| |
|
  |
|
 |
|
 |
Dutch
landscapes and other |
 |
Gallery
of the Netherlands. Click the picture to visit this growing database of pictures of Dutch landscapes, townviews, mill's and rivers. (Amateur) photographers daily provide this database of new photographs from all over the country. If you want to have your personal photo of any place in the Netherlands added to this database, just feel free to contact me |
| Timeline
of the Netherlands | |
| This
is the SUBMENU of the History-page.You will find a similar submenu
on all main pages of the CarPark site. Furthermore you'll
find some search- and translation tools at the top of each page.The
language tool will allow you to translate Dutch words into English. All EXTERNAL links (links to other sites than the CarPark) will be opened in a new window.
|
|
| With thanks to the support of Cliff Lamere, who made clear corrections concerning my 'Dutch-English'. Cliff is the webmaster of the great Albany and Eastern New York Genealogy site. |
THE
NETHERLANDS FROM THE MEROVINGIAN PERIOD UNTIL THE SOVEREIGN REPUBLIC OF THE UNITED NETHERLANDS |
Period of the Romans and the German tribes |
Abt. 100 B.C. German tribes settle permanently in the Netherlands: Tubants in the eastern-, Frisians in the northern- and western Netherlands. Kaninefates settle along the coast and Bataves in the centre of the Netherlands along the rivers. 55 B.C. Gaius Julius Caesar, Roman general, reaches the southern Netherlands. Caesar fights a confederation of German tribes in northern France and present Belgium, called 'the Belgae'. Further northward he meets and wipes out the German tribes of the Usipetes, Tencterians, Eburones and Nervians. 51 B.C. Territory between the rivers Seine and Rhine becomes a Roman province: Gallia Belgica.
12 B.C. First mention of the German tribe known as the Batavians.
They live just north of the Rhine and Waal rivers. They are probably invited
by the Romans to defend the Rhine line of defense.
______________________________________________________________________________ 69/70 A.D. Batavian
revolt against the Romans (click the link to read the text and
find a picture of the area) 200 A.D. Beginning of a chaotic period of wandering
of the Germanic and Slavonic tribes in Europe and Asia. It lasts
from 200 A.D. until about 500. Two German confederations of tribes, the
Saxons and the Franks, settle in the Netherlands. The Franks
arrive in the Netherlands about 270 and primarily settle south of the
Rhine. The tribe of the Saxons mainly settle east of the river IJssel
a few decades later. The Frisians expand their territory to an area we
today call Zeeland, Holland, part of Utrecht, Friesland and Groningen,
as well as along the coast up to the Weser, a German river. The Frisians
are becoming the main traders in Europe and they actually control the
Netherlands north of the Rhine. 385 Christianity becomes the official state religion of the Roman
Empire. First Christians in the Netherlands. 400 Parts of the German tribes of the Frisians, Angles and Saxons
move on to England. 402 The Roman army leaves the Netherlands. 406 A large group of German tribes, fleeing from the Huns, invade
the Roman Empire, crossing the Rhine at several places. Roman authority
over the Netherlands ends. 467 Formal end of the Roman Empire. For an indepth description of the successors of the Romans after the
collaps of the Roman Empire: |
Merovingian-Carolingian period |
481
King Childeric dies. He was king of one of the many Frankish kingdoms
in the Gaul area which were founded after the retreat of the Romans.His
son Clovis succeeds him and founds a Frankish
Empire covering the entire Gaul area up to the Rhine in the Netherlands.
This empire is named the Merovingian
Empire after the name of Clovis' grandfather Merovech. 496 Clovis becomes Catholic, baptized at the town of Reims together with 3000 of his warriors. This is the starting point of an extensive Christianization of northwestern Europe. (See map
of Germanic Kingdoms from 526- 600) 650 Frisians chase the Franks away from the Utrecht region. Frisian
trade flourishes. It's called the 'Frisian Period'. The (trade)center
is the village of Dorestad. 695 Willibrord, an Anglo-Saxon monk, becomes 'bishop of the Frisians'. He founds churches in the province of Utrecht and along the Dutch coast. abt.750 Start Christening of Frisia 771 Charlemagne becomes king of the Frankish Empire. 790 First writing of the 'Lex
Frisionum', the law of the Frisians (See also: 'the
Salic Law' ) 800 Charlemagne crowned as emperor of the Frankish Empire. Charlemagne's reign also marks the start of the feudal system. The Empire,
in fact, is knit together not by the king or emperor, but by the loyalty
of the feudal lords and vassals. These loyalties, however, are fragile.
