During the month of July tension rose in Europe after the murder of the Austrian Archduke.
To the cabinet of the Netherlands confronted with the information available it was clear that the great powers were heading to war. The Dutch Secretary of foreign affairs informed on July 27th his Belgian counter part if the Belgians want to discuss a joint action in case Germany would violate their neutrality. This time it were the Belgians who refused to talk, despite a proposal by Belguim for a combined Meuse defence initiative some years ago, which was then declined by the Netherlands. two days later the Belgian Cabinet was informed that the next day mobilization would be declared in the Netherlands and that the bridges crossing the river Meuse will be mined. This time a reaction came to discus a combined defense initiative.
The Netherlands, to protect their neutrality, deiced on July 31 ar 12 o'clock for a general mobilization.
This was a day earlier than Germany and two days earlier than France and Belgium.
The same day at 14:00 the mobilization order was made public.
In contrast of the mobilization of 1870 which was a shambles, this mobilization went excellent. The next day coastal and border units were complete and on place.
Since 1912 there were new filed gray uniforms for the field army and artillery, but the fortification troops still were dressed in dark blue uniforms.
The army it self was well equipped for the standards of the day. How ever a modernization plan was not executed. Main flaw of the Dutch army in 1914 was there limited size and limited numbers of machine guns and artillery.
On 3 August the field army had taken their positions, at the same day the Belgian government had received an ultimatum of the German government.
The German government, assuming not aware of the latest diplomatic relations between the two Low Countries, found out that it made by this as well an ultimatum toward the Netherlands.
The Belgian government refused the demands of the German ultimatum, while the Dutch Cabinet was still divided.
August 4th German troops violated Belgian and Dutch neutrality, prompting the British government to mobilize and to declare war on Germany.
In the night of 3 to 4 August German troops crossed the border of the Netherlands in the province of Limburg in their advance to Belgium. Dutch troops started to shoot at these for them unknown troops. In this very confusion night, short but fierce fierce fight evolved during the morning in some serious engagements. Despite the confusion, all bridges crossing the river Meuse were destroyed. Ill coordinated mutual defense lines were erected on Belgian soil by Dutch and Belgian troops.