The Kingdom of New Hayland

## Flag

Dunch: Het Koninkrijk Nieuw Hayland

>Equestrian Harmonism 34%

>Neutral Harmonism 25%

>Lunarism 20%

>Celestianism 8%

>Canterlot Harmonism 8%

>Orthodox Harmonism 5%

Traditional Girafferikaan Religions, 2%

Confuse'n, 1%

## Current Ruler:

### Full name & Titles:

Princess Floots van Oranje, Electress-Stadtholder of New Hayland, Admiraal van de Vloot, en Verdediger van het Rijk

The Kingdom of New Hayland (informally New Hayland) is easily the largest of Equestria's remaining colonies and the largest Dunch speaking nation in the world. It is located on the east coast of Amareica, stretching from the Caribouan Sea in the north to the mid-Antlertic Ocean in its south. It borders Maretania in the west and Titan's Cross and the Silvermane Harbor Company to the south. Small trading posts exist on the south-east coast owned by the Imperium Solaris and the Kingdom of Ellesmare, dating back to before the formation of the Kingdom. It shares a maritime border with the Karibouan Handel Företag and Bahayman Islands in the north, the Equites Solarii in the east and Dominiclaw in the south. New Hayland consists of twenty-two provinces on the mainland and three municipalities: the islands of Housemaarten, Neighba and Sint Euponias.

In order the five largest cities are Nieuw Canterdaam, Eindhoofen, Trotterdam, Hayrlingen, and Zeeland. The capital city of Nieuw Canterdaam is the seat of government, senate, supreme court, states general and one of the world's busiest ports. It hosts several international trade and charitable organisations and is an active provisioner of international equinitarian aid.

The Kingdom of New Hayland is, despite its name, a two-party republic. One party elects a candidate from within their ranks to run for the office of Stadtholder, while House van Oranje's succession law determines who runs to oppose them. The two factions are respectively called the 'Republican party' and the 'Oranjist party', the latter of which has handedly won the last two elections due to their reputation of benevolant and enlightened rulership following the 3rd Horspanian War of Aggression. The country is well known for its long record of social tolerance and progressive policies, being the only western colony in the world to have never practiced slavery or forced labour. Though a majority of their population are ethnically Dunch, significant populations of refugees have emigrated and naturally assimilated into New Hayland in the last hundred years. The largest of these groups are Lunar Republican thestrals, Ellesmarian caribou and more recently jixue (red pandas) from the Republic of Singapone, all of whom have contributed holidays or traditions to the New Haylandic culture.

Citizens of New Hayland enjoy a good minimum standard of life with state-run food banks for the poor, education schemes and apprenticeships in one of the country's many busy industries. Press and economic freedom are valued, as is the collective quality of life.

## History

### Founding

Colonisation of Amareica by the Dunch nation of Hayland would begin in 73AH, a part of the Neightherlands on the Equestrian mainland. The natives in the region had been trading with the Kingdom of Ellesmare and Imperium Solaris for approximately fifteen years prior and had a good view of outsiders, though neither power had made an effort to colonise the region. Though indigenous communities were apprehensive of such a volume of new arrivals, interactions between them and the Dunch settlers were overwhelmingly peaceful and collaborative in nature, leading most communities to naturally integrate into the fledgling society and leave their mark upon it. Nieuw Canterdaam at this time was a small port built of wooden houses, and Zeeland would follow in its founding six years later. The first naval academy was established in 85AH at Hoofddorp, originally intended as a training academy to defend against Caribouan piracy.

The borders of Nieuw Hayland gradually expanded to its present day holdings in 92AH following a mass influx of settlers from the home countries due to war between the Dunch princes, bishoprics and republics. This collapse of the Neightherlands would lead to New Hayland's nominal independence from the Grand Stadtholder in Canterdaam, though they would remain a subject of Equestria and its Emperor.

