The Netherlands if Germany won WW1

[Friedrich der Große]

What would happen to The Netherlands if Germany won WW1?

Would they get more land and/or colonies (could also be on the long run), which role would they play in Europe and the world if this alternative WW1 occured? And how would Dutch politics ánd the Dutch colonial empire develop?

Thoughts?

 

[SpicyJuan]

According to the Septeberprogramme, the Germans wanted to bring the Dutch in their sphere of influence with "close economic cooperation". Keep in mind though that many German nationalists wanted to bring the Dutch into the Empire as a constituent state. I can imagine you will have some influential politicians and generals advocate for a proposal that would give the Netherlands Flanders in exchange for joining the empire (Wallonia would become a militarized zone). The Dutch would most certainly refuse, though.

 

[Friedrich der Große]

According to the Septeberprogramme, the Germans wanted to bring the Dutch in their sphere of influence with "close economic cooperation". Keep in mind though that many German nationalists wanted to bring the Dutch into the Empire as a constituent state. I can imagine you will have some influential politicians and generals advocate for a proposal that would give the Netherlands Flanders in exchange for joining the empire (Wallonia would become a militarized zone). The Dutch would most certainly refuse, though.

Won’t they offer Flanders in exchange for joining the economic Mitteleuropa-union and a military alliance? Isn’t joining the empire too extreme?

And if you scenario happens, would the Germans react with an attack on The Netherlands?

 

[Janprimus]

Won’t they offer Flanders in exchange for joining the economic Mitteleuropa-union and a military alliance? Isn’t joining the empire too extreme?

And if you scenario happens, would the Germans react with an attack on The Netherlands?

Depends how grateful our eastern neighbours are. If it wasn't for the Dutch ports, the German Empire would have been crippled sooner. OTOH the Netherlands also was as safe haven for many Belgian refugees, they brought us the joy of Fries, fries are Belgian not French.

Joining the Empire might be step too far, but joining the Central European Union (Mitteleuropa-union), won't be much of a choice, given the state of the Dutch army. Flanders joining would be greeted by Catholics, Liberals and Socialists, but it will freak out the Protestants (them and the Belgians not getting along is something, which contributed to the Belgian Revolt, but that is Pre 1900). Maybe Brussel could again be a majority Dutch speaking town in this scenario....

 

[Lalli]

I don't think that the Netherlands would get any land or colonies more if then it doesn't join to the war which is bit unlikely.

The country anyway would become economically close with Germany and probably totally pro-German nation.

 

[Riain]

I think Germany's relatonship with the Netherlands would be different to the likes of Poland, the Baltics and other MittelEuropa states that would emerge from a CP victory because of the Netherlands East Indies, which the Germans would see as a massive strategic asset to the Greater German MittelEuropa. The German people weren't particularly interested in territory in the West, the gain in the East would satisfy that 'craving', as would the return of African colonies and payoff of British, French and Belgian colonies in the war settlements.

I think Germany would offer the Netherlands some sort of sweet deal to allow the Germans access to the NEI, and given Germany's hegemony on the Continent the Netherlands would accept.

 

[Aphrodite]

The Dutch will be reduced to a tributary state forced to pay the Germans for the privilege of joining the customs union

There is no reason to offer the Dutch anything. With France subjugated, there would be no power to keep the Germans from occupying the Netherlands in a matter of days. The Dutch would understand this and not offer futile resistance.