History of the Netherlands

The history of the Netherlands is closely related to that of the Low Countries; it was not until the 16th century that an independent state roughly corresponding to the present-day country was established. As a consequence, the geographical scope of this article sometimes extends to the southern parts of the Low Countries. Conversely, a large part of what is now the Netherlands was sea or swamp well into the Middle Ages.

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If one took the oldest signs of human activity as a starting point for the history of the Netherlands, then such a history would span a hundred thousand years. It was, however, not until the arrival of the Romans, who annexed the southern part of the present-day country, that written sources on its inhabitants became abundant. At the time of the Roman occupation, the country was inhabited by various Germanic tribes, and the south was inhabited by Celts, who merged with newcomers from other Germanic tribes during the Völkerwanderung following the fall of the Roman empire.

Related Topics:
Romans - Germanic tribes - Völkerwanderung

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In the medieval period, the Low Countries (roughly present-day Belgium and the Netherlands) consisted of various countships, duchies and dioceses belonging to the Holy Roman Empire. These were united into one state under Habsburg rule in the 16th century. The Counter-Reformation following the success of Calvinism in the Netherlands, and the attempts to centralise government, led to a revolt against Philip II of Spain. On 26 July 1581, independence was declared, and finally recognised after the Eighty Years' War (1568-1648). The years of the war also marked the beginning of the Dutch Golden Age, a period of great commercial and cultural prosperity roughly spanning the 17th century.

Related Topics:
Low Countries - Belgium - The Netherlands - Countships - Duchies - Dioceses - Holy Roman Empire - Habsburg - 16th century - Counter-Reformation - Calvinism - Philip II of Spain - 26 July - 1581 - Eighty Years' War - 1568 - 1648 - Dutch Golden Age - 17th century

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After the French occupation at the beginning of the 19th century, the Netherlands started out as a monarchy, governed by the House of Orange. However, after a conservative period, strong liberal sentiments could no longer be ignored, and the country became a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch in 1848. It has remained so to this day, with a brief interruption during the occupation by Nazi Germany.

Related Topics:
19th century - The Netherlands - House of Orange - Liberal - Parliamentary democracy - Constitutional monarch - 1848 - Occupation by Nazi Germany

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The Netherlands is now a modern, industrialised nation and a large exporter of agricultural products. International trade (literally 'overseas') has always been a central aspect of the Dutch economy (also influencing the culture) and was also an important reason for the struggle for independence and cause of the ensuing wealth.

Related Topics:
The Netherlands - Industrialised - Agricultural

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