Holland 1

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The Netherlands is a state located in Western Europe at the mouth of the rivers Rhine and Meuse. Bounded on the north and west by the North Sea, Belgium to the south and east Germany.
The system of government is a constitutional monarchy.  The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands along with the Caribbean countries of Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten. It constitutes, together with Belgium and Luxembourg, the Benelux. Under Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and King of the Hispanic kingdoms, the region was part of the Seventeen Provinces of the Netherlands, which also included the current territory of Belgium, Luxembourg and parts of France and Germany. The Eighty Years' War between Spain and the provinces began in 1568. In 1579, the northern part of the seventeen provinces formed the Union of Utrecht, a treaty which promised mutual support in their defense against the Spanish army. This treaty is considered the foundation of the modern Netherlands. In 1581 the northern provinces adopted the Act of abjuration, the declaration of independence with which the provinces officially deposed Philip II. The war continued until 1648, when King Philip IV of Spain finally recognized the independence of the seven northern provinces with the Peace of Münster. Parts of the southern provinces became de facto colonies of the new republic.

Since its independence from Philip II in 1581, the seven provinces formed the Republic of the Seven United Provinces of the Netherlands. The republic was a confederation of the provinces of Holland, Zeeland, Groningen, Friesland, Utrecht, Gelderland and Overijssel. All these provinces were autonomous and had their own government, the "State of the Province." The "general rule", the confederal government was based in The Hague and was composed of representatives from each province. The sparsely populated part of Drenthe was also part of the republic, despite not being considered a province. Drenthe had its own state but its head was appointed by the state General. The republic also occupied by the so-called Land of the Government. These territories were governed directly by the State General ie, not representative or had self-government confederation. Most of these territories were occupied during the Eighty Years' War. They were Catholics and were used mainly as a safety zone between the Republic and the Spanish Netherlands.

 

 

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Holland 2