" In 1585, after a year’s siege by Parma’s army, Antwerp - the chief stronghold of the revolt in the south - capitulated. From this point, the southern provinces were Spain’s; the north was on its own. The second stage of this critical period of Low Countries history thus begins with the provinces divided. It is from this date that the firm shape of the two modern nations of Holland and Belgium starts to appear "

― Anthony Bailey , The Low Countries: A History