Dutch Republic

The Dutch Republic, also called the United Provinces, was between 1588 and 1795 a confederation with pulling a defense alliance and a customs union. They covered largely the territory of present Netherlands. She acquired in the 17th century political and economic power and played a leading role for some time on the world stage. The end came with the invasion of France in 1793-1795, though the decline was deployed earlier.

The Republic consisted of eight sovereign provinces, seven of which jointly ruled areas which were not included, but still belonged to the territory of the confederation.These so-called Generality Lands were largely in what is now Zeeland, the current Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Limburg , and in the southeast of the provinceof Groningen .

Noteworthy in the small republic of up to 2.5 million people, the success of the Dutch world trade through the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and Dutch West India Company (WIC) and the Baltic Sea, the great military successes against seemingly much stronger countries like Spain and England , the huge fleet - 2,000 vessels larger than those of Britain and France combined - and the flourishing of arts ( Rembrandt and many others) and sciences (including Hugo Grotius ), accompanied by then relatively large spiritual freedom.

Contents

 * 1 History
 * 1.1 Background
 * 1.1.1 The Netherlands under the Burgundians and Habsburgs
 * 1.1.2 Start of the uprising
 * 1.2 Development of the Republic
 * 1.3 Early Golden Age
 * 1.3.1 Twelve Year Truce
 * 1.3.2 Resumption of the war and the Peace of Westphalia
 * 1.4 Late Golden Age
 * 1.4.1 first Stadholderless period (1650-1672)
 * 1.4.2 Glorious crossing
 * 1.5 Decay
 * 1.5.1 Second Stadholderless period (1702-1747)
 * 1.5.2 Orangist revolution
 * 1.5.3 Time of the Patriots
 * 2 Regional classification
 * 3 Demographics
 * 3.1 Population Development
 * 3.2 Migration
 * 3.3 Religion
 * 4 Directors
 * 4.1 Rural governance
 * 4.2 Regional Directors
 * 4.3 Stadhouder
 * 5 Economics
 * 5.1 Agriculture
 * 5.2 Fisheries
 * 5.3 Industry
 * 5.4 Trading
 * 5.5 Domestic transport
 * 6 People
 * 7 Sciences
 * 8 Culture
 * 9 Batavian Revolution
 * 10 Names
 * 11 Sources
 * 12 Nuts and / or references
 * 13 Further reading

The Netherlands under the Burgundians and Habsburgs [ edit ]
The Burgundian Circle within theHoly Roman Empire after thetransaction of Augsburg in 1555.

Much of the Netherlands belonged in the second half of the 15th century by inheritance and conquest to the Burgundians . Of all the provinces were the Duchy of Brabant and the county of Flanders by far the largest of the Netherlands. They had the largest population and were the most economically developed. Compared with the rest of Europe's economic power was matched only by northern Italy. The county Holland said in the 15th century economic uncommon. It had little export and had to have it especially the shipping and fishing. Cities in Holland were about 10,000 small compared with those in the Southern Netherlands.

The southern provinces were given more attention by their importance to the Dukes of Burgundy than the northern. As the court of the Duke was located in the south, as well as the first university. During the reign of Charles the Bold of the Netherlands, the government was to the dismay of the regions more centralized, the army was expanded and taxes were raised. After his death Flanders rebelled against the successor to Mary of Burgundy and it was Great Privilege enforced in 1477, where the rights of the regions were described. [1] Maria married Emperor Maximilian, which the Netherlands passed to the House of Habsburg . After the death of Maximilian Mary did everything possible to abolish the Great Privilege, much to the displeasure of the provinces that revolted. Through military intervention was this great rebellion broke.

Then the Habsburgs of the attempted seventeen Dutch provinces to forge a unity with its capital Brussels, the Habsburg Netherlands . Of these provinces were Flanders, Brabant and Holland, from the 16th century grew economically hard, by far the most important; they brought together 75% of the taxes. The northern outlying districts were reorganized with funding from Holland. [2] The province of Holland has long tried to increase its influence in the northeastern provinces. The mutual contacts of the northern provinces, including Holland, were partly due to the domestic market, via the rivers Meuse , Rhine andWaal was closer than those with the regions south of it. A unification of the northern provinces, therefore, was obvious. [3] Proponents it tried to strengthen this solidarity by fueling the notion that the Dutch over the rivers descended from heroic Batavians .

The Reformation began in the Low Countries at the beginning of the 16th century. One of the causes was the discontent of the people on abuses in the Roman Catholic Church . In the beginning it was Protestantism usually practiced in secret, because there was punishable by death. After 1560, the Calvinists were more foothold, beginning in the Southern Netherlands. [4] The Habsburg government did everything to the Reformation to suppress and persecute many left. These prosecutions were successful in areas where the Habsburgs had a lot of power and that was mainly down major rivers.

Start of the uprising [ edit ]
Presentation of the Petition of the Nobles, by French High Mountain .

The war with France in the fifties of the 16th century and high taxes to finance the war, it became restless in the Netherlands. The unrest continued after the peace with France in 1559. The transaction of Augsburg in 1548 and the Pragmatic Sanction in 1549 did Emperor Charles V joined the Dutch provinces and from the dominion of the Holy Roman Empire reached. In 1556 he resigned and transferred the territories to his son Philip II and also gave him the title of king of Spain. Philip ruled from Spain and made ​​his half-sister Margaret of Parma, Regent of the Netherlands, since then known as the Spanish Netherlands . She was surrounded by a number of princes as advisers, including William of Orange . Despite the Inquisition Protestantism increased even among the nobles. In an attempt to enforce religious freedom and abolish the Inquisition, united in 1566 two hundred nobles from the Low Countries and offered the so-called Petition of the Nobles to the Regent on. The Inquisition was then suspended by Margaret and there was a further revival of Protestantism. In August 1566 took the Iconoclasm in the Netherlands instead. That led to a revolt beaten down by the Habsburgs.

Philip II sent Fernando Alvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alva with an army of 10,000 soldiers to the Seventeen Provinces. Alva established the Council of Troubles on to those responsible for the revolt and other heretics to punish. Many of them fled to the German states, such as William of Orange, yet many more thousands were persecuted, including the popular and influential Counts Egmont and Horn, which were beheaded in Brussels. To finance the high military expenses, were introduced in 1569 three new taxes by Alva, the Tenth Penny was the most hated. This weakened the position of the Spanish Crown in the Netherlands. An armed insurrection against the government conducted by Alva began in 1572 with the Den Briel Taking the Beggars . Soon after, were also conquered other places, such as Flushing, Veere and the rest of Walcheren. At the same time attacked Louis of Nassau with an army in the south. East of the Netherlands was attacked by the Count Van den Bergh . Many urban drivers who were loyal to the Spanish king, fled under pressure from the population. Some Spanish-minded city governments resisted pressure from the protesters because the militia guarding the public order in the cities, mostly loyal to the Spanish king.

Massacre of Naarden in 1572.

