NationStates Jolt Archive

Kingdom of the Netherlands

Flag of the Netherlands (http://www.flags.net/images/largeflags/NETH0001.GIF)

Coat of Arms of the Netherlands (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b1/Nl-arms.gif)

Historical background

In 1848 unrest broke out all over Europe. Although there were no major events in the Netherlands, these foreign developments persuaded king William II to agree to liberal and democratic reform. That same year the liberal Johan Rudolf Thorbecke was asked by the king to rewrite the constitution, turning the Netherlands into a constitutional monarchy. The new document was proclaimed valid on November 3 of thatyear. It severely limited the king's powers (making the cabinet accountable only to an elected parliament), and it protected civil liberties.

The personal union between the Netherlands and Luxembourg ended in 1890 when Queen Wilhelmina ascended to the Dutch throne, as ascendancy rules in Luxembourg prevented a woman from becoming ruling Grand Duchess.

By the end of the 19th century, in the New Imperialism wave of colonization, the Netherlands extended their hold on Indonesia. In 1860 Multatuli wrote Max Havelaar, the most famous book in the history of Dutch literature, criticizing the exploitation of the country and its inhabitants by the Dutch.

Head of State: Queen Wilhelmina

Head of Government: Pieter Jelles Troelstra

Form of Government: Constitutional Monarchy

Seat of Government: Amsterdam

Religion: Roman Catholic, Dutch Reformed

Ethnicity: Dutch

Currency: Dutch gulden

Population: 7.3 million

Tech Level: 5.5

Production Centers: 7 (Rotterdam 3, Amsterdam 3, Arnheim 1)

Resources: None

Food Production: 22

Shipping: 377 shipping units, 1 liner unit

Territory: Dutch East Indies, Dutch New Guinea, Dutch Guiana, Dutch Antilles

1925 Dutch General Election:
Tweede Kamer (Second Chamber)

Anti Revolutionary Party: 10
Christian Historical Union: 7
Freethinking Democratic League: 8
League of Free Liberals: 9
Liberal Union: 9
Roman Catholic League of Electoral Associations: 20
Social Democratic Workers' Party: 38
Reformed Political Party: 2
Total: 100



Dutch Antilles

Form of Government: Constitutional Monarchy

Seat of Government: Willemstad

Religion: Roman Catholic

Ethnicity: Dutch, Mixed African, Carib Amerindian

Currency: Dutch gulden

Population: 55 thousand

Tech Level: 4

Production Centers: 1 (Willemstad)

Resources: 1 oil

Dutch East Indies

Seat of Government: Batavia

Form of Government: Constitutional Monarchy

Religion: Muslim, Roman Catholic

Ethnicity: Dutch, Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese

Currency: Dutch gulden

Governor-General: D. Fock

Population: 56 million

Tech Level: 3

Production Centers: 9 (Batavia 2, Surabaya 2, Medan 2, Palembang 2, Hollandia 1),

Resources: 8 oil, 14 resources

Food Production: 50

Dutch Guiana

Form of Government: Constitutional Monarchy

Seat of Government: Paramaribo

Religion: Roman Catholic, Hindu, Protestant, Muslim

Ethnicity: Dutch, Javanese, Hindustani

Currency: Dutch gulden

Population: 86 thousand

Tech Level: 2

Dutch Army

Military Service

Military Conscription

Total Strength: 701,000

Royal Netherlands Army 362,000

Regulars:
1 marine brigade
1 garrison unit
3 fighter units
1 medium bomber unit
1 motorized infantry corps
1 assault engineer brigade

Reserves:
6 reserve infantry corps
1 reserve motorized division
2 reserve marine brigades

Fortress (Rotterdam)

Royal Dutch East Indies Army 273,000

Regulars:
8 garrison units
1 coast defense fortress (Batavia)
1 light infantry division
1 marine brigade

Reserves:
1 reserve light infantry division
1 reserve cavalry division
1 reserve infantry corp

