Rental Cars Netherlands - History of Netherlands
The Netherlands’ early history ties closely together with Belgium and Luxembourg; the three being known as the 'Low Countries' until the 16th century when the present-day Netherlands' boundaries were roughly drawn.
This region established itself as being one of the most prosperous in Europe but also at times the most politically unstable. At various times the ambitions of both the kings of France and the Holy Roman Emperors threatened to annex the region, however neither was powerful enough. By the early 16th century, imperial influence gained power, and the Low Countries became annexed to the empire of the Hapsburgs. The regions northern provinces, mainly protestant, rebelled in 1568 fighting against their Catholic Spanish rulers. The revolt of the Netherlands was led by Prince William of Orange. After 80 years of conflict Holland and its allied provinces expelled the Spaniards. This struggle for independence, which lasted until 1648, also saw a remarkable growth in Dutch sea power. The Netherlands entered its ‘Golden Age’ on the European stage which lasted until 1740. The wealth of this era was generated by the Dutch East India Company, which sent ships to the Far East in search of spices and exotic goods. They colonized the Cape of Good Hope, Indonesia, Suriname, the Antilles and New Amsterdam (today's New York) and established trading posts throughout Asia. Amsterdam’s bourgeoisie indulged in the finer tastes at this time, stimulating arts and culture with painters emerging such as Rembrandt. This however didn’t last, in 1795 the French invaded and Napoleon appointed his younger brother Louis as king. When French occupation came to an end in the early 18 C, The United Kingdom of the Netherlands, including Belgium and Luxembourg, was born. The first king, William I of Orange, was crowned in 1814, and the House of Orange rules to this day. In 1830 Belgium become independent and Luxembourg also gained independence soon after.
The Germans invaded in May 1940, bombing Rotterdam. The Dutch resistance movement was subsequently formed. A large portion of the Jewish population was killed at this time. In 1949 Indonesia won independence. Surinamee followed with a peaceful handover of sovereignty in 1975. The Antilles, off the coast of Venezuela, are still a colony, but are largely independent.
Modern Dutch are typically pragmatic and progressive about issues such as prostitution and permissiveness of mild narcotics such as marijuana. The Netherlands is a strong supporter of the European Union and further integration is taken for granted by most Dutch people.
