Akademik

   Representative assembly that originated in the 15th century and became the powerful sovereign body of Hol land as a result of the Dutch Revolt in 1572, just like the States of the other revolting provinces. The nobility (Ridderschap) had only one vote and represented the rural districts, too. Before the Revolt, the other voting members were the six most important cities of the province: Dordrecht, Haarlem, Delft, Leiden, Amsterdam, and Gouda. After 1572, delegates from several smaller towns appeared in the States as well, of which 12, for example, Rotterdam, got a vote. They met most of the time in The Hague. The States’ crucial official was the grand pensionary. During the Batavian Revolution in 1795, the States of Holland was transformed into a new, less pow erful body.