Adams Secures the First Major Recognition of American Independence by a Non-Belligerant Power and Rejoices in the “great event which was yesterday finally concluded”

He calls on providence for “the mutual prosperity, and the permanent establishment of the Liberties of both Nations”

Support for the American Revolution was strong in the Netherlands, where the ideas of ‘The Age of Reason’ were extremely popular and hopes for greater freedom were excited. After France recognized the new American republic in 1778 and declared war on England, a strong party developed that wanted the Dutch government to follow the same policy. But the Netherlands and Great Britain had been official allies for a hundred years and this pro-American policy was not universal. The Netherlands was composed of sovereign provinces that had united to form a federal government. Provincial legislatures controlled by long established local families elected representatives and sent them to the States-General that was the parliament of the nation. The head of state was the hereditary “crowned” ruler of the Dutch Republic. Caution if not opposition existed in both the ruling families in the provinces, who were concerned that freedom would erode their power, and in the Stadholder, William of Orange, who was reluctant to offend his cousin, the British King. Moreover, Dutch commercial interests, though in principle favoring American independence, were worried about losing the profitable trade they carried on with the fledgling U.S. from their holdings in the West Indies. An alliance with America might imperil that trade, since British sea power could easily disrupt it.

In January 1781, John Adams arrived as Minister to the Netherlands and was charged with the task of obtaining political and financial support in the form of a treaty of friendship and commerce. His initial task in Holland was to persuade the Dutch government to recognize him as the formal diplomatic representative of the United States. He met with formidable obstacles, not the least of which was that Count Vergennes, the French foreign minister, was working behind the scenes to block Dutch recognition and thus maximize American dependence on France. The war was not going well at home either, and the simple military facts hindered his mission. So in the spring, Adams made a daring move and went out of diplomatic channels with an appeal direct to the States General and the Dutch people. On April 19, he wrote a 16-page letter proposing that the two countries enter into a treaty, suggesting that such a treaty would result in profitable trade relations and considerable financial gain for the Netherlands. He also drew parallels between the American and Dutch Republics, writing “In the liberality of sentiments in those momentous points of freedom of inquiry, the right of private judgment and the liberty of conscience…the two nations resemble each other more than any other.” The document was translated into English, French and Dutch and widely distributed as a pamphlet. In the words of biographer David McCullough, when the Dutch government refused to accept his diplomatic credentials, Adams “took his case to the people of the Netherlands,” urging the Dutch public to petition its government to recognize the United States. He lobbied States-General delegations, visiting personally representatives from 18 cities in the province of Holland alone. In every place, McCullough writes, “the reception was the same – approval, affection, esteem for the United States.” But the odds against him were long, and he still had no results to show.

Then, in October 1781, British forces under General Lord Cornwallis surrendered to a combined French and American force at Yorktown, Virginia, and on November 23 word reached Amsterdam. This event convinced many in Europe that the Americans were likely to prevail in the war, but the Dutch were the first to act. In February 1782, the province of Friesland instructed its States General delegates to move to acknowledge Adams as an official diplomatic representative; soon other provinces followed suit. Now the picture had changed.

“The Most Signal Epocha, in the History of a Century.”

On April 12, 1782,  Adams negotiated with the Netherlands to receive a loan and for recognition for the United States. Then, on April 19, occurred an event that Adams labeled “the most Signal Epocha, in the History of a Century.” The Netherlands recognized the United States and admitted Adams as its ambassador, becoming the first European nation (aside from American ally France) to do so. Of course, the world recognized in France a self-interested party long at war with Britain. Thus this Dutch recognition was the first indicator of a broader acceptance of American independence. Moreover, it was clear that the diplomatic ice being broken, other nations would soon take the same action and American independence would be assured. Adams believed then and for the remainder of his life that this event was the foremost achievement of his diplomatic career.

Many merchants of the Netherlands, and particularly of Rotterdam, were friends to the American cause, and Jacobus Nolet was one of their leaders. He wrote Adams on behalf of a committee of Rotterdam merchants, congratulating him on the important development and asking for an audience with the newly-recognized ambassador. Adams responded in this famous letter by showing a keen understanding of the moment, and expressing a willingness to meet the group.

Autograph Letter Signed, The Hague, April 20, 1782, to Nolet. “I received today the letter you did me the honor to write me yesterday, and am exceedingly obliged to you for your cordial congratulations, on the great event which was yesterday finally concluded by their High and Mightynesses. The Favor of Providence has been remarkably manifested in the progress of this negotiation hitherto, that I very sincerely join with you imploring its continuance, to the mutual prosperity, and the permanent establishment of the Liberties of both Nations. I have small pretensions to an accurate knowledge of the commerce of either country; but such general notions of it as have fallen to my share I shall ever esteem it a pleasure and an honor to communicate. I shall be sorry, however, to give the trouble of coming to the Hague to so reputable a number of the merchants of your city, but as I do not propose to return to Amsterdam before Thursday, I shall be happy to receive them, or any of them, at the [Hotel] Marechall de Turenne at the Hague on any day before that time, and if the hour of 12 on Wednesday next action suit your convenience, none will be more agreeable to me.” This very letter is utilized by the Massachusetts Historical Society as an educational resource.

In fact, the Rotterdam delegation led by Nolet met with Adams just two days later, on April 22.  In their address, the town’s merchants noted the common love of liberty in the Netherlands and the United States arising from their birth in revolutions against despotic powers. They expressed their joy at the States General’s providential decision to recognize American independence and acknowledge Adams as minister plenipotentiary.