The Habsburg Netherlands was a geo-political entity covering the whole of the Low Countries

Low Countries

The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....

 from 1482 to 1556/1581 and solely the Southern Netherlands

Southern Netherlands

Southern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain , Austria and annexed by France...

 from 1581 to 1794. After 1581, it was also known as the Spanish Netherlands or the Austrian Netherlands.

It was held by the Duke of Burgundy

Duke of Burgundy

Duke of Burgundy was a title borne by the rulers of the Duchy of Burgundy, a small portion of traditional lands of Burgundians west of river Saône which in 843 was allotted to Charles the Bald's kingdom of West Franks...

 (1506–1555), the King of Spain (1555–1706) and the Archduke of Austria (1716–1794), all from the house of Habsburg. It was ruled on their behalf by a governor

Governors of the Habsburg Netherlands

The Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands ruled the Habsburg Netherlands as a representative of the Duke of Burgundy .- Habsburg Netherlands :...

.

It briefly revolted against the Habsburgs from January to December 1790 to join the United States of Belgium

United States of Belgium

The United States of Belgium, part of Brabant.In October, he invaded Brabant and captured Turnhout, defeating the Austrians in the Battle of Turnhout on October 27. Ghent was taken on November 13, and on November 17 the imperial regents Albert of Saxony and Archduchess Maria Christina fled Brussels...

, at the end of which it reverted back to the Habsburg Netherlands. It finally ceased to exist in 1794 when it was annexed by the First French Republic.