Royal Netherlands Navy 66,000

2 destroyer flotillas
1 long range submarine flotilla
3 battleships (Holland, Utrecht, Johan Maurits van Nassa)
4 old battleships (Tromp, De Ruyter, Nassau, Witte de With)
5 light cruisers (Java, Sumatra, Aruba, Borneo, Curaçao)
3 heavy cruisers (Van Speyk, Johan Willem Frisco, Zeeland)
2 fleet carriers (Tromp, De Ruyter)
2 patrol flotillas [stationed in Dutch Antilles and Dutch East Indies]
3 naval bases (Willemstad, Padang, Sorong)
2 naval yard (Rotterdam, Batavia)

Economic Build

1926 Netherlands Build
Kingdom of Netherlands
Population 7.4 million, tech level 5.5, production centers 7= 21 (Rotterdam 3, Amsterdam 3, Arnheim 1), 389 shipping= 19.45, 1 liner unit, food production: 24=1.66 (42.11 x.02% corruption = 41.27 points)

Colonial Empire

Dutch East Indies: Population 57 million, production center 9=27 (Batavia 2, Surabaya 2, Medan 2, Palembang 2, Hollandia 1), 14=7 resources, 8=4 oil, food production 55 (38 x.05% corruption = 36.10 points)
Dutch Antilles: Population 56 thousand, production center 1 (Willemstad), 1 oil (4 points)
(81.37 points to spend)

Socialist Market Economy

Growth 0+.15 from 1925= .15

Domestic Spending: [24.22 points]
Level IV Social Spending [3.70 points]
Upkeep of the BVD (Domestic Security Service) [5 points]
Plan Zuider Zee [2 points] (10/50 years)
Rural Electrication [.74 point] (2/3 years)
13 shipping units [13 points]
Aide to the Red Cross [.28 point]

Colonial Spending: [11.40 points]
Level II Social Spending (DEI) [11.40 points]

Military Spending: [21 point]
Refueling at Sea [1 point] (6/10 years)
Tech 5.5 Battleship Research [5 points] (2/4 years)
Fortress (Ambon) [1 point] (2/5 years)
Modernize battleship [2 point] (Utrecht)
Converting a naval base into a yard [12 points] (Batavia)

Military Upkeep: [24.25 points]
Royal Netherlands Army:
Fortress (Rotterdam) [1 point]
1 garrison unit [.25 point]
6 reserve infantry corps [3 points]
3 marine brigades [1.5 points]
1 motorized infantry division [.5 point]
1 motorized infantry corps [1.5 point]
1 medium bomber unit [1 point]
3 fighter plane units [1.5 point]
1 assault engineer brigade [.5 points]

Royal Dutch East Indies Army:
8 garrison units [2 points]
1 coast defense fortress (Batavia) [.5 point]
1 reserve infantry corps [.5 point]
2 mountain divisions [.5 point]
1 cavalry division [.5 point]
1 marine brigade [.5 point]

Royal Netherlands Navy:
2 destroyer flotillas [.5 point]
1 long range submarine flotilla [.5 point]
2 fleet carriers (Tromp, De Ruyter) [2 points]
3 battleships (Holland, Utrecht, Johan Maurits van Nassa) [1.5 points]
2 old battleships (Nassau, Witte de With) [.5 point]
5 light cruisers (Java, Sumatra, Aruba, Borneo, Curaçao) [.5 point]
3 heavy cruisers (Van Speyk, Johan Willem Frisco, Zeeland) [.3 point]
2 patrol flotilla [.2 point]
4 naval bases [2 point] (Batavia, Willemstad, Padang, Sorong)
1 naval yard [1 point] (Rotterdam)

Total Spending: (81.37)

Persian Flu Pandemic Casualties and Mortality Toll for the Netherlands and Dutch East Indies - 1913

The Netherlands

Civilian Population: 6,000,000
Civilian Casualties: 600,000
Civilian Deaths: 60,000

Military Population: 58,000
Military Casualties: 11,600
Military Deaths: 1,740

Dutch East Indies

Civilian Population: 47,000,000
Civilian Casualties: 4,700,000
Civilian Deaths: 470,000

Military Population: 80,000
Military Casualties: 16,000
Military Deaths: 2,400

Dutch government has taken a similar path as their Danish neighbors. The government has issued the approval of the First Dutch Antarctic Expedition. The only problem is that the Dutch government has to find a suitable man to lead the expedition. The First Dutch Antarctic Expedition has been planned to start at the beginning of December of 1914, but a temporary base shall be build a few weeks before the team arrives.