To break the revolt, Alva charged harshly with rebellious cities. He had hundreds of inhabitants of Zutphen and virtually the entire population of Naarden killed. LaterHaarlem conquered by the Spaniards and was tried vainly Leiden and Alkmaar take. Especially the relief of Leiden in 1574 is considered a turning point in the fight against the Spaniards. Once here, the dikes were broken by the Beggars, the Spanish troops were driven away by the rising waters. After Leiden drew the Spanish invasion army withdrew from Holland and were only Amsterdam, Haarlem and Utrecht still royalist.

In 1575 were in Breda held negotiations on a possible peace. Conditions that demanded the insurgents, religious freedom and limited power of the king, were not granted. Therefore, no compromise was reached. Due to the bankruptcy of Spain in 1576 and the failure to pay the Spanish army, the army hit a mutiny and looted while Antwerp and other cities. The regions of the Netherlands, except Namur, Luxembourg and part of Limburg, locks for fear of looting the Pacification of Ghent, which they agreed to drive out the Spanish troops and form a provisional government, the States-General. Nevertheless, the provinces continued to recognize the sovereignty of the Spanish King and William of Orange was recognized by the States General as governor of Holland and Zeeland. It also determined the States General that Protestantism in Holland and Zeeland could be confessed and that the other provinces remained officially Catholic and Protestants were not prosecuted. By Philip II appointed governor Don Juan of Austria was recognized by the States General, if he would recognize the Pacification of Ghent. Don Juan then signed in February 1577 the Edict (whereby the Spanish troops would leave the Netherlands mostly), but decided back in July to hold not move it, because his power would fall through and because of the growing divisions between moderate and radical insurgents in the south. Then put the regions in Luxembourg and Namur after the battle against the king continued.

Origins of the Republic [ edit ]
The last page of the Union of Utrecht contains signatures of the signatories of the treaty.

William of Orange tried the dichotomy between the north and south to iron equal, but was unsuccessful. Despite the Dutch Revolt was largely Protestant north and the south continued, supported by the nobility and the patricians, predominantly Roman Catholic. Still trying to achieve William religion of peace, which both Protestants and Roman Catholics could freely practice their faith. The States-General in Brabant tried to increase their power over large rivers, but failed to do so, while the northern provinces of the Dutch sphere of influence floated inside.

By approaching Spanish troops felt the northern provinces threatened and wanted to cooperate more in military and political terms in an "Closer Union". The text of the treaty had to be accepted by each region and led to much unrest. Acceptance indeed meant more Dutch - Calvinist - line would be followed and only one faith should be tolerated in a region. This would be done with the religion of peace. Finally, on January 23, 1579 the Union of Utrecht signed by the representatives of the provinces Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, the surrounding district and the ridderschappen of Arnhem and Zutphen quarters. The Nijmegen quarter recorded in February, the Convention and the Arnhem quarter in March. In August 1579 signed after stribbelingen also Friesland Union. Drenthe and Overijssel signed in April 1580, long divided, also signed in that year. The city of Groningen not joined because of its anti-Dutch attitude. In the southern Netherlands locks cities like Antwerp, 's-Hertogenbosch, Ghent and Breda joined the Union, although the regions as a whole did not. The Walloon provinces had now joined the Union of Arras and wanted to reconcile with Spain.

The arrival of the Duke of Anjou in Antwerp in 1581.

To get support from abroad for the uprising the States-General to transfer sovereignty to the younger brother of the French monarch, the Duke of Anjou . In 1581, when Van Anjou in Antwerp arrived, he was named as king and lord of the Netherlands. In June that year, the Spanish king was deposed by the Act of Abjuration . The new commander of the Spanish army, Parma, tore into the south and east of the Netherlands continues and Anjou, frustrated by his limited power, staged a coup in 1583 in Brabant and Flanders. That failed, and his position had become untenable and he left for France. With the approaching Spanish troops in the south, the States General Antwerp left to settle down in the Hague. William of Orange left Brabant and permanently moved to Delft, where he was assassinated in 1584 by the Roman Catholic, Balthasar Gerards , after he was outlawed in 1580 by Philip II. Holland had thus become the only power center in the Netherlands.

The Spaniards marched in the southern Netherlands on further and then decided to ask the States-General in 1585 to support Elizabeth, the Queen of England. Like the previously approached French King Henry III, they refused the sovereignty offered. However, they wanted to support the Republic, in exchange for control of the board and appointed Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester as a political and military leader. After the signing of the first treaty that the United Provinces with the country locks, Nonsuch treatyon August 20, 1585, the Republic had become a protectorate of England. The arrival of Leicester and his way of working sowed discord in the Republic. Between Holland and Leicester arose continuous conflicts and also in other regions were the pro-Dutch and pro-British parties opposed. The misconduct of the British soldiers in the cities led to opposition from the population. The pressure from the population was so great that some English garrisons surrendered to the Spaniards, that cities of Deventer and Zutphen were in Spanish hands. When Leicester in 1586 temporarily moved to England, Holland seized the opportunity to draw the lost power for themselves. After Leicester had returned, he tried to regain power by a military coup. This failed, and in December 1587 he returned to England for good. In 1588 was based on the Deduction Van Vrancken, decided not to have more sovereignty to a prince but to the States. This Republic was born.

Early Golden Age [ edit ]
Under the military leadership ofMaurice and of the politicalOldenbarnevelt were the Spaniards in the Ten Year expelled from the north and east of the Republic.

Because Spain was at war with France, and Philip II military resources in the southern Netherlands began in France, the Republic had a chance to come up to strength.Besides the breather who got the Republic, also flourished trade, shipping and cities. The financial position of Holland was further strengthened by reforms in taxation and loans in the form of common land rent . The increased creditworthiness of Holland which this financial revolution caused would, according to James Tracy contributed to the transformation of the States of Holland to representative political body. In any case, the financial situation made it possible to improve the army in size and in quality; the Army of the Republic was second only to Spain's largest and most advanced in Europe. [5] It was also during this time that, under Maurice of Orange was conquered many cities. The conquests brought great damage to Spain's prestige in the northern Netherlands. This military success was only possible through cooperation with the competent Dutchcountry lawyer Johan van Barneveld who was able to get support from the normally distributed States General.

The smaller provinces were internally unstable and coats in constant conflict. The only region that was through his ascendancy which could bring stability Holland. In April 1594 were the Ommelanden voiced the seventh province in the States General of the Republic. After the siege of Groningen, Groningen was incorporated in 1594 in the Union and made ​​it to the Ommelanden part of the county and city land . Drenthe also wanted the right to vote in the States General, but did not because of the small population size, relative poverty and because Holland did not lose any power. Well Drenthe was considered a full-fledged province and had its own States Assembly and governor.

After the peace between Spain and France in May 1585 and the death of Philip II in 1598, the obedient provinces were transferred to his daughter Isabella and her husband, the Austrian-Habsburg Archduke Albrecht . Although the areas were transferred Spain kept there his army, which was paid by Spain and whose soldiers were loyal to the Spanish king. The southern Netherlands remained in effect this Spanish possession. Because of the public debt of Spain wanted the archdukes and the Spanish king in 1599 peace with the Republic. These peace talks did not succeed, because none of the parties were willing to make concessions. [6] The Spanish army was by the poor finances of Spain no longer so powerful and that gave the Republic the chance to go deep in Flanders attacked too increasing the Dunkirk pirates . This plan was approved by Van Barneveld, while governor William Louis because of the high risks were against. Doubting Maurice nevertheless decided to withdraw the army from Dunkirk, but came at Newport on the Spanish army. The battle that followed was won by Maurice effort. Because of the high risk that was taken, a defeat could lead to a collapse of the New Republic, clashed Maurits and Van Barneveld, which cooled their relationship.

