Although the northern seven provinces , led by Holland and Zeeland , established their independence as the United Provinces after 1581 , the ten southern Netherlands were reconquered by the Spanish general Alexander Farnese , Duke of Parma .
The northern seven provinces , led by Holland and Zeeland , started their independence as the United Provinces after 1581 . The southern Netherlands were reconquered by the Spanish general Alexander Farnese , Duke of Parma .