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Effective family research requires some understanding of the historical events that may have affected your family and the records about them. Learning about wars, governments, laws, migrations, and religious trends may help you understand political boundaries, family movements, and settlement patterns. These events may have led to the creation of records such as land and military documents that mention your family. | |||
Your ancestors will become more interesting to you if you also use histories to learn about the events they may have participated in. For example, by using a history you might learn about the events that occurred in the year your great-grandparents were married. | |||
The area that is now known as the Netherlands has a rich history that extends back two millennia. Much of the area (then geographically very different from today) fell to Roman rule. It was converted to Christianity before 1000 AD. In the 16th Century it firstly embraced Calvinism, then threw off their Spanish rules during the Eighty Years War. Upon independence the Netherlands was prosperous and imperialistic, expanding economically and demographically, and the country was a major power on the global stage. | |||
The 18th century saw a decline in the economy and foreign standing of the nation. The former Dutch Republic was overthrown in 1795 by the Batavian Republic, inspired by the ideals of the French revolution. Later Napoleon's brother Louis ruled the nation as a subject to France, then in 1811 it was incorporated directly into the Napoelonic Empire. | |||
Following the defeat of Napoleon, a monarchy under the House of Orange was established. Belgium and then Luxembourg both became independent during the 19th century. The Netherlands remained neutral during WW1, but was invaded by Germany during WW2. The nation now belongs to the EU, and in recent decades has experienced immigration, multiculturalism and secularization. | |||
During the 15th century the Netherlands had a population of nearly 750,000 people, most of whom made their living by farming or fishing. Only about 7 percent of the people lived in towns. By the 17th century the picture had changed completely. The country had a population of about two million, with about 45 percent residing in the towns. In the provinces bordering the seacoast, many people were employed in industry and the trades while the people of the inland provinces were engaged primarily in agriculture. | |||
== Timeline == | == Timeline == | ||
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'''1576''' The provinces of Holland and Zeeland were unified. The 17 provinces of the Netherlands (north and south) were also unified into what was called the Pacification of Ghent. | '''1576''' The provinces of Holland and Zeeland were unified. The 17 provinces of the Netherlands (north and south) were also unified into what was called the Pacification of Ghent. | ||
'''1579''' The southern provinces broke with the Pacification of Ghent; the northern provinces formed the Union of Utrecht. | '''1579''' The southern provinces broke with the Pacification of Ghent; the northern provinces formed the Union of Utrecht. | ||
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'''early 17th c.''' Jewish refugees from Spain and Portugal begin to arrive in the Netherlands. | '''early 17th c.''' Jewish refugees from Spain and Portugal begin to arrive in the Netherlands. | ||
'''1609''' Henry Hudson's voyage to the Americas. | |||
'''1609''' Henry Hudson's voyage to the Americas. | |||
''' | '''1620''' Pilgrims left Netherlands, landed in Massachusetts.<br>'''1626''' Peter Minuit "purchases" Manhattan Island from the Manhattoes Native Americans for the equivalent of $24, legalizing the Nieuw Amsterdam settlement founded the previous year at the mouth of the Hudson River. In 1664 it was renamed New York by the English. | ||
<br>'''1626''' Peter Minuit "purchases" Manhattan Island from the Manhattoes Native Americans for the equivalent of $24, legalizing the Nieuw Amsterdam settlement founded the previous year at the mouth of the Hudson River. In 1664 it was renamed New York by the English. | |||
'''1630 - 1654''' Dutch conquered Brazil. | '''1630 - 1654''' Dutch conquered Brazil. | ||
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'''1685 '''Edict of Nantes (a decree issued by Henry IV of France in 1598 that gave political equality to the Huguenots) was revoked. Consequently, there was a heavy influx of Huguenots into the Netherlands (by 1686 there were 75,000), resulting in the founding of many French Reformed Church congregations. | '''1685 '''Edict of Nantes (a decree issued by Henry IV of France in 1598 that gave political equality to the Huguenots) was revoked. Consequently, there was a heavy influx of Huguenots into the Netherlands (by 1686 there were 75,000), resulting in the founding of many French Reformed Church congregations. | ||
