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The Dutch
are primarily of Germanic stock with some Gallo-Celtic
mixture. Their small homeland frequently has been
threatened with destruction by the North Sea and
has often been invaded by the great European powers.
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. 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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