This Year Holds Many Important Dutch Anniversaries

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 22, 17 February 1948, Page 3

This Year Holds Many Important Dutch Anniversaries

The year 1948 will bring to Holland the anniversaries ■of - many greatgreat events of importance to the Dutch £i people. First of all the Dutch people hope to celebrate the 50 years jubilee of the reign of Queen Wilhelmina, of. Orange, who on August 31, 1898, as a girl of eighteen years ascended to the throne. It was in 1581 that Prince William of Orange known as William the Silent and who since 1568 had been Holland’s leader in the battle for independence against Spain, became Stadhoqder. The House of Orange has since then with three interruptions reigned in Holland, first asxShadhouders and since 1814 as Kings: On January 30 it will be 300 years since the 80 years war with Spain for independence was concluded with the peace treaty ■of Munster which brought independence to the Northern Netherlands Provinces. •

The year 1678 saw also the position of the Dutch Republic in the East and West Indies firmly established.

In April of this year it will be 150 years since the Constitution of the so-called “Bataofsche Republick” was passed. This is the first constitution which established national unity in Holland. On November 3, 1878, an important revision of the constitution of the Kingdom of Holland was promulgated. This revision converted Holland from a constitutional monarchy into a parliamentary democracy. It made the ministers responsible and gave to Parliament and the Dutch people inter alia a tjig share in the development of the Dutch East Indies, Turinama and Curagav. Twenty-five years ago the Dutch succeeded in establishing radio telegraphic connection between Holland and the Dutch East Indies. During September of this year the 50th International Fair will be held at Utrecht. This fair, which is "held twice a year is creating great interest in many foreign countries and the number of foreign participants is increasing every year. At the spring fair of 1947 1136 foreign participants from 19 countries (including Australia) exhibited their products.