The Eighty Years' War or Dutch War of Independence (1568–1648) was a series of related conflicts. They led to the separation of territories in northwestern Europe formerly ruled by the Hapsburgs into the modern-day Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. While Hapsburg rule in the southern provinces lasted until 1714, the northern regions became the United Provinces of the Netherlands (a.k.a. the Dutch Republic) after 1581. However, while the Dutch managed to oust the Habsburg armies from their heartland, the fighting continued on its frontiers. Dutch attacks on Spain and Portugal's overseas territories resulted in the establishment of their colonial empire.