The four books will be published through the 'print on demand' format.
Volume One: From mobilisation to war Volume One is planned for publication in Summer of 2012.
Volume One deals with the endeavours of the Netherlands army from the middle of March to the middle of June 1815.
The first day of the opening of hostilities on 15th June also forms a major part of this volume.
It will amongst other include:
# A brief introduction provides background information how Belgium became a part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands.
# A detailed description is given on the plans formulated by the Netherlands General Staff for a stretegic defence of Belgium in 1814 and 1815.
# The mobilisation and following initial concentration of the army along the Meuse river, between Maastricht and Louvain, close to the Prussian army
of the Lower Rhine is described in detail.
# An elaborate description is given on the negociations between the Netherlands government and her British allies, who both had different opinions before the arrival
of the Duke of Wellington on how to defend the Netherlands. When a mutual strategy was agreed, King Willem also approved the Prussian army to enter the Netherlands
territory of Belgium, and the Netherlands army took up positions along the border with France.
# Seperate chapters provide information how the young Netherlands army prepared itself for the planned invasion of France, and details are given of the experience
of every day life in the army.
# When the Duke of Wellington issued his defensive strategy in the Secret Memorandum of April 1815, the Netherlands army formulated detailed plans to be prepared for any possible
French invasion. These plans are given great attention, as they also provide a better understanding on the events of 15th and 16th June, leading up to the Battle of
Quatre Bras.
# The troublesome relationship between the Netherlands government and the exiled French King Louis XVIII is described in detail.
Volume One is illustrated with numerous maps showing the changing cantonments of the Netherlands army throughout this period from March to June, and also provides
a number of fine contemporary portraits from Netherlands officers and government members who played an active role during the 1815 campaign. Furthermore the content
of each chapter in Volume One is enriched with many eye-witness acounts.
All the information provided in this first volume will give the enthusiastic Napoleonic reader an enhanced understanding of the 1815 campaign.
Volume Two: The Battle of Quatre Bras Volume Two is planned for publication in Spring 2013.
Volume Two deals primarily with the participation of the Netherlands army in the Battle of Quatre Bras, being the 2nd Division commanded by Lieutenant-General
Perponcher-Sedlnitsky, the 2nd Light Cavalry Brigade commanded by Major-General van Merlen, and their attached artillery.
It will further amongst other include:
# The events of Prince Frederik's 2nd Netherlands Corps are described, which was part of General Hill's 2nd Army Corps.
# The panic behind the lines about the French invasion is described, amongst other with Netherlands garrison troops at Ghent.
# In several chapters the specific part played by the Netherlands troops during the Battle of Quatre Bras will be described in detail, based on dozens of
eye-witness accounts from both the Netherlands and Allied armies, as well as from the French army.
# This second volume is not merely a soldiers story of the fighting on 16th June, but throughout the book the stategic background leading
up to the Battle of Quatre Bras will be an important element as well.
# The most complete order of battle hitherto published for the Netherlands army involved during 15th to 18th June 1815.
Volume Two is accompanied with detailed maps on the troop positions during 16th June and with particular attention on how the Battle of Quatre Bras developed. Like in
the first, this volume provides numerous portraits from Netherlands officers and soldiers who fought in the battle.
Volume Three: The Battle of Waterloo Volume Three is planned for publication in Spring 2014.
Volume Three deals with the events of the Netherlands field army on 17th June and 18th June.
It will amongst other include:
# The retreat on 17th June of the 2nd and 3rd Netherlands Division and the Cavalry Division to Mont St. Jean.
# The deployment of Prince Frederik's troops at Halle on 17th June and its further events the next day.
# In several chapters the specific part played by the Netherlands troops during the Battle of Waterloo will be described in detail, based on dozens of
eye-witness accounts from both the Netherlands and Allied armies, as well as from the French army.
# The attack of Comte d'Erlon's 1st Corps and the involvement of Major-General van Bijlandt.
# The defence of the area around Papelotte and La Haye by the Nassau troops commanded by Colonel Prince von Sachsen-Weimar.
# The various actions of the cavalry commanded by Lieutenant-General Collaert.
# The support of 3rd Netherlands Division in the counter attack against the Imperial Guard at the culmination of the battle.
# The combined horse artillery batteries of Captains Gey and Petter behind Hougoumont.
# The involvement of Captain Esau's pontooneer company in clearing the road to Waterloo from debris, carts and wagons to ensure supplies.
# The strain on the medical services, commanded by Surgeon 1st Clas Mergell.
# This third volume is not merely a soldiers story for the events and the fighting on 17th and 18th June, but throughout the book the stategic background leading
up to the Battle of Waterloo will be an important element as well.
# The most complete casualty list hitherto published for the Netherlands army involved during 15th to 18th June 1815.
Volume Three is accompanied with detailed maps on the troop positions during 17th and 18th June and with particular attention on how the Battle of Waterloo developed.
Like in the previous volumes, this one provides numerous portraits from Netherlands officers and soldiers who fought in the battle.
Volume Four: Invasion Volume Four is planned for publication in Spring 2015.
Volume Four deals with the invasion of France by the Allied and Prussian armies, and inparticular the investment, sieges and occupation of various French fortresses
by the Netherlands field army.
Further information on the fourth volume will be published here within the next weeks.
