Een 'ongewenschte gast'
In the autumn of 1918, a peace initiative was launched from Germany, for which the neutral Netherlands was to serve as the instigator. Thanks to a timely intervention of Prime Minister Ruijs de Beerenbrouck, a diplomatic disaster was averted. The initiative had two consequences: there was regular contact between the Hohenzollern and Orange royal houses, and it ensured a more cautious approach by the newly appointed Dutch cabinet.The Kaiserfrage—what to do with the German emperor in the run-up to an eventual armistice—degenerated into his deposition. His fleeing to the Netherlands on November 10, 1918, would mark the beginning of the keizerkwestie, the ‘Emperor Question’, which lasted until March 1920.
Whether the Dutch government had prior knowledge or played a role in the preparation and execution of his flight can not be proven, although there are indications that might point to the contrary. The surprise at his arrival was great among the Dutch; whether this also applied to Queen Wilhelmina remains unclear.
The victors sought ways to bring the Emperor to justice. This was a novelty in international law for all countries involved. It ultimately led to an extradition request that was adequately countered by the Netherlands, after a year of preparations on the diplomatic and legal fronts. Through careful instructions and maneuvering, the Dutch government was able to conclude the matter with relative sovereignty and without too much international reputational damage. The handling of the keizerkwestie proved to be an expression of an independent Dutch foreign policy.