United Kingdom of the Netherlands facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kingdom of the Netherlands Koninkrijk der Nederlanden Royaume des Belgiques
1815–1839
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Je maintiendrai "I will maintain"
Anthem: Wien Neêrlands Bloed "Those in whom Dutch blood"
Map of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815
Capital	Amsterdam and Brussels
Common languages	Dutch, French
Religion	Protestant, Roman Catholic
Government	Constitutional monarchy
King
• 1815–1839	William I
Legislature	States-General
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	House of Representatives
Historical era	Early modern period
• Congress of Vienna	15 March 1815
• Constitution adopted	24 August 1815
• Belgian Revolution	25 August 1830
• Treaty of London	19 April 1839
Currency	Dutch guilder
ISO 3166 code	NL
Preceded by Succeeded by First French Empire Netherlands Duchy of Limburg (1839–1867) Luxembourg Belgium

The United Kingdom of the Netherlands was a country in Europe that existed from 1815 to 1839. It was officially called the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This country was formed after the fall of the First French Empire. It included what is now the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

The new kingdom was created to be a stronger state. It was meant to be a buffer against France. The House of Orange-Nassau ruled the country. Its first king was William I.

How the Kingdom Was Formed

The Congress of Vienna (1815)

After Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated, European leaders met. This meeting was called the Congress of Vienna. They wanted to redraw the map of Europe. They decided to combine the former Dutch Republic (north) with the Austrian Netherlands (south). They also added the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. This created the United Kingdom of the Netherlands.

A New Constitution

On August 24, 1815, a new constitution was adopted. This set up a Constitutional monarchy. This meant the king shared power with a parliament. The parliament was called the States-General. It had two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Belgian Revolution (1830)

The United Kingdom of the Netherlands did not last long. People in the southern parts (modern-day Belgium) were unhappy. They felt their language and religion were not respected. Most people in the south spoke French and were Catholic. The north was mostly Dutch-speaking and Protestant.

Reasons for the Uprising

• Language differences: The government tried to make Dutch the main language.
• Religious differences: The Catholic south felt controlled by the Protestant north.
• Political power: People in the south felt they had less say in the government.
• Economic issues: Some felt the north benefited more from trade.

The Uprising Begins

The Belgian Revolution started on August 25, 1830. People in Brussels began to protest. Fighting broke out between Belgian rebels and Dutch troops. King William I tried to stop the rebellion. But the rebels were strong.

The End of the Kingdom (1839)

King William I did not want to accept Belgium's independence. He fought for several years. But other European powers got involved. They wanted peace and stability in Europe.

The Treaty of London

Finally, in 1839, King William I signed the Treaty of London. This treaty officially recognized Belgium as an independent country. It also set the borders between the Netherlands and Belgium. This marked the official end of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Most of its northern part is still the Kingdom of the Netherlands today.

Images for kids

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  A British cartoon, satirising the "wedding" of Belgium and the Netherlands at the Congress of Vienna

• 

  King William I

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  Dutch troops in the Flemish town of Dendermonde in 1820

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  Fighting between Belgian rebels and the Dutch military expedition in Brussels in September 1830

See also

In Spanish: Reino Unido de los Países Bajos para niños