The Netherlands had been a sovereign kingdom since 1813. Following the end of French rule, King William I [Willem I] ascended the throne at the invitation of the Dutch political leadership. During the French occupation, Napoleon had installed his brother Louis Bonaparte as King of Holland, and the country had formally been designated the Kingdom of Holland. In reality, however, it remained little more than a French satellite state and lacked genuine sovereignty.
The House of Orange-Nassau traced its origins to William of Orange, the leading nobleman of the Netherlands under the reign of King Philip II of Spain, when the Low Countries formed part of the vast Spanish Empire. William later became the principal architect of the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule, a conflict that evolved into the Eighty Years' War (1568–1648), also called the War of Independance; a revolt that ultimately resulted in Dutch independence.
Although the Dutch political elite had largely distanced itself from aristocratic traditions during the turbulent decades preceding the French conquest of 1795, the desire for a sovereign monarchy remained strong. Following the departure of the French, the Kingdom and its Royal House quickly became central institutions of Dutch national identity. From that moment onward, the monarchy enjoyed broad public support and occupied a prominent place in Dutch society.
In 1940, the Dutch throne was occupied by Queen Wilhelmina. She belonged to a generation of monarchs who exercised considerable personal influence and took a keen interest in affairs of state. Strong-willed and deeply committed to her constitutional responsibilities, she closely monitored government policy and did not hesitate to intervene when matters caused her concern. As a result, she was both respected and, at times, feared by political leaders.
The Royal House enjoyed widespread popularity among the Dutch population. In the Netherlands of 1940, the phrase “For Queen and Country” carried genuine meaning and resonance. Loyalty to the monarch was widely regarded as an integral part of patriotism and national service, far more so than would be the case in later generations.
On the fourth day of the war, General Winkelman, Commander-in-Chief of the Dutch armed forces, informed Queen Wilhelmina that he considered the military situation sufficiently grave to warrant her departure from the country. The Queen was not easily persuaded. She was unconvinced that distancing herself from the fate of the nation would benefit her people or convey the right message at such a critical moment.
Winkelman ultimately succeeded in convincing her that her responsibilities extended beyond the occupied homeland. The Kingdom of the Netherlands encompassed not only the European territory but also extensive overseas possessions whose interests required representation and leadership. Reluctantly accepting his advice, Queen Wilhelmina left the country at Hook of Holland, aboard the British destroyer HMS Hereward, and set foot on British soil in Harwich during the night, after which she was welcomed by the British King George. A day earlier the Dutch Crown Princess and here husband Prince Bernhard had left the country from the seaport of Ymuiden, on board the British destroyer HMS Codrington.
When the BBC announced later that afternoon that the Queen had safely arrived in England, the news spread rapidly through the Dutch defensive positions. The reaction among many soldiers was one of shock and dismay. To numerous troops, her departure appeared to signal that the struggle was nearing its end and that capitulation might be imminent.
The evacuation of both the Cabinet and the Royal Family was widely misunderstood at the front. Many soldiers interpreted it as an abandonment of the country at its moment of greatest peril. Few were in a position to appreciate the strategic considerations behind the decision, and many openly questioned for whom - or for what - they were now expected to continue fighting.
Yet the Netherlands of 1940 was far more than its small European territory. The Kingdom still governed the vast Netherlands East Indies, as well as Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles. In particular, the East Indies possessed immense economic resources and occupied a strategically important position in Asia. Preserving the continuity of the Dutch state and its legitimate government therefore carried significance well beyond the immediate fate of the homeland.
Such considerations, however, were far removed from the concerns of the average Dutch soldier in the trenches. Many struggled to reconcile continued resistance with the departure of the nation's political and royal leadership. The question was frequently asked: why continue to fight for Queen and Country when both appeared to have left Dutch soil?
The already fragile morale of the Dutch Army suffered a severe blow. Among officers and enlisted men alike, doubts about the purpose and prospects of continued resistance became increasingly difficult to suppress. For many, the struggle now seemed less about victory than about duty, honour, and the preservation of national dignity in the face of overwhelming odds