The Dutch-Belgium War 1830-31

Following the defeat of Napoleon, the 1815 Congress of Vienna united Belgium (then known as The Southern Netherlands) and the Northern Netherlands (Holland) to form one State. This new state was ruled by the Dutch king William I.

Although the Belgian bourgeoisie largely benefited from the union, there was protest from both Catholics and Liberals. The former objected to the interference of the protestant king in clerical matters and the latter demanded more freedom.  In 1828 Catholics and Liberals drew up a concerted programme of demands which were considered then rejected by the Dutch.

After a series of incidents, revolution erupted in Brussels in 1830. William I sent in troops, led by Crown Prince Frederick, but the towns people received support from all over Belgium, and the Dutch were expelled from the city on September 27th after heavy street-fighting.  Independence was declared in October, with a constitution proclaimed February 7th 1831 and Leopold von Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha elected King Leopold I of Belgium on June 4th 1831.

However, the Dutch were still smarting over their loss and, having failed to persuade the Great Powers of Europe to intervene (the Russians were dealing with a rebellion in Poland; the French, who wanted to annex Belgium themselves, held at bay by the British who, in turn, were not really interested in intervening anyway) invaded Belgium on August 2nd 1831.

In what was known as the Tiendaagse Veldtocht or 10 Days' Campaign (August 2nd to 12th 1831), the Dutch defeated the Belgian forces near Hasselt and Leuven, only retreating in the face of a French army entering the country from the other side.

A diplomatic conference on the future of Belgium opened in London on the November 4th. The great powers of the time recognised the secession of Belgium from the (Northern) Netherlands. Leopold I of Saxe-Coburg became the first King of the Belgians (1831-1865).

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