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William II (Dutch: Willem Frederik George Lodewijk; English: William Frederick George Louis; 6 December 1792 – 17 March 1849) was King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and Duke of Limburg.
The Netherlands remained neutral during World War I, a stance that arose partly from a strict policy of neutrality in international affairs that started in 1830, with the secession of Belgium from the Netherlands.
Apr 16, 2024 · William II, king of the Netherlands and grand duke of Luxembourg (1840–49) whose reign saw the reestablishment of fiscal stability and the transformation of the Netherlands into a more liberal monarchy through the constitution of 1848. Learn more about William II’s life and reign.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
William II. William II, detail of a painting by J.A. Kruseman; in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. The new king was not a man of clear ideas or strong will, but he was able to do what his father dared not even envisage—oversee the transformation of the Netherlands into a parliamentary, liberal state.
William II and William III. The new king was not a man of clear ideas or strong will, but he was able to do what his father dared not even envisage—oversee the transformation of the Netherlands into a parliamentary, liberal state.
As Allied troops approached, Dutch railway workers staged a strike, and the Germans responded by cutting off all food and fuel shipments into the Netherlands. The combination of the two, through starvation, disease, and the cold, led to the death of 30,000.
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The Netherlands remained neutral during the First World War, but was nevertheless significantly affected by it. Its army remained fully mobilized to counter any possible threat, and its economy felt the strain of both belligerents’ attempts to control the world’s sea lanes and supplies.
