The history of the Lowlands

Part 2

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The County of Holland 993-1299

The first mention of Holland in any document is found in an imperial gift brief dated May 2nd 1064. In this the phrase omnis comitatus in Holiandi occurs, but without any further description of the locality indicated.

A comparison with other documentary evidence, however, leads to the identification of Holland with the fore-stum Merweda, or the bush-grown fenland lying between the Waal, the old Meuse and the Merwe. It is the district surrounding the town of Dordrecht. (at that time the Island of Dordrecht did not exist yet, it arised after the St-Elisabeth flood in 1421, at present called The Island of Dordrecht).

A portion of the original Holland was submerged by a great inundation in 1421 and its modern appellation of The Biesbosch (reed-forest) is descriptive of what must have been the condition of the entire district in early times.

The word Holland is indeed by many authorities thought to be a corruption of Holt-land (it was sometimes so spelt by 13th-century writers) and to signify wood-land. The earliest spelling is, however Holland and it is more probable that it means low-lying-land (hol = hollow), a derivation which is equally applicable to the district in Lincolnshire (UK) which bears the same name.

It was The first not, however, till late in the 11th century that his successors adopted the style Hollandensis comes as their territorial designation (it is found for the first time on a seal of Dirk V. 1083), and that the name Holland became gradually extended northwards to connote all the land subject to the rule of the Counts between Texel and the Meuse (Maas).

The beginnings of the history of this feudal state, the later Holland, centre round the abbey of Egmont in whose archives records have been preserved.

From Dirk III henceforth the Frisian Counts became definitively known as Counts of Holland.

Dirk III (Hierosolymitas) 981-1039, Count 993-1039

During the guardianship of his mother, Liutgardis, the boy was despoiled of almost all his possessions, except Kennemerland and Maasland.

But no sooner was he arrived at mans estate Dirk turned upon his enemies with courage and vigor. He waged war, successfully with Adelbold, the powerful bishop of Utrecht, and made himself master not only of his ancestral possessions, but of the district on the Meuse known as the Bushland of Merweda (Merwede), hitherto subject to the see of Utrecht. In the midst of this marshy tract, at a point commanding the courses of the Meuse and the Waal, he built a castle (about 1015) and began to levy tolls.

The title Count of Holland appears to have been first borne by the Frisian Count Dirk III, who founded Dordrecht (about 1015) and made it his residence (see below).

Around this castle (Huis te Merwede) sprang up the town of Thure-Foundadrecht also called Dortrecht or Dordrecht. The possession. of this stronghold Dordrecht. was so injurious to the commerce of Tiel, Cologne and the Rhenish towns with England that complaints were made by the bishop of Utrecht and the archbishop of Cologne to emperor Henry II.

Huis te Merwede as it could have looked like in the 11th century.

click the image to enlarge

The ruins of Huis te Merwede at present time.

Emperor Henry II took the part of the complainants and commissioned Duke Godfrey of Lorraine to chastise the young Frisian Count. Duke Godfrey invaded Dirks lands with a large army, but they were impeded by the swampy nature of the Country and totally defeated with heavy loss (July 29, 1018).

Duke Godfrey himself was taken prisoner. The result was that Dirk was not merely confirmed in his possession of Dordrecht and the Merweda Bushland (the later Holland) but also of the territory of a vassal of the Utrecht See, Dirk Bavo by name, which he conquered.

This victory of 1018 is often regarded as of the the true starting-point of the history of the County of Holland. Having thus established his rule in the south, Dirk next proceeded to bring into subjection the Frisians in the north. He appointed his brother Siegfrid or Sikka as governor over them. In his later years Dirk went upon a pilgrimage to the Holy Land from which he returned in 1034; and ruled in peace until his death in 1039.

Dirk III Count of Holland and West Frieseland, born about 981 Gand Flandre-Orientale Belgium, died 27 May 1039, married with Otelhild (Uthildis) Princess of Saxony, daughter of Roman Emperor Otto II, born about 983 Schweinfurt Unterfranken Bavaria Germany, died 9 March 1044.

children:

The birthplace of the children of Dirk III and his successors is mostly mentioned as Thuredriht, of which scholars still believes as situated at modern Vlaardingen ?,  but in the annals is clearly written that Count Dirk III, founded Thure-Foundadrecht also called Dortrecht or Dordrecht. (about 1015) and made it his residence in "Huis te Merwede", a Castle build for his family.

