1. The
Dutch
"Golden Age"
(1580s s)
Hattip: MS. Susan Poder

2. The Netherlands: The “Low Country”

3. 17c: The “Dutch” Century It was a non-absolutist political model.
A radical attitude towards religion in the country.
A certain level of religious toleration.
Stable, thriving, innovative economy.
“Golden Age” of artists and thinkers.
Religion and everyday life were recurring themes in their art.

4. Catholic Church in the Attic, Amsterdam, 1630s

5. Interior of a Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam – Emmanuel De Witte

6. Portrait of an Old Jewish Man Rembrandt, 1654

7. Dutch
Society

8. Dutch Society
Amsterdam, Rotterdam: granaries with enough surplus for one year.
Generally higher salaries than in any other parts of W. Europe.
Even women had higher wages.
“Protestant work ethic.”
Thrift and frugality.

9. Beware of Luxury – Jan Steen
“Genre” Painting

10. Dutch Society
Amsterdam, Rotterdam: granaries with enough surplus for one year.
Generally higher salaries than in any other parts of W. Europe.
Even women had higher wages.
“Protestant work ethic.”
Thrift and frugality.
Had the highest standard of living in Europe!

11. Upper-class Homes, Amsterdam Early 1600s

12. along the canal in Leiden
Middle-class homes
along the canal in Leiden

13. THe
Dutch
Economy

14. The Dutch Economy Exported diamonds, linens, pottery.
Not much inflation.
Dutch land reclamation project was accelerated during this time.
Dedicated land to luxury crops like dairy, beef and tulips
Joint-stock company
Dutch innovation = tradable shares
Investment can lead to boom-bust cycle
“tulip mania”
Masters of the “carrying trade” (lowest shipping rates in Europe).
Shipbuilding

15. 17c Dutch Global Commerce
Constant competition amongst mercantilist empires for control of trades routes in Atlantic and Indian Oceans (Spice War between the Dutch and Portugal, Anglo-Dutch Wars, Seven Years’ War between France and Great Britain)

16. Dutch East India Ship, mid-17c

17. Return of the Dutch East India Fleet, 1599

18. Amsterdam Stock Market (Bourse) Emmanuel De Witte, 1653
Jewish refugees helped found it in 1602.

19. A Woman Holding a Balance Jan Vermeer, 1662

20. Girl with a Pearl Earring Jan Vermeer, 1665

21. New Amsterdam (NYC) Settled in 1624.
Official Flag of the NYC Seal of the City of NY.

22. Dutch East India Company, 1602

23. Dutch Ship in Nagasaki Late 18c

24. Dutch
Intellectual
Life

25. University of Leiden, 1575
By 1645, it was the largest university in the Protestant world.
The separation of the strong provinces hindered the power of any church to control intellectual life in the Dutch Republic!

26. University of Gröningen, 1614
Along with Leiden, they were the first international universities.
Half of the students were foreigners.

27. The French philosopher lived in Leiden from 1628 to 1649.
René Descartes
The French philosopher lived in Leiden from 1628 to 1649.

28. Anton van Leeuwenhoek: The Microscope & the Discovery of Micro-Organisms

29. Anatomy Lecture of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp – Rembrandt, 1632

30. (detail) Anatomy Lecture of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp – Rembrandt, 1632

31. Dutch
Politics

32. The Netherlands (1609)

33. The Dutch Republic REPUBLICAN REGENTS STATES GENERAL
- provincial level
- held virtually all the power
strong advocates of local independence
Disunity blamed for Dutch decline
STATES GENERAL
- federal assembly
- foreign affairs (war)
- all issues had to be referred to the local Estates
STADHOLDER (“crown”)
- responsible for defense and order
Later assumed by House of Orange during emergencies
Dutch struggle with desire for local autonomy and need
strong leadership (monarchy)
Two “stadholderless” eras end in disaster
French invasions (late 1600s),
decline in Great Power status (mid- 1700s)

34. The Night Watch – Rembrandt, 1642

35. Mercantilist rivalries in Atlantic and Indian Oceans spark constant war!
Dutch-Portuguese Spice War (1601 – 1661)
Three Anglo-Dutch Wars (1660 – 1678)
Seven Years’ War (1754 – 1761) (GB vs. France)
King William III Queen Mary II ascend the throne of England in 1689 after the Glorious Revolution.

36. William III of England: “Dutch William”
The final “revenge” of the Dutch?