Convention of Alkmaar facts for kids

The Convention of Alkmaar was an important agreement signed on October 18, 1799. It happened in the Dutch city of Alkmaar. This agreement was made between the commanders of the armies from Great Britain and Russia on one side, and the commanders from France and the Batavian Republic (which was like the Netherlands at the time) on the other. The main point of the Convention was that the British and Russian forces agreed to leave the Batavian Republic. This happened after their attempt to invade Holland, known as the Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland, did not succeed. After the agreement was signed, the British and Russian soldiers, led by the Duke of York, were sent back to Britain over the next few weeks.

What Was the Alkmaar Agreement?

The Convention of Alkmaar was a formal agreement, like a peace treaty, that ended the fighting in the Netherlands during the French Revolutionary Wars. It was signed by Major-General Knox for the British and Russians, and General Rostollan for the French and Batavian armies. This agreement set out the rules for how the British and Russian troops would leave the country.

Key Points of the Agreement

The Convention had several important points that both sides agreed to follow:

• End of Fighting: All battles and fighting between the two armies had to stop right away.
• No New Defenses: Neither side was allowed to build new forts or improve their existing defenses.
• Leaving the Netherlands: The British and Russian armies had to leave the Dutch Republic by November 30, 1799. They promised not to cause any damage, like flooding lands or cutting dikes (water barriers), as they left.
• No More Troops: Any new ships arriving with more soldiers for the British and Russian army were not allowed to land. They had to be sent away.
• Checking Up: Both sides could send an officer to check that the other side was following the agreement. For example, a French officer could check on the British departure, and a British officer could check that the French weren't building new defenses.
• Prisoner Exchange: A very important part of the agreement was about prisoners of war. Eight thousand French and Batavian prisoners, who were being held in England, were to be sent back home without any conditions. This included the Dutch admiral de Winter, who was also to be released.

The Convention of Alkmaar was signed on October 18, 1799, and it marked the end of the Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland. It was a way for both sides to stop fighting and for the invading forces to withdraw safely.

Sources

• Harvey, Robert. War of Wars: The Epic Struggle Between Britain and France 1789–1815. London, 2007
• Intelligence Division, War Office, Great Britain, British minor expeditions: 1746 to 1814. HMSO, 1884 [1]
• Krayenhoff, C.R.T. (1832) Geschiedkundige Beschouwing van den Oorlog op het grondgebied der Bataafsche Republiek in 1799. J.C. Vieweg [2]
• Urban, Mark. Generals: Ten British Commanders Who Shaped the World. Faber and Faber, 2005.