The first years after the Battle of Nieuwpoort the situation remained the same, but after the conquest of the last Protestant stronghold in Flanders, Ostend, after a siege of three years, nudged Spinola through in the east of the Republic and thus captured a number of cities. This Spanish breakthrough caused great panic in the Republic and Maurice could recapture some cities. Groenlosche was too strong to be taken and what followed was a stalemate, which led to a ceasefire and ultimately to sign the Twelve Year Truce in 1609.

Twelve Years' Truce [ edit ]
Initially the negotiations were not about a truce, but a peace between the two parties and to recognize the independence of the United Provinces. In exchange for recognition Spain wanted the newly formed VOC would stop its activities in Africa and Asia. Spain saw the VOC as a major threat to its own trading position. The Republic did not give in on this point, there was indeed invested heavily in the VOC. In order to achieve something a twelve-year truce was agreed from 1609 to 1621, provided that no West Indian counterpart of the VOC would be established.

Of the execution Johan van Barneveld in The Hague .

During the file remained tensions, but both sides avoided an armed confrontation. Although it was quieter in the military field, that was far from the case in society.The population of the Republic became a dichotomy between two currents in the public church, the Remonstrants and Counter-Remonstrants . Among the supporters of the remonstrants, most Dutch city leaders, intellectuals; including Hugo Grotius and the state advocate Van Barneveld. As most city governments were Arminianism, they suggested only Arminian preachers. In rural areas, where the regents could not exercise power, were just a lot of counter remonstrants active. The counter remonstrants received increasing support and also the governor Prince Maurits was on their side. Due to the increasing pressure on Remonstrant city administrations, they put in the name of the States of Holland waardgelders to protect the city against counter-Remonstrant Remonstrant supporters. Because this would be unconstitutional, Maurice exercised by the States General, which in Holland and Utrecht after were completely contra Arminianism, pressure to dissolve the mercenaries. The waardgelders were disbanded under pressure Remonstrant and city governments, the provincial States and other organizations were purified. Leading figures of the Arminian movement were arrested. On May 12, 1619 Van Barneveld was found guilty of high treason and sentenced to death. Hugo Grotius and Hogerbeets were sentenced to life imprisonment. After the takeover Maurice was the new leading person of the Republic. In 1618 the Synod of Dordrecht was held, where theologians Arminian doctrine was condemned.

During the truce between the United Provinces and Spain, in Germany broke the Thirty Years War between Protestant and Catholic states. Because Protestant allies for the continued existence of the Republic were important, which were supported by the Republic with money, material and manpower. Spain supported the Roman Catholic states. Thus the battle was indirectly continued in Germany.

Resumption of the war and the Peace of Westphalia [ edit ]
The battle between the Republic and Spain resumed with the expiry of the Twelve Year Truce in 1621. From that time also began an economic downturn by including the reintroduction of trade embargoes, increasing blockades of major rivers and attacks by hijackers. Besides the economic downturn, the taxes had to be weighted in order to strengthen their own army. The crisis was exacerbated by the Republic received no financial support from France and England. In 1624 Spain laid siege to the well-defended city of Breda.At that time, Prince Maurits very sick and eventually died in April 1625 in The Hague. Two months later Breda would be occupied by Spain. Because Spain is in a bad financial situation wrong, the military was downsized after taking Breda and was chosen a defensive strategy. Frederick Henry succeeded his half-brother Maurice as governor and military commander.

Unlike Maurice chose Frederick Henry no match between the Remonstrants and Counter-Remonstrants and he sought more balance. So could take remonstrants back position in the municipalities and in the States.

With the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 marked the end of the Eighty Years War.

Around 1628/1629 shifted the balance in the Low Countries, thanks to various developments. So improved the financial situation of the Republic, where it deteriorated from Spain. The Spanish army was downsized, where it was extended to the Republic. England became involved in the war against Spain, which came into conflict with France over the succession in Mantua . Especially the battle between Spain and France to follow up in Mantua was important for the Republic because that caused Spain a lot of money and manpower in Italy had to put in place in the Netherlands.

In 1629, Frederik Hendrik conquered 's-Hertogenbosch . Spain then wanted a new truce, but by the political divisions in the Republic was not through. In 1632 were during thecampaign along the Meuse by Frederik Hendrik include the towns of Roermond, Venlo and Maastricht conquered. To cater to the Roman Catholic population in these cities, which should be pretty profess her faith. However ceded in every town one church to the Protestants. Spain again wanted to talk about peace, but the negotiations failed because of the political problems in the Republic.

Eventually, it came in the forties of the 17th century to peace talks, which in 1648 led to the Peace of Westphalia . The new Republic was by neighboring countries officially recognized as an independent nation, although at the start of the Twelve Year Truce was any unofficial recognition by several States.

Late Golden Age [ edit ]
Johan de Witt was Pensionary of Holland and hence during the first Stadholderless period the most influential person of the Republic.

First Stadholderless period (1650-1672) [ edit ]
During the stadholderate Willem II Republic again became a political crisis. Frederick Henry was the power of the province of Holland to grow rapidly at the expense of the governor. After the Peace of Westphalia had to be downsized army, but Holland wanted to downsize the military much farther than William II and the States General wanted.Yet Holland unilaterally decided to disband army units. This was according to the States General, and William II in breach of EU Treaty and it would jeopardize the security of the country at risk. Then Willem II decided by the governor of Friesland William Frederick, a coup by Amsterdam and The Hague to occupy and arrest political leaders. Thus William Frederick marched with an army to Amsterdam, but before they got there, the city authorities had been warned and the gates were closed. In The Hague, were arrested six governors from the states of Holland and firmly put on Loevestein . This coup did not last long, because Willem II soon after in November 1650 died of fever. His son William was born a week later. After the death of William II broke the first Stadholderless period to a period in which no governor was appointed in the provinces of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Gelderland and Overijssel. In Friesland remained governor Willem Frederik and Groningen and Drenthe appointed Willem Frederik as their new governor.During this period there were constant tensions between Orangists, who wanted William to be the new governor and Republicans who wanted no governor. Because of these stresses were the provinces of internally unstable and often they followed the policy of Holland, where Pensionary Johan de Witt was a great influence.

The Threatened Swan by Jan Asselijn says Johan de Witt for which the egg (Holland) against the enemy.

The years after the Peace of Westphalia went to a part of the Netherlands economically very prosperous. Trading at sea with other areas grew substantially at the expense of England. This caused a severe economic downturn in the UK and as a response, took the English Parliament passed the Navigation Act in order to protect its own market. This new law was accompanied by kaperijen of Dutch ships by English pirates and the British Navy. The dominance in the world was not to lose the Republic counterattacked and in 1652 broke the First Anglo-Dutch War in. England won the battle in the North Sea, which Maarten Tromp, the main admiral of the Republic, was killed. In order not to further harm the trade was in 1654 peace closed. This peace took the friction between the two countries is not off and in 1665 broke another war, the Second Anglo-Dutch War . In this war destroyed Michiel de Ruyter, a large part of the English fleet in the trip to Chatham . Knew the English New Amsterdam (now New York ) on the Republic to conquer. The peace terms at the end of this war were favorable to the Republic. So the Republic was conquered by the English Suriname and keep the British Shipping Laws were relaxed. New Amsterdam remained in English hands.

