History of Germany History of Belgium
First posted on November 25th 2002, last revised on November 16th 2004






External Links

For links on general historical dictionaries, go to Historical Dictionary main page

Vakjargon, from Andropov; site of dealer in antique maps has list of cartographic expressions in Dutch, French, English, German; Dutch-language website
Encyclopedie, from Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, in Dutch (much focussed on art)
Online Dictionaries : Dutch-English, from travlang
Geschiedenislokaal : Begrippen, monolingual Dutch-Dutch lists of expressions and definitions, not limited to events influencing the Netherlands
Kleioscoop, from Digischool, monolingual Dutch-language index of historical names and expressions, on Dutch and World history
Begrippenlijst (list of terms), from Verzetsmuseum Amsterdam (Resistance Museum Amsterdam), monolingual in Dutch
Numismatic Terminology Dutch - French - English - German, from Muntcatalogus by R. Tholen
Woordenboek juridische terminologie en politiejargon, by Jaap van der Wijk
Begrippenlijst Nederlands Indie (list of terms, Dutch East Indies), by Bert van der Velden, in Dutch
List of historical terms etc. on Kingdom of the Netherlands, Dutch Republic, posted by Pieter Vervat, in Dutch
Printed Reference : Historical Dictionaries, Netherlands

Arend H. Huussen, Historical Dictionary of the Netherlands, London : Scarecrow 1998, 237 pp.; KMLA Lib.Sign. R 949.2 H985h


General Expressions

Armoede - poverty
Bede pl. beden - Request for a tax to be consented by the estates, and, if granted, the tax itself
Burgerij -
Gewest pl. gewesten - Territory
Gilde - Guild
Ketterij - Heresy
Maatschappij - Society
Martelaar pl. martelaren - Martyr
Oorlog - war
Overheid - state authority
Paus pl. pausen - Pope
Plakkaat pl. plakkaaten - Decret, official proclamation
Raadspensionaris - Pensionary; a title describing the president of the Estates of a province
Regenten - members of city councils (only a few families in every city qualified; these families were wealthy, mostly engaged in international trade)
Slag - battle
Staatsinrichting - constitution
Stadhouder - Stadholder; in Habsburg times, with the sovereign out of the territory for most of the time, the office had been created to replace the absent king. Every province had a stadholder. Durring the revolt, the provinces elected their stadholders (now with the task to defend the rebellious territories against the Spanish); with their success, the stadholders, all of whom were elected from the house of Orange-Nassau, came to take the position of Governor General. They depended on the sums granted to them by the Estates General, most of all by the Estates of Holland.
Smeekschrift - Petition
Spotprent pl. Spotprenten - Cartoon
Volksplanting - Settlement
Volksvertegenwoording - political representation (parliament)
Vrede - Peace
Vroedschap -
Wet - Law
Wetgeving - legislation

Burgundian Period, 1384-1506 ..... go to narrative history of the Netherlands 1384-1515

Staten Generael - Estates General

Habsburg Period, 1506-1579 ..... go to narrative history of the Netherlands 1500-1580 . Suppression of Protestantism

