Koning Willem I – De Verhoorkamer [King William I – The Interrogation Room]

In 1815, after the French occupiers have been pushed back, William I is crowned king of the Northern and Southern Netherlands (Belgium). The two countries are merged through the Congress of Vienna, where Europe is being reformed after Napoleon. The United Kingdom of the Netherlands was founded as a buffer between France and Germany. After 15 years there is a lot of discontent among the Belgian people. The Catholic south is not happy with a Protestant king. The French-speaking nobles are disturbed that the government speaks Dutch and the liberals think that the King is too powerful. They think he meddles in too much business. Meanwhile, the anti-Orange mood is fueled by French provocateurs. When King Charles X is successfully deposed in France in the summer of 1830, the Belgians see their chance and revolt. It is striking that the revolt starts out of dissatisfaction with King Willem I. However, this king sees the revolt as an attempt by the Belgians to secede from the Northern Netherlands. He tries to restrain them by means of the army. Over time, however, the army also splits. The southern soldiers desert en masse. Because of this defeat of the army, Belgium sees itself as independent and appoints a new king: Leopold of Saxe-Coburg. Ten Day Campaign In 1831 the Dutch army again advanced to Brussels (the ten-day campaign) in order to quell the revolt after all. This time, however, they are pushed back by the French king, whose daughter is betrothed to King Leopold. Meanwhile, Belgium's independence is internationally accepted. That is why the Treaty of London is made in 1832, which recognizes that independence. However, King William I did not sign that treaty until 1839. Belgium became independent from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, which was renamed the Kingdom of the Netherlands.