Also this peace did not last long. The French king Louis wanted to expand his territory and from France to make a trade and colonial power, similar to England and the Republic. To this end, Louis allied with the English king and the bishops of Cologne and Münster against the Republic. In May of 1672, also the year of disaster called, began the Dutch war and the Republic was invaded. The Republic's army was vastly outnumbered and poorly prepared, so the French could easily advance to Holland, that thanks to the Dutch Waterline remained safe. The invasion triggered a fierce public anger toward the regents, because by their actions the army would have expired in such bad condition. Additionally cripple the war seriously commerce. The anger resulted in the deposition of regents, the murder of the brothers De Witt and the appointment of William III as governor of Holland and Zeeland.At sea, was the war won against England. In 1674, the Republic made ​​peace with England and the German dioceses. With the support of Spain and the Austrian emperor's war against France continued. In 1678 it was in Nijmegen signed the peace.

Glorious crossing [ edit ]
The landing of William III with a Dutch army in England to depose the king of England.

The French king Louis XIV held soon after the signing of the peace no longer meet the conditions. He again annexed the city in the southern Netherlands and raised it again in 1687, the import duties, which the Dutch trade experienced a lot of damage. Although the governor because these provocations wanted to declare war on France, the majority in the States-General against a war, was because the trade would further damage. Through the alliance of France and England had the Republic also face a strong opponent.Still, it was thought that it would be only a matter of time before the Republic itself from both sides would be attacked, as was done in 1672. Instead of waiting, there was prepared a plan behind the scenes: the English King James II was weak and unpopular. This created the opportunity to invade England with a State army and depose the king.After this, England on the side of the Republic to fight against France. This plan was approved, and eventually began an invasion in which a force of more than 21,000 soldiers with 400 transport ships, accompanied by 53 warships, in November 1688 the channel was put on. [7] After the Glorious crossing fled James to France and became governor William III the new king. When the war with France that followed the Nine Years' War, Louis could not be beaten. However, he had to relinquish the conquests after 1678 and remove the high import tariffs.

Second Stadholderless period (1702-1747) [ edit ]
William III died childless in March 1702. Although he Frisian governor Johan Willem Friso had designated successor, was there after his death in Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Gelderland and Overijssel again nominated a new governor. This broke the second Stadholderless period to. Johan Willem Friso drowned on July 14, 1711 when his ship capsized in the Hollands Diep . His son William IV was born six weeks later.

Two years before the death of William III was the Spanish King Charles II deceased. He had no offspring and in his will he had Philip of Anjou, grandson of French King Louis XIV, designated as successor. This would create a powerful Franco-Spanish bloc, which was all the more threatening because it was feared that the trade with the Spanish colonies would be taken over by the French. An alliance of the Austrian Habsburgs, including the United Provinces and Britain tried during the War of Spanish Succession to break the Franco-Spanish power block and Archduke Charles install as king of Spain. French troops when theSpanish Netherlands marched disappeared barrier between France and the Republic to defend the Republic. During the war, the Republic spent 119,000 man with the largest army in its history going. To pay the States had to borrow money this. The high spending went to the army at the expense of spending on the navy, which the British had the ascendancy at sea. The first years of the war led to many successes on the Allied side. So the French were expelled from the Spanish Netherlands, the battle for the Mediterranean was won and booked one success in Castile. Later, the Allies were again expelled from Castile and followed a stalemate. The French then began peace talks in 1713 that led to the Treaty of Utrecht . Philip of Anjou remained as King of Spain, but lost the Spanish possessions in the Netherlands and in Italy to Austria.

Orangist revolution [ edit ]
After the peace army units were disbanded and reduced spending on the military. This reduction represented a definite break with the past and was the Republic of a world power become a medium-sized power.The Republic fell into an economic crisis. Trade with the colonies stagnated, the industry in the cities deteriorated and taxes had to be increased in order to repay high debt. This caused a severe slump in the Republic and fanned the discontent of the population to the regents. When William IV came of age in 1729, he was named governor of Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe and Gelderland. This appointment caused a brighter be the battle between Republicans and orangists .

When farmer rebellion, mainly due to the high tax rates that the tenants asked coupled with the economic decline, tenants of houses were looted.

During the Austrian Succession War, the Republic was due to an agreement to contribute to the side of Britain and Austria. The army was again expanded and deployed in the Austrian Netherlands, which was invaded by the French. When the French in April 1747 by steamed up in States Flanders and the weakness of the defense was clear, it caused among the population a violent riot. From the population was the call for the governor so great that the regents were forced to support the stadholderate. The Stadholderless provinces Zealand was the first province to re-instituted the stadholderate. Holland, Utrecht and Overijssel, followed soon afterwards, leaving William IV in the middle of May 1747 the first governor of the provinces of the Union was. Even after William IV became governor, remained unsettled, because in the eyes of the people, but few governors had changed. The farmer revolt, which houses tenants were looted, was an expression of anger. However, William could draw much power to itself, making the Republic draw was a constitutional monarchy without a monarch crowned. In 1748 the war ended with peace of Aachen .

Unexpectedly William IV died on October 22, 1751 at the age of 40. Stadtholdership had previously been declared hereditary, but his son William V was in his father's death, only 3 years. Until his majority his role was fulfilled by his mother, Anne of Hanover, and after her death by the famous army commander Brunswick . In those years the population remained calm despite the economic and social tensions.

In 1766, William V came of age and with the new governor. Brunswick remained an influential person at court. Traditional alliances in Europe changed because Austria entered into an alliance with France and Britain with a new superpower Prussia. The most wanted the Republic to take a neutral position, but it was difficult border conflicts with Austria and Prussia presence along the eastern border. Despite the threat of war the army and navy were barely extended by the conflicting interests of the provinces. When theRevolutionary War broke out, which led to rising tensions between the Republic and Britain. The Dutch were selling arms and ammunition through the island of St. Eustatius in the American insurgents, to the fury of the British, with the result that in 1780 the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War broke out, in which the Republic was overwhelmingly defeated and many overseas territories were lost.

Time of the Patriots [ edit ]
The tree of liberty on the Grote Markt in Groningen, after the French had invaded the Republic in 1795.