Allerheiligenvloed 1570 - All Saints' Day Flood, to which many fell victim
Beeldenstorm - Iconoclasm
Bloedraad see Raad van Beroerten
Boergondische Kreis - Burgundian Circle, est. 1548
Brieven van Segovia 1565 ff. - Letters from Segovia
... Letters sent by Philip II. to Governor Margaret of Parma in which he rejects administrative reforms and in which he demands sharp measures to be taken against Calvinism.
Chanteries
... protestant songs sung in public, 1562ff. in Wallonia
Contrareformatie - Counterreformation
Concilie van Trente (1545-1563) - Council of Trent
Doopsgezinde Broederschap est.1535 - (Mennonite) Anabaptist Brotherhood
Effractie - liberation of arrested Calvinists, with the use of force
Geheime Raad - Secret Council, redefined 1531
Geuzen - literally : Beggars
... Expression used as an insult by King Philipp II. against the Dutch nobles who petitioned him for respecting the old privileges of the Dutch provinces; used as a name of honour by the Dutch rebels (Watergeuzen, Landgeuzen)
Godsdienstvrede van Augsburg, 1555 - Peace of Augsburg
Godsdienstvrijheid - freedom of celebrating mass according to one's interpretation
... demand raised in 1567, rejected and followed by massive suppression
Grootkanselier - great chancellor
Grote Gentse Opstand 1544 - Great Rebellion of Ghent
... caused by the enforced collection, authority Governor Margaret of Parma, of a tax which had been refused by the Estates General. The rebellion was suppressed, the city's privileges were cancelled.
Grote Raad - Large Council
Hagepreken - protestant sermons held out in the open
Herforming - Reformation
Inquisitie - Inquisition
Landvoogd / Landvoogdes - governor / female form of governor
Lutheraan - Lutheran
Nieuwe Kerkelijke Indeling, 1559 - Church Reform
Pacificatie van Gent 1576 - Peace of Ghent, between the Estates General and the Estates of Holland and Zeeland
Plaatselijk Verzet (1568/1572-1579) - regional resistance
... In 1568, William of Orange, byname the Silent, offended by the Spanish because his son, a student at the University of Leuven (Louvain), had been arrested and deported to Spain, began a feud, raiding Spanish-Netherlands territory from abroad, with the intention to ignite a general revolt. In 1572 the estates of Holland and Zeeland took his side and joined the revolt.
Pragmatiesje Sanctie 1549 - Pragmatic Sanction of 1549
... edict, confirmed by several provincial estates, uniformally regulating succession in the Dutch territories
Raad van Beroerten - Council of Troubles
... also referred to as "Bloedraad' (Council of Blood)
Raad van Financien - Council of Finances, created 1531
Raad van State - Council of State, created 1531
Slag bij Oosterweel 1567 - Battle near Oosterweel
... Spanish troops defeated Calvinist force under van Marnix; the latter fell
Sporenslag 1513 - Battle of Guinegate
... Anglo-Habsburg victory over the French; the Dutch expression mocks the French, for they supposedly have made greater use of their spores than of their swords.
Verkapt Staatsbankroet, 1557 - covered-up state bankrupcy
... The renewed war with France overburdened the Spanish finances and caused King Philip II. to unilaterally limit the interest the Spanish crown paid on her debts to 5 %.
Vrede van Crespy, 1544 - Peace of Crespy
... Peace between Charles V. and Francis I. respectively the Empire (incl. the Low Countries) and France, ending the war which, with interruptions, had lasted since 1521.
Vrede van Kamerijk, 1529 - Peace of Cambrai
... an attempt to end the war between the Emperor and France, which had broken out in 1521 and was to last until 1544. Also called "Damesvrede" (the Ladies' Peace)
Wederdooper - Anabaptist

Dutch Revolt, 1579-1609 ..... go to narrative history of the Netherlands 1579-1609