Depending on the strength of the king or emperor, some feudal lords,counts
and dukes become more or less independent. 810 Beginning of a long period of invasions by Vikings from Scandinavia
which will last for two centuries. Mind that all contacts with the Vikings
weren't necessarily of an aggressive nature 814 Death of Charlemagne. His son Lewis the Pious now becomes the emperor of the Empire. (See map
of Charlemagnes Empire at 814) 840 Death of Lewis the Pious. 843 Treaty
of Verdun. The Carolingian Empire is divided among the three sons
of Lewis the Pious. Charles the Bold gets West Francia (France), Lewis
the Germand gets East Francia and Lotharius I gets Middle Francia (Lorraine,
Burgundy, The Netherlands and Italy) and the Emperial title. Especially
in Middle and East Francia, regional counts already have full control
over their fiefs and territory. Most dukes and counts, by tacit agreement,
hand their fiefs over to their sons. This contributes to a growing autonomy
of several regions in the kingdoms. 855 Lotharius I dies. Middle Francia is divided into three parts
and the most northerly part -reaching from the Jura mountains in France
to Frisia in the Netherlands- is given to Lotharius II. This part is called
'Lorraine'. 870 Lotharius II, emperor of Lorraine, dies. He has no (official)
children, so Lorraine becomes divided between West and East Francia at
the 'Treaty
of Meerssen'. The territory which today is called The Netherland
becomes divided into two parts. The western Netherlands becomes part of
West Francia; the eastern Netherlands become part of East Francia. 925 Henry I the Fowler, King of Germany, brings the entire Lorraine
territory under his control. From this moment on, the Netherlands are
formally part of the Holy (German) Roman Empire. |
Period of feudal states, dukes counts and bishops |
(See a map of the German Empire a.d. 962) The first time we hear of Flanders (Baldwin I, with the Iron Arm, 890) and Holland is about 900. Baldwin's authority over Flanders has grown since he swept out the Vikings; Gerulf, first count of Holland, gained this county by means of murder and intrigues (The name Holland, however, pops up for the first time around 1100. Before that, the area is described as 'Friesland' or 'West Friesland').
1299 Last Count of Holland: line has run out. Holland and Zeeland united with Hainault in a Personal Union. 1316/17 Long periods with heavy rainfall result in bad harvests and famine abt.1300 7 Dutch towns in Overijssel and Gelderland join the Hanseatic League: Hasselt, Zwolle, Hattem, Kampen, Deventer, Zutphen and Doesburg 1347/51 Plague epidemics. Especially the province of Brabant is hit. 1350 Start of the 'Hoekse and Kabeljouwse twisten' (Hook and Cod War)in Holland. This will last till abt.1490. It is mainly a confrontation of lower nobility and citizens against higher nobility, but the dividing-line is not sharp at all.
|
The Burgundic period |
1384 Burgundic
duke Philip the Bold (1364-1404) and his sons and grandsons expand
their Burgundic territory northward mainly by clever marriage
arrangements and a strong army. The regions of Flanders (1384), Brabant
(1430), Holland and Zeeland (1433) and Gelre (1472) are added to Burgundy.
This unity under one sovereign and modern administration, almost comprises
the present Netherlands and Belgium, including the northern French regions
of Artois and Hainault. This unity will last until far into the 16th century.
The region of Holland is growing very fast economically and it is, together
with the region of Brabant, the richest province, surpassing even Flanders
around 1500. In spite of the West European economic crisis in the 14th century (due
to the deterioration of the climate and the periods of plague, which killed
almost one third of the European population) life in the Netherlands is
steadily getting better because of a flourishing trade. During the Burgundic period, a form of representative democracy is born, and it is in 1464 when Holland invites representatives of the other regions from the Netherlands within Burgundy to come together for a combined meeting. This can be considered as the first joint session of the States-General. 1407, june 9, Zwolle (capital of the prov. of Overijssel) again accepted as a member of the Hanseatic League 1428 'Zoen (= treaty) van Delft': Jacoba/Jacqueline of Bavaria, Countess of Holland, Zeeland and Hainault, gives up her holdings to Phillip of Burgund (the Brave). End of the Hook and Cod War for the time being 1477 Death of Charles The Brave ends the Burgundy Empire. |
Hapsburgian period. Until the 80 Years War |
1477 Maria the Rich, daughter of Charles The Bold, marries Maxmillian of Hapsburg, son of the German Emperor. The regions of the Netherlands are now at the mercy of the Hapsburgian politics. The Hapsburgian dynasty reduces the medieval privileges of dukes, counts and other vassals and they try to establish a huge centralized state. These attempts create a situation in which the Hapsburgs are bound to collide with the rich and powerful and the more or less autonomous regions of the Netherlands. 1490 The Hanseatic League moves its overseas headquarters definitively
from Bruges to Antwerp. 1492 The regions of Flanders, Artois, Brabant, Limburg, Namur,
Luxembourg, Hainaut, Holland and Zeeland accept Philip the Fair as their
sovereign Lord. Gelre (Gelderland), Friesland, Groningen, Oversticht (=
Overijssel and Drenthe), Utrecht and Liege are still independent. The discovery of North and South America stimulates the trade in the
years to come. Goods which are imported from West Africa and South America
give a huge economic stimulus to the towns in the Netherlands. Antwerp,
the main town and port of Flanders, and several towns in the provinces
of Holland and Zeeland profit greatly from the growing trade. The flourishing
trade increases the influence of rich merchants both economically and
politically. Prosperity, however, passes the rest of the population; they
suffer under high inflation and the dwindling grain supply. 1500 Charles
V (Charles of Hapsburg) is born in Ghent, Flanders. He is the
eldest son of the Spanish princess Johanna and the Dutchman Philip the
Beautiful. Johanna is heiress of the kingship in two states, Aragon and
Castile, which we now call Spain. Charles‚ father, Maxmilian of Hapsburg,
is sovereign over a complex territory defined in short as 'the Netherlands'. 1515 Charles V inherits 'the Netherlands' from his father and
starts trying to bring Groningen, Friesland, Oversticht, Gelderland and
Utrecht under his control, too. 1516 Charles V becomes king of Aragon and Castile. 1517 Luther
