Europe 231
210 Netherlands/211 Belgium
MID#25
Dispute Number: 2 5
Date(s): August 2, 1831 to May 21, 1833
Participants: 210 Netherlands/200 United Kingdom, 211 Belgium, 220 France
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: Missing
Narrative: Belgium declared its independence, and the Dutch responded by invading.
The French then intervened, forcing the Dutch to withdraw. The French laid siege
to Antwerp and eventually forced its surrender with the help of the British navy. An
armistice was then signed.
Coding changes: End Date changed from February 2, 1832. Outcome changed from
Unclear. Settlement changed from None.
MID#368
Started in September 1832. See the narrative in the 210 Netherlands/220 France dyad
dispute list.
210 Netherlands/220 France
MID#368
Dispute Number: 368
Date(s): September 15, 1832 to May 21, 1833
Participants: 210 Netherlands/200 United Kingdom, 211 Belgium, 220 France
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side B (Imposed)
Fatalities: Missing
Narrative: This dispute concerned independence of Belgium from the Netherlands,
beginning in 1832. The Congress of Vienna (1815) combined Netherlands and
Belgium into one unit, though this arrangement was problematic for the Belgians.
Most of Belgium was incompatible with Dutch traditions, culture, language and reli-
gion, ultimately prompting a campaign for secession from the Netherlands inspired by
a similar event in France by its French-speaking brethren.
The ensuing conflict was regionalized with input from the great powers, though a
convention in London was discontinued on October 31, 1832, when no arrangement
could be obtained. Great Britain, France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia eventually rati-
fied the terms of this London Conference. The Dutch did not and gave every indication
they were not going to do so. It was up to the individual powers to determine a conclu-
sion to this conflict at a stage where Belgium had already attained an independence
recognized by the powers, if not recognized by the Netherlands. In particular, the
Dutch still occupied Antwerp and were having more and more success in overwhelm-
ing Belgium.