Medieval Netherlands

Medieval Netherlands

The name Netherlands was originially given to those low-lying areas of the Roman Empire which trimmed the Rhine, Scheldt & Meuse rivers. The Netherlands were briefly under control of the Spanish. However, by the end of the 16th century the House of Orange had won independence from Spain. Independence was officially recognized by the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648 with the culmination of the Thirty Years' War. [BM] {UA}