United Kingdom of the Netherlands

Frederik I of Oranje Nassau King of the Netherlands, Portrait when he inhereted the throne of his father King Willem I in favour of his older brother Willem.

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Modern units of the Royal Dutch Navy.
The Royal navy started to modernise its fleet after the constitutional crisses of 1864. This crises was a major dispute between King Frederik I and the Cabinet for the modernisation and reformation of the army and navy, which were serious neglected.
The first ironclads were ordered on English and French shipyards, but soon ships were build on shipyards in the Netherlands and build with iron and guns produced in the Netherlands.
After the war of 1870-1871 a fleet law was passed parlaiment which garanteed a minimum level of the fleet.
The Prinsen class battleships were the last battleships who entered the navy and the Admiralen class armoured cruisers were the fast armoured scouts of the fleet. A novelty of this ships was the single caliber main armamend. Most of the fleet patroled the Indonesian archipel.

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After a four weeks trip through Zuid Afrika the Royal couple entered in Kaapstad the mailboat SS Willem I from the SMN shipping company from Amsterdam.
After a calm voyage the SS Willem I reached Batavia, capital of the Netherlands Indies. The King and Queen were welcomed by the Governor General van Heutz. After a week rest at the Gouvernors palace at Buitenzorg, a six weeks journy started throughout the Archipell, visiting many places on Java, Celebes and many other islands. Special stops were made on the island Biliton were the King was informed of the Tin mining over there. After numerous visits to plantations, hospitals, schools endless row of dinners, sourees and a few balls the Royal couple took a small retreet on Balli before they began on the home journey. After a last great ball at Buitenzorg the King and Queen left Insulinde on board the SS Johan de Witt. This time the voyage went first to Ceylon wer the couple was guest of the British vice governor, then direct though the Suez canal to the Netherlands, with some stops in Egypt were the King was guest of the Britsh Governor and made a sight seeing trip to the piramids. And finaly the King and Queen returned, to much relief of the prime minister safe back in Antwerp.
 
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