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The Netherlands in 17 th and 18 th Centuries: Golden Age to Decline

The Netherlands in 17 th and 18 th Centuries: Golden Age to Decline. A Center of Commerce and Trade. Central role in European trade due to its location and large merchant fleet Connection between the Baltic region in Eastern Europe and Western Europe

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The Netherlands in 17 th and 18 th Centuries: Golden Age to Decline

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  1. The Netherlands in 17th and 18th Centuries: Golden Age to Decline

  2. A Center of Commerce and Trade • Central role in European trade due to its location and large merchant fleet • Connection between the Baltic region in Eastern Europe and Western Europe • Controlled the lucrative spice trade in Asia • Amsterdam became center of commerce in N. Europe • Bank of Amsterdam issued currency and made loans • Offered the lowest interest rates in Europe: 3%

  3. 1602Dutch East India Company set up to capitalize on trade with the Far East • Golden Agehigh standard of living; wealth more distributed • Dutch revolutionized farming through irrigation, dominated fishing industry, shipping, and seaborne empire

  4. Urban Prosperity • More people lived in cities than in any other area in Europe • A number of Dutch cities served as ports for trade • Dutch shipping overtook the world

  5. Dutch had some of the greatest technological advances in the area of agriculture with draining of highly profitable land and the introduction of irrigation • Dutch farmers focused on highly profitable cash products like beef and dairy products • The Dutch were the “finishers” of many raw materials from around the world • Furniture, paper-making, sugar refining, tobacco cutting, brewing, printing, and shipbuilding

  6. Structure of Government • Was a republic composed of seven provinces with extensive autonomy (independence) over local matters • Power based regionally • Executive power came from the House of Orange (stadtholder)military function • States General—representative assembly of the Dutch Republic that made decisions • Delegates from each province would act

  7. Power of the stadtholder increased under William of Nassau (Orange) when he became King of England in 1688 during the Glorious Revolution • for a period of time (1688-1714) the Netherlands became a monarchy under William III of Orange • Dutch revert back to a republic in 1714 when war with France ended

  8. Military Conflict • Fought wars of independence with Spain—Dutch War for Independence (1570s) • The United Provinces defeated the Spanish with the help of the English • Official recognition of independence in 1648 with the Treaty of Westphalia (30 Years’ War) • Economic wars with England—Anglo-Dutch Naval Wars (1652-1674) fought to limit Dutch trade with the colonies • The ascending of William III to the throne of England in 1688 ended commercial rivalry with England • Struggle for survival against France under Louis XIV (1714), but led the coalition to defeat France

  9. Art and Science • Due to lack of central authority, science and arts had ability to flourish • Influence of Baroque from Catholic-controlled cities • Dutch artists were primarily Calvinist • Painted for private collectors not the church • Landscapes • Pictures were commodities and could be quite expensive • Greatest painter from Dutch Golden Age was Rembrandt Van Rijndeep emotional complexity • Home to Rene Descartes and Baruch Spinoza due to their unorthodox philosophies

  10. Rembrandt Van Rijn r

  11. Religion • Stood out from Europe for its tolerant attitude towards religious minorities • Calvinist Reformed Church—official church of nation • Attracted Huguenots from France to escape persecution under Louis XIV • Home of Jews, Anabaptist, Catholics, and Calvinists (majority)

  12. Economic Decline in the Netherlands • no strong stadtholder replaced William III (King of England and stadtholder of Netherlands) after his death in 1702 • Dutch revert back to a republic in 1714 when war with France ended; lacked a strong leader • passed in naval supremacy by the British in the 18th century • fishing and trade industries decline • only financial institutions (Bank of Amsterdam and Amsterdam stock exchange) kept the Dutch from complete insignificance • Will retain some overseas colonies and trade in East and West Indies

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