Deux-Nèthes (, ) was a
department of the
First French Republic and of the
First French Empire
The First French Empire or French Empire (; ), also known as Napoleonic France, was the empire ruled by Napoleon Bonaparte, who established French hegemony over much of continental Europe at the beginning of the 19th century. It lasted from ...
in present-day
Belgium
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...
and the
Netherlands
, Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
. It was named after two branches of the river
Nete (Grote Nete and Kleine Nete). The southern part of its territory corresponds more or less with the present-day Belgian
province of Antwerp. It was created on 1 October 1795, when the
Austrian Netherlands
The Austrian Netherlands was the territory of the Burgundian Circle of the Holy Roman Empire between 1714 and 1797. The period began with the acquisition by the Austrian Habsburg monarchy of the former Spanish Netherlands under the Treaty of Ras ...
were officially annexed by the French Republic. Its territory was the northern part of the former
duchy of Brabant
The Duchy of Brabant, a Imperial State, state of the Holy Roman Empire, was established in 1183. It developed from the Landgraviate of Brabant of 1085–1183, and formed the heart of the historic Low Countries. The Duchy comprised part of the Bu ...
. After the annexation of the
Kingdom of Holland in 1810, the department was expanded with the western half of the present-day
Dutch province of
North Brabant, itself historically part of the
Duchy of Brabant
The Duchy of Brabant, a Imperial State, state of the Holy Roman Empire, was established in 1183. It developed from the Landgraviate of Brabant of 1085–1183, and formed the heart of the historic Low Countries. The Duchy comprised part of the Bu ...
.

The
Chef-lieu
An administrative centre is a seat of regional administration or local government, or a county town, or the place where the central administration of a commune, is located.
In countries with French as the administrative language, such as Belgiu ...
of the department was
Antwerp
Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...
(''Anvers'' in French). The department was subdivided into the following four
arrondissement
An arrondissement (, , ) is any of various administrative divisions of France, Belgium, Haiti, and certain other Francophone countries, as well as the Netherlands.
Europe
France
The 101 French departments are divided into 342 ''arrondissem ...
s and
cantons (with French names):
*
Anvers:
Anvers (4 cantons),
Brecht,
Ekeren,
Kontich,
Wilrijk and
Zandhoven.
*
Bréda:
Bergues-sur-le-Zon,
Bréda,
Ginneken,
Oosterhout
Oosterhout (; from ''ooster'', "eastern", and ''hout'', "woods") is a Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality and a city in southern Netherlands. The municipality had a population of in .
Population centers
The municipality of Ooste ...
,
Oudenbosch,
Rosendael and
Zevenbergen.
*
Malines:
Duffel
Duffel () is a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Belgium, Belgian province of Antwerp (province), Antwerp.
The municipality comprises the town of Duffel proper. On 1 January 2020, Duffel had a total population of 17,664. The total ar ...
,
Heyst-sur-la-Montagne,
Lierre,
Malines (2 cantons) and
Puers.
*
Turnhout
Turnhout () is a Belgium, Belgian Municipalities in Belgium, municipality and city located in the Flemish Region, Flemish Provinces of Belgium, province of Antwerp (province), Antwerp. The municipality comprises only the city of Turnhout proper. ...
:
Arendonk,
Herentals,
Hoogstraten,
Mol,
Turnhout
Turnhout () is a Belgium, Belgian Municipalities in Belgium, municipality and city located in the Flemish Region, Flemish Provinces of Belgium, province of Antwerp (province), Antwerp. The municipality comprises only the city of Turnhout proper. ...
and
Westerlo.
After
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...
was defeated in 1814, the department became part of the
United Kingdom of the Netherlands as the provinces of
Antwerp
Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...
and
North Brabant.
[ ,''... Napoleon I. had its fortifications razed in 1804, and made it the capital of the French "Departement des deux Nethes," until 1814, when it was comprised in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and it finally became part of Belgium in 1830...'']
Administration
Prefects
The Prefect was the highest state representative in the department.
Secretaries General
The Secretary General was the deputy to the Prefect.
Subprefects of Anvers
The office of Subprefect of Anvers was held by the Prefect until 1811.
Subprefects of Bréda
This subprefecture was created in 1810 and suppressed a month later.
Subprefects of Malines
Subprefects of Turnhout
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Deux-Nethes
Former departments of France in Belgium
Former departments of France in the Netherlands
19th century in Antwerp
History of Antwerp
History of Antwerp Province
History of North Brabant
1795 establishments in France