Queen Whilemina dies in Childbirth; German Neatherlands?

So Wilhelmina and Juliana die, war of the Dutch succession?

EDIT: Of course, I spell her name wrong in the title. <_<
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelmina_of_the_Netherlands#Marriage_and_succession

Wilhelmina was enthroned on 6 September 1898.[2] On 7 February 1901 in The Hague, she married Duke Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Wilhelmina suffered miscarriages in 1901 and 1906, and gave birth to a stillborn son in 1902.[3] During this time period, Wilhelmina's heir presumptive was her first cousin once-removed William Ernest, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, and secondly his aunt (and Wilhelmina's cousin) Princess Marie Alexandrine of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. As it was assumed that the former would renounce his claim to the Dutch throne, and that the latter was too elderly and sickly to ascend, Marie Alexandrine's eldest son Prince Heinrich XXXII Reuss of Köstritz stood in line to succeed Wilhelmina, barring she had no surviving children. As Heinrich was a German prince with close associations to the Imperial family and military, there were fears that were the Queen to remain childless, the Dutch Crown "was bound to pass into the possession of a German prince, whose birth, training, and affiliations would naturally have led him to bring Holland within the sphere of the German Empire, at the expense of her independence, both national and economic," according to one publication during that time.[4] The birth of Juliana, on 30 April 1909, was met with great relief after eight years of childless marriage.[5] Wilhelmina suffered two further miscarriages in 1912.[3]
 
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The Netherlands had clearly been seperated from the Holy Roman Empire of German Nations in 1648 through the Westphalian Peace ending the 30 Years War, the succenssion of a German Monarch wouldn't have changed that since the Netherlands were a constitutional monarchy so even if the monarch would have wanted the Netherlands to strengthen their ties with the German Empire, it's the parliament that would have had to decide the matter in question and I doubt that the Netherlands becoming part of the German Empire would have found any sizable support there.
 
Even if that new monarch would lead the Netherlands more into the German sphere of influence, what difference would that make? The Netherlands already were closely linked to Germany, IMHO.

As discussed in this forum once, officially neutral Netherlands allowing international trade for Germany in case of war/sea blockade are a lot more useful than the small Dutch army fighting with the Germans.
 
Even if that new monarch would lead the Netherlands more into the German sphere of influence, what difference would that make? The Netherlands already were closely linked to Germany, IMHO.

As discussed in this forum once, officially neutral Netherlands allowing international trade for Germany in case of war/sea blockade are a lot more useful than the small Dutch army fighting with the Germans.

That's hindsight. How well was that understood at the time? Five years for the butterflies to flap their wings, major players will make different calculations if they believe there's a serious possibility the Netherlands will side with the Germans in a general war.
 
So Wilhelmina and Juliana die, war of the Dutch succession?

EDIT: Of course, I spell her name wrong in the title. <_<
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelmina_of_the_Netherlands#Marriage_and_succession

Personally I think it suddenly becomes more likely that we see a Dutch republic. But if not, it will be demanded that the new monarch breaks all its ties with Germany (a personal union is not possible, it is in the Dutch law). The Netherlands will of course remain an independent nation, but closer ties to Germany are possible. But German-Dutch ties were already pretty close. Although the Dutch monarchs had far more influence than they have now, the Netherlands was a democracy. Still looking at the influence Wilhelmina had on Dutch policy during World War one, Dutch involvement could be possible. Maybe the new king will manage to convince the Dutch government to join forces with the Germans, but the opposite is also possible. To convince the Dutch people the new king isn't a German, he starts a more anti-German course.
 
Considering the King barely had any power at that point, and ministers could freely disregard any of his 'advice', I wouldn't think this would matter all that much.
Wilhelmina had considerable influence, yes, but she had been Queen for most of her life and was a native.
 
No one sees immediate war as an outcome?

This implies Heinrich was liked enough by the Dutch to inherit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Heinrich_XXXII_Reuss_of_Köstritz

But wouldn't the French rattle their saber over the issue? Without the hindsight of today would they be as sanguine over the possibility of a German Prince inheriting the Dutch throne? Maybe we'd see a violation of Belgian neutrality as the French invade the Netherlands? :eek:
 
No one sees immediate war as an outcome?

This implies Heinrich was liked enough by the Dutch to inherit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Heinrich_XXXII_Reuss_of_Köstritz

But wouldn't the French rattle their saber over the issue? Without the hindsight of today would they be as sanguine over the possibility of a German Prince inheriting the Dutch throne? Maybe we'd see a violation of Belgian neutrality as the French invade the Netherlands? :eek:
War? This isn't the 18th century. Kings (and certainly a Dutch king) have a lot less power within countries than 200 years before. People won't go war for some inheritance question anymore. At least not in this kind of situation.
 
War? This isn't the 18th century. Kings (and certainly a Dutch king) have a lot less power within countries than 200 years before. People won't go war for some inheritance question anymore. At least not in this kind of situation.

France objected quite vehemently to the idea of a Hohenzollern in Spain didn't they?
 
Personally I think that, given the pillarization of the Dutch society (at random order Protestant, Socialist, Catholic and Liberal pillar), a republic will be their last option.
However this German prince will have a lot less credit than the previous 'native' house of Oranje-Nassau, and I suspect a weaker monarchy and a continued policy of neutrality.
 
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