Bronze Age peoples live in the Netherlands region

Iron Age period in which the Germanic tribes and the Celtic peoples arrived

The Roman Empire under Julius Caesar invades the southern Netherlands and takes control

A tribe called the Frisians have settled much of the area

The Romans are overthrown by Germanic tribes. Peoples such as the Saxons, Franks, Angles, and Jutes settle the land

Charlemagne becomes King of the Franks. His empire expands to include the Netherlands

The Vikings arrive raiding towns and cities along the coast. They settle in some areas

The name Holland first appears in a legal document describing a region that would later become known as the County of Holland

The Burgundian Period when most of the Netherlands was united under the rule of the Duke of Burgundy

The Habsburg Period when the region was ruled by the Habsburg Empire

Dutch philosopher Erasmus writes The Praise of Folly

The start of the Eighty Years' War when the Dutch, led by William I the Prince of Orange, revolted against the Habsburg Empire which was ruled by King Philip II of Spain

The Dutch declare their independence from Spain and the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands is established

The Dutch East India Company is formed

Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn paints his most famous painting, The Night Watch

The Eighty Years' War comes to an end with the Peace of Munster. The Dutch Republic is recognized by Spain as an independent country

The Dutch go to war against the English

King William of Orange and Queen Mary become rulers

The French army invades and takes over. The Batavian Republic is declared

French emperor, Napoleon, makes his brother, Louis, King of the Netherlands

Napoleon and the French are defeated, the United Kingdom of the Netherlands is declared. It includes Belgium and has two capitals: Brussels and Amsterdam

Belgium rebels and breaks away forming its own country

Famous painter Vincent van Gogh is born

The First Hague Peace Conference is held between many of the world powers in an effort to avoid war

World War I begins. The Netherlands remains neutral

Women gain the right to vote

World War II begins. The Netherlands once again tries to remain neutral

Germany invades and occupies the Netherlands

Jewish people are rounded up and sent to concentration camps by Nazi police

Anne Frank is caught by the Nazis and sent to Auschwitz concentration camp

World War II comes to an end. The Netherlands joins the United Nations

The International Court of Justice is established at The Hague

The Netherlands joins NATO, no longer keeping its policy of neutrality

The North Sea Flood kills over 1,800 people. The government starts construction on the Delta Works, a series of dams and levees, to prevent future flooding

Independence is granted to the Dutch colony of Surinam

Beatrix becomes queen when Queen Juliana abdicates her throne

A great flood causes a state of emergency and hundreds of thousands of people are evacuated

The Delta Works are completed

The Euro replaces the Dutch guilder as the official currency