Page 50 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

48  introducing bel gium and l uxembourg

The Fight for Independence

belgium was again occupied by foreign powers between 1794
and 1830 – first, by the French republican army at war against
austria, then, after napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo in 1815, by
the dutch. French radical reforms included the abolition of the
guild system and fairer tax ation laws. although French rule was
unpopular, their liberal ideas were to influence the belgian drive
for independence. in 1815, William i of orange was appointed King William I of Orange
King of the netherlands (which included belgium) by the William’s rule as King of
congress of Vienna. His autocratic style, together with a series the Netherlands after 1815
of anti-catholic measures, bred discontent, espe cially in brussels was unpopular.
and among the French-speaking Walloons in
the south. the south was also angered when
William refused to introduce tariffs to protect
their trade – it was the last straw. the uprising
of 1830 began in brussels.

A Cultural Revolution in Brussels
The French drove forward a programme of
modernization in Brussels. The 16th-century
city walls were demolished and replaced by
tree-lined boulevards.

Liberals joined workers already protesting
in the square outside. All were prepared to
die for the cause.

The Battle of Waterloo
Napoleon’s attempt to reconquer Europe ended at Agricultural Workers
Waterloo on 18 June 1815. A Prussian army came to Harsh weather in the winter of 1829 caused hardship
Wellington’s aid, and by evening Napoleon faced his for both farmers and agricultural labourers, who also
final defeat. This led to Dutch rule over Belgium. joined the protest.

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