Encyclopedia/3. History, Societies & Civilizations/09. Modern Nations/05. Europe • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
History of Netherlands (AI-generated, sourced to Wikipedia).
Chronological Storyline (34 Milestones)
69 CE
Batavian Revolt Against Rome
Germanic Batavi tribe rose against Roman rule, destroying several legions before being subdued by Quintus Petillius Cerialis in 70 CE. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
One of the painters commissioned to make a ‘Batavian’ painting for the new Amsterdam town hall was Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-69). Rembrandt chose the moment of the oath of the Batavians in the sacred grove, as described by Tacitus, Histories IV, 14. Civilis, with crown and sword, is the main protagonist of the composition. Unlike his fellow painters, Rembrandt decided to depict Civilis with one blind eye, as some of the sources had described his appearance. In 1662 it was reportedly on display at the town hall, but shortly afterwards, it was removed from the building. The painting, originally measuring more than 5 by 5 metres, was reduced to about 2 by 3 metres, which incidentally makes Civilis's blind eye more clearly visible. By Rembrandt, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4136170
785 CE
Charlemagne Conquers Frisia
Frankish king Charlemagne completed the subjugation of the Frisians, incorporating their lands into the Frankish Empire and enforcing Christianity. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Location of Frisia (green) in the northern Netherlands and northwestern Germany By Ætoms - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48814937
834 CE
Vikings Raid Dorestad
Norse raiders sacked the prosperous trading town of Dorestad on the Rhine, one of the most devastating Viking attacks in the Low Countries. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Dorestad and main traderoutes By Sonty567 - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4892159
1101 CE
Holland First Named as County
Floris II was first referred to as 'Count of Holland,' formalizing the county that would become the dominant political unit in the northern Low Countries. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Locator map of the en:County of Holland in 1350. By Sir Iain - Based on the map 'Lage landen omsteeks 1350' in the De bosatlas van de geschiedenis van Nederland, p. 145 (2011)., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17311694
Nov 18, 1421 CE
St. Elizabeth's Flood Devastates
A massive storm surge broke dikes in Zeeland and Holland, drowning thousands and permanently altering the coastline, creating the Biesbosch wetlands. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
The two panels depict the St. Elizabeth's Flood in the County of Holland on the night of 19 November 1421. The breach of the dike is on the right and the undamaged town of Dordrecht on the left. By Master of the St Elizabeth Panels - Rijksmuseum - https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/SK-A-3147-A , https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/SK-A-3147-B, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=144046089
May 23, 1568 CE
Dutch Revolt Begins
William of Orange's forces fought the Battle of Heiligerlee against Spanish rule, launching the Eighty Years' War for Dutch independence. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
A Spanish flagship is hit amidships by a smaller Dutch warship. It explodes in the middle of the Bay of Gibraltar. 25 April 1607. By Cornelis Claesz van Wieringen / Formerly attributed to Hendrick Cornelisz Vroom - Rijksmuseum - https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/SK-A-2163, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=59922
Jan 23, 1579 CE
Union of Utrecht Signed
Seven northern provinces united in a defensive alliance, forming the foundation of the Dutch Republic and the modern Netherlands state. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Flag of the Netherlands By Zscout370 - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=363168
Jul 26, 1581 CE
Dutch Depose Philip II
The States General formally renounced allegiance to King Philip II of Spain, a declaration of independence predating the American Declaration by two centuries. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Placcaert van de Staten generael van de gheunieerde Nederlanden, byden welcken, midts den redenen in't langhe in't selfde begrepen, men verclaert den coninck van Spaegnien vervallen vande overheyt ende heerschappije van dese voors. Nederlanden ... Imprint: Tot Leyden : by Charles Silvius Place: Leiden 1581 Publisher Silvius, Charles Year 1581. Size 19 cm By Staten-Generaal - http://objects.library.uu.nl/reader/index.php?obj=1874-261494, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66157951
Mar 20, 1602 CE
Dutch East India Company Founded
The VOC was established as the world's first multinational corporation and first to issue public stock, launching Dutch global trade dominance. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Flag of the Dutch East India Company By Himasaram - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2397508
