Farmers pelting city dwellers with stones. Fishermen storming a town hall. Upside-down flags and the Prince's flag (the historic Dutch flag) flying from church towers as symbols of rebellion against the democratic decisions made in The Hague. It could have been part of news reports from 2025, but it all took place in 1799.
‘We are talking about a time when citizens demanded more say. In the Netherlands, this was expressed by the Patriot movement (1781-1787), among others,’ explains Rosendaal. ‘Then the French Revolution (1789) broke out, and that spirit of liberty, equality and fraternity led to the Batavian Revolution in 1795. That was the moment when the regents and Stadtholder William V, Prince of Orange, were deposed.’
Nevertheless, division and discontent continued to grow. This was evident from the two coups that took place in 1798. ‘The first, in January, was carried out by radical revolutionaries who used it to force the Batavian Republic to adopt the first Dutch constitution. The Netherlands became a unitary state with a democratically elected government and separation of church and state.’ Barely six months later, another coup d'état followed. ‘This time by more moderate revolutionaries who reversed the radicalism.’
Letters with citric acid
Meanwhile, the deposed and exiled rulers, including Crown Prince Willem Frederik (son of Stadtholder Willem V), sensed an opportunity to regain power. In Berlin, the Crown Prince planned to restore the old order through a counter-revolution with English, Prussian, and Russian help. And that is where the Orange Conspiracy began. ‘William Frederick builds a network of former regents and military personnel who, under strict secrecy, commit themselves to his takeover,’ says Rosendaal. To avoid detection, they write letters to each other in code or with citric acid, which makes the ink suddenly invisible. Meanwhile, they gauge the discontent in the Netherlands and spy on the Dutch fleet. Some officers appear willing to commit treason and join the English when the time comes.
In the summer of 1799, almost everyone is ready to go, but Prussia still cannot be persuaded to supply troops. Time is running out and at the end of August, the British government and the conspirators proceed with an invasion. Twenty-four thousand British and eighteen thousand Russian soldiers arrive off the coast of Den Helder, while a small army invades the Batavian Republic in the Achterhoek and Twente regions. It soon becomes apparent that support for the counter-revolution is much less than previously estimated. ‘There is some enthusiasm in the countryside, but not at all in the cities. In Gelderland, for example, the civil militia of Arnhem sets out to crush the uprising in the Achterhoek.’
Meanwhile, in North Holland, Batavian and French soldiers are trying to drive the English and Russian armies out of the country. “This takes place during very bloody battles in which thousands of soldiers on both sides are killed and which are fought on the beach, in the dunes and between ditches and marshy polder land, which only makes the fighting even more difficult.” On 6 October, the decision is made during the Battle of Castricum. The English lose again and capitulate on 18 October. With that, the Orange conspiracy has failed. For now, at least, but more on that later...
An intimate glimpse into political decision-making
The parallels between 1799 and 2025 are striking, Rosendaal believes. 'Think of the discontent about ‘what they decide in The Hague’ and the struggle between town and country. Farmers and fishermen rallied behind the old order with traditional values, while townspeople advocated a society based on equality and democracy. This leads to increasing aggression: freedom trees – symbols of democracy in 1799 – being cut down or burned, women throwing stones at Arnhem citizens, or farmers storming the town hall. Sometimes I wondered whether this happened 225 years ago or whether I saw it yesterday on the news.'
Although the coup failed, the conspiracy succeeded in remaining under the radar. In fact, Rosendaal only stumbled upon the conspiracy about five years ago when he was asked to write something about the Batavian-French period in Gelderland. “Orangist August Robbert Baron van Heeckeren van Suideras was one of the Orangists who invaded the Achterhoek in 1799, and through letters he sent, I discovered that there are many more letters and that van Suideras was only one person involved in a much larger conspiracy.”
These letters provide a remarkably intimate insight into political decision-making at the highest level. “Like a fly on the wall, you suddenly find yourself in the room with Willem Frederik as he unfolds his plans in the presence of his wife and children. Compare it to the discussion between Trump and Musk in the Oval Office, where Musk's son was also present.” Rosendaal gives another example. ‘The French want to arrest a pro-Orange ferryman in Hedel, near Den Bosch, after he stopped French troops by halting the ferry. This comes to the attention of the King of Prussia, who immediately writes a letter to ensure that the man is saved. This is somewhat reminiscent of the recent talks between diplomats to free people on an activist boat to Gaza.’
But did the conspiracy fail?
As mentioned, the English and the heir apparent withdrew at the end of 1799. Two years later, the House of Orange renounced all claims to power in the Netherlands. But did that mean their plan was dead in the water? It doesn't seem so. ‘We know that Willem Frederik returned to Dutch soil in 1813 and eventually became the first king of the Netherlands. It seems that a number of members of the 1799 conspiracy were reactivated some fifteen years later. Many of those involved in 1799 were later ennobled or given other high positions.’ Rosendaal is also curious about the role of the English. “In the Netherlands, we see 1813 as the year of our renewed sovereignty, but I believe that the role of the British in this was much greater than has been recorded in the history books to date. Was the Netherlands truly independent again, or did it become more of a 'puppet” of the English? I would like to investigate this further. '
Joost Rosendaal | Het Oranjecomplot. De strijd om Nederland in 1799 | Boom Publishers
Image: The Battle of Castricum, depicted by Charles Rochussen. Source: Wikimedia Commons
