The United Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815-1830): A case of failed European nation building?

Introduction: the historical “anomaly” of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands Research on the history of nationalism and nation building tends to favour national identities that exist in the present. Far less attention is usually given to national identities that have disappeared or have failed – so far at least – to become national states. The failed attempt to create a Greater-Netherlandish – or perhaps better formulated – to create a Netherlandish national identity for all the provinces .