announces his 95 theses.(The story of having nailed them to the church
door might be a myth). Generally, this moment and event is accepted to
be the start of the Reformation in Europe. Luther's ideas are instantly
spread throughout the Netherlands. Some people (many merchants among them)
adopted the new religion, but the vast majority of the people in the Netherlands
remained Catholic. Catholics generally did not have problems with Lutheranism
or its followers. Most Lutherans were to be found inthe towns of Antwerp,
Amsterdam, Woerden, Bodegraven, Bruges and in the province of Groningen. 1519 Charles V inherits the Austrian hereditary lands from his grandfather Maximilian of Hapsburg. He's chosen to be the Emperor of Germany. First opposition of Huldreich Zwingli to ecclesiastical abuse while he’s the people's priest of the Grand Minster in Zurich (Zwingli was influenced by Erasmus’ humanism) 1522 Printed edition of the Gospel according to St. Matthew, based
on Erasmus’ Latin text and not on the Vulgate, publ. in Amsterdam
by the printer Doen Pieterszoon. At the same time the first editions of
Luther’s translation of the New Testament were published. 1523 The first two Antwerp Lutherans (both ex-Augustine monks)
are burnt in the Netherlands at Brussels. They are the first two martyrs
of the Reformation (forerunner of the Spanish inquisition). 1525 Zwingli
(1484-1531), Swiss reformer, publishes a new Communion principle. The
Anabaptists,
especially, adopt Zwingli's new ideas, and, in a way, the Anabaptists
can be considered followers of Zwingli. They introduce Anabaptism in the
Netherlands via the towns of Strassbug, Emden and the duchy of Gulik. 1526 The first Dutch Bible, written in Flemish, is published in
Antwerp by Jacob van Liesvelt; it is based for the greater part on Luther's
translation. Some parts from the Old Testament, however, are translated
directly from the original Hebrew text. 1531 Revolutionary Anabaptists in Amsterdam (who were originally from southern Germany and Zurich, Switzerland) were organized by a certain Melchior Hoffman. In the Netherlands, Anabaptism has quite some following, its members mainly to be found in the provinces of Holland, Zeeland and Friesland and among the lower classes. From 1550 we find them, too, in western Flanders and Brabant. Dutch Anabaptists are among the group which conquered Muenster in 1534. Union of Schmalkalden. In Germany, a union of six princes and
fourteen cities in northern Germany is formed, the purpose being to defend
the (Protestant) faith of the members. 1535 Anabaptists try to spread their beliefs to Amsterdam, but
without success. It starts a period of cruel repression and persecution
of the Anabaptists. Frisian clergyman Menno Simonsz organizes, in the
years to come, a fraternity of Anabaptists in Friesland. These peaceful
Anabaptists (Mennonites) are not to be confused with the revolutionary
Anabaptists. The ideas of the Mennonites have many adherents amongst the
people, in the lower classes as well as in the middle and upper classes.
These Mennonites fundamentally reject such things as the use of weapons,
the validity of all government offices, and the taking of any oaths. 1540 Grain prices in Europe start to rise quickly and to great
heights. This rise will continue until about the second half of the 17th
century. The Netherlands are affected by this rise as well but, due to
a higher spending capacity they don't suffer as much as the rest of Europe. 1543Treaty of Venlo. Charles V now is sovereign over all
17 provinces of the Netherlands 1544 William from Nassau (1533-1584), son of Lutheran count Willem
The Rich and Juliana of Stolberg, becomes Prince of Orange. Emperor Charles
V accepts this fact, but he wants William to come to his court at Brussels
where he shall be brought up Catholic. 1545 First signs of Calvinism
in the Southern Netherlands. In the beginning, in the towns we find a
growing group of followers, especially among the lower nobility and (lower
and higher) middle class. A little while later, the very poor group of
weavers and other rural population in southern Flanders will follow. Calvinism
particularly obtains a foothold in Flanders, Brabant, Zeeland and Holland,
the regions which have an open connection to the sea. The towns of Antwerp,
Tournai, Ghent, Lille and Valenciennes become centers of Calvinism. 1548The Augsburg Transaction. At the diet (a kind of congressional
meeting of the states of the Holy Roman Empire), Charles V, the Emperor,
is allowed to make all his Netherlandish provinces a separate administrative
unit. This gives the area virtual indiependence, freeing it from imperial
legislation and jurisdiction. 1549 Charles V issues the 'Pragmatic Sanction'. In this document,
Charles declares that his properties in the Netherlands will be 'one and
indivisible': the Burgundic Kreits. This imperial decree is confirmed
by several Provincial States from the Netherlands. Succession of Charles
V will be settled identically for all the 17 provinces. This way the Netherlands
become practically indivisible. 1552 Numerous dike-bursts in the coastal area of the Netherlands 1555 Religious peace of Augsburg seals the principle 'cuius regio,
eius religio'. The ruler of the country will decide which religion (Catholic
or Protestant) will be practiced exclusively in his area. For the Netherlands,
this resulted in the fact that they should stay Catholic. (It has to be
said, though, that the number of Reformed people wasn't very large in
the Netherlands by that time;3% of the population at the highest. On the
other hand, it should be said that most Catholics in the Netherlands don‚t
have real problems with dissenting views). Charles V abdicates, handing over the rule to his son Philip II, a more hard-hearted ruler who, from 1559, lives in Spain, far away from the Netherlands. His absence, his dogmatic Catholic politics, and the fact that he speaks neither French (needed to communicate with the higher nobility in the Netherlands) nor Dutch are some of the important causes of the Uprising in the Netherlands. (Read about Philip II, from
a Catholic point of view) In Antwerp arises the first Calvinist church 'under the cross'. (These
were unofficial churches, the members of which had to meet in secret.). 1556 Start of a three year period of the plague in the Netherlands,
along with bad harvests and great price rises especially of grain. 1559 Philip II leaves the Netherlands for good. His half-sister,
Margaret of Parma, becomes 'landvoogdes' (= governess) and William
of Orange becomes 'Stadthouder' (=
stadtholder; governor) of Holland, West-Friesland, Zeeland and Utrecht.
