First agricultural settlements in the Netherlands.

Dolmens constructed in Drenthe.

First terpen, or wierden (mounds), constructed in Frisia.

Julius Caesar invades the southern Netherlands.

Roman rule established in many parts of the Netherlands.

Batavians revolt unsuccessfully against Roman rule.

Franks penetrate far below the old Roman boundaries.

Roman rule comes to an end in the Netherlands.

Rise of Dorestad as leading trade center of the region.

Missionary Willibrord becomes “archbishop of the Frisians.”

Missionary Boniface murdered in Frisia (Dokkum).

Charlemagne defeats the Saxons under Widukind

Treaty of Verdun divides Carolingian Empire into three parts.

Dirck III defeats the emperor, helping to define the future county of Holland.

Battle of Ane ensures eastern areas of the Sticht are free from Utrecht.

Battle of Woeringen confirms Brabant’s leading regional role over Guelders.

Beginning of the long-term clan conflicts in Holland between Cods and Hooks.

“Joyous Entry” agreement compels dukes of Brabant to respect existing privileges.

First windmill.

Great St. Elizabeth’s Day Flood, destroying the Grote Waard.

“Kiss of Delft” between Jacqueline (Jacoba) of Hainaut and her rival cousin Philip the Good.

First meeting of the States-General after being called together by Philip the Good.

Great Privilege concedes historical rights privileges and limits power of ruler.

First Protestant martyr to be burned at the stake in the Netherlands.

Burgundian Circle established, containing almost all of the Low Countries.

The Great Iconoclasm, in which Protestants destroy “idols” across the region.

Battle of Heiligerlee, now seen as start of the struggle for Dutch independence.

Sea Beggars seize Den Briel, catalyzing revolt against Spain in Holland and Zeeland.

Alkmaar and Leiden withstand the sieges of the Spanish.

Union of Utrecht signed, effectively the constitution of the future Dutch Republic.

“Plakkaat van Verlatinghe” repudiates King Philip II and his “tyranny.”

Murder of Willem the Silent.

Defeat of the Spanish Armada.

Synod of Dordrecht, establishing Calvinist doctrine internationally.

Establishment of Batavia on Java, the chief Dutch base in the East Indies.

Dutch seize Curaçao, to become their most important base in the Caribbean.

Rembrandt completes The Night Watch.

Peace of Münster, which ends eighty-year war with Spain, recognizes Republic.

First period without a stadhouder, called the “True Freedom.”

“Year of Disaster,” in which the Republic is attacked by France, England and others.

Stadhouder Willem and his wife Mary seize power in Great Britain.

Second period without a stadhouder, after death of Willem III.

Peace of Utrecht brings an end to long war with France.

Revolutionary tumult across the Netherlands brings the House of Orange back into power.

Patriots’ Movement seeking restoration of old rights is suppressed by Prussian army.

French armies invade the Netherlands, ushering in revolutionary regimes.

The first modern constitution promulgated, creating a unitary state.

Louis Napoleon becomes the first king of the Netherlands.

The Netherlands in its entirety annexed to France.

Return of Prince Willem Frederik of Orange to become head of new regime.

Unification of the Netherlands and Belgium under guidance of the Great Powers.

Napoleon defeated at Waterloo, in part through role of Dutch forces.

Cultural system introduced on Java – a financial windfall for the Dutch government.

Belgian revolt puts an end to the United Kingdom of the Netherlands.

A new liberal constitution is penned by J. R. Thorbecke.

Beginning of the Aceh Wars, signaling expansion of Dutch power in the East Indies.

Opposition to the liberal School Law sparks political mobilization of religious groups.

Great Railway Strike, forcefully put down by the confessional government.

The Netherlands, with occasional difficulties, stays neutral during World War I.

Pacification of 1917 grants universal franchise and publicly funds religious schools.

Completion of the causeway (Afsluitdijk) cuts Zuyder Zee off from the sea.

Dutch economy at its lowest point during the Great Depression.

The Netherlands invaded and occupied by Nazi Germany.

Jews systematically deported to their deaths in eastern Europe.

“Hunger Winter” in the Netherlands, resulting in over 50,000 deaths.

Marshall Aid, including $1 billion in grants, offered to the Netherlands.

Netherlands recognizes Indonesian independence.

Great North Sea Flood hits the southwestern part of the country.

Natural gas tapped in Groningen, financing Dutch welfare state.

Provo launches activities in Amsterdam; advent of Dutch counterculture.

Oil Crisis emblematic of start of slowing economy and higher unemployment.

Independence of Surinam triggers widespread migration from that country.

Large protest movements delay decision about stationing NATO cruise missiles.

Squatters demanding better housing disrupt inauguration of Queen Beatrix.

Wassenaar Accord revitalizes Dutch economic “polder model.”

Dutch UN troops fail to prevent fall of Srebrenica and ensuing massacre.

Dutch Parliament legalizes same-sex marriage, the first to do so.

Murder of Pim Fortuyn is the catalyst for political turmoil in Dutch politics.

Dutch voters reject the European Constitution by a wide margin.

Dissolution of Dutch Antilles, with each island choosing its own form of government.

Government begins decentralization of the once extensive welfare state.