3.5 - The Dutch Golden Age

Dutch Constitutionalism and the Dutch Golden Age

Introduction: While many European states like France, Prussia, Russia, and Austria moved toward absolutism during this period, two notable exceptions were England and the Dutch Republic. Unlike the absolute monarchies of their neighbors, the Dutch embraced a unique form of constitutionalism.

The Dutch Rejection of Absolutism:

• Prior to 1648, the territory that would become the Dutch Republic was ruled by the Spanish Habsburgs, leading to widespread dissatisfaction among the Dutch people.

• The Dutch Revolt against Habsburg rule, beginning in the mid-16th century, eventually merged with the broader Thirty Years' War, culminating in the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. This treaty granted the Dutch their independence, leading to the establishment of the Republic of the United Provinces of the Netherlands.

• The Dutch, having experienced monarchical oppression under the Habsburgs, rejected the idea of a monarchy and instead established a constitutional government.

Dutch Constitutionalism vs. English Constitutionalism:

• While England adopted a constitutional monarchy, where the monarch's power was limited by law and Parliament, the Dutch took a different path.

• The Dutch opted for a republican form of government, meaning that power was held by the people and exercised through their representatives.

• In the Netherlands, there were provincial governments, each with its own assembly called an "estate," which held most of the power. The federal government, known as the States General, had less power and was mainly responsible for foreign policy and war.

Government Structure:

• Each Dutch province was governed by an oligarchy, a small group of wealthy businessmen and rural landowners who managed domestic policies.

• The provincial estates also appointed a "stadholder," who performed ceremonial duties and was responsible for military defense.

• The States General, the federal government, had limited authority, and major issues had to be referred back to the provincial governments, each of which had veto power.

The Dutch Golden Age:

• The Dutch Republic's government structure proved highly successful, leading to what is known as the Dutch Golden Age.

• During this period, the Dutch became the wealthiest state in Europe, heavily investing in shipbuilding and taking advantage of their strategic location on the Atlantic Ocean.

• The Dutch also played a significant role in the Indian Ocean trade, further boosting their wealth.

• As a result of their economic success, the Dutch enjoyed the highest standard of living in Europe and possibly the world, even as other European nations struggled with food shortages and social unrest.