Lamoraal, Count of Egmond, becomes Stadhouder of Flanders and Artois. May 12: New ecclesiastical division of the Netherlands ordered by the Pope. Three archbishoprics are created: Cambray (for the Wallonian regions), Mechlin (Flanders and Brabant) and Utrecht for the Northern Netherlands. The frontiers of the dioceses coincide with those of the administrative regions. This way Philip II consolidates his grip on the Netherlands religiously and politically, but at the same time he has a problem with resistance of the local nobility and sitting clergy who realize that this will curtail their power and privileges. Founding of the Theological University at Geneva (Calvinist). Within a few years, the
first highly schooled clergymen spread over Southern Netherlands and we
find them especially in the towns of Tournai, Valenciennes and Lille. 1560 Chanteries (singing of Protestant songs in the open) andpreachings
in the open fields; liberating of Calvinist prisoners with brute
force. These all take place in several towns in the Southern Netherlands
like Tournai and Valenciennes. 1563 Clergyman and psalmist Datheen translates the Heidelberg Catechism into Dutch. (Read about the
Calvinist activity in the Flemish Westkwartier. Text by Dr. Alastair
Duke, Southampton University). War between Norway and Sweden (1563-1570). The Sont Strait between Sweden
and Denmark - connecting the North Sea with the Baltic Sea- is closed
for Baltic trade. This particularly blocks the import of grain, which
leads to famine and even more economic and political instability and revolt. 1564 Willem van Oranje 'the Silent' publically speaks out against
the repression of Philip II, his king. He's firmly and clearly pleading
for freedom of religion and conscience. 1565 People in the Netherlands suffer from unemployment, high
grain prices and hunger. Large groups from all over the Netherlands
emigrate to England, East Frisia and Frankfurt for this reason. The kingdoms,
duchies and towns to which these refugees flee are all Protestant. There
they meet fellow countrymen: Calvinists, Anabaptists and other Protestant
sects, who had fled the Netherlands in the 40‚s to escape religious
persecution. Later, more and more refugees from the Netherlands will go
to the same regions, but then especially to escape the Inquisition. Lutheran
and Calvinist noblemen meet Calvinist elders and deacons to make plans
to fight the repression of Calvinism. 1566 Lower Dutch nobility visits the governess Margaretha of Parma
to ask her to reduce the persecution of the Protestants. Later this year,
they beg for full religious liberty, but Margaretha refuses to grant it. Calvinist elders and deacons organize sermons even north of the rivers
Rhine, Waal and Meuse. 1567 The higher nobility in the Netherlands is but a group of
about ten families. Lamoraal (Count of Egmond), Philip de Montmorency
(Count of Hoorne), and William of Nassau (Prince of Orange) demand freedom
of religion. If they don't receive it, they will rise in revolt against
the king. Tournai and Valenciennes captured by the Spanish. More and more military
confrontations in the Southern Netherlands, but governess Margaretha succeeds
in moderating the conflicts. In a way, she manages to prevent escalation
of the conflict. Relieved of his functions as Stadtholder of Holland,
Zeeland and Utrecht, William of Orange flees from the countryside to Dillenburg,
the castle of his family in the German countship of Nassau. Philip II sends the Duke of Alva and an army of 10,000 Spanish soldiers and Italian mercenaries to the Netherlands, thereby replacing a disillusioned governess Margaretha. Alva immediately starts a period of terror and persecution which will last for 6 years. Thousands of rebels are tortured and killed. |
Hapsburgian period. The 80 Years War |
1568 Officially the start
of the 80 Years War. William
of Orange, who now has officially taken the side of the revolters
against Philip II of Spain, manages to raise some mercenary armies, financed
out of his own pocket. One of his armies invades the Netherlands and wins
a battle at Heiligerlee, in the province of Groningen. Other campaigns
remain unsuccessful, so William returns to Dillenburg where he tries to
begin a revolt in the Netherlands by sending out spies to maintain contact
with other rebels and to keep him informed of the situation. 1570 Huge flood. Friesland, Groningen, and also large parts of
Holland, Zeeland, Brabant and Flanders are all affected. About 25,000
inhabitants drown. 1571 First National Synod
at Emden in East Frisia, Germany, of the Calvinist 'churches under
the Cross'. The Synod determines the organization of the future Reformed
Church in the Netherlands. 1572 Up until this year, and from 1576-1579, the main point of
resistance is located in the Southern Netherlands. Then it changes to
the Northern Netherlands when an army of Protestants who had fled and
Geuzen
(Sea-Beggars) (who live by privateering, but are legitimized by
William of Orange) capture den Briel, a harbor south of Rotterdam. Many
towns in Zeeland and Holland follow this example (voluntarily or forced)
and associate themselves with the Uprising. Representatives of twelve rebelling towns gather at the town of Dordrecht to attend the first assembly of the States of Holland. They decide to recall William of Orange as their Stadtholder and to promulgate religious liberty. William is reinstalled as a Stadtholder, thus maintaining the fiction that Philip still is the king. As a matter of fact, Holland and Zeeland now become the center of the Uprising, while a few provinces continue to support the king. Another group of provinces change their loyalty; one year they back the rebels, another year they make common cause with the king. ( Full
text of the first assembly of the States of Holland, by Dr. Alastair
Duke, Southampton University) More Calvinists are now entering Northern Netherlands. Massacre of St.Bartholomew in Paris. Huguenots murdered. Help from France
and support from the Huguenots for the Dutch rebellion now is finally
out of the question. This is a huge blow to William and the Netherlands. Start of a period of severe floods, which will last almost 6 years. Especially
Friesland suffers severe damages due to these floods. 1573 William of Orange publicly joins the Calvinists. This is
a political act. In his heart William is a Lutheran and he dislikes the
orthodoxy of the Calvinists, but he knows that they are the most reliable
allies in his fight against Philip II. States of Holland prohibit the
public exercise of the Catholic religion. 1574 First University in the Northern Netherlands founded in Leiden.
