CAUSES OF

THE DUTCH
GOLDEN
AGE?
What is a Golden Age?

 The name for the long period of prosperity and

cultural development enjoyed by the Dutch
Republic in the seventheenth century. This name
was not thought up until later.
 The republic
Hollan Overijse
d l Drenthe
1. Governement run Utrech Gelr
Zeeland Friesland
by merchants t e
Groninge
n

STATES GENERAL army

(merchants)
Important War and
affairs of state privateering
Note:
Green arrow = Sent reps
Red arrow = Appoints stadholder

Stadholder
Grand Pensionary
(from Orange)
Chairman of the States General Leader of the army and
Agenda of the States General fleet
Foreign affairs / trade
Finances
Johan van Oldenbarnevelt
VS
Maurits van oranje
Who can tell me what happend?
 Use 2.5 futher study in your book or the internet.
You have 5 minutes.

 Battle at Nieuwpoort
 12 year truce
 Remonstrants and counter-protesters (stricter)
 Maurits coup d’état?
 Van Oldenbarnevelt treason
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFnZQZTp6B
8
2. Inventions and battle against water
Because of the extensive use of the windmill the
Dutch were able to turn lakes into land
New land for agriculture More money is made
Because of the invention of the crankshaft the
windmill can be adapted for sawing trees
The Dutch are able to produce more ships faster and
cheaper than other countries.
 3. Centre of European trade
Trade in Europe
 Trade with Baltic sea (Oostzee)countries = ‘moedernegotie’

 Because of the invention of the “Fluyt” ship the Dutch are able

to transport goods much cheaper than other countries

 Extra money for the Dutch which can be used to expand their

trading empire.
 Dutch trade expands all over Europe: Russia, Sweden

(whales), The Mediterranean, Levant, etc.

 Amsterdam becomes “stapelmarkt”(city where goods from all

over Europe are collected and sold on to other countries). Also

because it is conveniently located in the middle of Europe
 Amsterdam: stapelmarkt van
Europa
Handelsknooppunt
tussen Noord- en
Zuid-Europa

(Oostzee –
Middellandse Zee)
 4. Trade was well organised

Banks and exchanges were founded

to make trading more easy
 Amsterdam Money exchange

(1609):
 Amsterdam trade fair and stock

exchange (1611)
 Bank of loans (1614): traders

could borrow money to start a

trading company or invest in an
existing one
 5. Centre of World trade

 Portuguese had the monopoly on the spice trade

with the East Indies (India, Indonesia)
 Dutch looked for and found the route to the East
Indies (Eerste Scheepvaart, 1594) with the help of
espionage.
 The Dutch conquer the monopoly on the eastern
spice trade
 Later also ship routes to the West Indies (North and
South America) were discovered.
De Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie
 Foundation ordered by the Estates General in 1602

 Monopoly on Dutch trade in Asia

 Was the first company in the world wich sold shares
 To protect it’s trade it ahd many privileges : Start war, arrange contract
with local leaders, build fortresses etc.
 The Portuguese and English were driven out by force, Batavia founded
and the Malaku Islands were forced to deliver spices exclusively to the
VOC
 The VOC also founded trading posts all over Asia and took part in the
inter Asian trade. The VOC usualy worked together with local rulers

 Later the “Noordsche compagnie” (1614, whaling) en the West Indische

compagnie (1621, Amerika) were founded
 The WIC
 In 1621, after the twelve-year truce, the West India
Company was formed to trade with America and
West Africa. This trade was called triangular trade.
 The main objective was not only trade, but also
attack Spanish and Portuguese ships to harm their
trade and capture their cargo (state-approved piracy
called privateering) 
 Piet Hein, the silver fleet 1628
 Political situation
Inside the Republic
The governments of the cities,
de provinces (the estate)
and Estates general were in
the hands of rich citizens.
Normal people had no
political influence.
The Republic was an
olygarchie= a country ruled
by the rich and privileged
 Political situation

After the Dutch Revolt a battle for power starts

between The regents (grand pensionary and
members of the estates general and the stadholder.)

Regents Stadholder

Peace War

Army Army
controlled by controlled by
Estates general Stadhouder
 Political situation
1650: stadholder Willem II
unexpectedly dies.
1651: The Estates General decide not
to appoint a new Stadholder =>
“An era without stadholder”
(1651 – 1672)
Johan de Witt becomes the grand
pensionary and becomes the most
powerful man in the Republic
 Political situation
Foreign affairs
The Republic was unique in Europe.
All other countries were
monarchies.
In Europe a struggle for power and
wealth starts between England,
France (lead by “Droit Divin”
Louis XIV) and the Republic.
 Political situation
Foreign policy
In order to weaken Dutch trade, England
prohibits Dutch Ships to enter British
ports = Act of Navigation
This act will lead to three naval trade
wars:
1652 – 1654 = First English war
1665 – 1667 = Second English war
1672 – 1674 = Third English war
Seen as the biggest hero of these wars is
Michiel Adriaanszoon de Ruyter
(Michiel de Rover)
REDDELOOS,
RADELOOS,
REDELOOS
 End of the Dutch Golden Age
 Three wars with England were bad
for Dutch trade
 During the Third English war
(1672- 1674) The Republic was
also invaded, in 1672, by the
French army of king Louis XIV
and the armies of Munster and
Cologne
 The Republic was attacked from
three sides!
 End of the Dutch Golden Age
 Het land was reddeloos, de
regenten radeloos en het volk
redeloos.
 That is why 1672 is also called “Het
rampjaar” .
 Johan de Witt is blamed for
everything that went wrong and
the people call for the return of the
Stadholder.
 William III becomes stadholder,
Johan de Witt and his brother are
murdered by an angry mob
 End of the Dutch Golden Age
 Willem III chases the French
and Germans out of The
Republic.
 His next goal is to break the
power of France.
 In 1688 he invades England and
has himself crowned as it’s new
king (Glorious Revolution)
 He combines the forces of the
British and Dutch army and
attacks France…
 Successfully!!
 End of the Dutch Golden Age
 On the long run the wars cost to
much money and trade.
 Slowly but gradually The
Republic loses power to
predominantly Engeland
 The end of the Dutch Golden
Age….
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35PinDPNPw0
&t=308s

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewCs5CF5HE
g
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kID4EZp_qA
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdLjM_sBV08
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jn68_eIE9o
 Pathe thuis:
 Vera_janssen_lu@live.nl
 Cals1234!