Companie van Verre 1594
... First Dutch company established at Amsterdam with the purpose of establishing trade with India. Further companies with the same name, after the successful return of the first East India expedition under Cornelis de Houtman 1597, were established in Middelburg, Veere, Rotterdam. In 1602 they were merged into the Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (V.O.C.)
Drievoudig Verbond 1596 - Triple Alliance
... between England, France and the Dutch Republic, for the purpose of regaining Calais from Archduke Albert of Austria, Governor of the Spanish Netherlands
Generaliteitslanden - Generality Lands
... refers to territories under military administration, not represented in the Estates General. They included Staats-Vlaanderen, Staats-Brabant, Staats-Limburg and Westerwolde.
Heren XVII (Zeventien), de
... the 17 masters, name of the administrating body of the V.O.C.
Hervormde Kerk - literally Reformed Church, official name of the Calvinist Church in the Dutch Republic
Noordoostelijke Doorvaart - North East Passage
... first attempted by Olivier Brunel in 1584
Plakkaet van Verlatinghe 1581
... Official document authored by the Staten Generael (Estates General) in which they declare no longer to obey the stadholder
Scheiding c.1585
... the factual separation of the Northern Netherlands (Dutch Republic) and the Southern Netherlands (Habsburg Netherlands), as a result of the war
Tachtigjarige Oorlog (1568-1648) - 80 Years War
... refers to the Dutch War of Independence. The expression combines the feud begun by William of Orange against the Spanish administration (1568-1572), regional resistance (1572-1579), Netherlands-wide revolt and full-scale war (1579-1609), 12 years truce (1609-1621), resumed war (1621-1648).
Traktaat van Atrecht, May 1579
... peace treaty between the States of Artois, Hainaut and French Flanders and Governor Parma. The treaty was signed, as negotiations between the governor and the Estates General failed.
Traktaat van Reductie, 1594
... Treaty, signed after the reconquest of Groningen by forces of the Dutch Republic under Maurice of Nassau, by which Groningen again was accepted as a full member of the Union of Utrecht
Unie van Atrecht 1579 - Union of Arras
Unie van Utrecht 1579 - Union of Utrecht
Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, 1602 - (Dutch) United East India Company
Verraad van Rennenberg 1580 - Treason by Rennenberg, stadholder of Friesland and commander of Groningen; by his act, Groningen and the Ommelanden return under royal Spanish control; Friesland remains loyal to the Union of Utrecht.
Zeven Provincien - The Zeven Provinces
... expression describing the Dutch Republic, the Union of Utrecht minus the provinces retaken by the Spanish. The 7 provinces were Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Friesland, Groningen, Overijssel and Gelderland. The Generality Lands (Westerwolde, Staats-Brabant, Staats-Vlaanderen, Staats-Limburg) were not represented and placed under military authority.

Great Power, 1609-1672 ..... go to narrative history of the Netherlands 1609-1648 . Haven for Refugees . 1650-1672

Aanslag op Amsterdam, 1650 - Stroke against Amsterdam
... a failed attempt to take Amsterdam militarily by surprise, undertaken by William Frederick of Orange-Nassau
Akte van Harmonie 1670 - document by which the Estates of Friesland, Groningen and Zeeland agree to sign the Eeuwig Edict of 1667
Akte van Navigatie 1651 - (English) Navigation Act
Akte van Seclusie 1654 - Act of Seclusion, passed by the Estates of Holland, resolving never to appoint the Prince of Orange or any of his descendents as stadholder or admiral of Holland.
Contraremonstranten
... a name describing the opponents of the Arminian Remonstrants; the Contraremonstrants are also referred to as Gomarists, followers of Dutch theologian Gomarus. The name Contraremonstreants is derived from a document of 1611, called Contraremonstrantie, which took position against the Remonstrants.
Devolutie-Oorlog, 1667-1668 - War of Devolution
Driedaagse Zeeslag 1653
Eerste Engelse Oorlog 1652-1654 - First Anglo-Dutch War
Eerste Stadhouderloze Tijdperk 1650-1672 - First Era of Liberty
Eeuwig Edict, 1667 - Everlasting Edict, passed by the Estates of Holland, abolishing the office of stadholder of Holland
Geoctroierde West-Indische Compagnie (1621-1674) - (Dutch) West India Company
... with the monopoly in Africa and West India trade
Moord van Amboina 1623
... referring to the murder of English navigators on the island of Ambon in the Moluccas, committed by men of the V.O.C.
Nationale Synode van Dordrecht 1618-1619 - Synod of Dordt
... the Synod of Dordrecht (abbreviated Dordt) is of similar importance for Calvinists as the Council of Nicaea is for Christianity; here a canon of Calvinist beliefs was decided upon; Arminianism was condemned - and the Synod marks a victory of stadholder Prince Maurice of Orange- Nassau in the power struggle with Johan van Oldenbarneveld, raadspensionaris of Holland.
Nieuw Nederland 1625-1664 - New Netherlands
... G.W.C. colony, taken by a fleet sailing in the name of the Duke of York; capital Nieuw Amsterdam was renamed New York. The English, in the negotiations leading to the Peace of Breda (1667) offered to return the colony to the Dutch if the latter return Suriname to the English; the Dutch rejected the offer. New Netherlands again was briefly held by the Dutch 1673-1674.
Noordse Compagnie (1614-1642) - (Dutch) Northern Company
Noordse Oorlog 1655-1660 - Northern War
... the War posed Sweden against Denmark, Brandenburg, Poland and caused the closure of the Sound, which interrupted the import of corn to the Dutch Republic and England and therefore was of concern to these maritime powers.
Oranjepartij - party supporting the Princes of Orange, opponents of the Staatsgezinden
Remonstranten
... Name, by which the followers of Dutch theologian Arminius are described in the Netherlands. The Council of Dordt (1618-1619) has condemned Arminianism. The name refers to a document of 1610, called Remonstrantie, containing Arminianist demands.
Sluiting van de Schelde - Blockade of Antwerp
... Ever since Antwerp fell to the Spanish in 1585, the Dutch Republic has blocked the Scheldt estuary and rendered the port of Antwerp, once Europe's leading port, useless. The blockade was not lifted until the establishment of the Batavian Republic in 1795.
Staatsgezinden - the supporters of a stadholderless republic, opponents of the Oranjepartij
Terechtstelling van Oldenbarneveld 1619 - Execution of Johan van Oldenbarneveld
Tocht naar Chatham 1667
... Naval expedition against Chatham, where the English fleet was anchored. The Dutch fleet, commanded by Michiel Adriaansz de Ruyter, broke the chains blocking the Thames mouth and burnt the English fleet in port; parts of the city of Chatham caught fire.
Triple Alliantie, 1668 - Triple Alliance (between the Dutch Republic, England and Sweden)
Twaalfjarig Bestand 1609-1621 - Twelve Years Truce
Tweede Engelse Oorlog 1665-1667 - Second Anglo-Dutch War
Verdelingsverdrag 1635
... Treaty signed between the Dutch Republic and France, with the object of partitioning the Southern (Spanish) Netherlands amongst themselves. Never executed.
Vrede met Portugal 1661
... concluded with English mediation; the Dutch Republic definitvely recognized the Portuguese possession of Brazil
Vrede van Breda 1667 - Peace of Breda
Vrede van Munster 1648 - Peace of Westphalia
Windhandel in Tulpenbollen 1634-1637 - Tulipomania, wind trade in tulip bulbs