(Probably as a gift of William to this city, which lost almost one third
of its population during a siege by the Spanish in 1574). The University
is mainly meant to educate Calvinist clergymen. These schooled clergymen
can be an important tool to lead the inhabitants of the revolting provinces. 1575 William of Orange marries Charlotte de Bourbon, thus getting allied more closely with the Huguenots. 1576 Holland now accepts William of Orange as' Head and Highest Authority'. Due to looting bodies of Spanish soldiers and mercenaries in Spanish service in the Southern Netherlands and violation of local privileges, the southern provinces decide to conclude a pact with the rebels in Holland and Zeeland. The pact is called thePacification of Ghent. At the end of this year it looks like William finally manages to accomplish his goal: religious liberty in the 'united' 17 provinces. This is a short success that will only last until 1579. 1577Union of Brussels: all provinces agree to fight
Philip II under the leadership of William of Orange. 1578 Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma and son of former governess
Margaretha, comes to the Netherlands as governor. He's a gifted general
and a born diplomat, and the same year he arrived there he manages to
regain the revolting provinces of Artois, Hainaut and French Flanders. 1579 January 6: The States of Hainaut , Artois and the town of
Douai, make peace with Philip II (Treaty of Atrecht/Arras) and
they acknowledge him as their leader. The town of Maastricht is captured
by Parma and soon after this even the town of 's-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch)
and Mechlin join the Treaty of Atrecht. January 23: Union
of Utrecht (de Nadere Unie). Holland, Zeeland, Gelre, Utrecht
and Groningen agree to unite. In the months to come, some Flemish and
Brabant towns join the Union. They decide that the provinces will stay
together forever as if they are one province. Each province, however,
will maintain their own special rights and privileges, and settle religion
as they see fit. But, nobody may be persecuted for the sake of their religion. Half of the population of the town of Louvain in Southern Netherlands
die as a result of the plague. 1580 Philip II offers 25,000 Golden Crowns reward plus elevation
to the peerage to anyone who kills William of Orange. Groningen (town and Ommelanden) leaves the Union and comes back under
Spanish ruling due to treason of Rennenberg, Stadholder of Friesland and
commander of Groningen. (Groningen will be part of the Union again in
1594 by Maurits of Nassau) Philip II captures Portugal. As a result, many Portuguese Jews flee to
Amsterdam. 1581 The States-General, beginning their residence at The Hague,
refuse further obedience to the Spanish king in the ' Plakkaat
van Verlathinge' (Act of Abjuration). (second
link to the full text) 1583 William of Orange remarries Louise de Colligny, daughter
of a French Huguenot leader 1584 Parma has almost captured entire Flanders. William of Orange is murdered at the Prinsenhof in Delft by Balthazar
Gerards, a religious fanatic from the France-Comte, a countship of Philip
II. The murderer is arrested, tortured and decapitated at the Grote Markt
in Delft. The 25,000 Crowns are given to the mother of the murderer. 1585 Brussels and Antwerp captured by Parma. The fall of the town
of Antwerp, the richest stronghold of the Uprise in the Southern Netherlands,
will contribute to the rupture between the Spanish Southern Netherlands
and the 7 provinces of the Northern Netherlands. Almost 50,000 Calvinistic
refugees - amongst them many artisans, scholars and wealthy merchants
- flee to the Netherlands.This is an enormous influx for several towns
in Holland and Zeeland, especially Amsterdam, Middelburg and Leiden. Counter
Reformation now starts in the Spanish Netherlands. People there,
still Calvinist, decide to go to the Northern Netherlands. Founding of the University of Franeker (in Friesland). Many Calvinists
go there to study theology and become clergymen. 1586 Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (1547-1619) becomes the most powerful
political leader of the Northern Netherlands. Cooperation between Maurits
of Orange and Oldenbarnevelt works fine in the beginning, but the latter
fears the monarchal character traits of Maurits, and it will end dramatically
in the near future. Oldenbarnevelt is the undisputed political leader
of the Northern Netherland. Maurits is the unchallenged military strategist. 1588 The Spanish Armada, a fleet of 130 ships, is destroyed by
the combination of an English fleet plus a few ships from Zeeland and
heavy tempests. A great threat for the Northern Netherlands has been averted. 1594 Town of Groningen and Ommelanden part of the Union again 1597 Some of the towns are recaptured again by the Spanish. It
is not unusual that some towns have been in Spanish or Dutch hands alternately
several times! 1595 Portuguese power and presence in the East is declining. First