### Wars of Horspanian Aggression

The Kingdom of New Hayland was invaded several times by the Horspanian Empire in an attempt to subjugate the colony and add it to the crown, all attempts at which failed. At first minor border skirmishes by Horspanian Baja Coltafornia had attempted to annex or at least displace Dunch settlers from the northern mountain hinterlands, but New Hayland's geography made this challenging as towns and forts tended to dwell upon mountain summits in this region. In the south the neighboring Horspanian colony attempted the same through dense forests and border forts with similar results. Up until this point aggression had purely been colony to colony, but with the ascension of King Enrique II Trotstama in 170 AH the entire Horspanian Empire would soon be brought to bear against New Hayland and her allies the Equestrian Empire and the New Lunar Republic in the 3rd War of Horspanian Aggression. It is believed that this war is ultimately what led to the downfall of the Horspanian Empire and its dominion over a significant portion of the globe.

Following the declaration of war, fighting on land was concentrated in the north-western mountains and southern forests with the New Haylanders constantly on the defensive. Forts and supply lines had been constructed and planned with Horspanian invasion in mind, so what little gains were made by the attackers in the 3rd War of Aggression were costly and short lived. The Stadtholder during the war - Princess Liefde van Oranje - is believed to have been informed of the Horspanian plan to attack the Dunch fleet in the capital by a traitor among her adversary's court, an attack she sought to face prepared. On the 28th of April in 171 AH Vloot van Oranje departed Nieuw Canterdaam to engage the eastern flank and cut the line of the Horspanian fleet, aided by auxilliary vessels from Oranje South Girafferikaa who arrived midway through the battle. While the popular Dunch story places the Stadtholder and King of Horspania clashing in a boarding action, it is likely that this never occurred. Instead it is thought that the rapid loss of sailors and ships incurred by the clash of ships and the line breaking led the Horspanian Armada into a rout, with around half of their number annihilated in the confrontation. This victory has been celebrated yearly in New Hayland with the national holiday 'Koninginsdag' and only further solidified the connection of the nation to the sea.

Fighting continued sporadically in the border regions of New Hayland for several months, but New Haylandic infantry units never sought to press beyond their borders for anything more than raids. Money from the Horspanian treasury in the peace deal allowed the Dunch to quickly repair any damage to their fleets and homes, then press on to fund and expand their infrastructure.

### Displays:

The Kingdom of New Hayland, her major cities, rivers and highlands.

The fertile lands of New Hayland's lowlands contributed to a population boom from 110AH onwards. The country was able to feed its own population and still have enough food for export, becoming Amareica's largest exporter of food by 150AH. Coffee, grain, fish, sugar and tobacco remain the country's greatest exports by volume to this day, but their most famous goods were yet to exist. The *Stroopwafel* would go on to take the nation and Equestria by storm. According to Dunch culinary folklore, stroopwafels were first made in Nieuw Canterdaam by bakers repurposing scraps and crumbs by sweetening them with syrup. One story ascribes the invention of the stroopwafel to the baker Zoete Traktatie, which would date the first stroopwafels from somewhere between 165AH, the year she opened her bakery, and 180AH, the year of the oldest known recipe for syrup waffles. Stroopwafels were not found outside Nieuw Canterdaam until 190AH, by which point the city was home to around 200 syrup-waffle bakers.

New Hayland's strong maritime traditions drove many exploration missions around this period to the Great Qilin, Neighpon and Brandia. It is likely that on one of these voyages the humble 'Manedarin' orange made its way back to the country, giving them their second famous export. Vast orange orchards began to spring up across the country funded by House van Oranje, where it is believed that the fruit first got their Western name. Selective breeding by Dunch farmers led to the creation of several famous varieties of orange including: the Naval, Blozen, and Zonneschijn.

### A Rising Power

New Hayland's vast array of exports contribute to its current place as a production and trading powerhouse, drastically increasing the standard of living for her citizens and drawing further migrants from Equestria. With their strength of naval arms, goods can be delivered safely and on time to destinations across the world and the nation's excess wealth is spent bettering the lives of those ravaged by war and strife in often forgotten regions. With perhaps the strongest navy in the New World and a corps of marines to back it up, proud New Hayland's bright future is assured if the young Princess-Stadtholder Floots van Oranje can step up to the plate. In her tenure so far she has already gained her nation the status of 'Elector of the Exalted Equestrian Empire' - making them the only overseas territory in such a role - and Caribouan piracy has forever been ended.

