Introduction
The 17th century is referred to as the Dutch Golden Age. During this period, the country outperformed other European nations in terms of wealth, trade, military, art, and science. Today, historians are fascinated by how this small northern European nation managed to prosper more than its European counterparts. Many have concluded that several internal and external factors contributed to the Dutch dominance as a European superpower. Wars characterized the first section of the Dutch Golden Age, many of which the Dutch won.
Studies conclude that the Dutch continued to prosper during wartime, which ended in 1648 after eighty years of fighting in Europe. The cause of the end of this era was the Franco-Dutch War and the Spanish Succession War, which resulted in economic decline. Admittedly, the Dutch Golden Age was a result of various factors, including the immigration of skilled workers and gaining independence from Spain; consequently, the nation prospered more than its European counterparts.
Factors That Caused the Golden Age
Gaining Independence from Spain
One of the main reasons the Dutch prospered during the Golden Age was the independence enjoyed by the provinces that revolted against Spain. Dutch provinces were under the control of the Spanish Empire, but seven of the northern provinces in the country revolted against the then-ruler of Spain, Philip II, in 1568. The Dutch Revolt was caused, among other things, by the need for reform in the provinces, taxation laws, the desire for centralization, and the rights of the nobility.
The leader of Spain deployed his military to counter the Dutch revolt, but the efforts were altered during the Anglo-Spanish War. When the Spanish government put its efforts towards stopping England in 1585, it remained in control of Bruges and Ghent but lost control of Antwerp, a leading port at the time. This Spanish inability to capture the northern Dutch ports was a significant advantage for the seven provinces, as they benefited economically and in terms of autonomy. Having two ports was helpful to the Dutch, as they acted as military bases.
The Dutch military escalations with Spain resulted in a stronger European presence for the Dutch. This factor is often overlooked and perceived as confirmation that the Netherlands experienced a Golden Age. For eighty years, the Dutch United Provinces fought against the Spanish and continued improving their military and economic status.
The wars ended in 1648 with the signing of the Treaty of Westphalia. This led to the Dutch being recognized as a republic separate from the Kingdom of Spain. In the aftermath of the war, the Dutch experienced even faster economic growth in the following 30 years. If the provinces had not revolted against their masters, the nation’s economic prosperity would have been negatively influenced by their controllers.
Immigration of Skilled Workers
Another primary reason the northern Dutch provinces also prospered during the 17th century was that skilled workers migrated into the region. When Spain captured Antwerp, it gave the Protestant population four years to convert to Catholicism. Those who did not conform were forced to migrate from the Habsburg territory where the city was located. Consequently, many skilled craftsmen and women migrated from northern cities to Dutch towns, especially Amsterdam.
By 1630, the skilled workers had converted the small town into one of the biggest ports in the region. In addition to the Protestants, the Golden Age in the Netherlands was marked by a significant influx of Jews into the country. Although the Dutch laws and policies were not as favorable to the Jewish community, they were better than the treatment the Jews got in Spain and Portugal. The Sephardi Jews who migrated to the Netherlands were highly skilled and made tremendous contributions to the country’s economy and military.
Work Ethic
The majority of people in the modern Netherlands were Protestants and followed the Protestant work ethic, also known as the Calvinist work ethic. This philosophy of work emphasizes the need to be economically frugal, maintain a persistent work effort, and adhere to the rules and regulations set by society and governments. Sociologist Max Weber coined this philosophy of work, which has been commonly associated with capitalism.
The Protestant work ethic is known to positively contribute to the economic prosperity of nations and is closely linked to the rise of the United States of America. In the Netherlands, this ethic led to higher literacy rates and lower interest rates compared to its European counterparts. The vast wealth held by the Dutch during the golden era mainly contributed to this work ethic. Most people of eligible age worked hard, as hard work was rewarded, while failure to work was severely punished.
Availability of Peat
One overlooked reason the Dutch prospered more than the other nations during the 17th century is the availability of a cheap energy source in the form of peat. The Netherlands, located in the north of the Alps, has an ample supply of this energy source. During the Golden Era, peat could be found near the surface and had many uses in the provinces. It was broadly used as a fuel source in the country to power machines. Peat was also used as a source of heat, primarily in domestic cooking.