Dutch fleet of 4 ships leaves for Asia . In 1596, they reach Java, where
they found their first trading post. Cornelis de Houtman visits the Cape
of Good Hope. August 1595. He stays there for a short period. These pre-VOC
traders (mainly from Zeeland and Amsterdam) do sent 65 ships to the East. 1596 Triple Alliance against Spain is signed at the town of The
Hague, by England, France and Northern Netherlands. For the first time,
Northern Netherlands is considered to be a sovereign power by at least
England and France. 1598 Philip II gives up the Netherlands. He hands it over to his
daughter Isabella who marries Albrecht of Austria. This couple rules the
Southern Netherlands, but has no power in the Northern Netherlands. With
the strong aid of the Jesuits,
they firmly take in hand the Counter-Reformation
of the Southern Netherlands. Albrecht dies in 1621, so the territory again
becomes Spanish property, governed by Isabella until 1633. 1600 Maurits of Orange undertakes a campaign in Flanders. First target is Dunkirk, to wipe out the pirate's nest. Merchants from the Northern Netherlands and Oldenbarnevelt want him to do this in order to protect their trade. The inhabitants of Flanders don't support Maurits, but with heavy losses he manages to win a battle at Nieuwpoort against the Spanish. He's forced to return to the Northern Netherlands soon after. First written Journals appear in the Netherlands.Trade connections between
important towns like Hamburg, Venice, Antwerp and Amsterdam ask for regular
information. Merchant-letters and the latest news are bundled and copied
by groups clerks in so-called 'Correspondence-offices'. 1602 Founding of the 'Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie'‚
(VOC),
or Dutch East India Company, which is a limited liability company. Driving
force behind this is Johan van Oldenbarnevelt.
The company gets a monopoly on trade and shipping east of the Cape of
Good Hope (at the southern tip of Africa) and for the territories which
might be reached by sailing through the Straits of Magellan (southern
tip of South America). In a way, the VOC can be considered as a 'State
within a State'. The VOC has such rights as to maintain a military force,
to conclude treaties, to appoint governors and judges, and to build fortresses. 1603 Religious dispute at the Leiden University is escalating. It is mainly about predestination and is between two professors, the orthodox Calvinist Gomarus and the liberal Arminius. It is going to divide the whole Northern Netherlands. The religious and political impact is huge in the years to come. The fight between the liberal followers of Arminius, called the 'Remonstrants', and the adherents of the rigid, orthodox Gomarus, called 'Counter-Remonstrants'‚ almost leads to a civil war. Politically, it can be considered as a fight of the States of Holland to maintain power and control over religion. It's also a fight concerning the political unity and the center of power in the Northern Netherlands. Will the States of Holland be the center, or will the final power be in the hands of the States-General? 1608 Drainage, reclamation of the Beemster-lake in the province of Noord-Holland by Jan Adriaensz. Leeghwater 1609 First discount bank opens in Amsterdam, which makes the exchange
of foreign coins more easy and reliable. A new monetary standard is created.
These services modernize international finance and make Amsterdam the
financial center of Europe. Founding of a trading post at Firando (Hirado, at the isle of Hirado,
Japan), for trade with Japan. Dutch explore the coast of North America. Henry Hudson sails into the
present Hudson River up to what soon becomes known as Beverwyck, then
later is renamed Albany. Twelve Year Truce with Spain, after peace negotiations which start in
1608. Zeeland, Amsterdam, many clergymen and refugees, and Maurits of
Orange are against a truce, while Oldenbarnevelt and many merchants are
in favor of it. War of Succession in Kleef, Gulik and the duchy of Berg (in the German Empire) which will last until 1614. Maurits of Orange intervenes militarily because the Northern Netherlands don't want a Catholic neighbor at the eastern border. Maurits turns over Gulik to the two Protestant pretenders, the electors of Brandenburg and Neuborg. Spinola takes Wezel for the elector of Neuborg (now Catholic), who is married to a Hapsburg princess. At the Treaty of Xanten, it is decided that Gulik and Berg will come to Neuborg, and Kleef will go to Brandenburg. (See map
of the Netherlands, at the beginning of the Twelve Year Truce) 1610 Severe floods ravage the Frisian and Holland coast. A serious dispute about predestination and the Church-State relation
starts between Arminius (Remonstrants)
and Gomarus (Counter-Remonstrants).
It's going to be a severe conflict in the Netherlands,causin serious political
divisions. 1611 The Koopmansbeurs (Produce-Exchange) comes into use in Amsterdam.
