THE HISTORY OF BELGIUM 45The Revolution in Industry
Taxes, unemployment and social divisions
under Dutch rule all contributed to the
mood of the rebellion that erupted in 1830.
Le Théâtre de
la Monnaie
On 25 August
1830, the patriotic
song, L’Amour
Sacré de la Patrie,
from French
composer Daniel
Auber’s opera La
Muette de Portici,
goaded the audi-
ence into revolt.BELGIAN REVOLUTION
The revolution of 1830 was ignited by a
radical opera at the Brussels opera house,
when the liberal audience rushed out into
the street to join a workers’ demonstration,
raising the Brabant flag. Gustave Wappers
(1803–74) brought the drama of Romanticism
to his depiction of the Belgian Revolution with
the painting, Day in September 1830. Troops
were sent by William I to quash the rebels,
but the Belgian soldiers deserted and the
Dutch were able to retake Brussels. Sporadic
fighting rumbled on until 1832. William
finally accepted the new borders in 1839.The initial list of demands asked for
administrative independence from the
Dutch and for freedom of the press.King of Belgium, Léopold I
The crowning of German prince, Léopold
of Saxe-Coburg, in Brussels in 1831 finally
established Belgium’s independence.Late September of 1830 saw
days of costly streetfighting in
Brussels, as the rebels defended
the city against Dutch troops.1800 1820 1830TIMELINE1792 In the French
Revolutionary war against
Austria, France invades
the Austrian Netherlands1799 Napoleon
Bonaparte
rules France1815 Belgium, allied with
Holland under the United
Kingdom of the Netherlands,
is ruled by William I of
Orange; Brussels becomes
the second capital1831 State of Belgium
formed on 21 July; Treaty of
London grants independence
1835 First continental railway
built from Brussels to Mechelen1830 Rebellion
begins at the
Théâtre de la
Monnaie in
Brussels1815 Battle of Waterloo:
Napoleon is defeated
by an army led by the
Duke of Wellington
William I of Orange
1810