Dutch history

• 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 drowned approximately 10.000 inhabitants.
   
• 1516
  King of Spain Charles V inherits the Netherlands.
   
• 1521
  Wooden buildings in Amsterdam are banned. 
   
• 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.
   
• 1609
  The Dutch discover Manhattan Island.
   
• 1626
  Peter Minuit (Director-General of the Dutch colony of New Netherlands) purchases Manhattan Island for the equivalent of 24 dollars.
   
• 1630 - 1654
  The Dutch conquer Brazil.
   
• 1642
  Rembrandt paints The Night Watch.
   
• 1642 - 1643
  Abel Tasman reaches Tasmania and New Zealand.
   
• 1648
  End of war with Spain; Dutch independence recognised.
   
• 1652
  Jan van Riebeek reaches Cape Town; first Anglo-Dutch war.
   
• 1661
  Brazil is sold to Portugal.
   
• 1665 - 1667
  Second Anglo-Dutch war.
   
• 1672 - 1674
  Third Anglo-Dutch war.
   
• 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 the Kingdom of the Netherlands headed by Willem l of the House of Oranje-Nassau.
   
• 1830
  Belgium rebels against the Netherlands and breaks free.
   
• 1853
  Vincent van Gogh is born.
   
• 1870
  Amstel Brewery opens.
   
• 1890
  Vincent van Gogh commits suicide.
   
• 1919
  Dutch women get the vote.
   
• 1920
  KLM launches the world’s first scheduled air service.
   
• 1928
  Olympic Games are held in Amsterdam.
   
• 1940
  Germany invades and conquers the Netherlands four days after the aerial bombardment of Rotterdam.
   
• 1941
  February strike against the deportation of the Jewish community.
   
• 1942 - 1945
  Anne Frank and her family hide in Amsterdam. The refuge is betrayed and Anne dies at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. She was 15.
   
• 1944 - 1945
  Thousands die during the Hunger Winter.
   
• 1947
  The Diary of Anne Frank is published.
   
• 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
  Amsterdam’s 700th anniversary; 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 euthanasia is legalised.