Western History 98: What was the Dutch Golden Age?

The Dutch Republic existed from 1581 to 1795 and comprised the territories of the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.  The early elements of the republic was recognized by the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, as part of the Pragmatic Sanction but it was the Act of Abjuration (1581) that saw the provinces of the Netherlands declare independence from Philip II of Spain.

The Dutch Revolt (1568-1648) would see the Protestant Provinces break finally with the Spanish Empire (supported by the Holy Roman Empire) with the Treaty of Munster (1648) making this separation final.

As an era the Dutch Republic is regarded as a Golden Age in Dutch history. A confederation brought together the seven provinces who sent representatives to States General in the Hague. A Stadtholder officially headed the government with William of Orange serving as the First Stadtholder. The House of Orange would dominate Dutch politics. However the Republic’s constitution was very liberal and is believed to have influenced the framers of the US Constitution.

Both the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and the Dutch West India Company (WIC) that played a key role in Dutch shipping, exploration, colonization and trade derived their authority from the States General. Dutch influence spread to South America, South East Asia, the Caribbean and Southern Africa.  The First Stock Exchange was born in the Dutch Republic in the city of Amsterdam and was later named the Amsterdam Bourse.

In art (Mannerism, the Delft School, Dutch baroque), women’s issues, religious freedom, theology and economics the Republic was considered a leader for its time. It benefited greatly from Renaissance Humanism and was tolerant of Jews and Huguenots fleeing Catholic persecution. In the Sciences the Republic produced such luminaries as Anton von Leeuwenhoek (inventor of the microscope) and Christian Huygens (father of the wave theory of light). The great justice Hugo Grotius was a product of the system as was Baruch de Spinoza and at a time the Republic offered residence to both Rene Descartes and John Locke.