Dutch troops in England, 1688–1699
During the English Glorious Revolution of 1688–1699, Dutch troops led by William of Orange were deployed on English soil. With the aim of securing English military resources during the Nine Years' War, William of Orange landed at Brixham on 5 November 1688.
Background
Three battalions of the Dutch Blue Guards and supporting cavalry, under Count Solms, were sent ahead by William to secure London and entered the city on the night of the 17th of December. They secured the posts at St James's Palace without much difficulty and then marched to Whitehall in battle formation with matches lit for action. King James was going to bed around 23:00, when he heard of their presence in St James's Park. James thought that there was a mistake, because William hadn't informed him of this and so he sent a messenger to Solms. The Dutch general demanded that his troops would be allowed into Whitehall, but the king was unwilling to allow that. After arguing in vain, James realised that he had little choice and he ordered his Coldstream Guards to leave the palace. William Craven, 1st [Earl of Craven |William Craven], commander of those coldstream guard was offered a peaceful retirement by the Solms.James's own companies harboured suspicions toward the new sentinels, prompting them to seek assurance from James regarding the safety of him. In response, James, affected by the apathy induced by a series of disasters, remarked that the Dutch could scarcely treat him worse than his own subjects had. Following the occupation of Whitehall, Westminster, and St James Palace, the Dutch forces, to the 'disgust of the English soldiers', proceeded to march into London. Subsequently, the Dutch troops dispersed throughout the suburbs, securing areas such as Chelsea, Kensington, and adjoining districts.
Troops
The largest Dutch regiments were stationed in Woolwich, Kensington, Chelsea, Paddington, and Richmond.While King James was initially instructed to go to Rochester on December 22, he discreetly exited through a backdoor, which William ordered to be left unguarded. He then boarded a boat that transported him to France. He took residence in the palace at St. Germain-en-Laye, where Louis XIV installed him and treated him with all due ceremony as a king. There was a notable increase in anti-Catholic sentiment. This sentiment gained momentum as Protestants perceived a resurgence of their influence, leading to instances where mobs openly insulted individuals adhering to the Catholic faith. William, who opposed this escalating hostility, responded by delivering a speech in which he articulated his desire to convene a free parliament. In the speech, he emphasized the importance of preserving the Protestant religion, reinstating the rights and liberties of the kingdom, and ensuring their stability to prevent future subversion.
In January 1689, a new parliament was elected. The newly established parliament, although formally constituted, faced limitations in its autonomy, as it accepted William as king he still made most of the decisions, even despite the dual rulership with Mary, William retained a predominant share of power, with Mary assuming a more submissive role. William of Orange was aware of this fact. The anti-Dutch sentiment in London became particularly noticeable by April 1689, primarily attributed to the substantial presence of Dutch soldiers. This sentiment intensified to the extent that by the summer, it evolved into a significant political factor in its own right.