The founding of the Netherlands

At the end of the sixteenth century a revolt broke out in the so called Low Countries (what is now Holland and Belgium) against the sovereign, Philip II, King of Spain. Seven northern provinces united in a new state: the Republic of the United Netherlands.

The revolt was led by William of Orange, who thus became the founder of the Dutch nation. In 1584 he was murdered in Delft by an assassin working for Philip II.

The revolt began because Philip II wished to limit the comparative independence of the provinces and was suppressing the Protestant faith.

The new state was a republic, then a rarity among the world'sconstitutions. The central government consisted of a deputation from the provinces, the States-General. The descendants of William of Orange were appointedstadtholders and expected to be 'supreme servants ofthe state and commanders-in-chief of the army'.

The war for independence lasted eighty years, from 1568 until 1648. In that year the Republic of the United Netherlands was internationally recognized as an independent nation by the Peace of Munster.