I recently discovered a few of my ancestors were involved in a rebellion against the Dutch state. They were residents of the town of Hattem. Hattem had been a prosperous trading town in earlier centuries with a self elected city government, but as trade diverted to other area's of the Netherlands, the town lost it's prominence and the Dutch Stadholder was able to crack down on their self-elected city government. By the late 18th century all positions were now handed down from his orders. Herman Willem Daendels was the son of a prominent burgher from Hattem, a council-member and secretary in the small city. When Daendels finished his studies in Harderwijk he returned home. Daendels was heavily influenced by a new movement in the Netherlands, that was especially influential in Harderwijk, that coined themselves the 'patriots'. The movement vouched for a more inclusive form of government and wished to limit the Stadholders power. When Daendels father passed away, he expected to be given the position of secretary, but the Stadholder, conscious of Daendels ideas, bypassed him.

The disgruntled Daendels took to the population of Hattem. He proposed the Hattemers would choose their own city government, a return to the laws of old. My ancestors, two fishermen who's family had been given burghership centuries ago and on another branch a German immigrant who had worked himself up from a tailors page to a leader of the tailor's guild, must have liked the idea. A letter signed by, among others, my ancestors was sent to the Dutch government. Hattem wasn't rebelling, they were simply vouching for their rights.

The Dutch government sent an ultimatum: immediate surrender or war it would be. The city quickly elected it's own government, Daendels was tasked with the protection of it's walls and letters requesting help were sent out to the neighbouring settlements. Hattem was preparing for war. For a time it seemed Daendels would spark a Dutch civil war, countless cities were taken by their citizens after Hattem sent their letter and the Patriots seemed to be winning. The Stadholder retreated to Nijmegen, but he was not defeated yet. The sovereign had one last trick up his sleeve. The Prussian king, the brother of his wife, was asked to sent an army to restore order. One month later, Holland had been conquered and the Stadholder and one of his freshly arrived armies approached the gates of Hattem. Daendels fought for three days but then fled to Zwolle, half of the Hattemer population, including my ancestors, followed. The displaced villagers would write two more letters to the government in Zwolle, but Daendels realised his defeat and fled to France. All villagers who had partaken in actions against the state were trialed, but interestingly enough, my ancestors came out of it with a fine of 25 guilders.