In 1018 Count Dirk III was attacked at his Castle ("Huis te Merwede") by the Bishop of Utrecht (Adebold II) with the help of traders of Tiel and the Roman Emperor Hendrik II (1002-1024) because of the toll they had to pay when passing Dortrecht. Dirk III was victorious and Tiel and Utrecht attacked again in 1049 in which fight his son, Dirk IV was killed (see the story by Dirk IV)

Many scholars still withstand that Thuredriht was located near modern Vlaardingen on the river Merwe ? which, as they tell, actually was the river Meuse (Maas)?, I can't understand that scholars still persist in this story despite of the many evidence that tells another story. Even the old river Thure (present Voorstraat harbor in Dordrecht) gives evidence that in the old records is spoken about Dordrecht.

More evidence is also that the river Meuse (Maas) and the river Waal can only be reached when coming from Tiel and further inland Trier via the river Merwe (Merwede) when sailing in the direction of the North sea by passing Dortrecht en NOT Vlaardingen. When looking at the map of the Netherlands in the 11th century we can see that Dordrecht was situated at the mouth of the river Merwede and had an open link with the North Sea and ships from Tiel, Cologne (Koln) and the Renish towns, sailing to England, had to pass Dordrecht (Huis te Merwede). The name for Vlaardingen used in the annals of the Counts of Holland and Frisia, written by the monks of the Abby of Egmond, is Vlardinga and NOT Thuredriht

Regarding this dispute I have only one question left : "Where are the ruins of the Castle at Vlaardingen" ?. Count Dirk IV owned only a stronghold at Vlaardingen (Vlardinga) a few decades later.

Thuredriht = Dordrecht at the "real" river Merwe (Merwede) and from Dirk III (1015) until Dirk VII and Ada (1204), the Counts had their residence at Dordrecht. After 1204 the residence was taken to The Hague by Willem I, the younger brother of Dirk VII.

After 1204 the first Castle "Huis te Merwede" was nearly destroyed and a second was build on the same spot in the 13th and 14th century.

Dirk IV 1015-1049, Count 1039-1049

Dirk IV, was one of the most enterprising of his warlike and strenuous race. He began the long strife with the Counts of Flanders, as to the lordship over Walcheren and other islands of Zeeland; the quarrel was important, as dealing with the borderland between French and German overlord ship. This strife, which lasted 400 years, did not at first break out into actual warfare, because both Dirk and Baldwin V of Flanders had a common danger in the emperor Henry III, who in 1046 occupied the lands in dispute.

Dirk allied himself with Godfrey Flanders the Bearded of Lorraine, who was at war with the emperor and his territory was invaded by a powerful Zeeland, the imperial fleet and his army (1047). But Dirk entrenched himself in his stronghold at Vlaardingen, and when winter came on he surrounded and cut off with his light boats a number of the enemy ships, and destroyed a large part of their army as they made their way amidst the marches, which impeded their retreat. He was able to recover what he had lost and to make peace on his own terms.

Two years later he was again assailed by a coalition headed by the archbishop of Cologne and the bishop of Utrecht. They availed themselves of a very hard winter to penetrate into the land over the frozen water. Dirk offered a stout resistance, but, according to the most trustworthy account, was enticed into an ambuscade and was killed in the fight at Dortrecht (Dordrecht) (1049). He died unmarried and was succeeded by his brother Floris I.

Floris I 1017-1061, Count 1049-1061

Floris, like his predecessors, was hard-fighting and tenacious He gradually recovered possession of his ancestral lands. He found a formidable adversary in the able and warlike, William, who, become bishop of Utrecht in 1054, was determined to recover the lost possessions of his see; and in I058, in alliance with Hanno, archbishop of Cologne, Egbert, margrave of Brandenburg, the bishop of Liege and others, invaded the Frisian territory.

At first success attended the invaders and many places fell into their hands, but finally they were surprised and defeated near Dordrecht. The Counts of Guelders and Louvain were among the prisoners that fell into the hands of Floris. The attack was renewed in 1061. In a battle at Nederbemert Floris met with his death in the hour of victory. He is said to have been killed as, wearied with pursuing, he lay asleep under a tree.

