[@Dinh AaronMk]You probably know more than I do, I'll take a few days and read up on the Netherlands before/during WW1 before settling on anything specific then.

From what you described I might think about there having been a coup or revolution during or shortly after the great war. Food shortages, refugees, rioting, seems possible something happened there. Especially if the war lasted so long.

As for the merchant fleet, that would be a significant issue. I'll have to rethink the situation in the colonies.

Hm.