is now the Netherlands
inhabited by Germanic tribes in the first century B.C. The western
portion was inhabited by the Batavians and became part of a Roman
province; the eastern portion was inhabited by the Frisians. Between
the fourth and eighth centuries A.D., most of both portions were
conquered by the Franks. The area later passed into the hands of the
House of Burgundy and the Austrian Habsburgs. Falling under harsh
Spanish rule in the 16th century, the Dutch revolted in 1558 under
the leadership of Willem of Orange. By virtue of the Union of
Utrecht in 1579, the seven northern Dutch provinces became the
Republic of the United Netherlands.
During the 17th century, considered its "golden era," the
Netherlands became a great sea and colonial power. Among other
achievements, this period saw the emergence of some of painting's
"Old Masters," including Rembrandt and Hals, whose works--along with
those of later artists such as Mondriaan and Van Gogh--are today on
display in museums throughout the Netherlands and the world.
The country's importance declined, however, with the gradual loss of
Dutch technological superiority and after wars with Spain, France,
and England in the 17th and 18th century. The Dutch United Provinces
supported the Americans in the Revolutionary War. In 1795, French
troops ousted Willem V of Orange, the Stadhouder under the Dutch
Republic and head of the House of Orange.
Following Napoleon's defeat in 1815, the Netherlands and Belgium
became the "Kingdom of the United Netherlands" under King Willem I,
son of Willem V of Orange. The Belgians withdrew from the union in
1830 to form their own kingdom. King Willem II was largely
responsible for the liberalizing revision of the constitution in
1848.
The Netherlands prospered during the long reign of Willem III
(1849-90). At the time of his death, his daughter Wilhelmina was 10
years old. Her mother, Queen Emma, reigned as regent until 1898,
when Wilhelmina reached the age of 18 and became the monarch.
The Netherlands proclaimed neutrality at the start of both world
wars. Although it escaped occupation in World War I, German troops
overran the country in May 1940. Queen Wilhelmina fled to London and
established a government-in-exile. During the war, the Nazis rounded
up the Jewish population before deporting them to camps in the East.
Over 75% of the Netherlands' 140,000 Jews died at the hands of the
Nazis. Shortly after the Netherlands was liberated in May 1945, the
Queen returned. Crown Princess Juliana acceded to the throne in 1948
upon her mother's abdication. In April 1980, Queen Juliana abdicated
in favor of her daughter, now Queen Beatrix. Crown Prince Willem
Alexander was born in 1967.
Elements of the Netherlands' once far-flung empire were granted
either full independence or nearly complete autonomy after World War
II. Indonesia formally gained its independence in 1949, and Suriname
became independent in 1975. The five islands of the Netherlands
Antilles (Curacao, Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius, and a part of St.
Maarten) and Aruba are integral parts of the Netherlands realm but
enjoy a large degree of autonomy. |
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