NETHERLANDS

Face value � 2 � guilder
Metal � nickel
Mintage � 25 mln. pieces
In circulation since 1979

The Union of Utrecht

The Union of Utrecht (Dutch: Unie van Utrecht) is a treaty signed on January 23, 1579 in Utrecht, the Netherlands, unifying the northern provinces of the Netherlands, until then under control of Spain. The Union of Utrecht is regarded as the foundation of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands, which was not recognized internationally until the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 ended the Eighty Years' War.
The treaty was signed on January 23 by Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht (but not entire Utrecht) and the province (but not the city) of Groningen.
The treaty was a reaction of the Protestant provinces to the 1579 Union of Arras (Dutch: Unie van Atrecht), in which the southern provinces (most of them now part of Wallonia) declared their support for the Catholic Spanish.
On February 4, Ghent also signed. In March some cities from Friesland joined it, as well as 3 of the 4 quarters of Guelders. In the summer, Amersfoort from the province of Utrecht also joined, together with Ypres, Antwerp, Breda and Brussels. In February 1580 Lier, Bruges and the surrounding area also signed the Union. The city of Groningen shifted from contra to pro under influence of the stadtholder for Friesland, George van Rennenberg, and also signed the treaty.
Later on, Zutphen also signed so Guelders (of which Zutphen is one of the quarters) supported the Union completely. This happened in April 1580, as did the signing of Overijssel and Drenthe.