The peatlands, where peat was found, were a significant source of freshwater for the Dutch population. The easy availability of peat was a major contributor to the shift of power from Antwerp, located in modern-day Belgium, to Amsterdam, which was situated in the northern Dutch provinces that had revolted against the Kingdom of Spain. Peat mining was a primary source of income for Dutch people before and during the Golden Age. In addition to the availability of peat, there were other cheap energy sources, including the sawmill.
Rise of International Trade
The rise of corporate finance across Europe in the 17th century significantly benefited most European countries. The Dutch benefited from this new international trade due to their extensive seafaring capabilities. The Dutch became Europe’s most reliable and capable transporters as trading advanced during this century.
Apart from sea-faring incomes, the Dutch East Asian company was formed in the early 17th century and became the largest multinational company in the world. Among the activities conducted by the multinational corporation was transporting spices across Europe and Asia. These spices were in constant high demand, resulting in enormous profits for the Dutch.
The Bank of Amsterdam, the first central bank, was established during the Dutch Golden Age. The Dutch prospered because they could transport high-value goods, such as spices, to far-eastern countries. Their trade with neighboring European nations, such as France, Poland, and England, was also high during the 17th century. The Rhine River facilitated the flow of merchant fleets on land, making trade between the provinces and Germany easier.
The Dutch position as a global trading center was also cemented by the fact that its multinational company, the Dutch East India Company, was granted a monopoly right in trading with Japan and China. As mentioned above, the monopoly in trade between the Dutch and the two countries was instigated by the tributes paid to their dictators. The trade between the Dutch and the English North American colonies also boomed after the War of the Eighty Years’ End. The vast wealth the Dutch accrued from this trade was a significant contributor to the nation’s Golden Age.
Favorable Climatic Conditions
Few studies have attempted to look for the relationship between the rise of the Dutch Empire during the 17th century and favorable climatic conditions. Good climatic conditions enabled the Dutch to grow, and all citizens had easy access to nutritious food. The availability of fresh, healthy foods enabled the Dutch to live happier and healthier lives. Apart from enabling easy access to food, the weather also facilitates transportation.
The Dutch sailboats relied on favorable wind direction and velocity to make navigation easier. During the 17th century, the weather was also relatively warm, which caused the ice to melt; hence, there were no delays in areas filled (Weststeijn 254). During the Anglo-Dutch wars, the North Sea greatly favored the Dutch against their opponents. First, the seabed’s color, texture, and composition guided their armies in navigating even without being able to see the shore. These favorable conditions enabled the Dutch to survive as an independent entity from Spain.
Wise Merchants
Dutch maritime expansion in the 16th and 17th Centuries resulted in the end of the Spanish empire. The Dutch merchants played a vital role in this undoing and the making of the Golden Era in the 17th century. One of their known merchants during this time was Willian Nassau, the Prince of Orange.
Nassau had been an exile in Germany for several years, and when he returned, he tried to turn the predominantly catholic community into protestants. He rallied fellow merchants and provincial leaders to push for the autonomy of the Dutch from the Kingdom of Spain. The King of Spain did not grant these requests, which resulted in conflicts between the two countries. During the war between the Dutch and Spain, the former continued to prosper economically, while the latter suffered economic failure. The difference was mainly attributable to the fact that trade continued in Dutch while there were some alterations in Spain.
Proofs That the Golden Age Existed
Favorable Social Structure
Another key factor that significantly contributed to the advancement of the Dutch economy during the 17th century was the well-established social structure among the citizens. The social structure during the Golden Age was mainly influenced by income. The nobility, part of the community, lived in the villages and had no say in matters affecting the nation. Thus, it did not hurt the population. On the other hand, the Merchant community lived on the outskirts of the town and was primarily involved in governance matters.
In some cases, the merchants were asked to negotiate with outside Kingdoms on behalf of the provinces. Despite this method being unfair and unjust, it facilitated the expansion and prosperity of the Dutch community. It encouraged people to work harder to be merchants, resulting in economic growth and prosperity. This would lead a person to believe that wealthy merchants and the nobility belonged to opposing sides.
On the contrary, the two groups lived in harmony, and it was not uncommon for a merchant to purchase land from the nobility, thereby becoming one of them. Some aristocrats also intermarried with the nobility, a decision that made them eligible to join the military. The Catholic rules had been suppressed for eighty years of war and had little influence on how society operated. The protestant movement, mainly adopted during the war, required people to uphold favorable work ethics.
