Proclamation of the New Constitution of the Netherlands

Background. Johan Rudolph Thorbecke, a Dutch liberal statesman, became a leading figure in the charge for constitutional reform. His political writings in Leiden cemented this role. Elected to the House of Representatives in 1844, he made an unsuccessful attempt at constitutional reform as part of a group called the Negenmannen before the events of 1848.

The Reform Commission. On 17 March 1848, King William II appointed a commission to draft a constitutional revision. Thorbecke chaired this body, which included De Kempenaer, Storm, Donker Curtius, and Luzac. The commission completed its draft on 19 June, responding to the pressure of the Revolutions of 1848.

Proclamation and Impact. The draft was approved by the States General in amended form and proclaimed on 3 November 1848. It introduced civil rights, direct elections, and ministerial responsibility, limiting the King's power. This revision is often described as the original of the current constitution, establishing parliamentary democracy.