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← Timeline
Netherlands
The Netherlands in the First World War →
Tag
(23)
1914
November
13
Netherlands protests against changes to the Declaration of London
On 13 November 1914 the Dutch government protested against changes to the Declaration of London that tightened Allied controls on neutral trade.
23
Netherlands Overseas Trust is founded
In November 1914 Dutch merchants, shipowners and bankers founded the NOT, a private company guaranteeing the Allies that overseas goods would not reach Germany.
1915
March
12
Netherlands warns against misuse of its flag
On 12 March 1915 the Netherlands announced that foreign ships passing themselves off as Dutch in its ports and waters, e.g. under its flag, would be held there.
19
Dutch protest against the blockade
On 19 March 1915 the Netherlands protested in London and Paris against the Allied reprisal measures, which in its view broke the Declaration of Paris of 1856.
25
Sinking of the Dutch steamer Medea
On 25 March 1915 the German U-28 stopped the Dutch steamer Medea, carrying oranges for London, in the Channel, searched her and sank her by gunfire.
June
24
British act on exports to the Netherlands
On 24 June 1915 a British act came into force under which all exports to the Netherlands could be directed solely to the Netherlands Overseas Trust.
September
23
Agreement with the Netherlands Overseas Trust
On 23 September 1915 London and the Netherlands Overseas Trust agreed import limits on fodder, fats, oils and wool. The Netherlands was put on British rations.
December
07
Reports of a French agreement with the Netherlands Overseas Trust
The British chronology states that on 7 December 1915 France concluded an agreement with the Netherlands Overseas Trust. Other sources do not confirm this.
1916
February
02
Loss of Zeppelin L 19
On 2 February 1916 the airship L 19, back from a raid on the Midlands, sank in the North Sea. The trawler King Stephen refused to help; 16 airmen died.
June
30
New agreement with the Netherlands Overseas Trust
At the end of June 1916 London and the Netherlands Overseas Trust extended rationing to further goods, among them cocoa, tin, hides and asbestos.
1917
February
13
Arrest of Mata Hari
On 13 February 1917 French police arrested the dancer Mata Hari in a Paris hotel on suspicion of spying for Germany and locked her up in Saint-Lazare.
July
02
Hague agreement on prisoners of war
On 2 July 1917 Britain and Germany signed an agreement on prisoners at The Hague. The Netherlands offered places for 16,000 internees from both sides.
October
15
Key event
Execution of Mata Hari
On 15 October 1917 Mata Hari, a Dutch dancer convicted of spying for Germany, was shot at Vincennes. The evidence of her guilt is disputed to this day.
1918
January
04
Demand for the surrender of Dutch ships
On 4 January 1918 the British proposed that the Dutch charter 600,000 tons of shipping to the Allies in return for grain, fodder and coal.
March
07
Note on the Dutch ships
On 7 March 1918 Britain demanded that the Dutch hand the Allies their ships with no limits on waters, by 18 March. The Hague replied conditionally.
21
Requisition of Dutch ships
On 20–21 March 1918 the United States and Britain, invoking the right of angary, seized Dutch ships in their ports. The Netherlands protested.
May
02
Dutch sand and gravel agreement
In early May 1918 the Netherlands yielded to Germany and resumed the transit of sand and gravel to Belgium. The Allies said it went into concrete defences.
09
Allied trade committee in the Netherlands
In spring 1918 trade envoys of four Entente states formed a committee in The Hague to ensure that imports into the Netherlands did not go on to Germany.
June
06
Sinking of the Koningin Regentes
On 6 June 1918 the Dutch hospital ship Koningin Regentes, carrying prisoners for exchange, was torpedoed in the North Sea. Seven seamen were killed.
09
Hague conference on prisoners of war
In June 1918 a second Anglo-German conference on prisoners opened at The Hague. London sent the Home Secretary, George Cave.
July
15
British protest over Dutch sand
In mid-July 1918 London protested against the Dutch–German sand and gravel agreement. The Allies demanded control of the transit to Belgium.
November
10
Kaiser Wilhelm in the Netherlands
On 10 November 1918 Wilhelm II left Spa and crossed the Dutch border at Eijsden. The government of the neutral Netherlands granted him asylum.
28
Abdication of Wilhelm II
On 28 November 1918 at Amerongen Wilhelm II signed a renunciation of the crowns of Prussia and the Reich, 19 days after his abdication was announced in Berlin.