The Dutch government has good news about the expedition to Antarctica. They have picked a man to lead the group when it's on Antarctica. The man to lead the expedition is Lt. Hendrik Olivier. He has picked a group and has started to make them get ready for the expedition later next year. Also another piece of good news is that the expedition group will also include Knud Johan Victor Rasmussen, as second in command, and his group. The Dutch and Danish government have made a agreement to combine their efforts into the First Dutch/Danish Antarctic Expedition. The two groups will combine and work together for the sake of science. Though this great union between nations is happening, the Second Danish/Dutch Antarctic Expedition will occur during the proposed time for the Danish Expedition. Lt. Hendrik Olivier and his 19 men have moved up to Greenland to work and gain experience with Knud to get ready for the late 1914 Expedition.

Prime Minister Pieter Wilhelm Adriaan Cort van der Linden, in light of the recent actions of War, has decided a total reconstruction of the army. In 1915 more units will be trained and put on duty or reserve. Prime Minister Linden does not want to scare, any nations with these actions, but this is purely for defense. In addition, these reforms will include not only the Royal Netherlands Army and Navy, but the Royal Dutch East Indies Army. In the Royal Dutch East Indies Army the limit of natives and other foreigners will be 60%, while 40% will be only for the Dutchmen. In addition, the officer corps will only be made up of Dutchmen and Non-Commission Officers will be natives.

Recently the parties, that hold seats in the Tweede Kamer (Lower House), have hold an election that has made a change in the constitution. The change was to introduce universal male suffrage and proportional representation. Of course this changes will not take effect until the next election in 1917. Pieter Jelles Troelstra, leader of the Social Democratic Workers' Party, knows that once 1917 comes around that big changes will come for the Tweede Kamer. In addition, Prime Minster Cort van der Linden applauds the action of the Tweede Kamer and hopes good will come out of these actions.

Lt. Hendrik Olivier, Knud Johan Victor Rasmussen, and their parties leave from Rotterdam in mid-November. The two have spent the last year in Greenland training for the First Dutch/Danish Antarctic Expedition and have made a close bond. One week before they arrived to their starting point (Neumayer) a temporary base was set. On December 12 the men touched down on Antarctic and started their adventure on the frozen wasteland.

Seeing the Generosity of the Netherlands to the Balkan nations, the Kingdom of Bulgaria enquires about the possibility of aid or perhaps an investment in the much more stable Kingdom of Bulgaria?

OOC: Offer: you loan me 12 points, in exchange for the annual repayment of 2 points for 20 years.

Rumania quietly advises the Dutch to avoid giving loans to the Bulgarians, as they are well known thieves and criminals (having stolen soveriegn Rumanian territory) who will default on the loan.

Lt. Hendrik Olivier, Knud Johan Victor Rasmussen, and their parties return back from Antarctic as heroes. The expedition was a success and the team arrived back to Rotterdam in Mid-January. Knud Rasmussen is an honored guest in Netherlands along with his party. A party is thrown to commemorate Knud and Hendrik. Both Queen Wilhelmina and Prime Minister Pieter Cort van der Linden are there to see the two explorers. In addition pictures are shown that were taken during the expedition. One includes Lt. Hendrik Olivier and Knud Rasmussen planting down there respected flags into Antarctic.

Rumania quietly advises the Dutch to avoid giving loans to the Bulgarians, as they are well known thieves and criminals (having stolen soveriegn Rumanian territory) who will default on the loan.

Once heard of this, the Rumanian Government is condemned for slandering the Bulgarian name and reputation, further increasing the impending crisis.

Spain asks the Dutch how they have lasted so long as neutrals. Spain is looking towards becoming one of the "Grand Neutrals" and wonders how the Netherlands has been capable of keeping its neutrality despite the large amounts of war tearing Europe apart in our times.

