Netherlands 1816 / Homage of the States of Hainaut to King William I" - by H. Simon / Galvano Obv. The Estates of Henegouwen swear on the constitution / Rev. Text This is a galvano medal set, meaning the obverse and reverse are two separate pieces. King William I of the Netherlands (1772–1843) played a central role in the post-Napoleonic reorganization of the Low Countries. In 1815, the Congress of Vienna united the former Austrian Netherlands (modern-day Belgium) with the northern Dutch provinces to form the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, with William I as its monarch. This union was partly designed to create a strong buffer state against future French aggression. William I had particular interest in the southern provinces, including Hainaut, due to their economic potential. A firm believer in industrial modernization, he invested heavily in infrastructure, especially in Wallonia, promoting the development of roads, canals, and coal mining. Hainaut, with its strong industrial base, became a key region in his vision of national prosperity. Despite his efforts, William I’s authoritarian style and centralizing policies bred resentment in the south. The French-speaking elite and Catholic clergy opposed his dominance, and tensions grew over language, religion, and political representation. These frictions ultimately culminated in the Belgian Revolution of 1830, leading to the secession of Belgium and the loss of Hainaut from the kingdom. William I’s reign thus marked both the integration and eventual separation of Hainaut and Belgium from the Dutch crown, leaving a complex legacy in the region.