1624 CE
New Amsterdam Founded
Dutch settlers established New Amsterdam at the southern tip of Manhattan, later renamed New York after English conquest in 1664. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
View of Nieuw Amsterdam. Novum Amsterodamum. In the centre of the picture a man is depicted hanging by his middle. This activity is comparable to the punishment meted out to runaway or recalcitrant slaves in South America (Surinam). The slave being punished was suspended by a hook in his ribs and swung to and fro. This so-called 'hook swinging' was also practiced in India. By Jacob van Meurs - This is an image from the Atlas of Mutual Heritage and the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, the Dutch National Library. The metadata of this file is public domain under a Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication (CC-ZERO). This permission has been archived as ticket #2014051410008887, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33308107
Feb 3, 1637 CE
Tulip Mania Crashes
Speculative bubble in tulip bulb prices collapsed in February 1637, often cited as the first recorded financial bubble in history. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Tulip Mania Crashes By Jan Brueghel the Younger - Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem, Netherlands., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18023902
1642 CE
Rembrandt Paints Night Watch
Rembrandt van Rijn completed 'The Night Watch,' his most famous large-scale work, a masterpiece of the Dutch Golden Age of painting. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Rembrandt Paints Night Watch By Rembrandt - https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/SK-C-5, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79710878
Oct 24, 1648 CE
Dutch Independence Recognized
The Peace of Westphalia ended the Eighty Years' War, with Spain formally recognizing the Dutch Republic as an independent sovereign state. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Historical City Hall, Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, GermanyConstruction of the current town hall began in 1375 in the Gothic style and was largely completed by 1390. From then on, it served as the seat of the municipal administration and as a symbol of local self-government. At the beginning of the 17th century, the town wine house was built as an annex.In 1648, the town hall gained special historical significance when the Peace of Westphalia was negotiated and finally concluded in the building’s Peace Hall. This peace ended the Thirty Years’ War and is considered a milestone in European history. Over the centuries, the town hall has been renovated and expanded several times. In the 19th century, restorations were carried out that preserved the Gothic character of the building. During the Second World War, the town hall was severely damaged, but reconstruction began as early as the 1950s, largely restoring its historic appearance. By Dietmar Rabich - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35093032
Jul 8, 1652 CE
First Anglo-Dutch War Erupts
Naval conflict between England and the Dutch Republic over trade and colonies began, ending with English victory in 1654. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Naval battle near Ter Heijde on 10 August 1653, during the First Anglo-Dutch War. In the middle the Brederode, the Dutch flagship of Maarten Tromp is in combat with the English flagship Resolution under the command of admiral Monk. By Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraaten - www.rijksmuseum.nl : Home : Info, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5032714
Mar 25, 1655 CE
Huygens Discovers Titan
Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens discovered Titan, Saturn's largest moon, using a telescope of his own improved design. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Huygens Discovers Titan By Caspar Netscher - http://ressources2.techno.free.fr/informatique/sites/inventions/inventions.html, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44047
1672 CE
Disaster Year Strikes Republic
The Dutch Republic was simultaneously invaded by England, France, and bishops of Münster and Cologne, leading to political upheaval and the murder of the De Witt brothers. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Disaster Year Strikes Republic By Johannes van Wijckersloot - www.rijksmuseum.nl : Home : Info, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31920679
1674 CE
Microorganisms Discovered
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, a Delft draper, became the first to observe and describe single-celled organisms, founding microbiology. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Portrait of Anthonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723), natural philosopher, in Delft. Knee piece, sitting at a writing table on which a certificate lies from his appointment as a member of the Royal Society in London by Charles II. Also a globe and an ink set; He holds a compass in his hand. By Jan Verkolje - http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/collectie/SK-A-957, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34320547
