The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands, the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe. It was a confederacy of provinces,from 1581 to 1795. It came before the Batavian Republic, the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and the modern Netherlands (now a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Alternative names include the United Provinces, Federated Belgic Provinces, and Belgic Federation.