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Concept
Dutch Golden Age
Summary
The Dutch Golden Age (Gouden Eeuw ˈɣʌudə(n) ˈeːu) is the historiographical name given to the period in the history of the Netherlands roughly spanning the era from 1588, when the Dutch Republic was established, to 1672, when the Rampjaar occurred, in which Dutch trade, science, art and colonization were among the most prominent in Europe. The first half of the period spanned from the beginning of the Eighty Years' War until its conclusion in 1648, with the second half lasting until the outbreak of the Franco-Dutch War. During the Golden Age, Dutch merchants and settlers, many of them affiliated with the East and West India companies, established trading posts and colonies in the Americas, Southern Africa and Asia, protected by a powerful navy.
Dutch culture, including art and scientific developments experienced a renaissance during this period as well. However, by the end of the 17th century, conflicts with neighbouring powers as well as a declining economic influence led the end of the Golden Age. The process by which the Dutch Republic became one of the foremost maritime and economic powers of the world during the era has been referred to as the "Dutch Miracle" by historian K. W. Swart.
There is currently a debate within Dutch historiographical circles whether the term 'golden age' should be considered an appropriate term for the time period. Some contest that although the Dutch state was flourishing, welfare was not shared equally among the population -- especially by slaves. In 2019, the Amsterdam Museum officially stopped using the term for this reason.
In 1568, the Seven Provinces that later signed the Union of Utrecht (Unie van Utrecht) started a rebellion against Philip II of Spain that led to the Eighty Years' War. Before the Low Countries could be completely reconquered, a war between England and Spain, the Anglo-Spanish War of 1585-1604, broke out, forcing Spanish troops to halt their advances and leaving them in control of the important trading cities of Bruges and Ghent, but without control of Antwerp, which was then arguably the most important port in the world.
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