17 th Century: The Golden Age of the Dutch The 7 United Provinces of the Netherlands Are Extremely Unique in the Age of Absolutism Because they represent a progressive and advanced economic system

with a political system based on merchant success.

Merchant Society: Trade Hub of the 17th Century

Fishing, Shipbuilding, Shipping Powerhouse -Made the best ships most efficiently (Fluyt)-Shipped Cargo at the lowest rates

Commercial Agriculture-Agricultural Advances Increase Agricultural Production

-Crop Rotation: -Drainage: Engineered Draining of Swamps to increase farm land

-Commercial Agriculture-Grew cash crops such as coffee, tea, spices, tulips-Imported Cheap Grain from the Baltics to feed people

Bank of Amsterdam-Financial Capital of Europe-Issued its own paper currency-Increased capital and therefore promoted commercial activity

Domination of Asian Spice Trade-Ousted the Portuguese in spice island trade-Created Dutch East India Company

-Joint Stock Company (Company owned by group of investors)-Held a monopoly on all trade in East Asia-Also granted military and diplomatic powers overseas

17th Century Netherlands Amasses Tremendous Wealth-Amsterdam is the trade capital of the world-Holland is the most powerful province

Products of A Successful Merchant Society Known as the Golden Age of the Dutch:

Politically Unique: The Dutch Republic De-centralized, Most Power Is Retained by Each of the Seven Provinces

o Provincial Estates/ Local Assemblies Governed by Wealthy Merchants Oversee domestic activity, especially trade and taxation Held Most Power Stadtholder: Executive Official

Appointed by Provincial Estates Carry out functions ESP Maintaining Military Dominated by the House of Orange Family

o States General/Federal Assemblies Federal, but LESS POWERFUL Governed foreign and diplomatic relations

ALL States General Decisions must be approved by all 7 Provinces

Not interested in territorial expansion, interested in Protecting and Promoting Commerce and Trade Very Different from Many Absolute Monarchs who are looking to expand their territory

Socially Unique: Tolerant Urban Merchant Society

Wealthy Merchants not the Nobility sit atop social class Wealth was distributed more equally

o Highest Standard of Living in Europe Religious toleration and diversity Lack of censorship by government Extremely urban society All once again a product and purpose of promoting commerce

Culturally Unique: The Golden Age Reflect in Art Art is a reflection of the prosperity, tolerance, and urban merchant society in the Netherlands Art Character

Commercial Art Private Middle and Upper Class Merchants were the patrons

Not Royal Courts and Churches Subjects were of landscapes, still lives, markets, harbors, ships, naval battles

o Reflection of what was valued in Dutch Society

Franz Hals, Jan Vermeer, and Rembrandt

Regents of the St. Elizabeth Hospital, By Franz Hals View of Deft, By Jan Vermeer

REMBRANDT: The Night Watch

Rembrant's The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp . Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images

What Led to the Decline of the Dutch’s Golden Age?

Estimated Losses to Merchant Shipping in the Three Anglo-Dutch Wars, 1652-1674

Dutch Ships Seized by the English 2,000-2,700English Ships Seized by the Dutch 500

We must make defensive fortifications on land as well as outfit warships at sea; but we must also try to end the heavy taxes that are most burdensome on our merchants especially those taxes levied to provide convoys for merchant ships. We who are naturally merchants must have low taxes, peace, and trade as well as protection, and we cannot be turned into soldiers.Anonymous Pamphlet published in the province of Holland 1669

Not only the French monarch but other kings seem more and more to scheme how to ruin what remains of the trade and navigation of the Dutch Republic, and to take over part of it for themselves.Resolution of the Amsterdam City Council, 1671

The English East India Company has grown larger and causes the Dutch much anxiety. This trade competition was the real cause of the war which broke out in the 1650’s between England and the Dutch Republic. It also caused another war between the Dutch and the king of England in the 1660’s.Marquis de Pomponne, French ambassador to the Dutch Republic, Report to French Gov. early 1680’s

The profits of our East Indian trade have turned into losses, the Java trade is declining, and the commercial competition from the English, French, Portuguese, Chinese, and Muslims in Asia cannot be checked.

Dutch Colonial Administrator, letter to the directors of the Dutch East India Company, 1705

Year169516901680167016551645

2