By 1782 was inspired by the American Revolution and the Enlightenment, a movement: the patriots who demanded more freedom for the people. The spark that ignited the revolutionary process in many cities of the republic was the publication of the by Joan Derk van der Capellen written pamphlet To the People of the Netherlands . This Van der Capellen wrote that the government of the country had to show responsibility towards the people. He also wanted more democracy in the administration and led the nationguerrillas to protect the people. The Patriots saw their case as the continuation of the Dutch Revolt for more freedom - freedom that was suppressed in their eyes by the governor and his minions. Through a stream of pamphlets and posters and mass demonstrations were the patriots more and more supporters. In cities guerrillas were established with much patriotic supporters and were, whether implemented by force, reforms such as limiting the power of the governor and the establishment of new town councils. The rise of the patriots took care of tensions and violence between them and orangists. As The Hague was no longer safe for the governor and his family, they departed from to Gelderland, which was still orangistisch. Then in 1787 it appeared that the governor of the patriot movement could not stop, the Prussian king was Frederick William II, also the governor of the brother in law, backed by the British in the Republic with an army to help the governor. As a direct reason for the raid is considered thearrest in Goejanverwellesluis his sister Wilhelmina of Prussia . Despite the armed guerrillas was virtually no opposition to the Prussian troops. After this intervention pulled the governor back to The Hague and some measures were introduced against the Patriots. Also in the southern (Austrian) Netherlands was the population in revolt. There were the Dutch United States was founded, which were, however, through the intervention of Prussia short. In France, the French Revolution, which began in 1789, more success.In 1795, French troops withdrew after they had defeated the Austrians in the Southern Netherlands in the Republic, where they were greeted with much enthusiasm. Allows the Dutch Republic came to an end and created a new state: the Batavian Republic .

Regional division [ edit ]
The eight provinces (also referred to as regions) who joined the Dutch Republic were: Landscape Drenthe was a region with a State Assembly but had no voting rights and representation in the States-General .
 * 1) Glory Friesland
 * 2) Duchy Gelre
 * 3) County Holland
 * 4) Lordship of Overijssel
 * 5) City and Lande ( Groningen )
 * 6) Lordship of Utrecht
 * 7) County Zealand
 * 8) Landscape Drenthe

Map of the Republic of Johannes Janssonius ; from his collection "Belgii foederati Nova Descriptio" published in Amsterdam in 1658

In 1648, the Peace of Westphalia, parts of Flanders ( Staats-Vlaanderen ), Brabant ( Staats-Brabant , including the Brabant Overmaas countries , including State-Overmaas called) as generality country added to the Republic. Part of Upper Gelderland around Venlo, which had been at the end of the 16th century, temporarily in the hands of the Republic, was due to agreements with the Peace of Utrecht in 1715 as a State-Upper Gelderland annexed to the Republic. The generality countries did not have the status of an autonomous region and were governed by the States-General. Westerwolde in Groningen was also a formal generality country, but was actually controlled by the city of Groningen . Also Maastricht had a special status.

After Holland Zealand was the most important trading region. Middelburg was after Amsterdam until the third quarter of the 17th century, the largest commercial port city of the Republic.

The territory of the Republic did not fully reflect the present Netherlands.

Population Development [ edit ]
By 1300, the northern Netherlands were relatively uncrowded. This changed around 1500 when the urbanization increased. The northern Netherlands, with around one million inhabitants, were among the most urbanized regions of Europe. This was not achieved due to the high population of the cities (that fell in comparison with the cities, for example the southern Netherlands with), but the large number of cities. Between 1500 and 1650 the population doubled in the Republic. In the coastal provinces the population had tripled. After this there was until 1750 a decrease in the population place in North Holland and Friesland and stagnation around the Zuiderzee . In addition, the population plummeted in Dutch industrial cities like Delft, Leiden and Haarlem. After 1780, the growth was again deployed in the north and south of Holland and Friesland. Also in the east, there was a slow growth from 1500, but it was because of the Eighty Years' War, which raged especially in the east and south is limited. After 1650, the growth increased here. Especially in the south, where during the first half of the 16th century there is a high population growth, the war caused a major depopulation. The declining economic importance of the South was responsible for the decline. After the war came in the Bailiwick of 's-Hertogenbosch and in what is now northern Dutch province of Limburg is recovery, which stagnated between 1700 and 1750 and then dropped by. The development in what is now southern Dutch province of Limburg, was contrary herein.

Following the closure of the Scheldt in 1585 established many city dwellers from the Southern Netherlands mainly in Amsterdam , Middelburg , Leidenand Haarlem . In the first two places one-third of the population spoke at that time with an Antwerp accent. In Leiden and Haarlem was connected with the textile industry, many Western Flemish and French. Besides the large influx of South Dutch, there was an unprecedented large immigration from countries such as Westphalia, France and Portugal, which in the early 17th century a third of the residents from the Southern Netherlands of foreign origin was or was. In some cities, such as Leiden, which was at one time even more than half of all residents.

Between 1525 and 1675 increased the urban population of the Northern Netherlands from 300,000 to 815,000 inhabitants. Around 1600 counted only the five largest cities over 20,000 inhabitants: Amsterdam, Leiden, Haarlem, Utrecht and Middelburg together approximately 160,000 inhabitants. In 1675, the six largest cities (over 25,000 inhabitants) Amsterdam (200,000) (about 65,000), Rotterdam (about 45,000), Haarlem (about 37,000), Middelburg (over 27,000) and Utrecht (25,000).

Between 1514 and 1680 the population of the region grew Holland from about 275,000 to 883,000 people, mostly in the nineteen cities. In the next century the population gradually decreased to about 783,000 (approximately reached 1750, then stabilized until the end of the 18th century ). In the period up to 1800, there was also talk of a death surplus of about 800,000 people and 250,000 people emigrated abroad.Calculated that are drawn about 1.4 million people in that period to the cities, of which 1.2 million by immigration . [10]

Migration [ edit ]
Between 1585 and 1650 were Holland and Zeeland explosive growth. This was in early modern times quite extraordinary, because in cities mortality exceeded the birth rate due to diseases and high infant mortality.Growth was only possible by a constant influx of people from the surrounding countryside or from other areas. Immigrants moved to 1590 mainly because of religious motives for the Republic, then immigrated people because of better job opportunities and higher wages in the Republic - and particularly in the provinces of Holland and Zeeland. The expanding and prosperous economy of the west of the Republic had a priming function in other areas; not only came immigrants from the southern Netherlands and Germany, but also from the eastern provinces. While urban growth in Holland and Zeeland was very large, was less strong in the other provinces. Well grew up there, as in the rest of the Republic, the demand for agricultural products and therefore the rural population. Did this in the West especially with the growing cities in the east this was mainly due to the Thirty Years War in Germany where the armies had to import their size food from abroad. In addition to immigration, emigration took place there. People also left for religious or economic reasons to other countries. This group was not large. Greater the number of people that went into the service of the East India Company and remained at sea or in one of the VOC settlements. As it often was departing men, disturbed this especially the sex ratio in Dutch cities.

[Religion edit ]
In the Union of Utrecht, the inhabitants of Holland and Zeeland freedom of conscience granted. Every other province had the freedom to determine how the religious issue was addressed, even though the Union of Utrecht have stipulated that every person should be free to choose his personal religion and no one should be persecuted on the basis of his or her religious choice. [11] William of Orange was a strong supporter of both public and personal freedom of religion and hoped to unite Protestants and Roman Catholics in the new state. For him, the Union defeat, since it did not ensure that everyone also publicly profess his religion allowed. In practice, quickly banned Roman Catholic church services in all provinces and the Reformed Church was the "public" church in the Republic. [12] The property of the Roman Catholic Church were practically everywhere by the (local) authorities confiscated.

