The Légion Hollandaise d’Orange: Dynastic Networks, Coalition Warfare and the Formation of the Modern Netherlands, 1813–14
Mark Hay
Dutch Crossing, 39:1, 26-53
Despite that the bicentenary commemoration of the events of 1812–15 has shifted historical attention onto the Napoleonic era, the understanding of this period of Dutch history has evolved only little. The perception remains that the Dutch and the House of Orange did little to shake of the French yoke, or to take their destiny into their own hands. This article challenges that perception. Through drawing on its patronage network and its political and dynastic ties I contend that Orange established itself as rallying point for Dutchmen. This pivotal position in Dutch affairs allowed Orange to raise a military force, the Dutch Legion of Orange, with which it participated in the liberation of the Netherlands, and it got Orange accepted into the Sixth Coalition. And as a member of the coalition that defeated Napoleon, Orange, and by extension the Netherlands, could claim its position amongst the victors of the Napoleonic Wars, rather than being considered liberated, or, worse still, conquered territory.
https://te.booksc.org/book/52502303/738a48
It must be considered, that the new Dutch army was still in it*s formation starting from December 1813. In the very beginning it consisted of militia, volunteers and national guards defected from French service.
The total strength achieved in April 1814 was only 10.000 men, including the 3 new line battalions of the legion orange. This was sufficient to expel French garrisons from Amsterdam as well as from other towns like Utrecht; the troops at hand were used to block the remaining French fortresses Gorkum, Deventer, Coevorden, Delzijl, ten Helder and Naarden until armistice.
My estimate is that only 1% of the male Dutch population was mobilized, which is far beyond other nations.