Decline, 1672-1787 ..... go to narrative history of the Netherlands 1672-1702 . 1702-1747 . 1747-1787

Aansprekersoproer te Amsterdam 1696
Asiento
... Transatlantic trade in African slaves, to supply the Spanish colonies (Spain was not involved in this trade, as Africa, according to the Treaty of Tordesillas, was located in the Portuguese hemisphere).
Barrieretraktaat 1697, 1715 - Barrier Treaty
... (1st) part of the Treaty of Rijswijk; according to the provisions, the barrier fortresses of the Spanish (soon to be Austrian) Netherlands were to be garrisoned by Dutch troops (2nd) between the Republic and Austria, with similar provisions. Barrier fortresses : Tournai, Menen, Veurne, Waasten, Ieper, Fort Knocke, Namur, Dendermonde.
Derde Engelse Oorlog 1672-1674 - Third Anglo-Dutch War
Derde Javaanse Successie Oorlog 1749-1755 - Third Javanese Succession War
Doelisten
... mid 18th century movement aiming at the reintroduction of a romantically idealized earlier democracy as the marksmens guilds supposedly have practised.
Grote Verbond van Wenen 1689 - Grand Alliance
... between the Dutch Republic, the Emperor, England, Liege, Palatinate, Brandenburg, Hannover, Bavaria, in 1690 joined by Spain and Savoy
Javaanse Successie Oorlogen 1702-1723 - Javanese Succession Wars
Kleefse Barriere
... Barrier of Cleves; fortresses on the territory of Cleves (in German : Kleve), held by Dutch troops; in 1672 taken by the French army
Nadere Reformatie, 17th & 18th c - literally : 'Closer Reformation', movement within the Dutch Calvinist Church
... C. Graafland, W.J. op 't Hof, F.A. van Lieburg, Nadere Reformatie: opnieuw een poging tot begripsbepaling, extensive, in Dutch
Negenjarige Oorlog (1688-1697) - War of the Grand Alliance
... literally : Nine Years War
Oostenrijkse Successie Oorlog 1741-1748 - War of Austrian Succession
... the Dutch Republic remained neutral, even when French troops invaded the Austrian Netherlands in 1745. But in 1747 French forces invaded the Dutch Republic; the Prince oif Orange was appointed stadholder, thus the Second Era of Liberty was terminated.
Pietisme, 17th & 18th c - Pietism
... C. Graafland, W.J. op 't Hof, F.A. van Lieburg, Nadere Reformatie: opnieuw een poging tot begripsbepaling, extensive, in Dutch
Spaans Successie Oorlog 1701-1713 - War of Spanish Succession
Tweede Stadhouderloze Tijdperk 1702-1747 - Second Era of Liberty
Vierde Engelse Oorlog 1780-1784 - Fourth Anglo-Dutch War
Vrede te Utrecht 1713 - Treaty of Utrecht
Vrede van Aken 1748 - Treaty of Aachen / Aix la Chapelle
Vrede van Nijmegen 1678 - Treaty of Nijmegen / Nimwegen (in French : Nimegues)
Vrede van Rijswijk 1697 - Treaty of Rijswijk / Ryswick
Vrede van Westminster 1674 - Treaty of Westminster (terminating the Third Anglo-Dutch War)
Waterlinie - 'water line'
... in 1672 French troops had crossed the Rhine, took Utrecht and approached Holland. They were stopped by a stretch of land along Holland's eastern border, the so-called water line, which had been flooded by the Dutch.
Westindische Compagnie (WIC, 1674-1791) - (Dutch) West India Company

