44 INTRODUCING BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG
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 inde-
pendence. In 1815, William I of Orange was appointed
King of the Netherlands (which included Belgium) by the
Congress of Vienna. His autocratic style, together with a
series of anti-Catholic measures, bred discontent, espe-
cially in Brussels 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.King William I
of Orange
William’s rule as King
of the Netherlands after
1815 was unpopular.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.The Battle of Waterloo
Napoleon’s attempt to reconquer Europe
ended at Waterloo on 18 June 1815. A
Prussian army came to Wellington’s aid,
and by evening Napoleon faced his final
defeat. This led to Dutch rule over Belgium.Agricultural Workers
Harsh weather in the winter of 1829 caused
hardship for both farmers and agricultural
labourers, who also joined the protest.Liberals joined workers already protesting
in the square outside. All were prepared
to die for the cause.