 In early 1795 , intervention by French revolutionary forces led to the downfall of the old Dutch Republic . The new Republic enjoyed widespread support from the Dutch population and was the product of a genuine popular revolution . Nevertheless , it clearly was founded with the armed support of the revolutionary French Republic . The Batavian Republic became a client state , the first of the " sister @-@ republics " and later part of the French Empire of Napoleon Bonaparte , and its politics were deeply influenced by the French who supported no fewer than three coups d 'état to bring the different political factions to power that France favored at different moments in its own political development . Nevertheless , the process of creating a written Dutch constitution was mainly driven by internal political factors , not by French influence , until Napoleon forced the Dutch government to accept his brother as monarch . 
