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Chronology of the Netherlands
| Ancient Netherlands |
| 12 BC |
Rome seeks to gain territories of their Batavian Allies and extend the empire beyond the river Rhine |
| 4th Century AD |
The territory of the Netherlands is again invaded, by the Franks and Saxons |
| 814 |
The Frankish Empire breaks into pieces after the death of Emperor Charlemagne. The Netherlands (Low Countries) become part of the country of Lotharingia, a small country between France and Germany |
| 10th Century |
The rulers of the Netherlands gain more autonomous control in their region |
| Medieval Holland |
| 1275 |
Amsterdam is established after the Holland Count Floris V gives the city a free trade stature |
| 1384 |
The Burgundian Duke Philip gains control over the Netherlands |
| 1421 |
Thousands of people die in the floods of the Maas and Vaal Rivers on the day of St Elizabeth |
| 1477 |
The Habsburg dynasty begins to rule in the Netherlands |
| 1506 |
Spanish king and a Habsburg emperor to be, Charles V, begins rule over the Netherlands |
| 1555 |
The ruler of Spain, Philip the Second, sends troops led by the Duke of Alba to quell the Protestant movement in the Netherlands |
| 1568 |
Spain and the Netherlands enter Eighty Years' War |
| 1578 |
Amsterdam withdraws from the war, prohibits Catholicism and adopts Calvinism |
| 1579 |
The northern Netherlands’ provinces unite in the Union of Utrecht |
| 1581 |
The newly united provinces proclaim independence from Spain |
| 1602 |
The United East India Company is founded, ushering in a golden era of discoveries, trade and explorations for Holland |
| 1609 |
Spain and the Netherlands sign a 12-year peace agreement; the same year when Manhattan is discovered as a result of the exploration of Henri Hudson, sent by the United East India Company |
| 1621 |
The Dutch West India Company is created |
| 1642 |
The famous Holland painter Rembrandt creates his beautiful 'Night Watch' |
| 1642-43 |
The Holland explorer Abel Tasman discovers New Zealand and Tasmania |
| 1648 |
The nearly century-long war with Spain is over |
| 1652 |
Cape Town in Africa is discovered by van Riebeek |
| 1689 |
The Holland king, William III, becomes king of England |
| 18th and 19th Century |
| 1782 |
The Netherlands is the first country to recognise the independence of the U.S |
| 1799 |
The United East India Company ends. France occupies Holland |
| 1806-1810 |
The brother of Napoleon, Louis Bonaparte, becomes king of the Netherlands |
| 1813 |
Holland regains independence from France |
| 1814 |
Holland takes over Belgium and becomes the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with Willem I, of the Oranje-Nassau dynasty, king of the constitutional monarchy |
| 1830 |
The Netherlands allow Belgium to be independent |
| 1853 |
Vincent Van Gogh is born |
| 20th Century |
| 1917 |
The Netherlands declare neutrality during the First World War but nonetheless suffer from riots and food depravation |
| 1920 |
The first scheduled air flight, from Amsterdam to London, is made by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines |
| 1928 |
The Olympic Games are held in Amsterdam |
| 1934 |
The great depression of the U.S. reaches Holland, causing food depravation and riots, and forcing government troops to the streets |
| 1940 |
Germany invades the Netherlands in the Second World War, forcing the departure of the queen into exile |
| 1941 |
Protests of the persecution of the Jews ensue |
| 1942 |
Amsterdam becomes a safe haven for Anne Frank and her family and friends. Two years later they are discovered and taken to the camps where Anne died one year later |
| 1944-1945 |
Thousands of people die during the worst winter of Nazi occupation |
| 1945 May |
The Germans occupying Amsterdam surrender and the Netherlands is free to resume normal life |
| Post-World Wars |
| 1947 |
The Diary of Anne Frank' is published |
| 1948 |
The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg enter the Benelux Union and allow free border crossing |
| 1949 |
The Netherlands become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) |
| 1958 |
The Netherlands joins the European Union (EU) via its former name of European Economic Community (EEC) |
| 1966 |
The marriage of the Dutch princess to a former German soldier leads to protests |
| 1975 |
Amsterdam celebrates its 700th birthday. Laws are passed to legalise the use of marijuana |
| 1980 |
Princess Beatrix becomes Queen of Holland |
| 1987 |
A memorial to gays and lesbians is opened in Amsterdam |
| 1992 |
The EU is created with the Treaty of Maastricht |
| 21st-century Holland |
| 2001 |
The Netherlands legalises gay marriages |
| 2002 |
The euro replaces the Dutch guilder. Euthanasia is legalised |
| 2003 |
The Hague becomes the residence of the International Criminal Court |
| 2004 |
Vermeer’s painting 'Young Woman Seated at a Virginal' is sold in an auction for over 30 million dollars |
| 2005 |
The Netherlands rejects the proposed EU constitution |
| 2007 |
Coffee shops in Holland are (almost) forced to stop selling marijuana because they are too close to schools.
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