## Economy

### Trade

If it can be bought it can be likely found in the sprawling Nieuw Canterdaam Exchange complex, a crossroads for the New World. Trade is the lifeblood of New Hayland, where their vast array of produced goods are brought to market to be shipped and sold overseas. From their immense agricultural, timber and fishing industries to minerals such as iron, copper, platinum and gemstones or the good of the future: coal, New Hayland is a sprawling land of plenty. Cocoa, coffee and tobacco flow into the markets and onto the great ships of the nation's trade fleets, generating revenues that have for over a century benefitted the New Haylandic people both great and small.

### Piracy

During the Golden Age of Piracy it's unknown just how much money was lost by every Amareican nation at the hooves or claws of pirates in the Caribouan, but suffice to say it was enough for them all to take note. New Hayland and Maretania in 220AH agreed to stand together against the renewed piratical menace which had been spurred on by the reduced fleet presence during the Imperial-Equestrian war. Though raids have dropped to almost zero since the treaty came into effect, it is unknown if the Princess-Stadtholder of New Hayland and Governor of Maretania will think this is enough, or if they will seek to end the threat once and for all.

### Taxation

New Hayland features a progressive tax system, where higher earning individuals are taxed at a higher rate. Workers in lower paying jobs can expect to pay around 30% in taxes, while the highest paid business owners and specialists often expect a tax rate of around 60%, not including estate taxes. Despite this the collectivist mindset of the average New Haylander leads to this not being a point of contention. Most are willing to contribute to the collective wealth and maintenance of the nation, as typically tax money benefits all denizens and not just those on the lower rungs. Clean cities, maintained and cared-for infrastructure and a minimum standard of education all contribute to the country's moral character and overall quality of life.

### Natural Resources

Though the country's most famous exports are manufactured or specialty goods only produced or found in New Hayland, a great amount of their gross domestic product comes from natural resources present in the land. Rare earth metals such as platinum are mined and processed in the western Witschild mountains, while copper and iron are mostly extracted from hills in the southern Ambershuis region. Gemstones are sourced from the crystal caves beneath the 'Old City' suburb of Hayrlingen and are exported chiefly to Canterlot University.

## Education

Education is compulsory in New Hayland between the ages of 6 and 12. It is typically oriented toward the needs and background of the pupil and is divided over schools for different age groups, some of which are divided in streams for different educational levels. Schools are furthermore divided into public, speciality (such as those run by the Vloot Academie, Academie van de Nnatuurfilosofieën or the Academie voor Kunsten), and private schools. Streams are typically assigned based on what the pupil finds interesting and are divided into - to list a few - general education, natural philosophy focused, mathematics focused, equinities focused or arts focused.

Though pupils may leave school at age 12 to learn from family member's their trade or business, many choose to stay on to graduate at 16. From here, pupils may apply to receive a state loan to study at one of New Hayland's several universities, the most well known of which is the University of Nieuw Canterdaam.

### The University of Nieuw Canterdaam

Founded in 92AH, the UoNC is comprised of the main campus near the Grand Canal in the city centre, the School of Medicine across the water and the School of Arts and Natural Philosophy in the western Kittyferry suburb.

## Healthcare

Health insurance in New Hayland is mandatory and is covered by two statutory forms of insurance: basic insurance (which covers common medical care) and long-term insurance (which covers those with chronic conditions, or those who will access the health service more regularly because of age or disease). While New Haylandic residents are automatically insured by the government for long-term insurance, everyone has to take out their own basic healthcare insurance except those aged under 16 who are automatically covered by the policy of their parents.

