The Dutch Republic

1581-1713

Jan VermeerView of Delftc. 1660-1

Jan VermeerStreet in Delftc. 1657-8

Netherlands Map

Dutch Independence

• 1581: Virtual independence from Philip II of Spain; full recognition of independence in 1640s

• Northern portion of “The Low Countries” became Dutch Republic

• Southern portion became “Spanish Netherlands” and then finally Belgium

• Republic consisted of 7 states, previously had separate HRE principalities

Dutch Republic Government

• Wide individual freedoms and toleration

• Estates General composed of “High Mightinesses”, who could only act as the provincial estates allowed

• Provinces remained jealous of their own independence from one another

• Each province elected a stadholder

• Seven provinces tended to elect the same man, so pragmatic unification occurred

Jan VermeerGirl with a Pearl Earringc. 1664-5

Dutch Tolerance

• Large Calvinist majority

• Dutch Calvinists split into traditional Calvinists and less-severe Arminians

• Arminians persecuted until 1632, then tolerated

• Jews were welcomed, and played strong role in economy

• Mennonites and other sects persecuted elsewhere were welcomed

• Economic success and social stability were valued: so toleration was prized

Ephraim Bonus, Jewish Physician by Rembrandt

Rembrandt, The Jewish Bride1666

Rembrandt, Mennonite Minister, 1641

Dutch Banking• European money was in disarray:

inconsistent metal weights & alloys• 1609: Founded Bank of

Amsterdam• BoA was one of few central banks

in Europe• BoA accepted all deposits,

credited depositors with official gold florins, according to exchange rates based on coins’ purity and weight

• BoA allowed depositors to write checks against balances

• BoA caused Amsterdam to become Europe’s financial capital

Rembrandt commemorative 5 Euro Coin

Dutch Shipping and Commerce• 1600: Dutch owned 10,000 ships• Owned most of shipping trade in

northern Europe throughout 1600s• Carried trade between Spain,

France, England, and Baltic• Most shipping along French coast

was Dutch• Traded with China, Africa (Cape

Hoorn), East India, Batavia, Japan, Americas, and Caribbean

• 1651: English Navigation Acts outlawed third-parties from shipping English goods (e.g., the Dutch)

Dutch Tulip Craze• Late 1500s: Tulip introduced to

Holland, and grown commercially• Economic bubble of 1636-37

allegedly took place• 1635: 40 tulip bulbs sold for

100,000 florins (enough florins to buy about 3,000 pigs)

• 1636: tulips bulbs sold on stock exchange; bulb options also sold

• 1637: bubble burst and prices crashed

• Apparently, tulip mania did occur; its causes and intensity are debated

Jan VermeerThe Geographerc. 1668-9

Rembrandt, The Syndics of the Clothmaker's Guild 1662

Dutch Commerce and War• 1500s: Dutch allied with England

against Spain; supported by Elizabeth in rebellion

• 1651 Navigation Acts: led to 3 Dutch-English wars over trade

• 1667: Dutch and English allied against Louis XIV

• 1673: Stadholder made hereditary, but office weak by most standards

• 1689: William of Orange became William II of England

• 1713: Treaty of Utrecth ended threat from France until Napoleon

Rembrandt, The Nightwatch1642