The government responded to worker discontent by focusing on social insurance: the Disability Insurance Act of 1913 was finally implemented and a voluntary old age pension scheme was established with substantial government financing.
All initiatives in social legislation were halted as the Netherlands entered a depression. The government responded by reducing expenditures, including civil servants' salaries. Rapid recovery began in 1925.
The Dutch government refused the Allied demand for the surrender of the former German emperor, William. He lived in retirement first at Amerongen, then at Doorn.