Revolution, Restauration and French Domination, 1787-1815 ..... go to narrative history of the Netherlands 1787-1795 . 1795-1806 . 1806-1815

Aan het Volk van Nederland 1781 - anonymous pamphlet, titled 'to the people of the Netherlands'
Annexatie 1810 - French annexion of the Kingdom of Holland
Bataafs Legioen 1793 - Batavian Legion
... legion formed by Dutch patriots in the French exile, fighting alongside the French
Bataafse Republiek 1795-1806 - Batavian Republic
Continentaal Stelsel - Continental System
Decreet van Rambouillet 1810 - Decret of Rambouillet, ordering the integration of the Kingdom of Holland into France
Departementen (1798-1801) - Departments, following the French model
Engelse Invasie op Walcheren 1809 - English invasion of Walcheren
Federalisten - Federalists
... in relation to the constitutional debate of 1795
Kolonieraad (1792-) - Council of Colonial Affairs
Koninklijk Instituut van Wetenschappen, Letteren en Schone Kunsten - Royal Institute of Sciences, Literature and Fine Arts
Koninkrijk Holland 1806-1810 - Kingdom of Holland
Nationale Vergadering 1795 - National Assembly
Orangisten - Orangists, supporters of the Prince of Orange-Nassau
Patriotten - patriots, reform-oriented anti-Orangist citizens
Provincie - province, region largely identical with pre-revolutionary territory
Staatsgreep - coup d'etat
Staatsregeling van 1798 - Constitution of 1798
Staatsregeling van 1801 - Constitution of 1801
Uitvoerend Bewind (1798-1801) - Executive Administration
Unitarissen - Unitarians
... in relation to the constitutional debate of 1795
Vertegenwoordigend Lichaam (1798-1801) - Representative Body
Vrede van Amiens 1802 - Peace of Amiens
Vrijheidsbomen - Trees of Liberty
Vrijkorps - Free Corps, patriot militia

19th Century, 1815-1914 ..... go to narrative history of the Netherlands 1815-1830 . 1830-1848 . 1848-1870 . 1870-1914

