In the 17th century, the Netherlands was acclaimed as the "Carriers of the Sea", holding a crucial position in global maritime trade and possessing colonies in many parts of the world.
Today, New York, once a Dutch colony, also belonged to the Netherlands.
How did this small country, which once ruled half the world, rise to prominence?
Historically, the Netherlands began as a gathering place for multiple tribes, including Germanic, Gallic, and Frankish peoples, who established tribes there successively.
In 1463, the Netherlands finally became a unified country, although it did not have complete autonomy.
At that time, maritime powers like Spain began to rise, leading to Spanish rule over the Netherlands in the early 16th century.
To resist Spanish rule, the Netherlands erupted into an 80-year war, culminating in the establishment of the Dutch Republic in 1588.
After gaining independence, the Netherlands urgently sought a path to development, with its geographical location on the northwest bordering the sea making maritime trade the preferred choice.
Between the 15th and 16th centuries, Dutch shipbuilding thrived under Spanish influence.
The capital, Amsterdam, boasted hundreds of shipyards, becoming the center of the world's shipbuilding industry.
Dutch shipbuilding technology led the world and attracted European countries due to its affordability, accumulating significant initial capital for the Netherlands.
Especially after independence, Dutch capitalism, industry, and maritime transport developed rapidly.
The Netherlands had 15,000 merchant ships, nearly monopolizing maritime trade.
Thousands of ships docked daily outside Amsterdam, making Dutch ports global hubs for commodities.
In the 16th century, Dutch merchants actively developed in the East Indies.
In 1560, Dutch merchants investigated Portuguese trade and decided to venture to the East Indies.
In 1595, Dutch merchants returned with detailed information on the Cape of Good Hope, leading to the establishment of 14 East India trading companies.
Later, these 14 companies merged into the Dutch East India Company, marking a new chapter in Dutch overseas expansion.
After its establishment, Dutch merchants continuously crossed the Cape of Good Hope. In 1606, the Dutch allied with local forces in Southeast Asia to attack the Strait of Malacca, demonstrating their influence in the region.
Subsequently, the Dutch defeated the Portuguese fleet twice, dismantling Portugal's colonial system.
In 1607, the Dutch captured Mozambique Island;
In 1622, they fought multiple times with Portugal over Macau;
In 1624, the Dutch went to Brazil, attempting to claim a portion of South America controlled by Portugal.
After fierce battles, the Dutch controlled land along the Amazon River to the Francisco River until defeated by Portugal in 1645.
The Dutch navy was formidable.
In the Battle of the Three Islands, the Dutch and the British joined forces to repel the Portuguese fleet and occupy the entire island of Java.
In 1640, the Dutch occupied the Strait of Malacca;
In 1642, they expelled Spanish colonists from Taiwan.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Dutch were decisive at sea, known as the "Golden Age".
In Asia, the Dutch occupied Java, Taiwan, and Malacca, even encroaching on China's Penghu Islands.
In the Americas, the Dutch established the West India Company, seizing the North American colony of New Amsterdam (now New York).
In Africa, the Dutch controlled the Cape of Good Hope, establishing colonies.
By the 17th century, the Netherlands became a maritime and trade power, the largest colonial country globally by 1648, establishing a strong commercial hegemony.
The Dutch East India Company had tens of thousands of branches, accounting for half of global trade annually.
In the early 17th century, global ships numbered just 20,000, with the Dutch alone having 15,000, more than the total of other countries combined.
In 1634, the Dutch colonized Taiwan, only to have it recovered by Zheng Chenggong in 1661, making China the only Asian country to regain a colony.
The Netherlands had numerous colonies worldwide, occupying nearly half of the world's colonies.
Strong maritime power was key to Dutch expansion.
With a mainland area of just 410,000 square kilometers, the Netherlands became a world power, rivaling any Western country at the time.
The development of Dutch trade was closely related to its reputation for integrity.
In 1596, a Dutch captain named William attempted to reach Asia from the north but became trapped in ice.
In the severe Arctic cold, his crew endured an 8-month winter, during which eight crew members died, yet they did not touch a single piece of cargo.
This commitment to integrity earned the Netherlands widespread renown.
Since the 17th century, British and French colonial systems gradually expanded.
In wars with England, the Netherlands suffered defeat.
In 1795, French troops invaded the Netherlands, leading to the collapse of the Dutch Republic.
Napoleon swept through Europe, turning the Netherlands into a puppet state of the French First Republic.
At that time, the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam in North America gradually expanded, drawing attention from other powers.
After annexing Swedish and French colonies, the Netherlands became a target of British aggression.
Britain long coveted the port of New Amsterdam, and the Dutch, once prosperous, eventually declined.
In 1644, Britain launched an expedition to the Hudson River, capturing and occupying New Amsterdam, which the Netherlands never regained.
After the 18th century, the Dutch colonial system gradually disintegrated.
In 1810, the Netherlands was annexed by France, remaining neutral during World War I but invaded by German troops in World War II, leading the Dutch royal family to exile in England.
After World War II, as the world order changed, the Netherlands could no longer compete with major powers and chose to join NATO and the EU, becoming the Netherlands as it is today.
The rise of the Netherlands from a small country to a maritime power demonstrates its extraordinary maritime and trade capabilities.
Although eventually declining due to changes in international circumstances and pressure from powerful competitors, its achievements in the 17th century remain admirable.
The history of the Netherlands tells us that even small countries can play important roles on the international stage through wisdom and effort under specific historical conditions.
Comments