Dutch Republic

Coordinates: 52°04′48″N 4°18′00″E / 52.08000°N 4.30000°E / 52.08000; 4.30000
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Republic of the Seven United Netherlands
Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden
1588–1795[1]
Motto: Concordia res parvae crescunt[2]
"Unity makes strength"
Anthem: Het Wilhelmus
"The William"
Location of the Dutch Republic in 1789
Location of the Dutch Republic in 1789
CapitalAmsterdam
Common languagesDutch, Zeelandic, West Flemish, Dutch Low Saxon, West Frisian
Religion
Dutch Reformed
GovernmentConfederative republic
Stadtholder 
• 1581–1584
William I (first)
• 1751–1795
William V (last)
Grand Pensionary 
• 1581–1585
Paulus Buys (first)
• 1787–1795
Laurens van de Spiegel (last)
LegislatureStates General
• State council
Council of State
Historical eraEarly modern
23 January 1579
26 July 1581
30 January 1648
19 January 1795
Population
• 1795
1880500[3]
CurrencyGuilder
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Habsburg Netherlands
Batavian Republic
Today part of

The Dutch Republic, officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands, the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces, was a republic in Europe. It was a confederacy of provinces that existed from 1581 to 1795. It started when seven northern provinces of the Spanish Netherlands joined together to fight for independence. It ended when Napoleon set up the Batavian Republic, which later became the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and the modern Netherlands (now part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands). Alternative names include the United Provinces, Federated Belgic Provinces, and Belgic Federation.

Although it was called a republic, its Stadtholder became a heredity dynasty.

References[change | change source]

  1. NTR, Omroep. "Waarom vormen de Noordelijke Nederlanden een republiek?". NPO Focus.
  2. In full concordia res parvae crescunt, discordia maximae dilabuntur. Hubert de Vries, Wapens van de Nederlanden. De historische ontwikkeling van de heraldische symbolen van Nederland, België, hun provincies en Luxemburg. Uitgeverij Jan Mets, Amsterdam, 1995, pp. 31–32.
  3. Demographics of the Netherlands Archived 2011-12-26 at the Wayback Machine, Jan Lahmeyer. Retrieved on 10 February 2014.

52°04′48″N 4°18′00″E / 52.08000°N 4.30000°E / 52.08000; 4.30000