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decades of the 20th century: 1967 2000
The last decades of the twentieth century: 1967 - 2000
1967
Political changes
The general election of 1967
brings the confessional parties their first defeat in
many years. Among the winners is Democrats '66 (D
'66), a new party advocating a more transparent
two-party system and an elected Prime Minister. As
the three confessional parties continue to lose
votes, they decide to join forces and in 1980 form a
new party, the Christian Democratic Alliance
(CDA).Read more
1973
Oil crisis
The first oil crisis puts an
end to a quarter of a century of rapid economic
growth. Investment declines and unemployment begins
to rise. The country and its politicians have
problems in adjusting. The second oil crisis in 1979
causes severe economic difficulties.Read more
1975
Independence for Suriname
Suriname passed into Dutch
hands in 1667, under the peace that ended the Second
Anglo-Dutch War. For many years, its economy depended
on tobacco and sugar plantations. When slavery was
abolished in 1863, the plantations turned to India
and the Dutch East Indies (mainly Java) for
indentured labourers.Read more
1980
Abdication of Queen Juliana
In 1980, Queen Juliana
abdicates in favour of her daughter. The investiture
of Queen Beatrix in Amsterdam triggers riots similar
to those at her wedding. This time the cause is
squatters protesting at the housing shortage in the
city. Back in the 1960s many empty premises had been
'squatted' (occupied) in protest at housing policies
in the major cities.Read more
1982
The Wassenaar Agreement
After some years of political
and socioeconomic confusion, a coalition of Christian
democrats and liberals embark on a radical review of
government finances and the social security system.
In the Wassenaar Agreement, government and the social
partners agree on pay restraint to strengthen the
position of Dutch exports.Read more
1989
Coalition of social democrats and Christian
democrats
After seven years, the
coalition between the Christian democrats and the
liberals breaks down. The social democrats are by now
prepared to get into government at any price and form
a governing coalition with the Christian democrats.
Cut-backs in the social security system continue
despite protest from the social democratic grassroots
and the trade union movement.Read more
1994
The first 'purple' coalition
The 1994 general election
changes the face of Dutch politics. The Christian
democrats lose 20 seats to the social democrats' 12,
making the latter the biggest party in parliament. A
new coalition is agreed between liberals, social
democrats and the left. This first ever 'purple'
coalition relegates the Christian democrats to the
opposition for the first time in half a
century.Read more
1996
The polder model
In the autumn of 1996, the
foreign press discovers the 'polder model'. Articles
appear lauding Dutch government reforms of the
economy and the social security system. Employment is
expanding even faster than in the US, partly due to
sustained pay restraint and a flexible labour
market.Read more
1998
The second 'purple' coalition
'Purple' wins the election. The
policies of the second 'purple' coalition include
measures designed to strengthen the economy by
improving the efficiency of product, service, capital
and labour markets. Improved operation of the markets
encourages entrepreneurs to reduce prices and to
supply new and improved products and services.Read more
2000
The start of the 21st century
As the new millennium dawned,
all was going well with the Dutch economy. Average
economic growth in 2000 was 3.9%. Other countries
were enthusiastic about the Dutch ‘polder
model’. But at home the policies of the second
‘purple’ coalition (social democrats and
right and left-leaning liberals) were attracting
criticism. In May 2000, a huge explosion in Enschede
shook the country.Read more
Instituut voor Nederlandse Geschiedenis
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2509 LT Den Haag
Tel.: (070) 315 64 00
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E-mail: webmaster@inghist.nl
Internet: www.inghist.nl
Prins Willem-Alexanderhof 5
Postbus 90755
2509 LT Den Haag
Tel.: (070) 315 64 00
Fax: (070) 385 40 98
E-mail: webmaster@inghist.nl
Internet: www.inghist.nl
