Page 47 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - Amsterdam

Moments in Amsterdam’s History ❮❮ 45

the invading French and the Dutch
Patriots. In 1806, Napoleon Bonaparte TOP 10 HISTORIC CHARACTERS
took over the Republic, created the
Kingdom of the Netherlands and
installed his brother, Louis Napoleon,
as head of state.
1940–1945: German
8
Occupation
Despite Dutch neutrality, Germany
invaded Holland in May 1940.
With the deportation of Jews to
concentration camps from 1942
onwards, the Dutch Resistance Pieter Stuyvesant surrendering
became active and underground 1 Willem, Prince of Orange
newspapers thrived. Canadian troops “William the Silent” (1533–1584) led
liber ated Amsterdam on 5 May 1945. the Protestant rebellion against
Felipe II. Willem was assassinated.
Mid-1960s: Provo
9 2 Willem Barentsz
Demonstrations
The radical Provo movement took off This explorer (1550–1597) failed to
discover the north east passage but
in the 1960s, fuelled by antagonism left behind invaluable maps.
to the city’s transport and housing 3 Frederik Hendrik
policies. Demonstrations turned into An effective politician, William the
rioting on 10 March 1966, the day of Silent’s youngest son (1584–1647)
Princess Beatrix’s wedding to German became stadhouder in 1625.
aristocrat Claus von Amsberg. The 4 Pieter Stuyvesant
movement’s popularity among the Stuyvesant (1592–1672) was Governor
voters, however, was short-lived. of the colony of Nieuw Amsterdam,
later to be New York, from 1646 to 1664.
5 Abel Tasman
In search of trade routes to South
America, Tasman (1603–c.1659)
discovered Tasmania and New Zealand.
6 Michiel de Ruyter
This revered Dutch admiral
(1607–1676) set fire to the English
fleet in the Medway in 1667.
7 Jan de Witt
A leading politician during the
Anglo-Dutch Wars (1625–1672), he
was killed by a House of Orange mob.
8 Willem III
Coronation of Willem-Alexander Willem (1650–1702) was stadhouder
from 1672 until his promotion to
2013: Coronation of
0 King of England, Scotland and
Willem-Alexander
Ireland in 1689.
Queen Beatrix announced her 9 Louis Napoleon
abdication in January 2013. Crown Brother of Napoleon I, Louis
Prince Willem-Alexander was crowned (1778–1846) was King of the
the King of the Netherlands on 30 Netherlands between 1806 and 1810.
April 2013 in a grand ceremony in 10 Johan Thorbecke
the Nieuwe Kerk. At 46, Willem- Liberal Prime Minister Johan Rudolf
Alexander became the youngest Thorbecke (1798–1872) was architect
monarch in Europe and the first of the 1848 Constitution.
Dutch king in 123 years.

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