Blanckenhof Accords

The Blanckenhof Accords (Blanckenhof Akkoorden) of 1685 AN were hosted at Blanckenhof Palace. The location was chosen to avoid that a mob could pressure the political elite into approving radical laws. A joint session of the Lagerhuis and Hogerhuis met in a meeting, hosted by prime minister Paulus de Withe. The representatives discussed several political issues which had caused the - still ongoing - Batavian Revolution. The possibility of an invasion of Batavia by its neighbours was addressed, while the vacant Throne also became a serious concern for the government.

The Accords

Legislative changes

• The Hogerhuis and Lagerhuis became equally powerful houses of the Staten-Generaal. Where the Lagerhuis had hold all legislative power in the past, the Hogerhuis now had to pass laws which had been approved by the Lagerhuis.
• The Hogerhuis' composition was expanded: every lordship within the kingdom must send a representative to the Hogerhuis (in most cases this is the seating lord of lady of the territory).
• In return for the growing power of the nobility, assurances were given that the Lagerhuis elections would be fair and open to all citizens.
• The right to propose laws was limited to the Lagerhuis.
• Provinces (gewesten) were reintroduced to act as electoral districts. Borders of the provinces were partly based on the historical provinces.

Government

• The position of Staatshouder (Staatsholder) was introduced to act as head of state, replacing and acting as the King of the Batavians.
• Discussion of who would become Staatsholder were started. Eventually, the joint session approved the nomination of [...] as new head of state.