Messages

9736

Historical Discussion / Re: The Dutch at Waterloo

« on: November 15, 2012, 07:11:40 pm »

Compared to the French, British and Spanish and Portuguese empires, it was small. Just a bunch of islands, (the coast of) Suriname, a few fortresses and cities on the coast of Africa and current day Indonesia(Which didn't became a very big colony until AFTER the Napoleonic era). And a small Japanese island.

Compare that to Portugal: Brazil, multiple fortresses  and large colonies in Africa, lots of tiny islands in both the Atlantic and Indonesia, and a small Indian region.

Dutch wealth was found in trading, not in exploring their colonies. The 'big' expanding of the Dutch colonies didn't start until (Like I said) after the Napoleonics, when there was not enough wealth to be found in just trading.

9737

Historical Discussion / Re: The Dutch at Waterloo

« on: November 15, 2012, 06:42:17 pm »

You mean, if the French hadn't taken the Netherlands?

I think that would only be possible if the French had been totally defeated. It's a bit hard to explain, but the Revolutionaries wouldn't let a country with basically a royal family just 'be' on their northern border. They were exporting 'Freedom, equality and brothership' to Europa by force.

Don't forget the Netherlands got all their stuff back from GB after the war, with the exception of South Africa. Nevertheless, the Dutch never had a big empire.

9738

Nederlandstalig Forum / Re: Pas op voor Gelderlanders!

« on: November 15, 2012, 06:15:41 pm »

Ik heb hem na n halve minuut al weer uitgezet. Ik kreeg koppijn van die man.

En. Zo....Kunt.....U....Misschien....Hen....

Brrrrrrr!

9739

Historical Discussion / Re: Real War Stories

« on: November 15, 2012, 06:12:38 pm »

My grandmother was about nine or ten when the war was ending. She lived in the north of the Netherlands (Assen, to be precise).

At one point, as the allies were fighting themselves a way in, my grandmother and her family went into the shelter (Well, actually it was just the basement). Her older brother however, who wanted to see the fighting, went to the house of the local baker (from whose house you could see the battle more clearly). The bullets were flying trough the streets as he crossed it, but he did make it back alive. My grandmother also recalls German soldiers running trough her family backyard, to safety, as the allies were closing in.

When they were eventually liberated, there was a column of tanks kinda paraded on a square not far from her house. She, and many other children, went to see and greet the Canadian soldiers, and they received all sorts of sweets and chocolate.  They also got a Canadian soldier quartered in their house, by the name of Anthony, if I remember correctly. She remembered his name, even after all those years.

So, maybe not a cool fighting story, but just an eyewitness account from someone who means a lot to me. 

9740

Nederlandstalig Forum / Re: Stel jezelf voor

« on: November 15, 2012, 05:22:03 pm »

Avenge, waarom heb jij altijd meisjes (die zo'n slettefoto nemen) als je avatar, terwijl je 'n jongen bent?

Het is z'n vriendin! 

Dat heb ik wel vaker gehoord (bij verschillende foto's)

9741

Nederlandstalig Forum / Re: Stel jezelf voor

« on: November 15, 2012, 05:09:13 pm »

Avenge, waarom heb jij altijd meisjes (die zo'n slettefoto nemen) als je avatar, terwijl je 'n jongen bent?

9742

Historical Discussion / Re: Writing a book

« on: November 15, 2012, 03:32:12 pm »

Then do it! 

9743

Historical Discussion / Re: The Dutch at Waterloo

« on: November 15, 2012, 03:30:34 pm »

French was the lingua franca in high-class Europa at that time, much like English is now. The 'Belgian' regiments of the Dutch army for the the greatest part spoke French. The army list of the 8th hussars, for example, is written entirely in French.

9744

Historical Discussion / Re: Writing a book

« on: November 15, 2012, 03:29:07 pm »

I think I got about a page on my horse chasseur. Just him waking up on a marching day. I want it to be more like a memoria-style story then a real plot. Cos war isn't all existing and fun running around. Unlike what happens in the Sharpe books 

9745

Historical Discussion / Re: The Dutch at Waterloo

« on: November 15, 2012, 02:04:11 pm »

That would be:

"Kom mijn kamaraden! Laat ons onze sabels in deze Fransen steken! De overwinning is van ons!"

Or something close to that. 

9746

Historical Discussion / Re: Writing a book

« on: November 15, 2012, 02:02:59 pm »

sounds good.

Get online on steam, ya napoleonic skyrim lovah!

9747

Historical Discussion / Re: The Dutch at Waterloo

« on: November 15, 2012, 11:34:59 am »

"Come my comrades! Let us put our sabers to these Frenchmen! The victory is ours!" Quite inspiring eh?

But he did shout that in French...which is rather amusing! 

9748

Historical Discussion / Re: Writing a book

« on: November 15, 2012, 11:33:49 am »

I think, with my knowledge and experience as a re-enactor, I can help you with this 

I'm actually writing a small story myself on a horse chasseur. Well, I'm trying to, but I'm too impatient really. Only managed to write the opening scene.

I believe I still have you on steam. Talk to me there 

9749

Off Topic / Re: What state are you from?

« on: November 14, 2012, 03:50:37 pm »

I suppose the equivalence of a state in Britain is a kingdom, or perhaps a duchy? At any rate the Duchy of Devonshire I suppose. Or would it be districts???

As states could freely join the US (But not leave it), just like Scotland and England united, I'd say the countries of the UK are the same as states. Well, a bit...let's not get into political details.

I'm from the wonderful social and open-minded place called the Netherlands. South, to be exact.

9750

Historical Discussion / Re: Military experience?

« on: November 14, 2012, 02:47:05 pm »

I was planning on joining the Belgian Grenadiers.
But then I discoverd that I have idiopathische scoliose. Which basiclly demolished my chances

You might want to translate that into something understandable.