After coming home from Copenhagen, from the successful 1915 Antarctic Expedtion, Lt. Hendrik Olivier is welcomed home as a hero. Lt. Olivier was both honored and surprised to be full membership into the Danish Geographical Society. He thanks the president of the society of the chance to be in a great society. When he leaves he says his good byes Knud Johan Victor Rasmussen and hopes to work with him again. A week after resting he is promoted to Captain and given Order of the Dutch Lion by Queen Wilhelmina. Knud is invited to the Netherlands and is given the Order of the Dutch Lion also by Queen Wilhelmina. At this engagement Capt. Hendrik Olivier is also there to congratulate his friend.

Japan inquires as to the possibility of purchasing oil for their navy. 8 Oil Points are needed, and additional oil is greatly appreciated

The Netherlands would gladly sell 7 oil points to Japan for 7 points and a Non-Aggression Pact between the two nations.

The Netherlands would gladly sell 7 oil points to Japan for 7 points and a Non-Aggression Pact between the two nations.

Japan gladly accepts the deal

OOC: I assume you can provide each year?

The Dutch are happy that the Japanese have accepted the agreement. The effects of this will start in 1917.

OOC: Yes

April 1916
A late season storm smashes into the Netherlands, killing 10,000 people and inflicting severe damage in the coastal regions

ooc
historically happened in January but variable dates used

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zuiderzee

IC
Dutch Parliament calls for a massive national project to prevent such an occurance in the future and to drain the Zuider Zee and claim it as farmland.

OOC
This will cost the Netherlands 2 points a year for 50 years basically. However, beginning after 10 years, the Netherlands will gain 2 points every 5 years in food production.

Short term effect for 1916 is that Netherlands suffers the loss of 25% of all income due to severe damage suffered.

In what was a big day for Germany, the German Ambassador to Holland presented an offer of a Treaty of Alliance between Holland and Germany. After years of improving relations and economic ties the Kaiser has anounced that he believes Holland and Germany should make the next step to become closer friends and now allies. He also has anounced plans to visit Holland should the offer be accepted.

Prime Minister Cort van der Linden declines the offer and states that neutrality will benefit the Netherland and the people of the country the most.

Prime Minister Cort van der Linden, his last year in office as Prime Minister, has created the first national park in the Netherlands. The area is located in the Gelderland and consist of 55 square kilometers. The park has been named the Hoge Veluwe National Park. He has said that by the end of his term two more parks will be created for all Dutchmen to use.

The Tweede Kamer has passed a change in the Netherlands' constitution. The change allows universal suffrage for every Dutch citizen, this also include women. It has been adopted into the constitution and has the full support of Prime Minister Cort van der Linden.

Article 4 [Right to Vote]
Every Dutch national shall have an equal right to elect the members of the general representative bodies and to stand for election as a member of those bodies, subject to the limitations and exceptions prescribed by Act of Parliament.

This has been the biggest change for all of the Netherlands. During this September's election everyone is guaranteed a vote, so most Dutch know that a radical change will happen in the Tweede Kamer. Now in the Netherlands everyone will have a equal voice in the government.

In late September of 1917 the Dutch General Election occurs and the first to have universal suffrage in the Netherlands. The elections start to show change as it full represents the people of the Netherlands. With the Roman-Catholic State Party as the largest party in the Tweede Kamer, the Tweede Kamer has appointed Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck as the new Prime Minister.

1917 Dutch General Election:
Tweede Kamer (Second Chamber)

Anti Revolutionary Party: 13
Christian Historical Union: 9
Freethinking Democratic League: 7
League of Free Liberals: 8
Liberal Union: 8
Roman Catholic League of Electoral Associations: 30
Social Democratic Workers' Party: 25
Total: 100

Capt. Hendrik Olivier has announced the Third Dutch/Danish Antarctic Expedition. Hendrik has invited his old friend, Knud Rasmussen, to come along. The expedition is planned to take place in December and the group has decided to head to the South Pole. Hendrik has also said that the expeditions to Antarctica might come to end in the coming years.