''' | '''1688-9''' King Louis XIV of France declared war on Netherlands; Stadhouder William III of Orange and Queen Mary become rulers of England following the Glorious Revolution | ||
'''1782''' Dutch become first to officially recognize nationhood of the United States. | '''1782''' Dutch become first to officially recognize nationhood of the United States. | ||
'''1795''' The Republic of the Seven United Netherlands was overthrown, and the Batavian Republic, patterned after the French republic, was established. Zeeuws Flanders, Flanders, and Dutch areas in Limburg were annexed to France. | '''1795''' The Republic of the Seven United Netherlands was overthrown, and the Batavian Republic, patterned after the French republic, was established. Zeeuws Flanders, Flanders, and Dutch areas in Limburg were annexed to France. | ||
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'''1831''' The people of the former Southern Netherlands rebelled and set up their own government. This was the beginning of the Kingdom of Belgium. | '''1831''' The people of the former Southern Netherlands rebelled and set up their own government. This was the beginning of the Kingdom of Belgium. | ||
'''1839 '''Belgium was recognized as an independent nation, and border disputes were resolved. Limburg | '''1839 '''Belgium was recognized as an independent nation, and border disputes were resolved. Limburg was split between the Netherlands and Belgium. | ||
'''1840 '''The province of Noord–Holland was created by a division of the province of Holland. The remaining part of the province of Holland later came to be known as Zuid–Holland. | '''1840 '''The province of Noord–Holland was created by a division of the province of Holland. The remaining part of the province of Holland later came to be known as Zuid–Holland. | ||
'''1917''' Despite Dutch neutrality in World War I (1914-18), the Netherlands suffers from severe food shortages. | '''1917''' Despite Dutch neutrality in World War I (1914-18), the Netherlands suffers from severe food shortages. | ||
'''1932''' Afsluitdijk (Enclosure Dike) at the head of the Zuiderzee is completed, transforming the sea into the freshwater IJsselmeer Lake. | '''1932''' Afsluitdijk (Enclosure Dike) at the head of the Zuiderzee is completed, transforming the sea into the freshwater IJsselmeer Lake. | ||
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'''1940''' World War II: Nazi Germany invades on May 10. Holland surrenders 4 days later after the aerial bombardment of Rotterdam. Queen Wilhelmina goes into exile in London. | '''1940''' World War II: Nazi Germany invades on May 10. Holland surrenders 4 days later after the aerial bombardment of Rotterdam. Queen Wilhelmina goes into exile in London. | ||
'''1945''' May 5: German forces in the Netherlands capitulate. | '''1945''' May 5: German forces in the Netherlands capitulate. | ||
'''1948''' Benelux customs union with Belgium and Luxembourg takes effect. | '''1948''' Benelux customs union with Belgium and Luxembourg takes effect. | ||
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'''2004''' The former Queen Juliana dies. | '''2004''' The former Queen Juliana dies. | ||
'''2013''' Beatrix abdicates and is succeeded by her son Willem-Alexander | |||
== Population and Demographics == | |||
During the 15th century the Netherlands had a population of nearly 750,000 people, most of whom made their living by farming or fishing. Only about 7 percent of the people lived in towns. By the 17th century the picture had changed completely. The country had a population of about two million, with about 45 percent residing in the towns. In the provinces bordering the seacoast, many people were employed in industry and the trades while the people of the inland provinces were engaged primarily in agriculture. | |||
The population leveled off during the 18th century, and was recorded in 1795 as just under 2 million. The nation remained highly urbanized, which only increased further with the Industrial Revolution. The near Catholic unanimity of pre-16th century Netherlands had been replaced by a Protestant majority, though a significant Catholic minority remained especially in Noord-Brabant and Limburg. | |||
Today the Netherlands has a population of about 17 million. Immigration has eroded the former ethnic homogeneity, with a sizable proportion of the population either non-Christian or non-European. | |||
== Histories at the Family History Library == | == Histories at the Family History Library == | ||