Map of the Week – World War I map

This week’s map dates from World War I and is part of a larger series showing military activity. This particular map shows the activity until 7 October 1914.

World War I map. Credits: Rudolf Maayer, 1915, via David Rumsey Map Collection (public domain)

The Netherlands was neutral during World War I, as shown by the green color on the map. The map shows how close the activity got, with a sunken U-boat off the coast of Scheveningen, and various battles just across the border in Belgium.

Although the Netherlands did not participate in the war, it did affect the lives of Dutch people. Imports and exports ground to a halt, leading to many shortages. Belgian refugees crossed the border and were found places to stay. People who needed to travel overseas faced a hazordous journey, as civilian ships were sometimes targeted if they were mistaken for enemy vessels.

About Yvette Hoitink

Yvette Hoitink, MLitt, CG®, QG™ is a professional genealogist, writer, and lecturer in the Netherlands. She has a Master of Letters in Family and Local History from the University of Dundee, and holds the Certification of Genealogist and Qualified Genealogist credentials. Yvette served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Genealogists and won excellence awards for her articles in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly. Yvette has been doing genealogy for over 30 years. She helps people from across the world find their ancestors from the Netherlands and its former colonies, including New Netherland. Read about Yvette's professional genealogy services.

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