Founding
The Kingdom Of The Netherlands was not "founded" in the same way most other nations were. The Netherlands was once an offshoot of the Spanish Empire. However the Dutch population were unhappy with their Spanish rule, so in the 1566 they began to revolt under the leadership of one "Prince William Of Orange" or "William The Silent". The revolt lasted for 80 whole years! In this time William Of Orange was assassinated by the Spanish. Fueled by the aspect of revenge the Dutch populous drove the Spanish back forming the Netherlands in 1648.
The Golden AgeAfter the formation of the "Dutch Republic" the Netherlands found itself in a golden age. Trade prospered and the kingdom was among the happiest in Europe! This age did come to an end in around the start of the 18th century.
"Where else in the world can one enjoy all the comforts of life and all the interesting things that a person might wish to find? What other country is there in which one can enjoy such perfect freedom ...?" -René Descartes World War IIDuring World War II Hitler's assault quickly found it's way to the Netherlands. Unlike invasions of the past the Dutch were unable to hold the invaders back. The defeat was swift. Post annexation over 100, 000 Dutch Jews were sent to concentration camps and slaughtered. Luckily the Netherlands were liberated by the nation of Canada. As thanks the Netherlands erected a statue in Ottawa.
|
Late 17th to Early 18th Century WarIn the time between 1670 and 1720 the Dutch Republic found itself targeted by various other nations, possibly due to the wealth of the golden age. The most famous of these wars "disaster year" in 1672 was an assault by England and France. The attackers were driven back when Amsterdam's flood gates were opened causing the attackers horses to drown.
TodayToday the Netherlands stands as the fourth happiest nation in the world. In 2014 the country pulled in 14 million tourists with more flowing in every single day. It also stands as one of the most accepting societies in the world. Every year many cases are propelled to the Center for International Criminal Justice, a court dealing with many serious humanitarian issues.
|