Barrier Treaty

Barrier Treaties

Dutch officers in a guardroom while one holds a map of Flanders, by Cornelis Troost between 1730-1750
Signed	29 October 1709 29 January 1713 15 November 1715 30–31 January 1716
Effective	15 November 1715
Condition	In order to help defend against French invasion, Dutch troops occupy fortresses within the Austrian Netherlands and share the costs with Austria.
Expiration	1781
Signatories	Great Britain Habsburg monarchy Dutch Republic

Veurne

Knokke

Ypres

Menen

Tournai

Mons

Dendermonde

Namur

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Locations of barrier fortresses as agreed in 1715, shown on a map of modern Belgium

The Barrier Treaties (Dutch: Barrièretraktaat/Barrièreverdrag; French: traités de la Barrière) were a series of agreements signed and ratified between 1709 and 1715 that created a buffer zone between the Dutch Republic and France by allowing the Dutch to occupy a number of fortresses in the Southern Netherlands, ruled by the Spanish or the Austrians. The treaties were cancelled by Austria in 1781.