Floris I Count of Holland, born about 1017, Dordrecht, died 28 June 1061 (murdered) near Nederhemert Gelderland Netherlands, married about 1050 with Gertrud Princess of Saxony, born about 1028 Schweinfurt Unterfranken Bavaria Germany, died 4 August 1113.

children:

Dirk V 1052-1091, Count 1061-1091

Floris I was succeeded by his son, Dirk V, a child, under the guardianship of his mother, Gertrude of Saxony. Bishop William seems now to have seized his opportunity and occupied all the territory that he claimed. In this he was confirmed by two charters of the emperor Henry IV. (April 30 and May 2, 1064).

Among the possessions thus assigned to him is found comitatus omnis in Hollandi cum omnibus ad bannum regalem pertinentibas. An examination of these documents shows the possessions of Dirk as in Vestfiinge et circa oras Rheni, i.e. west of the Vlie and around the mouths of the Rhine.

Gertrude and her son appear to have withdrawn to the islands of Frisia (Zeeland), leaving William in undisturbed occupation of the disputed lands. In 1063 Gertrude contracted a marriage with Robert, the second son of Baldwin V. of Flanders, a man famous for his adventurous career. On his marriage his father invested him with Imperial Flanders, as an apanage ~ including the islands of Frisia (Zeeland) west of the Frisian Scheldt. He now became guardian to his stepson, guardian in whose inheritance lay the islands east of the Scheldt.

To this Robert thus, in his own right and that of Dirk, was Robert ruler of all Frisia (Zeeland), and thus became known among his Flemish Countrymen as Robert the Frisian. The death of his brother Baldwin VI. in 1070 led to civil war in Flanders, the claim of Robert to the guardianship of his nephew Arnhulf being disputed by Richilde, the widow of Baldwin. The issue was decided by the decisive victory of Robert at Cassel (February 1071) when Arnulf was killed and Richilde taken prisoner.

While Robert was thus engaged in Flanders, an effort was made to recover the County of Holland and other lands now held by William of Utrecht. The people rose in revolt, but by command of the emperor Henry IV were speedily brought back under Episcopal rule by an army under the command of Godfrey the Hunchback, Godfrey duke of Lower Lorraine. Again in 1076, at the request of the bishop, Duke Godfrey visited his domains in back of the Frisian borderland. At Delft, of which town Lorraine tradition makes Godfrey the founder, the duke was treacherously murdered (February 26, 1076). William of Utrecbt died on the 17th of the following April.

Dirk V, now grown to mans estate, was not slow to take advantage of the favorable juncture. With the help of Robert (his stepfather) he raised an army, besieged Conrad, Bishop of the successor of William, in the castle of Ysselmonde and took him prisoner. The bishop purchased his surrenders liberty by surrendering all claim to the disputed lands.

Dirk V Count of Holland, born about 1052, Dordrecht, died 17 June 1091, married before 26 July 1083 with Othelhildis Countess of Holland born about 1054 Vlaardingen, died 18 November ?.

children:

Floris II "the Fat" 1085-1121, Count 1091-1121

 Dirk V died in 1091 and was succeeded by his son Floris II. the Fat. This Count had a peaceful and prosperous reign of thirty-one years.

Floris II "The Fat" Count of Holland born about 1085, Dordrecht, died 2 March 1121, married in 1113 with Petronille Princess of Oberlothringen, born about 1086, Alcase-Lorraine, France, died 24 May 1144.

children:

Dirk VI 1114-1157, Count 1122-1157

After the death of Floris II (1122) his widow, Petronilla of Saxony, governed in the name of Dirk VI., who was a minor. The accession of her half-brother, Lothaire of Saxony, to the imperial throne on the death of Henry V greatly strengthened Dirk VI  her position. The East Frisian districts, Oostergoo and Westergoo, were by Lothaire transferred from the rule of the bishops of Utrecht to that of the Counts of Holland (1125). These Frisians proved very troublesome subjects to Dirk VI. In 1132 they rose in insurrection under the leadership of Dirks own brother, Floris the Black.

The emperor Conrad III. (1138), who was of the rival house of Hohenstaufen, gave back these Frisian districts to the bishop; it was in truth somewhat of an empty gift. The Frisian peasants and fisher folk loved their independence, and were equally refractory to the rule of any distant overlord, whether Count or bishop Dirk VI was succeeded in 1157 by Floris III.

