WAR BETWEEN HOLLAND AND BELGIUM 1830-1839 Belligerents: Holland.
Belgium, France, Great Britain.
Cause : The Kingdom of the Netherlands was set up by the Congress of Vienna in 1815, but from the first there was discord between the two states of the kingdom. King William was a Dutchman and a Protestant. Holland, although the smaller of the two states, had a permanent majority in the Chamber. Public offices and appointments were filled by Dutchmen. The hatred of Dutch rule grew, and with it a desire for separation.
Occasion : The success of the French Revolution of 1830 led to an outbreak in Brussels, and Belgian insurgents fought against the Dutch soldiers. The Powers met in London, and Belgium was declared a separate kingdom. Leopold of Saxe-Coburg was offered the crown and entered Brussels as King of the Belgians on June 21, 1831 ; at the same time the Dutch pre pared for an invasion.
Course of the War: On August 9, 1831, the Belgians were routed in an encounter with the Dutch, but on the intervention of the French army King William withdrew. The • Conference in London drew up a treaty, but King William refused to come to terms and retained session of Antwerp. In November a combined British and French fleet sailed for the coast of Holland, and a French army laid siege to Antwerp. The Dutch
garrison capitulated on December 23, 183x, and the town was handed over to the Belgians and the French troops withdrew. Still the Dutch refused to yield and held two forts which enabled them to command the navigation of the Scheldt. Not till March 1838 did Holland signify her readiness to accept the treaty.
Political Result : The Conference throughout had endeavoured to come to an agreement ; Austria, Prussia, and Russia sympathized with Holland ; but eventually the final Treaty of London was signed on April 19, 1839. Luxem burg was divided, and also the district of Maestricht. The Scheldt was declared open to the commerce of both countries. The national debt was divided, and the five Powers guaranteed the independence and neutrality of Belgium.
Remarks : As independent states the two countries lived side by side amicably. The neutrality of Belgium was reaffirmed in 187o on the outbreak of the Franco German War.
Leopold was succeeded in 1863 by his son Leopold II, under whose sovereignty the Congo Free State was placed in 1885. King Albert succeeded his uncle in x9o9.