The rampjaar (Disaster year) was the year 1672 in Dutch History. That year the United Provinces were attacked by England, France, Munster and Cologne. These invasions started the Dutch War. During the rampjaar William III of Orange was appointed Stadtholder and the brothers Johan de Witt and Cornelis de Witt were assassinated by a orange-loving crowd, almost surely authorized by William III of Orange.