From that moment on, the merchants have a centrally located building where
they can do their trade. 1612 Beemster (lake in Noord-Holland) finally being drained by
hydraulic engineer Leeghwater. 1617 Maurits publicly attends a Counter Remonstrant service at
a church in The Hague. His mother, Louise de Coligny, and his half-brother
Frederik Hendrik remain faithful to the official court chaplain Johannes
uyt den Bogaardt. 1617 Oldenbarnevelt arrested by Maurits of Orange, along with
another group of liberal Remonstrant clergymen and scholars (like Hugo
Grotius and Johannes uyt den Boogaardt). Break out of the 30 Year War in the German Empire. It is a war between the emperor and several Protestant electorates. National
Synod at Dordrecht (Nov 1635-April 1619). 1618 The first printed Dutch Paper/Journal appears:"Die Courante uyt Italien, duytschlant & c". (Probably published in Amsterdam, edited by Caspar van Hilt(er)en from Amsterdam and printed by Joris Veseler) This original first Dutch Journal is now to be seen in the Royal Library at Stockholm. In 1619 Broer Jansz starts publishing the second Dutch Journal. (Mind that, throughout the 16th century, thousands of printed pamflets -called "Nieuwe Tydinghen'- had appeared, though not on a regulare basis). Amsterdam soon becomes the press-centre of the world. 1619 The National Synod throws out the Remonstrant delegation.
The Synod draws up texts for a rigid orthodox Calvinist confession of
faith, which will apply to all provinces. The Synod wants a completely
new Dutch Bible translation from the original Hebrew and Greek text. This
'Statenbijbel' (= Dutch authorized version of the Bible) will be ready
in 1637. The impact of this translation on Dutch culture, Dutch Protestantism
and the Dutch language will be vast. On May 12, Oldenbarnevelt is sentenced to death by the court. He is charged
with high treason and the next morning he is decapitated. About 200 Remonstrant
clergymen are dismissed. About 80 of them go into exile where they found
the 'Remonstrantse Broederschap' (= Fraternity of Remonstrants). The Catholic
religion is now really beginning to lose followers in the Northern Netherlands,
especially in the areas where the usual Catholic spiritual care is dropping
out: Zeeland, Groningen, Friesland, Drenthe and parts of Gelderland and
Overijssel. The majority of people in Twenthe, West-Friesland, Northern-Brabant
and Limburg remain Catholic in spite of the repression. Jan Pietersz. Coen (governor of the V.O.C, the East-Indies Company) murders
all of the inhabitants of the Banda Islands (Indonesia) in order to more
easily control the cultivation of mace and nutmeg. 1620 Extreme rise of grain prices 1621 April 9 Formal end of the Twelve Years Truce between Spain
and the Netherlands. Founding of the Geoctroyeerde Westindische Compagnie (G.W.C.), aka Westindische Compagnie (W.I.C), for trade on the coasts and countries of America and Africa between the Tropic of Cancer, in the northern hemisphere, southward to Cape Horn in America and the Cape of Good Hope in Africa. Second only to privateering, slave and sugar trading are the main sources of income. Founding of the town of Batavia. At the ruins of Jacarta (Java) cruel Jan Pietersz. Coen is building this new town, to be the centre of the Dutch Colonial East Indies Winterking Frederic of the Palatinate flees to The Hague, to the house
of Oldenbarnevelt's son-in-law. 1623 V.O.C. soldiers brutally murder the English on the Moluccan
Island of Ambon. Diplomatic difficulties with England. 1624 Treaty of the Northern Netherlands with France. In exchange
for military assistance against the Huguenots, France agrees to donate
money to support the revolt of the Northern Netherland against Spain. The Dutch occupy Formosa as a base for their trade with China. San Salvador
(Bahia) on the Brazil coast is taken by a fleet under Piet Hein and Jacob
Willekens. 1625 Dutch ships under Willem de Soete van Laecke Haulthain join
the siege of the Huguenot port of La Rochelle to fight their brothers-in-religion.
At the same time, Dutch civilians are collecting money for the French
Protestants who are very popular amongst the common people of the Northern
Netherlands. Maurits of Orange dies April 23. His half-brother Frederik Hendrik succeeds him as Stadtholder in 5 of the 7 provinces. Frederik Hendrik marries Amalia van Solms, a German countess and court-lady of the 'Winterking' Frederic, king of the Palatinate. He is very talented in both politics and military tactics and is the first Stadtholder who really starts to live like a king. Together with his nephew Ernst Casimir, Stadtholder of Groningen and Friesland, Frederik Hendrik starts a series of campaigns in which they add the northern part of Northern-Brabant and parts of Limburg and Zeeuws-Vlaanderen to the Northern Netherlands. These territories are called 'Generaliteitslanden' (= territory of the States-General). Wormer (a lake north of Zaandam) is being drained by Leeghwater; the
other lakes and pools like the Purmer and the Schermer will soon follow.
The needed money comes from the rich merchants who are looking for speculative
investments. Leeghwater, by the way, also drained wetlands in southern
France, Holstein in northern Germany and Lorraine. Oldenzaal is taken from the Spanish by Ernst Casimir. Frederik Hendrik
takes Groenlo in Gelderland. 1628 Commander Piet Hein, of a large privateering fleet, conquers
the Spanish silver fleet in the Bay of Matanzas. Ten percent of the booty
(177,000 Dutch pounds of silver) go to Frederik Hendrik. Piet Hein receives
about 7000 Dutch guilders. He dies the year after, in a fight against
his Dunkirk colleagues. 1629 Frederik Hendrik and Ernst Casimir conquer the Spanish lands
of the town of 's-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch) and the surrounding countryside,
which is called the 'Meierij van 's-Hertogenbosch'. 1632 Frederik Hendrik takes the towns of Venlo, Roermond, and, after a siege of 73 days, Maastricht. At this point, almost all important towns at the frontier are in the hands of the Northern Netherlands. Venlo and Roermond, though, return to Spanish control a few years later in 1637. (See some good17th century detailed
examples of Dutch fortifications) 1633 The Tulip bulb mania, or Tulipomania is becoming fanaticism.
