A History of the Low Countries

Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg are three relatively small countries whose contribution to Europe's economic, spiritual and artistic heritage has been immense. Their histories cannot be written in isolation from one another, or from their neighbours. In the first full historical survey of the Benelux area to be written in English, Paul Arblaster describes the whole sweep of the history of the Low Countries, from Roman frontier provinces through to the establishment of the three constitutional monarchies of the present day. In this revised and updated new edition, Arblaster: a- incorporates the latest scholarship and recent events, bringing the story right up to today a- provides fresh coverage of immigration, multiculturalism, and the resurgence of nationalism in the Low Countries a- offers a brief discussion of the rise of secularism in Western Europe and how this has affected the Benelux region a- outlines the countries' recent economic successes and failures a- includes a new list of political parties and governments since 1918 A History of the Low Countries is ideal for those seeking a concise and readable introduction to the history of a region which, for centuries, has been at the crossroads of Western Europe.