Dirk VI de Holland, born 1114, Dordrecht, died 5 August 1157, married with Sofie Countess of Rheineck born about 1117, Rheineck Rhineland Germany, died 26 September 1176 Jerusalem, Holy Land

children:

Floris III 1141-1190, Count 1157-1190

Floris III reversed the traditional policy of his house by allying himself with the Hohenstaufens. He became a devoted adherent and friend of Frederick Barbarossa. He had troubles with West Friesland and Groningen, and a war with the Count of Flanders concerning their respective rights in West Zeeland, in which he was beaten.

In 1170 a great flood caused immense devastation in the north and helped to form the Zuiderzee. In 1189 Floris accompanied Frederick Barbarossa upon the third Crusade, of which he was a distinguished leader. He died in 1190 at Antioch of pestilence.

Floris III Florence "Crusader" de Holland born 1141, Dordrecht, died 1 August 1190 Antioch, Holy Land, married on 28 August 1162 with Ada of Scotland, born about 1146 Scotland, died 11 January 1215/16.

children:

Dirk VII (Theodore) 1165-1204, Count 1190-1204

Dirk VII was the son of Floris III, married in 1186 with Aleida of Kleve, he was supported by Emperor Henry VI of Germany and appended the "Grote Waard" to his territory, joined the Welfen party in 1198 and interfered in the struggles between Brabant and Gelre without succes.

Dirk VII (Theodore), had a stormy reign. Contests with the Flemings in West Zeeland and with the West Frisians, stirred up to a revolt by his brother William I, ended in his favor. The brothers were reconciled and William I was made Count of East Friesland.

During a battle at Dordrecht in 1202, Holland lost the city Dordrecht (1202-1220) and Geertruidenberg (1202-1213) for a short period to Duke Henry I of Brabant (1190-1235), during this battle Dirk VII was defeated and Castle "Huis te Merwede" was heavy damaged. Henry I removed the toll place at Dordrecht to the river Waal (Woudrichem) more inland. Dirk VII was taken prisoner and had to purchase peace on humiliating terms. He only survived his defeat a short time and died early in 1204 at Dordrecht, leaving as his only issue a daughter, Ada (1187-1227), 17 years of age.

Dirk VII de Holland, born 1165, Dordrecht, died early 1204, married in 1186 with Aleida (Adeleide) of Kleve Rhineland Germany.

children:

Ada 1187-1227, Countess 1204

The question of female succession thus raised was not likely to be accepted without a challenge by William I. It had been the intention of Dirk VII. to secure the recognition of his daughters rights by appointing his brother her guardian. His widow Aleida (Adeleide), an ambitious woman of strong character, however, as soon as her husband was dead, she hurried on a marriage between Ada and Count Lodewijk II of Loon; and attempted with the nobles of Holland, who now for the first time make their appearance as a power in the Country, to oppose the claim which William I had made to the Countship as heir in the male line. A struggle ensued. William I was supported by the Zeelanders and Ada was forced to flee to England in 1205

William I 1167-1222, Count 1204-1222

William I was the younger brother of Dirk VII, married first in 1198 with Aleida of Gelre (died 1218), daughter of Otto I of Gelre and in July 1220 with Maria of Brabant, widow of Emperor Otto IV of Germany.

After the dead of his elder brother he claimed the County of Holland from his niece Ada and Count Lodewijk II of Loon. William I, by a treaty concluded with Lodewijk II of Loon in 1206, became undisputed Count. He took an active part in the events of his time. In 1213 he reclaimed Geertruidenberg and granted the burghers civic privileges. He fought by the side of the Emperor Otto IV of the Roman empire. in the great battle of Bouvines in 1214. In 1216 he took part of the battle of the later King Lodewijk VII of France against King John of England.

William is perhaps best known in history by his taking part in the fourth Crusade (1217-1219) he joined the battle against the Moors in Spain and at Damietta against the Sultan of Egypt (Al-Malek al-Ka) in 1219.

After his return from Egypt he reclaimed Dordrecht in 1220 from the Ducky Brabant and granted civic privileges to the burghers of Dordrecht.

He did not long survive his return from the fourth Crusade and died in 1222.

The earliest charters conveying civic privileges in the County of Holland date from his reign those of Geertruidenberg (1213) and of Dordrecht (1220).