During the Republic it was just the Reformed allowed to hold public worship. To hold public office in the Republic, served the Reformed faith adhered to and get there about an oath. To what extent the worship of different religions or movements were persecuted, strongly depended on the age and the regents of a particular city or region. In the early Republic was mainly directed against the Roman Catholics, the religion of the 'enemy'. In the Leiden in the 17th century for example, people could be fined 200 guilders for opening their home to be non-Reformed church services and banished from the city. [13] Despite this has always been the personal freedom of religion in the Republic. Along with economic reasons led to large-scale immigration of refugees from other parts of Europe.

In the first years of the Republic, there was a controversy in the Reformed Church, especially around the theme of predestination and that grew into a fierce struggle between Arminianism ( Remonstrants ) andGomarisme ( Counter-Remonstrants ). The Synod of Dordrecht in 1618, who tackled, led to the banning of the Arminian faith and purify remonstrants from city governments and the banning and prosecuting Remonstrant worship.

After the 17th century, the situation of a more or less active prosecution to a state of limited tolerance of other religions, so long as these were not visible confessed. Worship in clandestine churches were permitted for example.

Board [ edit ]
The way the Republic was ruled by its institutions, was formed between 1572 and 1588, was given its final shape between 1587 and 1609 and subsequently remained virtually unchanged. The board was substantially different under the Habsburgs and it also differed with the Treaty on European Union, the constituent document of the Republic. It was originally intended that the various sovereign provinces were working together on a number of issues, namely taxes to pay for the defense, self defense and foreign policy. The provinces retained a very far-reaching autonomy . Within these provinces enjoyed turn the cities(especially the larger cities), again a very large degree of autonomy.

Later, the Republic was concerned with many more issues than with the aforementioned topics. So the Republic was also engaged in shipping, the government of conquered territories, the promotion of colonial expansion and religion. Still can not speak about a full federal republic, because appearance and ceremonially given the provinces showed sovereignty. The covenant was more a cross between a confederation and a federation in which the union of form and theory was more a confederation and a federation in practice more precisely. [14] It was on the one hand the governor who, as captain-general (commander) of the armed forces acted and, secondly, the very dominance of the region Holland (which accounted for approximately 60% of state revenue), which assured some degree of political cohesion.

National Executive [ edit ]
Meeting of the States General in the Knights in 1651

The national board consisted of the States-General, comprising representatives of seven of the eight regions. They met for a long time at the Binnenhof in The Hague . The States-General already existed at the time of the Burgundian and Habsburg rule, but then came little together; it could only meet on the take from the land lord subjects determined and no decisions. When the States-General in 1583 had established the major rivers, they came together more often, about 16 to 28 days per month, also on Sundays. They kept themselves among other things with the shipping industry, the government of conquered territories, the promotion of colonial expansion and religion. In addition, they were assisted by a number of institutions.

These areas were called the generality countries. By conquests and treaties the boundary exchanged during the two hundred years of the Republic has existed. They eventually were: The generality countries were not all contiguous areas. State Upper Gelderland, State Overmaas and Redemptiedorpen scattered in the southeast of the confederation.
 * States Flanders, roughly the current Zeeland
 * Staats-Brabant, largely the current North-Brabant, but also the Redemptiedorpen in what is now the provinces of Belgian Limburg and Liege are, and what now Lommel in Belgian Limburg
 * State Upper Gelderland, in what is now the Dutch province of Limburg is
 * Overmaas state, mostly in what is now Dutch South Limburg and some villages in the current Belgian province of Liege
 * Westerwolde, in the southeast of the province of Groningen , belonged formally to the generality countries for practical reasons but was controlled by the city of Groningen .

One of the institutions affiliated to the States General was the Council of State, the highest advisory body of the States General. The army under administration, the fortified towns and the generality countries.Another institution was the Generality Court . This was responsible for keeping the revenues and expenditures of the Republic and presented the budget. An institution that fell under the State Council, the High Military Court. This was a permanent military court which dealt with the punishment of soldiers who had committed an offense. The generality coin room was another institution that the value, weight and the content of the coins beaten in seven provinces were given. Finally, there were five Admiralty Colleges who were responsible for the fleet, the collection of customs fees, the operational maintenance of the vessels, the recruitment of crew, monitoring the rivers and estuaries and ensuring compliance with rules governing the shipping and fishing.

Regional administration [ edit ]
Meeting of the States of Holland and West Friesland in 1625 The board of the regions was performed by individual regional States . Each province had its own provincial government and its content differed by region. Representatives of cities, ridderschappen, districts or a combination of these had a seat in the States. The church was only represented in Utrecht, albeit with less weight than the other delegates.

For each State Assembly the topics to be discussed by the executive committee were sent to the cities so that the municipalities could form their opinion on a particular subject.The delegate of the city had to pass that position at the meeting. So not only were subjects discussed in the meeting, but also in the cities and ridderschappen and their influence was more direct. In Friesland and Gelderland the agenda was not sent by the executive committee, but by a new committee.

The daily management of the regions was in the hands of the Board of Executive Council or for the Holland Committed Councils . The members of the colleges were chosen from and by the members of Parliament. In Gelderland, the situation was different. Due to the large differences between the three quarters of an hour, it was not possible to achieve a daily administration. Every quarter therefore got its own Provincial Executive consisting of three members of the knighthood and three of the cities.

[Governor edit ]
By the Act of Abjuration was the function of governor superfluous, since there was no longer recognized landlord and thus no longer could hold his places. Still, it was decided to hold the post of governor in honor.The reason was that one of the main leaders of the Dutch Revolt, as Willem of Orange, wanted to give a primary function in the executive branch, without letting them yourself to become landlords. In practice, the governor drew mostly great personal power to him. At the regional level, he wore often members of the town councils of cities and did so to appoint his own followers in the most fundamental decision-making bodies.The provinces were free to choose a governor. Holland and Zeeland shared the same governor. In practice, there was always one person governor of several provinces. From 1747 there was only one governor for all regions. The position of governor was taken at the time of the Republic by a member of the family of Orange-Nassau.

The Republic had two periods without governor. The first Stadholderless period lasted from 1650 to 1672 and the second Stadholderless period was from 1702 to 1747.

Economy [ edit ]
A fish market in 1683 by Cornelis Dusart .

Before 1585 were mainly traded in the northern Netherlands in bulk as grain, timber and salt. Grain and wood came mainly from the Baltic region and salt was imported from France and Portugal. The salt was used to preserve with herring. The herring fishery was an important sector fleets Zealand, around the Maas estuary and in Enkhuizen and was not for nothing that the great fishing mentioned. There were many other maritime related industries important to the economy, such as shipbuilding and rope and sailmakers. The Dutch shipping was the largest in Europe. In 1565 there are 1,000 Dutch ships to carry the Baltic Sea, which was three times more than the number of North German ships. [15]

From 1590 started slowly for the Republic of the Golden Age by large-scale changes in the economy and urban society. This transformation were traded mainly low-value goods, after this transformation was also one act in high-value goods such as spices, and arose associated processing industries. This development was due to a number of factors that brought the Republic in an advantageous position: the Republic was internally stable, improved strategic position, waterways towards Germany opened, skilled labor and capital from Antwerp after 1585, the temporary lifting of the trade embargo for Dutch ships in the Iberian Peninsula and maintaining the embargo on British ships, an improved grip on the mouths of the Ems and the Scheldt and finally the blockade of the Flemish coast.

