2de Belgische Lijn

The contributions of the units of Dutch and Belgians have often been forgotten, during the battle of Waterloo the men of Bjitlandt's Netherland brigade, already under powered from the fighting at Quatre Bras which they had taken a large role in, were placed on a slope where artillery could fire upon them while the British troops were laying down safely behind the hill. When French infantry attacked, the battered Dutch-Belgians fired upon them but eventually started to give way. But Lieutenant Hope of British 92nd Foot writes, "The Belgians were assailed with terrible fury and returned the fire of the enemy for some time with great spirit. The rest of the brigade fell back except for one battalion of Belgians, the 7de Bataljon.

The 7de at the time wore coats of dark blue coats with white facings and wore the 'Belgic shako.' The facings on the shako varied in color, white for center companies, red for grenadier companies and green for flanquer companies. And they wore grey pantaloons and most wore gaiters as well. All Netherlands infantry at the time used the British Brown Bess musket except for a few who were equipped with French muskets which would eventually become the standard small arm of Netherlands infantry under the name 'Model 1815'. Men in Grenadier and Flanquer companies had shoulder rolls on their coats but the center companies did not.

One of the best Netherland infantry units was the 7de Bataljon van lijn (7th Line Battalion). Especially the officers were excellent. Commander F. C. Vandensande served in the French 112th Line Infantry Regiment, and was awarded with Légion d’Honneur. Captain L’Olivier served in the French 7th Line Infantry Regiment as commander of grenadier company. Captain Nieuport served in the French 13th Tirailleur Regiment of Young Guard. Lieutenant Nieulandt served in the 1st Regiment of Honor Guard. Lieutenant Scheltens served in the famous Grenadiers of Old Guard.

At the offset of the battle the French, thinking that they had many sympathizers in Belgium, would call across the field shouting "Brave Belgians! Brave Belgians! Come, fight with us!" Not one Belgian crossed the field to join the ranks of the French.

Men like Sibourne or Lord General Uxbridge would downplay the role of the Dutch-Belgians, calling them "cowards with no stomach to fight" yet Wellington praised them and their valiance. The 2de Belgische Karabiniers, acting on their own initiative, pursued the retreating French cavalry all the way off the field, led personally by their Crown Prince, William II. The 8th Belgian Hussars took 65% casualties yet they fought on with "insane gallantry" when they charged into French lancers to cover the retreat of fleeing British heavy cavalry. And none can forget the glory that took place when Major General Trip's Dutch Heavy Cavalry Brigade consisting of the 1st (Dutch) 2nd (Belgian) and 3rd (Dutch) Carabinier regiments, counter charged the massive French cuirassier attack on the allied left flank.

English officer, Captain Batty of the Grenadier Guards, declared that he saw 'a Belgian cavalry regiment fight valiantly with the cuiassiers in a manner never to be forgotten.'



In short, the Dutch and Belgian units who fought at Waterloo (the Belgians in particular) showed that they would fight like madmen to protect their country and their freedom but due to a long British-Dutch rivalry and British patriotism, the role of the Dutch and Belgian units was played down to make them appear as cowards and weaklings but it is entirely untrue.