The History of the Netherlands, represented in a timeline.
- 1st century BC: numerous tribes (mostly Frisians and Batavians) become the area’s first inhabitants.
- 4th century: Barbarians invade the area.
- 1275: Amsterdam is founded.
- 1421: Storm causes a flood that drown approximately 10.000 inhabitants.
- 1516: King of Spain Charles V inherites the Netherlands.
- 1578: Amsterdam abandons the Spanish and Catholic cause.
- 1579: The Union of Utrecht unites the northern Low Countries.
- 1581: The United Provinces declare their independence from Spain.
- 1602: The United East India is founded.
- 1642: Rembrandt paints The Night Watch.
- 1648: End of war with Spain; Dutch independence recognised.
- 1795: Velvet Revolution; French occupy the Netherlands.
- 1806 - 1810: Louis Bonaparte (Napoléon's brother) becomes king of the Netherlands.
- 1813: The Netherlands regains independence.
- 1814: The country becomes Kingdom of the Netherlands headed by Willem l of the House of Oranje-Nassau.
- 1830: Belgium rebels against the Netherlands and breaks free.
- 1920: KLM launces the world’s first scheduled air service.
- 1922: Dutch women get the vote.
- 1928: Olympic Games are held in Amsterdam.
- 1940: Germany invades and conquers the Netherlands four days after the aerial bombardment of Rotterdam.
- 1944 - 1945: Thousands die during the Hunger Winter.
- 1948: Benelux customs union takes effect.
- 1949: The Dutch East Indies receives its independence as Indonesia; the Netherlands joins NATO.
- 1952: The Netherlands founding member of European Coal and Steel Community.
- 1958: The Netherlands joins the European Economic Community.
- 1975: The Netherlands grants independence to Surinam; use of cannabis is decriminalised.
- 1980: Queen Juliana retired and succeeded by her daughter Beatrix.
- 1987: The Homomonument is unveiled.
- 2001: The world’s first same sex marriage takes place in Amsterdam.
- 2002: Euro replaces the Dutch guilder; regulated euthenasia is legalised.
- 2005: Dutch voters reject EU constitution.
- 2010: The Netherlands withdraws its soldiers from Afghanistan.