Afgescheidenen
... refers to Calvinist communities who split from the official Nederlands Hervormde Kerk because they regard the latter too much under the influence of the state; the first split occurred in 1834.
Algemeen Kiesrecht - Universal Suffrage
Algemeen Nederlands Werkliedenbond 1871 - General Netherlands' Workmen's Union
Antirevolutionairen - anti-revolutionaries, a label given to a political stream with a mainly Calvinist background; ARP officially established in 1878
Aprilbeweging - movement, in 1853, directed against the reestablishment of the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church in the Netherlands
Arbeidswet 1889 - Labour Law
Belgische Revolutie 1830 - Belgian Revolution
Boerenleenbank - farmers' mutual savings bank, est. in 1878 in response to agricultural crisis
Boerenoorlog - Boer War, 1899-1902
Burgerlijk Wetbook introduced 1838 - Civil Law Code; replaced Code Napoleon
Censuskiesrecht - census suffrage, introduced 1814, abolished 1887
Coalitieverbod - Law outlawing free association; abolished 1872
Christelijke Historische Unie est. 1908 - Christian Historic Union, a party founded by dissident Antirevolutionaries
Concordaat van 1827 - Concordat of 1827
Dienstplichtwet 1898 - Law on Mandatory Military Service
Dolerenden - a group of dissenting Calvinists, formed in 1886, joined the Afgescheidenen in 1892 to form the Gereformeerde Kerken van Nederland
Doodstraf - Death Penalty, abolished in 1870
Eerste Internationale Vredesconferentie Den Haag 1899 - First International Peace Conference
Eerste Kamer - First Chamber (of Parliament), members appointed by the king (according to constitution of 1814)
Eindverdrag met Belgie 1839 - Treaty with Belgium, formally recognising the latter, determining the mutual borders and the international status of Belgium.
Enquete naar den Toestand der Arbeiders in de Fabrieken 1886 - inquiry concerning the conditions of the workers in the factories
Fabrieksarbeid van Kinderen - Child Labour, regulated by law of 1874 which outlawed children under 12 to hold full-time jobs; child labor under 16 outlawed in 1889 (see Arbeidswet).
Gereformeerde Kerken van Nederland - literally Reformed Churches of the Netherlands, an organization which grew out of the merger of the Dolerenden and the Afgescheidenen, both dissenting groups of Calvinists which split from the official Nederlands Hervormde Kerk
Gezondheidszorg - health care
Goudstandaard - Gold Standard, introduced in 1875
Grondwet van 1814 - Constitution of 1814
Grondwet van 1848 - Constitution of 1848
Grondwetsherziening 1840, 1887 - Revision of the Constitution
Grote Malaise 1873-1896 - Great Depression
Herstel der Kerkelijke Hierarchie 1853 - Reestablishment of a Roman Catholic Church Hierarchy (i.e. dioceses)
Herzieningscommissie - (Constitution) Revision Committee, 1848
Industrialisatie - Industrialization
Katholieken - Catholics
Kinderarbeid - child labour
Koninglijk Nederlandse Petroleum Maatschappij - Royal Dutch Petrol Company
Koninglijke Shellgroep est. 1907 - Royal Dutch Shell
Koninkrijk der Nederlanden - Kingdom of the Netherlands
Kieswet 1850 - Election Law
Leerplicht introduced 1900 - Mandatory Schooling
Liberalen - Liberals; the Liberale Unie (Liberal Union), was established in 1885 Nederlandse Bank est. 1814 - Bank of the Netherlands
Nederlandse Stoombootmaatschappij est. 1823 - Netherlands' Steamship Company
Nederlands Hervormde Kerk - literally Netherlands' Reformed Church, Official title of the country's Calvinist church organization
Nederlandse Voetbalbond est. 1889 - Dutch Football (soccer) Federation
Nieuwe Waterweg - a new, excavated and canalized branch of the Rhine estuary, improving the connection of the port of Rotterdam with the sea, opened in 1872
Palingoproer Amsterdam 1886 - Herring Riot
Rooms-Katholieke Werkliedenvereniging est. 1888 - Roman Catholic Workmens' Union
Sociaal-Democratische Arbeiders Partij (SDAP, est. 1894) - Social Democratic Workers' Party
Sociaal-Democratische Bond 1881 - a social democratic party
Spoorweg - Railroad (first line, connecting Haarlem and Amsterdam, opened 1839)
Spoorwegstakingen 1903 - Railroad Employees' Strikes
Staking - strike
Tiendaagse Veldtocht 1831 - 10 days' campaign, a Dutch invasion of Belgium halted after diplomatic correspondence
Tweede Internationale Vredesconfrerentie Den Haag 1907 - Second International Peace Conference
Tweede Kamer - Second Chamber of Parliament, members elected by the Provincial Estates
Verkapt Staatsbankroet 1841 - covered-up state bankrupcy
Vrijhandel 1845 - Free Trade
Vrouwenemancipatie - Emancipation of Women
Vrouwenkiesrecht - Women's Suffrage

