The Netherlands in the 16th and 17th centuries
The Netherlands is the traditional name of the area in northwestern Europe that corresponds approximately to the historical whole of the present Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) and the French departments of Nord, Pas-de-Calais, the county of Artesia and Picardy to the north of the Somme. From the fifteenth century, an ever-increasing number of regions in this area were under the control of the Burgundian Duke and, besides a geographical, also gained political significance.
Even after the breakdown of this greater political connection, individual parts remained known as the Netherlands: Northern Netherlands (since 1581)
The Princebisdom Liège is geographically located in the southern Netherlands, but was politically independent until 1795.
The Northern and Southern Netherlands were soon reunited as United Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815-1830).
In addition, cultural and linguistic considerations are: The Netherlands / Low Countries
The Netherlands is also a synonym for Low Countries, which is discussed in more detail in the Low Countries. Also see
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