1921-1925

After seeing strikes occur in 1921 and all around the Netherlands, Prime Minister Ruijs de Beerenbrouck call a crack down on Socialist and Communist, but Social Democratic Workers' Party, lead by Pieter Jelles Troelstra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieter_Jelles_Troelstra), take to the streets and protest against any actions made against their freedoms. Popularity of Prime Minister Ruijs de Beerenbrouck starts to decline and many wait on for the 1925 elections. Many Dutch look on at the events that take place between 1922-1924, but some take note of the Third Reich and Fascist Italy rising. Things worsen for Prime Minister Ruijs de Beerenbrouck when the Wall Street Bombing took place. He tried to cut down government expenses and to devaluate the national currency, the Guilder, but these measures only worsened the effects of the economic crisis. Many thought that Prime Minister Ruijs de Beerenbrouck had ruined their economic, and that this was going to be his last time as Prime Minister. In 1925 the elections take and the Social Democratic Workers' Party take majority of the lower house, while Pieter Jelles Troelstra (http://www.marxists.org/francais/img/troelstra.jpg) is appointed Prime Minister of the Netherlands. The Social Democratic Workers' Party promises to bring the economic out of the mess it's in, but know that it will take some time.

1925 Dutch General Election:
Tweede Kamer (Second Chamber)

Anti Revolutionary Party: 12
Christian Historical Union: 8
Freethinking Democratic League: 9
League of Free Liberals: 10
Liberal Union: 11
Roman Catholic League of Electoral Associations: 10
Social Democratic Workers' Party: 38
Reformed Political Party: 2
Total: 100

OOC: Your attention is drawn to a rebellion of the East Indian Natives that has been gallantly quashed by your local government there.

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12261397&postcount=274

Prime Minister Pieter Jelles Troelstra applauds the local government in the Dutch East Indies for crushing the communist rebellion. Prime Minister Troelstra most of all thanks the action of the recently appointed Governor-General Jonkheer Andries Cornelis Dirk de Graeff and gives permission to call up any reserves. Once there is enough funding Prime Minister Troelstra promises to enlarge the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army. Finding out the weapons the rebels used were British and Russian, Prime Minister Troelstra demands to know if the British or Russians had any actions of getting these weapons into rebel hands and if not then find out who did. Meanwhile, the Dutch government performs their own investigations.

July 1925
The Dutch Battleship Korenaer is destroyed in Batavia harbor when its forward magazine detonates. Later investigation determines that it was a combination of an accident, tropical conditions, and a flaw in the flash protection system.

OOC
historically, several dreadnoughts and predreadnoughts were lost the way. I have been rolling every year, and this is the first accident. Which is actually better then historical

Prime Minister Troelstra is saddened to hear the news of the explosion aboard the Korenaer, but he also knows this is a learning experience. An investigation on the Korenear will be carried out. He promises that the government will pay each family their son's salary for the next five years, but Prime Minister Troelstra knows that this will never bring back there sons. Starting 1926 a statue will be constructed in Batavia to honor the dead.


Prime Minister Troelstra says that the investigation into the Communist Rebellion will not be ended until all the questions have been answered. Since most of the rifles seemed to have come from the Kyber Pass, a detachment of men is sent to the region. Prime Minister Troelstra also requests that the British government have an investigation of it's own in the area around the Dutch East Indies. Governor-General Dirk de Graeff also imposes a curfew on the Dutch East Indies.

Prime Minister Troelstra says that the investigation into the Communist Rebellion will not be ended until all the questions have been answered. Since most of the rifles seemed to have come from the Kyber Pass, a detachment of men is sent to the region. Prime Minister Troelstra also requests that the British government have an investigation of it's own in the area around the Dutch East Indies. Governor-General Dirk de Graeff also imposes a curfew on the Dutch East Indies.

The British Government in India requests to know exactly what type of "detachment" the Dutch would like to send to Khyber. The Dutch are informed that any expedition military in nature will be politely turned back at port.

The detachment will be only a couple of the men from the investigation group in Indonesia. If the British government wishes these men can be accompanied by Army personnel.

No military accompaniment will be necessary, and the Dutch investigators will have the cooperation of the Indian Police if so desired.

The Dutch government accepts this and the investigation team will cooperated with the Indian Police, but the government also requests if the British can perform their own investigation into the matter of the weapons getting into communist hands.