If a person decides not to get insurance coverage they may be fined. Insurers have to offer a universal package for everyone over the age of 16 years regardless of age or state of health and it is illegal to refuse an application or impose special conditions to an individual's plan. In contrast to many other systems that exist around the world, the New Haylandic States General is responsible for the accessibility and quality of the healthcare system in New Hayland, but plays no part in its management.

## Government

The New Haylandic government runs off of a system of proportional representation, where each province or municipality has a number of seats that is roughly proportional to its population. In the Lower Chamber of the Senate (*Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal*) there are 150 seats are available and are divided proportionally based on the population of the 22 provinces and 3 municipalities. For example: if every province and municipality (total 25) had the exact same population, each would have 6 seats in the Lower Chamber.

Members of the Upper Chamber of the Senate (*Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal*) are selected by the Lower Chamber on an application basis, as these 10 seats are considered to be reserved for individual experts in different fields. Typically, individuals selected for the Upper Chamber will serve as the Stadtholder's ministers and will not always be of the same political alignment.

Governors of individual provinces are selected in separate elections and serve a role similar to that of a mayor in other countries. A certain degree of autonomy is allowed, but all are subject to review and removal by the central government in Nieuw Canterdaam if their performance or conduct is found lacking.

### Foreign Relations

New Hayland's history is characterised by its relationship with Equestria, but generally they are known for neutrality and their role as a diplomatic bridge between the Exalted Equestrian Empire and the New Lunar Republic. The country has maintained good relations throughout their history with Lunar nations and presently works with Maretania in an anti-piracy coalition which may yet expand. The New Haylandic economy is very open and relies strongly on international trade.

The country is also known for its equinitarian aid campaigns, such as the recent supply convoys and anti-piratical fleet presence in the Far East and Orient. These ventures established positive relations with multiple regional powers including Indoneighsia, Neighpon and various members of the White Star Clique.

Less positively, many New Haylanders look negatively upon the griffin dominated nation of South Girafferica, once a Dunch colony that was conquered by the Kingdom of Griffinstone. Oranjist nationalism somewhat remains in the country and New Hayland maintains a claim to the historically Dunch lands.

### Current treaties

New Hayland currenty shares a defensive pact, non-aggression treaty and anti-piracy coalition membership with the Lunar Republican colony of Maretania and a full alliance with the Ellesmarean crown colony of Vealland. Formal cordial relations are held with the Republican colonies of Titan's Cross, the Silvermane Harbor Company, Marechigan, and the White Star Clique members Colton and Guangdoe.

## Military

The Royal Navy (Koninklijke Marine) of New Hayland was commissioned by Albraycht van Oranje in 85AH when construction of the naval academy in Hoofddorp was completed, primarily to counter maritime piracy rampant in the time period. Decentralised local militias were amalgamated into the Corps of Marines (Korps Mariniers) in 110AH to provide a more organised, structured defense against the Horspanian colonies in the hinterlands and port cities. These formations would go on to manage forts on the border, naval defense structures and even be integrated into the crews of ships to provide better outcomes in boarding actions.

### Organisational structure

The navy consists of three fleets (vloots) at the time of writing. The Eastern Fleet (Oostelijke Vloot), which is currently on mission in the South Qilin Sea providing aid and anti-piracy protection. The fleet consists of: half a dozen steam-powered sheathed threedecker combat vessels and five frigates maintained primarily as cargo ships. The Fleet of Oranje (Vloot van Oranje) is the primary combat fleet of New Hayland and contains eight threedeckers, six of which are steam-powered and sheathed. Armoured steam ocean farers were recently fitted with covered, turning gun emplacements to increase consistency of fire regardless of ship positioning. This fleet is currently assigned to anti-piratical duties in the Caribouan Sea. The Vloot van Oranje flagship 'Stadtholder' is a specially constructed warship of this variety, featuring a narrower and longer hull to aid in achieving better rates of knots for its size. Naval artillery in the centre of the main deck allows the accurate placement of fire on targets in the air and on land and sea. The Reserve Fleet (Reservevloot) consists of the remaining combat and support vessels in the country's arsenal. It is worth mentioning that the ranks of Admiraal and Generaal (both O-9) are automatically held by the present Stadtholder.