From World War I to World War II, 1914-1945 ..... go to narrative history of the Netherlands 1914-1918 . 1918-1929 . 1929-1940 . 1940-1945

Aardappeloproer 1917 - potato riot 1917; riots erupted in Amsterdam after it became known that potatos were to be exported despite the fact that they were rationed
Abortus - abortion
Afsluitdijk 1929 - dam separating the former Zuiderzee, now referred to as IJsselmeer, from the North Sea
Algemene Mobilisatie 1914 - General Mobilization
Anjerdag June 29th 1940 - 'Carnation Day'; birthday of Prince Bernhard, husband of Queen Wilhelmina and, by birth, a German. Yet the royal couple had left the Netherlands when the Germans invaded. Coins featuring the image of Queen Wilhelmina had been replaced and other steps undertaken to eradicate the memory of the royal couple. On June 29th many Dutchmen ostensively wore white carnations, Prince Bernhard's favourite flowers, to express their loyalty to the royal couple.
Arbeidsgeschillenwet 1923 - Law on the Regulation of Labour Disputes
Beurskrach in New York 1929 - Wall Street Crash
Bevrijding - Liberation
Capitulatie May 15th 1940 - surrender or capitulation
Centrale Mogendheden - Central Powers
Coalitie - coalition government
Deportaties der Joden - deportations of the Jews, begun in July 1942
Depressie - (Great) Depression
Derde Rijk - Third Reich
Distributiewet 1916 - 'distribution law', introduces rationing of food and other scarce consumer goods
Dolle Dinsdag Sept. 5th 1944 - 'Crazy Tuesday'; rumours of an Allied campaign to liberate the Netherlands cause Germans as well as Dutch collaborators to flee eastward; the population gets out in the open to welcome (nonexistent) liberators. Most of the Netherlands remained under German occupation until the end of the war.
Eerste Wereldoorlog 1914-1918 - First World War
Februaristaking 1941 - communist-organized strike February 1941
Grebbelinie - military defense line
Grondwetsherziening 1917, 1922 - Constitution Revision
Grote Economische Wereldcrisis (1929-) - Great Depression
Interbellum 1918-1940 - period between World War I and World War II
Irenebrigade 1941 - Brigade of exile Dutchmen, established in England
Jordaanoproer 1934 - Riot in the Jiordaan, a slum area in Amsterdam
Landstorm
Nationaal-Socialistische Beweging est. 1931 - National-Socialist Movement
Neutraliteitscrisis 1916 - 'neutrality crisis'; speculation regarding British plans to attack occupied Belgium, to which Germany was assumed to respond by violating the Netherlands' neutrality
Olympische Spelen Amsterdam 1928 - Olympic Games
Oorlogswinsten - War Profits
Onbeperkte Duikbootenoorlog - Unlimited Submarine (U-boar) Warfare
Rijkscommissaris - Reich Commissioner (Arthur Seyss-Inquart, Austrian Nazi)
Spaanse Burgeroorlog 1936-1939 - Spanish Civil War
Tweede Wereldoorlog 1940-1945 - Second World War
Verduistering - Darkout
Verzet - Resistance
Verzuiling - Pillarization (of society)
Vesting Holland - Fortress Holland
Vluchtelingen - Refugees
Volkenbond - League of Nations (Netherlands joined in 1920)
Vrouwenkiesrecht 1919 - Women's suffrage
Werkdag - working day, regulated at 8 1/2 hours in 1922
Werkloosheid - unemployment
IJsselmeerprojekt - project to close off, and partially drain, the former Zuiderzee, after the construction of the Afsluitdijk referred to as IJsselmeer. The project was begun in 1917; in 1929 the Afsluitdijk was completed.

since 1945 ..... go to narrative history of the Netherlands 1945-1949 . 1949-1969 . 1969-1990

