The treaty marked France's first formal territorial acquisition from Holland, beginning a process that ended with Napoleon's full annexation of the Kingdom of Holland in 1810.
Key Facts
- Date signed
- 11 November 1807
- Location
- Palace of Fontainebleau, France
- Territory ceded to France
- Vlissingen (Flushing)
- Territory given to Holland
- Province of East Frisia
- East Frisia seized from
- Prussia (recently defeated)
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Napoleon sought control of the strategically vital port of Vlissingen on the Scheldt estuary, which offered commanding access to the North Sea. His brother Louis ruled the Kingdom of Holland as a client state, but French imperial interests required direct control of key coastal positions. Prussia's recent military defeat left East Frisia available as compensatory territory for Louis.
On 11 November 1807, Napoleon Bonaparte and his brother Louis Bonaparte concluded the Treaty of Fontainebleau at the Palace of Fontainebleau. France formally annexed Vlissingen from the Kingdom of Holland, while Holland received the Prussian province of East Frisia as compensation, reordering territorial boundaries along the North Sea coast.
The treaty proved to be an early step in Napoleon's gradual absorption of Holland into the French Empire. Relations between Napoleon and Louis deteriorated steadily over subsequent years, and in 1810 Napoleon dissolved the Kingdom of Holland entirely, directly annexing it to France. The transfer of Vlissingen gave France direct command of a major strategic naval port.
Political Outcome
France annexed Vlissingen; Holland received East Frisia from Prussia as compensation.
Vlissingen under Kingdom of Holland; East Frisia under Prussian control
Vlissingen annexed to French Empire; East Frisia transferred to Kingdom of Holland