232 Chapter 3
France and Great Britain decided to act in concert, signing an October 22, 1832,
agreement to expel the Dutch from Antwerp and force the Dutch to oblige by the terms
of the London Conference. Dutch personnel in Brussels and Den Haag were notified
of this demand and refused to heed it. The powers first responded with a blockade.
French forces, 50,000 strong, began a siege of Antwerp on November 15, prompting
surrender of the city on December 23. This capitulation in Antwerp was not enough for
the French and British. The blockade continued, at a stark cost for the Dutch.
The Dutch King ultimately intervened to press for a peace. A new convention in
London was concluded on May 21, 1833. This agreement was little more than affir-
mation of the status quo in Belgium. Belgium was independent with some minor
assurance from the Dutch that they would not renew hostilities on Belgium. Even
then, the Dutch did not recognize Belgian independence and would not willingly
hold to the terms of the 1832 London Conference. Belgium maintained ownership
of Luxembourg and of Limburg sans Maastricht, which, again, were pressing issues
for the Dutch that they wished to revise. It took another five years before the Dutch
recognized Belgian independence, guaranteeing its survival and peace.
Coding changes: Dropped from the dispute: 255 Germany.
210 Netherlands/255 Germany
MID#1661
Dispute Number: 1661
Date(s): October 5, 1914 to August 29, 1918
Participants: 255 Germany/210 Netherlands
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: The Dutch announced on October 5, 1914, that it would announce a state
of siege on Rotterdam if the Germans continued to move contraband under the guise
of a Dutch flag. Seizures and attacks by German U-boats on Dutch merchant ships
began early the next year and continued until midway through 1918, when the war was
drawing to a close. On August 29, 1918, the Dutch announced that Germany had given
six steamers as a concession for the six that it sunk off the coast of the Scilly Isles.
Coding changes: End Date changed from August 27, 1918.
MID#3701
Dispute Number: 3701
Date(s): November 8, 1939 to May 10, 1940
Participants: 255 Germany/210 Netherlands
Outcome (and Settlement): Joins ongoing war (None)
Fatalities: 1–25
Narrative: On November 5, 1939, with the end of the American arms embargo there
began to be movements within Germany. There were rumors of a German attack
on the Netherlands and Belgium, and Germany began massing military forces. The
Netherlands and Belgium met but had different ideas on how to stay neutral. On May