Willem I de Holland born about 1167, Dordrecht, died about February 1222, married with Aleid van Gelre (Guelders) born about 1187, Zutphen, died 4 February 1218

children:

Floris IV 1210-1234, Count 1222-1234

Floris IV, being a minor, succeeded William I under the guardianship of his maternal uncle, Gerard III. of Gelderland. He maintained in later life close relations of friendship with Gerard,, and supported him in his quarrel with the bishop of Utrecht (1224-1226). Floris was murdered in 1234-35 at a tournament at Corbie in Picardy by the Count of Clermont. Another long minority followed his death, during which his brother Otto, bishop of Utrecht, acted as guardian to his nephew William II.

Floris IV Count of Holland, born 24 June 1210, The Hague, died 19 July 1234, Rhijnsburg, married before 06 December 1224 with Mahaut (Maud or Mathilde) de Brabant, born about 1200, Brabant Belgium, died 21 December 1267, buried Loosduinen.

children:

William II 1227-1256, Count 1234-1256

William II. became a man of mark. Pope Innocent IV, having deposed the emperor Frederick II, after several princes had refused to allow themselves to be nominated in the place of the Holienstaufen, caused the young William II Count of Holland to be elected king of the Romans With the help of Henry II, Duke of Brabant and the archbishop of Cologne, he was elected in 1247 as king of Germany after Emperor Frederick II was excommunicated. After a siege of five months, he took Aachen in 1248 from Frederick's followers. Only then could he be crowned as king. Many of the German princes recognized his claim only after his marriage to Elizabeth of Brunswick in 1252.

William II founded during his Countship the Hall of Castle (Ridderzaal) in The Hague

He brought a war with Margareth of Flanders (Black Margareth) to a successful conclusion (1253). He was on the point of proceeding to Rome to be crowned emperor,  From 1254, he fought a number of wars against the Frisians. In a battle near Hoogwoud on January 28, 1256, his horse fell through the ice, and in this vulnerable position, William was killed by the Frisians. His body was recovered 26 years later by his son Floris V of Holland, who was only 2 years old when he succeeded his father. William was buried in Middelburg.

Like so many of his predecessors he left his inheritance to a child. Floris V who was two years old on his fathers death.

Floris V 1254-1296, Count 1256-1296

He was under regent ship until 1263 by his uncle Floris "the guardian" (1258) and his aunt Aleida.

Flores V was fore destined during a reign of forty years to leave a deeper impress upon the history of Holland than any other of its Counts.

Floris was a man of chivalrous character and high capacity, and throughout his Flanders, during his reign he proved himself an able and beneficent ruler. Alike in his troubles with his turbulent subjects and in the perennial disputes with his neighbors he pursued a strong, far-sighted and successful policy. But his active interest in affairs was not limited to the Netherlands, He allied himself closely with Edward I. of England in his strife with France, and secured from the English with king great trading advantages for his people; the Edward I staple of wool was placed at Dort in 1295 (Dordrecht) and the Hollanders and Zeelanders got fishing rights on the English coast.

So intimate did their relations become that Floris sent his son John to be educated at the court of Edward with a view to his marriage with an English princess. To balance the power of the nobles he granted charters to many of the towns. Floris made himself master of Amstelland, Gooiland and Amsterdam, destined to become the Charter to chief commercial town of Holland.

In 1296 Floris forsook the alliance of Edward I. for that of Philip IV. of France, probably because Edward had given support to Guy, Count of Flanders, in his dynastic dispute with John of Avesnes, Count of Hainault, Floris nephew. The real motives of his policy will, however, never be known, for shortly afterwards a conspiracy of disaffected nobles, headed by Gijsbrecht IV van Amstel, Gerard van Veizen and Wolfert van Borselen, was formed against him. He was by them basely murdered in the castle of Muiden (June 27, 1296).

Count Floris V of Holland (1254-1296), the "Keerlen God" (Peasant God), is one of the most important figures of the first, native dynasty of Holland (833-1299). His life has been documented in detail in the Rijmkroniek by Melis Stoke, his chronicler. He is credited with a mostly peaceful reign, modernizing administration, policies beneficial to trade, generally acting in the interests of his peasants at the expense of nobility, and reclaiming land from the sea. His dramatic murder engineered by King Edward I of England, the Longshanks, and Guy de Dampierre, Count of Flanders, made him a hero in Holland.