The Dutch East India Companytrading post Hougli in Bengal. See also the article: VOC in Bengal .

Many spices were traded on the market stack of Lisbon and Seville . In order to make more profit merchants founded in Amsterdam in 1594 the Compagnie van Verre, who went to India with four ships. Later on, more merchants who financed expeditions to India. By 1597 the Republic had the spice tradecaptured in northern Europe. To stop this economic success of the Republic, Spain introduced in 1598 again a trade embargo, allowing Dutch no longer had access to the markets pile of Lisbon and Seville. This forced the Republic to disassemble the spices from the Indies, if they wanted to maintain the position. In response to the embargo investments were increased in expeditions, so that more ships could depart for India. In 1599 there were eight companies, which showed sail fleets, in 1601 there were fourteen. The companies amalgamated compete, so prices fell. To protect Dutch interests were by among others Johan van Barneveld held discussions to merge the companies of different together. This new company, the Dutch East India Company, was founded in 1602 and was supervised by the States General. Among the VOC was a trade and colonial empire established that stretched from the Cape of Good Hope to the coasts of Japan and the Philippines . The headquarters of the VOC in Asia was inBatavia . The West India Company, which after the twelve year truce was founded in 1621, was on the same footing and focused on trade with America and West Africa.

Agriculture [ edit ]
Agriculture formed in the Republic's largest economic sector. He offered to work almost half of the total workforce. In the early 16th century, the grain yields are low due to lack of specialization and lack of investment.East consisted of sandy soils that manure and humus to be held fruitful. The ash and rangelands that have been run jointly by markets . In the west and north were the wet grounds and secluded but close to the urban market and waterways. The settling and land in this region caused a transformation of agriculture towards more livestock . By far the most important crop was still rye .

From the late 15th century, the population grew in Europe and the food prices rose sharply. Grain prices in the Netherlands rose less sharply, because Amsterdam developed into grain market and granary of Europe with imports of cheap grain from the Baltic region . Low grain prices and thus low income, did farmers seek alternatives such as horticulture crops and intensive industrial crops like hemp , flax , hops , madder and oilseeds. Some switched to livestock. The livestock was the main specialization and consisted of two branches: the production of dairy products like butter and cheese and fattening, with skinny oxen outside the Republic were brought to be fattened and slaughtered. Higher agricultural yields offered the possibility to make investments that improved the productivity and efficiency. Also, the financing and implementation of large land reclamation projects (such as the draining of the Beemster in 1612) attractive, so that the amount of arable land could be extended considerably. In the inland provinces were these developments by military activities and low market orientation of agriculture. By 1650, the agricultural depression began which lasted until the mid-eighteenth century and all the farmers affected in Europe. In the coastal provinces, farmers were extra hit because of their specialization. Because of declining revenues, many companies were not even allow the lease to pay (in full), which among other things led to divestments. In the east, the problem was smaller, because there was one less dependent on the market. From the mid-18th century, the international prices showed again an increase. In this period, its growth to the importance of the agricultural sector, while the economic importance of the cities fell. Domestic demand for industrial crops declined and instead the potato became increasingly important.

Fishing [ edit ]
Allegory on the flourishing of the Dutch fisheries after the Second Anglo-Dutch War (1665-67) , William Eversdijck ~ 1667. The great importance given to the fishery is shown by this painting with a number of Dutch admirals, some of which a net bringing with fish. Pictured are among others Adriaen Banckertand Michiel de Ruyter .

The fishing was an important economic sector in the Republic. Not only were many people directly employed in fishing, there has also generated employment and revenue in many fisheries leaning industries such as shipbuilding, rope-making, sailing and nettenmakerij and saltworks.

With the declining herring fishing in the Baltic Sea, the demand for herring far beyond the Baltic. Traders from the Republic played avidly in there. Technological improvements that began in the 15th century and in 1600 became perfected, made ​​for an efficient method of fishing and processing. The jaws and salts of the fish (sustainability) was already on the herring tube made, so that he could stay at sea for weeks. The size of the ships and their twelve- to fourteen-man crew, the busses were seen as floating factories and made ​​the herring fleet from 400 to 500 ships a big impression. The highlight of the herring fishery was around 1630. After that, the importance of the sector fell by competition from cheaper British and Scandinavian herring.

Freshwater fish, which was caught in the rivers, the original sweet Zuiderzee and the IJ, was until about 1600 the main fish was eaten. After the mid-17th century, the importance of freshwater fish, including having the salinity of the Zuiderzee, overfishing and the draining of lakes.

From the 17th century began the systematic and organized whaling to win oils and fats, also called the small fishing called because it compared to the herring fishery - the aforementioned major fisheries - small economic importance. Because of the strong smell of whale oil, these oils were not for consumption, but mainly used for illumination and the production of soap. In 1614 due to intense competition and hostilities with the English, the Noordsche Company established which Dutch monopoly between Novaya Zemlya and Davis Strait got. Arose settlements like Smeerenburg ( Spitsbergen ), where whale oil from whales killed was won. After the mid-18th century whaling was no longer profitable. By the end of the 18th century were whaling and herring fishing even grant. The final end of whaling from the Republic came in 1795.

Industry [ edit ]
Different processes of the textile industry in Leiden: spinning, shaving the chain and weaving through Isaac Claesz. of Swanenburg (1594-1596)

Another important sector was the industry, which in the cities with the craft being provided most of the work. In addition to towns there were also rural areas where industry played an important role as the Zaanstreek , Twente and nearby Tilburg . The Zaandam was in this unique, because it is from rural area developed into an industrial area with hundreds of mills in operation. Through European transport networks could easily imported raw materials, and finished products are exported. Dutch cities were welcomed by the cost of transportation on water, cheap energy ( peat ) and the availability of a widely used means of production (water). [16] Major branches within the industry were the textile and construction industries. Other branches were the brewing, salt works, sugar refinery, sawmill, distillery, Pipe, shipbuilding, sailcloth weaving, brick, pottery industry, paper industry and tobacco mill. In some cities there were various industries, others had a particular industry prevailed. Thus, in Leiden and Haarlem the textile industry big in Delft pottery was in the Gouda Pipe factory and the distillery in Schiedam.

During a large part of the 16th century, the growth in the industry is limited. From the eighties of the century, growth slowed sharply due to the arrival of people, knowledge and money from the Southern Netherlands. Until the mid-seventeenth century, the industry flourished. It was in the 17th century greatly benefit from the turmoil in Europe which Dutch traders could export many goods. As tensions in England and France quiets those countries were boosting their industries and protect by the British Shipping Laws and French rates policy of Colbert . Later this was mercantilism followed by other European countries. Dutch exports declined and the domestic market was too small to keep the industry afloat. From the second half of the 17th century there were industries with a steady decline, where some remained the same, and some other just came up again.From the mid-18th century was seen in almost all industries decline and by 1813 was the new kingdom of the Netherlands is almost completely de-industrialized.