It lasts for several years until a decree is issued April 27, 1637, declaring
that the purchase and sale of tulip bulbs was to be conducted in the same
way as other business. By the time the speculation ceases, many people
are ruined. [Note: The tulip originally came from Mongolia and Persia -where
cultivation was started over a thousand years earlier- to Turkey in the
16th century. At the Vienna Botanical Garden, in the second half of the
16th century, the scholar Clusius (French Flanders 1526-1609) introduced
the tulip to Europe. In 1594, the tulip arrived in the Netherlands when
Clusius was laying out a botanical garden at Leiden University. Soon this
beautiful flower, in it‚s many variations, was to be found in the
gardens of the rich. It wasn't long before almost everyone wanted tulips
in their own gardens. The tulip became an object of great desire, especially
the particularly attractive ones. However, because of a limited knowledge
of cross-fertilization and a complete lack of knowledge of viruses, people
were unaware that the desireable characteristics would be not retained
in future generations of the tulips. The Dutch - normally of a conservative
nature - got crazy, smelling big profits. While the bulbs still rested
in the soil, they were sold on paper, and these papers went from hand
to hand, rising in value at each step. People abandoned jobs, businesses,
wives, homes and lovers to become tulip growers in order to reap their
share of the profits. And the profits were extremely high. For a single
bulb of the variety Vice-Roi, one Dutchman paid thirty-six bushels of
wheat, seventy-two of rice, four oxen, twelve sheep, eight pigs, two barrels
of wine and four of beer, two tons of butter, a thousands pounds of cheese,
a bed, clothes, and a silver cup! Altogether, this added up to a total
value of 2,500 Dutch florins. Another man bartered twelve acres of land,
while still another gave a new carriage and twelve horses. 1635 'Treaty of Partition'‚ between Northern Netherland and France. The partition pertains to the Southern Netherlands. France and the Northern Netherlands each want to take half of these Spanish provinces. The division will be more or less along linguistic lines. Both France and the Northern Netherlands have a silent hope that the population of the Southern Netherlands will agree, being happy to rid themselves of the Spanish. The plan is not successful, although from then on one could say that the Eighty Years War was no longer a war of independence of the Northern Netherlands, nor a battle between the Northern Netherlands and the Southern Netherlands. The war now is a part of a huge anti-Hapsburg campaign, led by France. In reality, it means that the Southern Netherlands now becomes the battleground for the Northern Netherlands and France; it is not strange, therefore, that neither the French nor Frederik Hendrik are very popular in the Southern Netherlands. Statenbijbel (Dutch Authorized Version of the Bible) ready 1636 Founding of the Utrecht University. Its theological faculty
plays an important role because there is a great demand for Calvinist
clergymen. 1637 Frederik Hendrik takes Breda after a siege of two and a half
months. Venlo and Roermond are recaptured by the Spanish. 1639 A strong Spanish fleet of 67 galleons with 20,000 soldiers
- the second Armada - sets sail for the Northern Netherlands in a final
Spanish attempt to destroy the Dutch fleet and to deliver reinforcements
to the coast of the Southern Netherlands. A modest fleet from the Northern
Netherlands, under admiral Maarten Harpertsz. Tromp, forces the Spanish
to flee to neutral, English territorial waters. Despite protests of the
English King Charles I, the States-General gives Tromp permission to attack
them there. At the Battle
of the Downs, Tromp and some extra
ships which arrived quickly, wreck the Spanish in the Strait of Dover. 1640 Portugal revolts against the Spanish and becomes independent. 1641 The Dutch get permission from the Japanese shogun to organize
a small trading post on Deshima,
an isolated, artificial island in the Bay of Nagasaki (in southern Honshu).
Until the American Perry breaks the Japanese isolation, Japan solely receives
her information about the West European culture from the Dutch and foreigners
in Dutch service. Prince Willem, son of Frederik Hendrik, marries Mary Stuart, daughter
of King Charles I of England. From this moment on, the politics of the
princes of Orange, the Stadtholders, and the English are bound together
by common interests (for a while). 1644 Frederik Hendrik takes Sas van Ghent, a town in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen.
A year later he captures Hulst, a town in the same region. 1646 The French take the port of Dunkirk, the town of Courtray
and some villages in the area. 1647 Death of Frederik Hendrik, March 14. Willem II, his son,
succeeds his father. 1648 The 'Peace of Westphalia' is composed of both the
Peace
of Muenster (May 15), which ends the Eighty Years War between
Spain and the Netherlands, and the Peace of Osnabrueck (October)
which puts an end to the Thirty Years War in the German Empire. Spain
recognizes the 'Verenigde Nederlanden' (= the United Netherlands) as 'free
and sovereign countries', and the king of Spain will take care that the
German Empire also recognizes the independence of Northern Netherlands,
now better known as 'the Republic of the United Netherlands'. (See detailed map of Europe 1648, after the Peace of Westphalia) |
