Changes

===1930s and World War II===

===1930s and World War II===

====Great Depression====

=====Great Depression=====During the 1930s the Netherlands, like other developed Western economies, suffered much from unemployment and the Depression.  The economy was based on trade and agriculture. there was some manufacturing, led by Unilever (soap), Shell (oil refining) and Philips (light bulbs).  World trade levels declines sharply, leaving the large Dutch merchant fleet with less business; one third of the ships were laid up.  Unemployment reached 17% in 1936, then began a slow decline.  GDP fell below the level of the prosperous 1920s.  The politically system continued to function normally, with Catholic and Calvinist religious parties in control. There was little mass unrest or Communist activity and the Socialist party remained weak.  

During the 1930s the Netherlands, like other developed Western economies, suffered much from unemployment and the Depression.  The economy was based on trade and agriculture. there was some manufacturing, led by Unilever (soap), Shell (oil refining) and Philips (light bulbs).  World trade levels declines sharply, leaving the large Dutch merchant fleet with less business; one third of the ships were laid up.  Unemployment reached 17% in 1936, then began a slow decline.  GDP fell below the level of the prosperous 1920s.  The politically system continued to function normally, with Catholic and Calvinist religious parties in control. There was little mass unrest or Communist activity and the Socialist party remained weak.  

=====Dutch East Indies=====  

====Dutch East Indies====  

In the overseas empire, especially the Dutch East Indies (later renamed [[Indonesia]]) the fall in commodity prices caused a sharp economic decline, as exports fell by two-thirds. Since a fourth of all Dutch wealth was invested there, investors were badly hurt. The colonial government pursued a policy of "indianization," which meant training more and more locals Indonesians for civil service jobs. There was no self government; a local council was only advisory to the governor. Demands for self-government were rising rapidly.  

In the overseas empire, especially the Dutch East Indies (later renamed [[Indonesia]]) the fall in commodity prices caused a sharp economic decline, as exports fell by two-thirds. Since a fourth of all Dutch wealth was invested there, investors were badly hurt. The colonial government pursued a policy of "indianization," which meant training more and more locals Indonesians for civil service jobs. There was no self government; a local council was only advisory to the governor. Demands for self-government were rising rapidly.  

=====Dutch fascism=====

====Dutch fascism====

A small fringe element of Dutch fascists existed from 1929 to 1940. They were inspired by Mussolini's Italy and was based on traditional corporate ideology. The movement was small, elitist, and consisted of competing bourgeois political associations. It was opposed by the Catholic Church. Nazi-style National Socialism, also existed as an even smaller fringe group; it failed to gain mass support because its ideology was alien to native Dutch political culture.  It too was opposed by the Catholic Church. <ref>Erik Hansen, "Fascism and Nazism in the Netherlands 1929-39." ''European Studies Review'' 1981 11(3): 355-385. Issn: 0014-3111  </ref>

A small fringe element of Dutch fascists existed from 1929 to 1940. They were inspired by Mussolini's Italy and was based on traditional corporate ideology. The movement was small, elitist, and consisted of competing bourgeois political associations. It was opposed by the Catholic Church. Nazi-style National Socialism, also existed as an even smaller fringe group; it failed to gain mass support because its ideology was alien to native Dutch political culture.  It too was opposed by the Catholic Church. <ref>Erik Hansen, "Fascism and Nazism in the Netherlands 1929-39." ''European Studies Review'' 1981 11(3): 355-385. Issn: 0014-3111  </ref>

====World War II====

====World War II====