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Dutch history

Dutch history
  • 1st century BC
    Numerous tribes (mostly Frisians and Batavians) become the area’s first inhabitants.
     
  • 4th century
    Barbarians invade the area.
     
  • 1275
    Amsterdam is founded.
     
  • 1421
    Storm causes a flood that drowned approximately 10.000 inhabitants.
     
  • 1516
    King of Spain Charles V inherits the Netherlands.
     
  • 1521
    Wooden buildings in Amsterdam are banned. 
     
  • 1578
    Amsterdam abandons the Spanish and Catholic cause.
     
  • 1579
    The Union of Utrecht unites the northern Low Countries.
     
  • 1581
    The United Provinces declare their independence from Spain.
     
  • 1602
    The United East India is founded.
     
  • 1609
    The Dutch discover Manhattan Island.
     
  • 1626
    Peter Minuit (Director-General of the Dutch colony of New Netherlands) purchases Manhattan Island for the equivalent of 24 dollars.
     
  • 1630 - 1654
    The Dutch conquer Brazil.
     
  • 1642
    Rembrandt paints The Night Watch.
     
  • 1642 - 1643
    Abel Tasman reaches Tasmania and New Zealand.
     
  • 1648
    End of war with Spain; Dutch independence recognised.
     
  • 1652
    Jan van Riebeek reaches Cape Town; first Anglo-Dutch war.
     
  • 1661
    Brazil is sold to Portugal.
     
  • 1665 - 1667
    Second Anglo-Dutch war.
     
  • 1672 - 1674
    Third Anglo-Dutch war.
     
  • 1795
    Velvet Revolution; French occupy the Netherlands.
     
  • 1806 - 1810
    Louis Bonaparte (Napoléon's brother) becomes king of the Netherlands.
     
  • 1813
    The Netherlands regains independence.
     
  • 1814
    The country becomes the Kingdom of the Netherlands headed by Willem l of the House of Oranje-Nassau.
     
  • 1830
    Belgium rebels against the Netherlands and breaks free.
     
  • 1853
    Vincent van Gogh is born.
     
  • 1870
    Amstel Brewery opens.
     
  • 1890
    Vincent van Gogh commits suicide.
     
  • 1919
    Dutch women get the vote.
     
  • 1920
    KLM launches the world’s first scheduled air service.
     
  • 1928
    Olympic Games are held in Amsterdam.
     
  • 1940
    Germany invades and conquers the Netherlands four days after the aerial bombardment of Rotterdam.
     
  • 1941
    February strike against the deportation of the Jewish community.
     
  • 1942 - 1945
    Anne Frank and her family hide in Amsterdam. The refuge is betrayed and Anne dies at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. She was 15.
     
  • 1944 - 1945
    Thousands die during the Hunger Winter.
     
  • 1947
    The Diary of Anne Frank is published.
     
  • 1948
    Benelux customs union takes effect.
     
  • 1949
    The Dutch East Indies receives its independence as Indonesia; the Netherlands joins NATO.
     
  • 1952
    The Netherlands founding member of European Coal and Steel Community.
     
  • 1958
    The Netherlands joins the European Economic Community.
     
  • 1975
    Amsterdam’s 700th anniversary; the Netherlands grants independence to Surinam; use of cannabis is decriminalised.
     
  • 1980
    Queen Juliana retired and succeeded by her daughter Beatrix.
     
  • 1987
    The Homomonument is unveiled.
     
  • 2001
    The world’s first same-sex marriage takes place in Amsterdam.
     
  • 2002
    Euro replaces the Dutch guilder; regulated euthanasia is legalised.

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