The Netherlands Key Terms

Low Countries

The seventeen provinces that make up present day Belgium and the Netherlands (and Luxembourg).

Philip II

son of Charles V, took overpower from his father in 1556 Ater the Protestant Reformation. Grew up in Spain: Catholic.

Iconoclasm

destruction of religious images (usually associated with the Protestant reformation and common people taking matters into their own hands, also seen as an act Calvinists took part it.)

Duke of Alva

Under Philip II command, helped send 20,000 troops to low country for the “pacification (what he saw as a ruthless extermination) of religious or political opponents.

“Council of Blood”

A tribunal established by the Duke of Alva in the Netherlands during the Dutch revolt, harshly punished suspected Dutch Protestant rebels in order to stop the Dutch revolt

Union of Utrecht

Seven nothern provinces in the Netherlands led by Holland formed it in 1581, declared their independence from Spain, north was Protestant, and south was Catholic.

Stadholder

The executive office in each of the United Provinces of the Netherlands (Dutch), a position often held by the princes of Orange.

House of Orange

in the Netherlands (Dutch), usually held office of stadholder in several provinces, tension between HoO and staunchly republican estates.