Feb 13, 1689 CE
Dutch Stadtholder Becomes King
William III of Orange and his wife Mary II were crowned co-monarchs of England, Scotland, and Ireland after the Glorious Revolution. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Dutch Stadtholder Becomes King By Godfrey Kneller - historicalportraits.com, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5224333
Jan 19, 1795 CE
Batavian Republic Proclaimed
French revolutionary forces invaded and established the Batavian Republic as a French client state, ending the Dutch Republic. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
National flag of the Batavian Republic, as decreed by the States General on February 14, 1796. By AnonymousUnknown author - Commons Wikimedia, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79161489
Mar 16, 1815 CE
Kingdom of the Netherlands Formed
William I was crowned king after the defeat of Napoleon, establishing a united kingdom including present-day Belgium and Luxembourg. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Flag of the Netherlands By Zscout370 - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=363168
Aug 25, 1830 CE
Belgium Secedes
A Brussels opera audience sparked a revolt that led to Belgian independence from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, finalized in 1839. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Men and women form a mound around a post in the streets of a city on the right of this painting. A tattered tricolour flag (of black, yellow, and red) is at the top, and beside this flag, a man stands with a paper in his hand. A man on his horse (on the left of the painting) is among the crowd at the base of the mound, and a dog capers just in front of his steed. The crowd bears swords, pikes, and guns affixed with bayonets. One of the women at the base of the mound cradles a baby, while two women and an old man grieve over a dead youth in their arms. The blue sky is overcast with grey smoke. By Égide Charles Gustave Wappers - This illustration was made by Antoine Motte dit Falisse alias M0tty but it is in the public domain because it is a faithful photographic reproduction of an original two-dimensional work of art and the work of art itself is in the public domain. English | français | +/−, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18494930
1848 CE
Liberal Constitution Adopted
Under pressure from revolutionary movements, King William II accepted a new constitution drafted by Johan Rudolf Thorbecke, creating a parliamentary monarchy. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Flag of the Netherlands By Zscout370 - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=363168
Jul 1, 1863 CE
Slavery Abolished in Colonies
The Netherlands abolished slavery in Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles, freeing approximately 45,000 enslaved people. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Photograph of an enslaved boy in Zanzibar. National Maritime Museum, in Greenwich, London, England, from the Michael Graham-Stewart collection. Français : Garçon esclave à Zanzibar. Inscription sur le document : "La punition d'un maître arabe pour une petite infraction. L'enfant doit porter cette poutre sur la tête, même s'il veut se déplacer. Photo prise par l'un de nos missionnaires". À partir des années 1860 la photographie a été une arme puissante pour les abolitionnistes Description from source: This extraordinary lantern slide is inscribed: ‘An Arab master’s punishment for a slight offence. The log weighed 32 pounds, and the boy could only move by carrying it on his head. An actual photograph taken by one of our missionaries.’. From at least the 1860s onwards, photography was a powerful weapon in the abolitionist arsenal. Photographic images of slavery provided vivid and irrefutable evidence of the ongoing cruelty of the East African and Indian Ocean trades. They were often used as the basis for engravings reproduced in popular journals such as ‘The Graphic’ and ‘The Illustrated London News’. By Unknown photographer - https://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/262003.html(Original source listed, now a broken link: http://www.untoldlondon.org.uk/news/ART38118.html. Alternative source as originally listed, but note that its description of the image includes theories not included in the original source: https://histclo.com/act/work/slave/ast/io/cou/sc-zan.html.), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6592423
1890 CE
Royal Dutch Petroleum Founded
Royal Dutch Petroleum Company was established, later merging with Shell Transport to become one of the world's largest oil companies. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
