Akademik

   During the 18th century, the remnants of the me dieval duchy of Luxembourg were part of the Austrian Empire, as were the Southern (Belgian) Netherlands. In 1795, Luxembourg was annexed to France. The international Congress of Vienna (1814–1815) then assigned the new archduchy and member of the German Bund to King William I of the Netherlands. After the Bel gian Revolution, a part of Luxembourg became a Belgian province in 1831. In 1867, Luxembourg was declared neutral by the Treaty of London adopted by Germany, France, and the Netherlands. After the death of the Dutch king William III in 1890, the law dictated that a masculine descendant should succeed him, and so Adolf of Nassau Weilburg (a branch of the House of Nassau), became grand duke, rather than Wilhelmina, daughter of William III. Although Luxem bourg remained independent, on the whole relations were close and friendly. After World War II, they were further reinforced by the Benelux union.