### Naval Flags

New Hayland has a wide array of nautical flags that you may recognise in ports across the world. Pennants typically top the main mast -- or on all of them during ceremonies -- and their length is indicative of the vessel's service life, the longer the older. The jack is flown from a stave at the bow (front) of the boat and the ensign from the stern (rear), the latter being the largest flag and is intend to display the nationality of the vessel from great distances. Both of these flags are only hoisted by the Royal Navy and it is a crime for civilian vessels to do so.

Koninklijke Marine PennantKoninklijke Marine JackKoninklijke Marine Ensign

## Notable Characters

### Princess-Stadtholder Floots van Oranje

Princess Floots van Oranje is the recently elected ruler of New Hayland. At first apprehensive and uninterested in being a monarch, she has taken to the role more recently and is a firm proponent of advancing the nation's presence around the world through good diplomacy and trade. Passionate about the sea and the affairs of the navy, Floots hopes to one day become the greatest Admiral in the world equal to her hero, Horhaytio Neighson. She is a talented tennis player and has been since a young age, competing in several tournaments across the country.

### Prince Housemaarten van Oranje

Housemaarten -- or just Maarten to his friends -- is the ex-Prince-Stadtholder of New Hayland, abdicating at last to retire after a thirty year reign. A shrewd merchant, a kind soul and a friend one can depend on, Maarten is often seen frequenting cafes in Nieuw Canterdaam to play backgammon and hear the concerns of the people. He had to return to his station for several months during the recent Equestrian-Imperial War, allowing his daughter Floots to leave and fight.

### Secretary of State Inktvlek

Inkt had been an Oranje party secretary for over ten years before landing in her current role. A friendly face with a surprisingly short temper, she can be found typically in Nieuw Canterdaam's capitol building carrying out tasks for the Princess.

### Schout-bij-Nacht Zee Pas

Hailing from South Girafferikaa, Zee Pas is the personable naval commander tasked with bringing a friendly face to New Hayland's presence in the South Qilin Sea. Over the last year he has faced Imperial fleets in the Marediterranean, pirates in the Caribouan and then sailed eastwards to deliver aid on the Princess' orders without even a request for leave. Zee is fiercely loyal to New Hayland for providing him and his family a home when they became refugees.

### Vice-Admiraal Eili van Fruitknuppel

Eili is cheery bat pony from Trotterdam, a career sailor and the current commander of the Eastern Fleet. Though more at home in Caribouan waters and not quite as strong a diplomat as her colleague Zee, she continues his mission while he at last takes a much needed vacation.

### Luitenant-Admiraal Engela

Currently the highest ranking naval commander beneath the Stadtholder herself, Engela has had a long career in the Royal Navy and never could bring herself to retire. At the grand old age of fifty-seven she's still going. Her current assignment sees her process and oversee the training of the recently arrived Singapone sailors.

### Commandeur Piparkakut

An obsessive compulsive caribou from the Antlertic islands, Pipa has a love of: baking gingerbread, keeping her ships in tip top shape, drinking hot cocoa and standing on deck under a starry sky. Currently she leads the transport missions carrying Ponish and Lithuaneighan refugees to New Hayland.

### Kolonel Flitzen

A farm gal who grew up with bright eyes and wanderlust, Flitzen joined the Royal Marines at eighteen and has been serving since. After getting her commission seven years ago she believed the time had come to settle down a little more, going on to command the Princess' protection detail and any Marine forces aboard her ships.

### Luitenant ter Zee 2de klasse Sterre

A reticent but friendly zebra hailing from South Girafferikaa, Luitenant Sterre is a trained gunnery officer serving in van Fruitknuppel's fleet.

### Kapitein-ter-Zee Chekuh

The old ruler of the Republic of Singapone turned explorer under the banner of the Royal Navy, Chekuh has proven to be a valuable asset to the Princess thus far.