The Industrial Revolution in Belgium and Holland 1700-1914 [antikvár]

The Industrial Revolution in Belgium and Holland INTRODUCTION The Low Countries, i.e. modern Belgium, Holland and Luxemburg, underwent profound political changes during the period 1750-1850. Originally they were made up of three distinct states : the Republic of the United Provinces corresponding to the modern Netherlands (31,000 sq. km.), the Southern or Austrian Provinces (28,000 sq. km.) and the principality of Liege (5,700 sq. km.). In 1797, the Austrian Provinces and the principality of Liege — under French occupation since the war against Austria — were officially annexed by France under the treaty of Campo Formio. Holland, too, fell under the influence of France, first as the Batavian Republic, and then as the Kingdom of Holland under Napoleon's brother Louis Bonaparte. From 1810 onwards it was increasingly treated as part of the French Empire. After the collapse of the Empire, the whole area discussed here was formed into the Kingdom of the Netherlands, under the House of Orange. However this union proved unsatisfactory for economical as well as religious reasons. In 1830, the Southern Provinces seceded and Belgium became a separate kingdom. Despite their ancient ties, the Northern and Southern Netherlands were always keen competitors, with the North concentrating on commerce and the South on industry. Thus at the time of the Industrial Revolution the North lacked both coal and iron — no really important industries were set up there before the middle of the nineteenth century. The South, on the other hand, was rich in coal and fairly well provided with iron, and, moreover, had an old industrial tradition, with the result that the Industrial Revolution took root there more quickly and more firmly than anywhere else on the Continent. [5]