During the Batavian Republic , the Netherlands was from 1798 to 1801 completely reorganised into eight new departments , most named after rivers , inspired by the French revolutionary example , in an attempt to do away with the old semi-autonomous status of the provinces .
During the Batavian Republic , the Netherlands were from 1798 to 1801 completely reorganised into 8 new departments , most named after rivers , inspired by the French revolutionary example , in an attempt to do away with the old autonomous provincial status .