Netherlands

Some of the key events about Netherlands

• 1421

  The St. Elizabeth's flood devastated the Netherlands, killing thousands and reshaping the Dutch coastline
• 1581

  The Dutch Republic declared independence from Spain, establishing itself as a sovereign state
• 1602

  The Dutch East India Company, the world's first multinational corporation, was founded
• 1648

  The Peace of Münster officially recognized Dutch independence, ending the Eighty Years' War
• 1672

  The Dutch Republic was simultaneously attacked by England, France, and two German states in the "Rampjaar" (Disaster Year)
• 1795

  The Dutch Republic collapsed and was replaced by the French-controlled Batavian Republic
• 1814

  The Kingdom of the Netherlands was established as a constitutional monarchy
• 1830

  The Belgian Revolution led to the secession of the southern provinces from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands
• 1919

  The Netherlands granted women the right to vote
• 1940

  Nazi Germany invaded and occupied the Netherlands during World War II
• 1944

  The "Hongerwinter" (Hunger Winter) caused severe famine in German-occupied parts of the Netherlands
• 1945

  The Netherlands was liberated from Nazi occupation at the end of World War II
• 1948

  The Netherlands became a founding member of the Benelux Economic Union
• 1952

  The Netherlands became a founding member of the European Coal and Steel Community, a precursor to the European Union
• 1953

  The North Sea flood killed over 1,800 people and caused widespread damage in the Netherlands
• 1975

  The Netherlands granted independence to Suriname, marking the end of its colonial empire
• 1975

  Suriname gained independence from the Netherlands, ending colonial rule
• 2001

  The Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage
• 2002

  The assassination of a prominent politician shocked the nation and destabilized Dutch politics
• 2009

  A failed attack on the Dutch royal family during Queen's Day resulted in multiple casualties

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.