THE NETHERLANDS AND BELGIUM

 THE NETHERLANDS AND BELGIUM

The Belgians and the Dutch were united under King Willem I for 15 years but the Belgian elite find the Dutch religious, economic and political dominance unacceptable and thus the Belgians revolt against the Dutch dominance in 1830.
King Willem I fears for his throne if the borders are not brought back to that of the old republic.
In January 1831 the King agrees to separate the countries on the premise of the old borders but the Belgians refuse.
Prince Leopold of Saksen Coburg is crowned King of the Belgians on the 21st the of July 1831 and King Willem sees this as an act of war. He gives Leopold an ultimatum.

On the 2nd August 1831 the Dutch attack the Belgians, the Dutch crown prince Willem, the Prince of Orange is in command of the troops. He leads the army into battle at Ravels on august 3rd.
The battle of Bautersem took place on the last day, august 12th near the city of Leuven. Here the horse of the Prince was shot down by a cannonball the Prince was unharmed.
The Prince tried to avoid a conflict with the French and after intervention of the British minister a truce was settled on the 12th of August. the whole campaign lasted only tien days.
The last Dutch troops withdrew from Belgium on August 20th and Belgium became a country with a constitutional monarchy. The Dutch Royal House of Orange have been banned from ever taking up the Belgian throne at anytime in the future.

Here are two cup and saucers made of Brussels porcelain to commemorate these battles:

the prince of Orange during the campaign

cup and saucer to commemorate the battle at Bautersem

cup and saucer to commemorate the battle at Ravels