Involvement of Women in Social Affairs
During the Golden Age in the Netherlands, women were more involved in society’s affairs than in neighboring European nations. However, their roles were mostly limited to home tasks. The success or failure of a homestead was mainly contributed to by the roles of women, who controlled the most significant part of the home space. Young Dutch women were privileged to enjoy the freedom of going out with their partners.
Married women also had rights, including the ability to shame their husbands who were involved in prostitution publicly. The right to allow women to reject sex with husbands suffering from syphilis or other sexually transmitted diseases has health benefits for the provinces. Women were also granted inheritance rights upon the death of their husbands.
The inheritance privilege ensured that the vulnerable part of society, such as women and children, would lead sustainable lives. Manuals have also been discovered that were written to clarify the roles women were expected to play in society. Most of their roles included minor work such as cooking, cleaning, and washing. Nonetheless, these roles played their part in the prosperity of the Dutch during the period under discussion.
Paintings
Paintings during the Dutch Age depict a society that was prospering both economically and socially. Painting of young women during this period shows that they were well-trained by their parents to approach marital issues. The paintings, mainly dominated by Baroque art, also reveal that Protestant beliefs dominated Dutch culture at the time.
The availability of numerous pictorial subjects indicates an increase in the number of middle-class populations during the Dutch Golden Age. The limited number of church paintings shows that it was illegal to make paintings of the church. Dutch pictures from the Golden Age show that the country had an abundance of food in the form of fruits and flowers.
Architecture
The Dutch Golden Age architecture represented a society thriving as an economy and community. The Dutch living in rural areas had castles that were well interlinked with a good road network. Most castles were built using rock rather than bricks, signifying that the nobility living in rural areas were financially stable.
In the city where most merchants resided, large stone houses were constructed. These houses had elaborate structures, especially in their entrances and balconies. The houses were well-drained, with canals running beneath each house wall. The well-decorated Dutch architecture from the Golden Age reveals that the 17th century was a time of economic prosperity in the northern European nation.
Culture
Another source of information for scholars today to understand whether the Dutch Golden Age occurred is observing their culture at the time. The culture of the Dutch needs to be studied prudently, as the information does not come from firsthand knowledge. People understand that there was vast wealth during the 17th century by observing the number of people depicted in hand paintings and the paintings themselves (Weststeijn 3).
Since many Dutch citizens could afford these paintings, it is evident that the nation was economically prospering. The Dutch culture during the Golden Age can also be studied using the food that the people ate and their clothing. The dress code adopted by the Dutch shows that they were law-abiding citizens. It also reveals that they could afford expensive clothing made of luxurious materials like silk. The Dutch also enjoyed some of the best foods during the Golden Age. Some foods popular with the middle class during this period included the oasis beef, oysters, fruits, and candy.
Who Enjoyed the Dutch Golden Age
Although most people in the Dutch Golden Period benefited from their dominance, some enjoyed more enormous benefits than others. For instance, the merchant group at the time accumulated vast amounts of wealth that they could not spend during their lifetimes. On the other hand, the nobility remained poor and was isolated in the country’s villages. The women also enjoyed the Golden Age relatively less than men, as they were expected to stay indoors and maintain the private aspects of the family.
This period was also harsh for the elderly members of the community, as they were depicted as monsters. Most immigrants, including the Jews, often faced discrimination during the Golden Age, although they still preferred the seven provinces to any other European nation. However, people who protested against the catholic order in Spain-dominated regions were warmly welcomed in Dutch towns like Amsterdam.
Conclusion
The facts presented in this paper confirm the existence of a Dutch Golden Age and identify several factors that contributed to the nation’s prosperity. One of these factors was gaining independence from Spain, which gave the country national autonomy. Other factors, such as the influx of skilled workers into the country, a good work ethic, and favorable climatic conditions, also contributed to the nation’s status.
The availability of wise merchants capable of doing business even during times of war enabled the Dutch economy to prosper. The favorable factors of social structures can confirm the existence of the golden age during the 17th century. The paintings from the period also depict a prosperous society. Although the Dutch Golden Age was an era of relative stability, some groups, especially those with low incomes, continued to face significant difficulties.
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