The tragic event has been immortalized in dramas from the pens of Hollands most famous writer Joost van den Vondel. The burghers and people, who knew him to be their best friend, took such vengeance on his slayers as permanently to reduce the power of the nobles.

Floris V, son of William II, married 1268 with Beatrix of Flanders and Dampierre, they had in total nine children (William, Otto, Dirk, Floris, Jan I, Machteld, Beatrix, Elisabeth en Margaretha) most died very young, only Margaretha and John I became adult..

John I 1284-1299, Count 1296-1299

A famous and very old children's Dutch song is about Jan (John I), son of the Count (Floris V). Freely translated it goes like this.

In Den Haag daar woont een Graaf	In the Hague there lives a Count
En zijn zoon heet Jantje	And his son is called little John
Als je vraagt waar woont je Pa	If you ask 'were does your father live'
Wijst hij met zijn handje	He points with his little hand
Met zijn vinger en zijn duim	With his finger and his thumb
Op zijn hoed draagt hij een pluim	On his head a little feather
Aan zijn arm een mandje	On his arm a little basket
Dag mijn lieve Jantje	Bye sweet little John

Statue of John I in The Hague

John I was in England when his father, Floris V, was murdered; he was but 15 years of age, feeble in body and mind. He was married to Eleanor, daughter of Edward I of England. His reign was a struggle between John of Avesnes, the young Counts guardian and next heir, and Wolfert of Borselen, who had a strong following in Zeeland. In 1299 van Borselen was killed, and a few months later John I died.

He became Count himself at the age of 13 in 1296 when his father was murdered. He was only Count for 2 years. Family and enemies put so much pressure on him that he died of stress at the age of 15, shortly after English nobles had forced him to step down. He was the last of the Holland-Counts. His family had ruled Holland more nearly 4 centuries. From that moment on Holland was ruled by foreign Counts, dukes and kings.

With his death without descendents, the heirs to the County of Holland were his cousins of Hainault, sons of John's great-aunt Adelaide of Holland.

Europe has perhaps never seen an abler series of princes than these fourteen lineal descendants of Dirk I. Excepting the last there was not a weak man among them. Physically handsome and strong, model knights of the days of chivalry, character, hard fighters. wise statesmen, they were born leaders of men; always ready to advance the commerce of the Country, they were the supporters of the growing towns, and likewise the pioneers in the task of converting a land of marshes and swamps into a fertile agricultural territory rich in flocks and herds. As individuals they had their failings, but one and all were worthy members of a high-souled race.

Thus with John I ended the first line of Counts, after a rule of 383 years. (916 - 1299)

Rule time	Count / Countess	Born-Died	House
993 - 1039	Dirk III Hierosolymitas	981  -1039	Holland
1039 - 1049	Dirk IV	1015 - 1049	Holland
1049 - 1061	Floris I	1017 - 1061	Holland
1061 - 1091	Dirk V	1052 - 1091	Holland
1091 - 1121	Floris II "the Fat"	1085 - 1121	Holland
1122 - 1157	Dirk VI	1114 - 1157	Holland
1157 - 1190	Floris III	1131 - 1190	Holland
1190 - 1204	Dirk VII "Theodore"	1165 - 1204	Holland
1204 - 1206	Ada	1187 - 1227	Holland
1204 - 1222	Willem I	1167 - 1222	Holland
1222 - 1234	Floris IV	1210 - 1234	Holland
1234 - 1256	Willem II	1227 - 1256	Holland
1256 - 1296	Floris V	1254 - 1296	Holland
1296 - 1299	John I	1284 - 1299	Holland

Family tree of the Counts of Frisa and Holland

clock image to enlarge

Next Holland 1299 - 1568

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Sources :

Mr. drs. Dirk van Duijvenbode in Dutch, Count Floris V in Dutch, The Royal Genealogy site in English, Internet Medieval Sourcebook in English, Genealogy of Holland in English, Women in Leadership in English, Historische sprokkelingen in Dutch, Wikipedia the free encyclopedia in English, The Worldwide web encyclopedia in English, The Info please encyclopedia in English, The history of The Hague in Dutch, English and German, Het volk van Nederland in Dutch, The 1911 edition encyclopedia in English, The House of Orange and Dutch history in Dutch, The Dutch Republic in English, Geschiedenis in hoofdlijnen in Dutch,