Algemene Ouderdoms Wet (A.O.W., 1957) - General Old Age Law
Autoloze Zondag
... during the climax of the oil crisis, the government imposed several car-less sundays; on these sundays, only cars whose drivers had a special permit were allowed to be driven.
Belgisch-Nederlands-Luxemburgse Douane-Unie (BeNeLux, 1944) - BeNeLux
Christelijk-Demokratisch Appell (CDA, est. 1980)
... founded in 1980 by merger of ARP, KVP, CHU
Dekolonisatie - Decolonization
Delta-Project (1957-) - project to close off the Rhine and Maas estuary in order to prevent a repetition of the inundation of 1953
Devaluatie 1949 - devaluation of the Gulden, from 2.65 Gulden per Dollar to 3.80 Gulden per Dollar
Elten - near Emmerich; tiny stretch of land , annexed by the Netherlands in 1949, ceded back to Germany in 1960
Europese Economische Gemeenschap (EEG, NL joined in 1957) - European Economic Community, EEC
Euthanasia legalized in the Netherlands in 2000
Fijf-Daagse Werkweek 1961 - five days workweek
Geldzuivering - literally money laundring; measures to confiscate war profits, 1945
Koreaanse Oorlog 1950-1953 - Korean War
Koude Oorlog - Cold War
Krakers
... Dutch underground movement that began in 1964. Young persons, often ideologically leaning to the far left, broke into unoccupied houses which were neglected by their owners. Krakers would move in, invest effort and money into shaping up the place and pay a moderate rent on a bank account; the money was to be transferred to the owner of the house once he agreed to sign a contract. Not all Krakers, however, acted so civilized. See Book Review : Rob Schouten : Geschiedenis van de krakers: profiel van een 'tegenbeweging' (The Krakers, History of a Counter-Movement), posted by IISG
Marshall Plan 1945 - Marshall Plan
Molukkers - Moluccans who live in exile in the Netherlands
Nederlands Detachement Verenigde Naties (NDVN) 1950-1955 - Netherlands' Detachment United Nations
... with Indonesia (former Nederlands-Indie) gaining Independence in 1949, the Netherlands held on to western New Guinea, which 1949-1963 was administrated under the above name. In 1963 it was occupied by Indonesian troops. Indonesia annexed the area, which they referred to as Irian Jaya
Nederlands Nieuw Guinea 1949-1963 - Netherlands' New Guinea
Noodparlament 1945 - 'Emergency Parliament'
Noordatlantische Verdragsorganisatie (NAVO, NL joined in 1949) - North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Oliecrisis 1973-1979 - Oil Crisis
Opium Act of 1976, basis for the Netherlands' present drug policy
... see National Drug Policy : The Netherlands, by Benjamin Dolin; paragraph : History
Organisatie voor Europese Economische Cooperatie (OEEC, NL joined in 1948) - Organization for European Economic Cooperation
Partij van de Arbeid 1946 - (Dutch) Labour Party
Poldermodel (1994-) - label for political consensus among the Netherlands' political parties, regarding the necessity on cutting down on excessive welfare expenses
Politieke Opsporings Dienst (P.O.D.) 1945-1949 - Political Police, charged with finding and arresting Dutchmen guilty of collaborating with the enemy
Provo (Provocator) protest movement of the 1960es
... see De Provo's, Happening- en Kabouterpagina
Staat van Beleg terminated on March 4th 1946 - Military Administration
Stormramp van 1953 - large scale inundation of 1953; storm pressed into the river estuaries; the river dykes broke and large areas were flooded.
Tudderen - small German community near the Dutch border; annexed by the Netherlands in 1949, ceded back to Germany in 1960
UNTEA United Nations Temporary Executive Authority
... UN organization which between 1963 and 1965 administrated western New Guinea, which had been administrated by the Netherlands before and was annexed by Indonesia in 1965.
Verenigde Naties - United Nations
Verzorgingsstaat - Welfare State
Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie 1948 - People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (liberal)
Vrouwenbeweging - Women's Liberation Movement
Wederopbouw - Reconstruction
Welvaartsstaat - Welfare State
Westeuropese Unie - West European Union (WEU); NL joined in 1948







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