Trade [ edit ]
The Amsterdam stock exchange (Job Berckheyde, ca. 1670) was established as a meeting place for traders. Along with other branches of the service sector, including banking, they made ​​an important contribution to the flourishing of the trade.

The towns in the northern Netherlands were already benefiting in the Middle Ages of its location between the economic centers in the southern Netherlands, the Rhineland, England and the area to the North and Baltic Sea. In the middle of the 16th century could Amsterdam, thanks to the use of superior ships, the grain trade in the Baltic take over where previously the Hanseatic a monopoly had. Dutch trade with the Baltic region, its importance to the mother of all, consisted mainly of grain imports and exports of herring, salt and English woolen fabrics. The trading network could go to the Iberian Peninsula and France will be expanded by the present demand for it and the availability of grain salt. Amsterdam began to develop into a staple market . In turn, this sparked in the Republic of fisheries, agriculture and industry, of which the products were intended largely for export. Even during the war with Spain continued to trade up, because of the common interest of both parties. The Republic had the supply of textiles and grain and Spain on the supply of salt, raw wool and silver from the New World . Between 1585 and 1621 the trade network could grow significantly, making it virtually spanned the globe. Dutch imported from Russia include talc, wax, skins, fur, flax and hemp. From England wool was imported from Norway and wood. In Sweden, the offer consisted of iron, copper and weaponry. From France wine and salt was imported and in the Levant were bought exotic goods such as silk, cotton, angora, camel hair and currants. Pepper and spices were purchased in Portugal. Because of the irregular supply and high prices of which went Dutch in 1595 itself to Asia to purchase those products. In 1602 were the merchants who traded with Asia, united in the monopolistic organization VOC. In the following years, from the Asian capital of the organization, Batavia, founded an Asian trade network and pepper and spices were sent to the Republic. Similar to the VOC was for West Africa and the New World in 1621 granted a patent for the creation of the WIC for trade in gold, ivory, sugar cane and later slaves. In the mid 17th century Amsterdam had taken a leading international position, the Dutch merchant fleet was by far the largest with 2,000 seaworthy ships and offered the Dutch shipping employs 46,000 people.

Since 1650 the undisputed economic leadership of the Republic was put to the test. So they had to deal with mercantilist policies of France and England and eventually was overtaken by these countries. On the Baltic Republic lost its leading position in that it offers not completely fit in with the demand. The decrease in trading volume on the market in Europe was a growth of trade with the East and West Indies. However, the profits of the VOC and the WIC declined. Eventually losing and late eighteenth century kept both companies to exist.

Domestic transport [ edit ]
Between cities was the demand for transport of cargo, people and mail. Most transportation between cities was about water because of existing rivers, lakes and streams. Roads at that time were out of town often unpaved and therefore the water was much faster and begaanbaarder. From 1529 were established the first regular timetables by cities turn springs . These ships carry at fixed times on fixed routes, whether loaded or not. In the years it expanded this network of services out to more and more cities. Around the middle of the 17th century, every town that was accessible by water included in the transport network. Other cities had to use car services. The turn spring was great for goods less than a shipload. For larger loads, such as peat, stone and a grain ship was chartered . The arrival of spring were changeable by wind and tidal currents.For a more reliable and have berekenbaarder system, participating cities channels showed tombs towpaths along it so that barge services could be set. These barges were pulled by horses and therefore the arrival could be better planned. The first barge service began in 1632 between Haarlem and Amsterdam, and 33 years later was a network spanning Holland. Where no barge canal could be dug existed between some towns a short paved road. In the late 18th century, improved transportation on the road with carriages, but until the advent of the railways, the barge remained the main means of transport in the Netherlands. In the east of the country they had no appetite canals and no paved roads. There they had been virtually anywhere on winding dirt roads with deep ruts, which made ​​transport expensive and unreliable.

People [ edit ]
The Republic took its first leader William of Orange, who at his death in 1584 was succeeded by his son Maurice of Orange, followed by Frederick Henry , William II , William III , William IV , regent Anne of Hanover , steering guardian of Brunswick and William V . Significant other politicians were Johan van Oldebarneveldt , Constantijn Huygens , Johan de Witt, besides admirals as the most successful Michiel de Ruyter , and further Piet Hein , Maarten Tromp and his son Cornelis Tromp , Jan Evertsen , Witte de With . In the area of trade were the cannon king Louis de Geer, his partner, Jacob Trip and Zeeland shipowner Cornelis Lampsins leader. If regents exerted a dominant influence on Amsterdam's mayors from the Republic, including Cornelis de Graeff , Gillis Valckenier , Andries Bicker and Nicolaas Witsen .

Studies [ edit ]
There were also scientists and skilled technicians in all kinds of terrain to be found in the Netherlands during the Golden Age . A small selection: Hugo Grotius (1583-1645) as never equaled instigator of theinternational law , war - and very real , Christiaan Huygens (1629-1695) as a mathematician, physicist and astronomer, inventor of the pendulum clock and interpreter of the rings of Saturn, physics and engineeringSimon Stevin who also decimal numbers increased with the decimal, Jan Leeghwater as engineering and architect of the most important Dutch polders, Benedict Spinoza (1632-1677) as a philosopher among otherpantheism . The French mathematician and physicist and philosopher René Descartes (1596-1650), famous for his philosophical statement "I think therefore I am", lived for extended periods in several Dutch cities including Leiden .

Culture [ edit ]
Because of the enormous wealth of the Republic as a result of successful trade flourished the culture, particularly painting, strong in the 17th century. This century was given the nickname Golden Age . A total of three million paintings were according to calculations by art historians produced by about 5,000 artists, including Rembrandt , Vermeer , Frans Hals , Govert Flinck , Ferdinand Bol and Jan Steen . Even architectsJacob van Campen ( Royal Palace ) were successful. The number of letters lagged behind the number of painters, but in their own language were Joost van den Vondel , PC Hooft and Bredero known. Sweelinck(1562-1621) was known as a composer and organist.

In the 18th century the cultural life sank in the Netherlands entirely, and was completely drowned out by France (literature, music, drama), Germany (music including Bach, literature, including Goethe ), Italy (music) and England ( literature and music).

Batavian Revolution [ edit ]
In the last twenty years of the eighteenth century it was very restless in the Republic. It was the time of the Patriots and their counterpart, the Orangists . The unrest resulted in 1787 in a Prussian intervention in favor of the governor William V, and a French invasion in 1794. With French support in 1795 became the Batavian Republic proclaimed. This put an end to the Dutch Republic.

Names [ edit ]
Common names for the Dutch Republic: The latter is Latin for United (federated) Netherlands. In Latin texts and maps of that time the Netherlands were as Belgium or Belgica identified. Thus they also knew NovaBelgica or Novum Belgium ( New Netherlands ), Belgica Regia or Regium Belgium (Royal or Spanish Netherlands ) and then Belgium austriacum (Imperial or Austrian Netherlands ).
 * the Republic
 * Republic of the United Netherlands
 * Republic of the United Provinces
 * Republic of the Seven Provinces
 * Dutch Republic
 * Republic of the Seven United Provinces
 * United Provinces
 * United Provinces of the Netherlands
 * United Regions
 * the Seven United Provinces
 * Belgica Foederata or Belgium Foederatum