South Bank, London. Designed by Sir Howard Robertson and R Maynard Smith and completed 1953-63. By Reading Tom from Reading, UK - The Shell Centre, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=82188884
May 28, 1932 CE
Afsluitdijk Completed
The 32-kilometer dam closing off the Zuiderzee was completed, transforming it into the freshwater IJsselmeer and protecting against floods. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Afsluitdijk, kaart op basis van OpenStreetMap By Condor3d - Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=105369155
May 10, 1940 CE
Nazi Germany Invades
German forces invaded the Netherlands, bombing Rotterdam into submission after four days of fighting, beginning five years of occupation. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
"The German ultimatum ordering the Dutch commander of Rotterdam to cease fire was delivered to him at 10:30h on 14 May 1940. At 13:22h, German bombers set the whole inner city of Rotterdam ablaze, killing 814 of its inhabitants." The photo was taken after the removal of all debris. By Unknown author - https://www.archives.gov/research_room/arc/ ARC Identifier: 535916; U.S. Defense Visual Information Center photo HD-SN-99-02993 [1], Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=196261
Nov 1, 1944 CE
Hunger Winter Begins
A severe famine struck the western Netherlands during the final winter of occupation, killing approximately 20,000 people before liberation. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Twee deelnemers aan de hongertochten tijdens de hongerwinter By Fotograaf Onbekend / Anefo - Nationaal Archief, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37962997
Dec 27, 1949 CE
Indonesian Independence Recognized
After four years of conflict, the Netherlands formally transferred sovereignty to Indonesia, ending 340 years of colonial rule. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Sukarno, accompanied by Mohammad Hatta, declaring the independence of Indonesia at 10:00 am on Friday, 17 August 1945, at Pegangsaan Timur 56 (now Jalan Proklamasi), Jakarta. By Frans Mendur (also Frans Mendoer) (1913 – 1971) - Photo attributed to the Department of Information [1] Presidential Documents, National Library of Indonesia [2], Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7067766
Feb 1, 1953 CE
North Sea Flood Disaster
A massive storm surge breached dikes in Zeeland and South Holland, drowning 1,836 people and prompting the Delta Works flood defense project. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Netherlands. Viewed from a U.S. Army helicopter, gives a hint of the tremendous damage wrought by the flood to Dutch islands. NB Original caption ("Zuid Beveland town") was a false determination of the location, it is actually Oude-Tonge on the island of Goeree-Overflakkee. By Agency for International Development - This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4571839
Nov 25, 1975 CE
Suriname Gains Independence
Suriname became independent from the Netherlands, ending Dutch colonial rule in South America with a peaceful transition. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
The flag of Suriname By See File history below for details. - Drawn according Description of flag and Corporate design guidelines - National flag colours. Construction sheet: See also: Flags of the World - Suriname: Construction sheet, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=433154
Jun 25, 1988 CE
Dutch Win European Championship
The Netherlands national football team won its first major tournament, defeating the Soviet Union 2-0 in the European Championship final. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Teil des Münchner Olympiastadions By 2014_Olympiastadion_Munich_l.JPG: M(e)ister Eiskalt 2014_Olympiastadion_Munich_m.JPG: M(e)ister Eiskalt 2014_Olympiastadion_Munich_r.JPG: M(e)ister Eiskalt derivative work: Hic et nunc - This file was derived from: 2014 Olympiastadion Munich l.JPG: 2014 Olympiastadion Munich m.JPG: 2014 Olympiastadion Munich r.JPG:, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31724296
Feb 7, 1992 CE
Maastricht Treaty Signed
The treaty establishing the European Union was signed in Maastricht, creating the EU framework and paving the way for the euro currency. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Vertrag von Maastricht (Vertragswerk) By User:Mateus2019 - Self-photographed, CC BY 2.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87698239
Apr 1, 2001 CE
First Same-Sex Marriages
The Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, with ceremonies beginning on April 1, 2001. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
Flag of the Netherlands By Zscout370 - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=363168
Jul 17, 2014 CE
MH17 Shot Down Over Ukraine
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine by a missile, killing all 298 people aboard including 193 Dutch citizens. Source — Wikipedia, "Netherlands":
msn 28411, l/n 084. Rome Fiumicino 21-10-2011 By Alan Wilson - Boeing 777-2H6ER '9M-MRD' Malaysian, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26902994
