The Netherlands began life as an independent republic in the 16th century, when after a long period of revolt they gained freedom from the Spanish Hapsburgs in 1581, becoming one of the first parliamentary democracies.

The country went on very quickly to become one of the major seafaring and economic powers with colonies and trading posts all over the world. The 17th century was the Dutch Golden Age (Gouden Eeuw). Amsterdam was the wealthiest trading city in early modern Europe, with the first fulltime Stock Exchange.

The Dutch Empire finally disappeared in the aftermath of World War II.

In 1795 the country came under French domination which lasted until Napoleon’s defeat at the Battle of Leipzig in 1813. In 1815 a hereditary monarchy was created from the House of Orange, William 1 of the Netherlands. Then the Congress of Vienna, following the final defeat of Napoleon in 1815, created the United Kingdom of the Netherlands by joining it to Belgium. This only lasted till 1830 when Belgium revolted and gained its independence.

The Netherlands remained neutral in WW1 and would have been in WW2 until invaded by Nazi Germany. After the war the Netherlands moved away from neutrality towards greater collaboration with its neighbours. A founding member of the Benelux Group (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg) they went on to become one of the six founding members of the European Coal and Steel Community, that evolved via the EEC into today’s EU.

The 1960s and 70s were a time of great social and cultural change, propelled by the younger generation rejecting traditional values. Today the Netherlands are seen as a liberal country, particularly with regard to its drug policy and legalisation of euthanasia.