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The Dutch Golden Age was a century-long period of Dutch history defined by a boom of wealth and culture in the Netherlands between 1575 and 1675. But, like so many things, this golden age was forged in war: the Eighty Years’ War. The Eighty Years’ War started in 1568, because the Netherlands (then called the Seventeen Provinces) had become fed up with their Spanish rulers. The people hated King Phillip II, a Templar ally known for his intolerant nature and brutal massacres against anyone who did not share his religion. The local Assassins helped encourage the local people to revolt against the Spanish after diplomacy had failed to lessen the King's influence. Fighting went on for 40 years until the Twelve Years’ Truce was signed in 1609. But despite there being an official treaty, there was still great unrest in the newly-formed Dutch Republic. The people were still being bullied and their pleas to the government were still being ignored, causing riots to break out across the land. This, as well as external politics, fed the desire to resume war.

But deeper forces tried to keep the war from resuming. By 1602, the Templars realized that their allies were destined to lose control of the Dutch Republic, and so they shifted their focus to a new form of control that would allow them to keep dominance without the guise of Kings and nobility. They founded the Dutch East India Company, better known as the VOC (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie) to take control of the ever-important spice trade. The VOC established itself as the dominant force in what is today Indonesia, and used their monopolistic power to rule over both the Dutch Republic and Indonesia (though we'll get to that later). If the Eighty Years’ War resumed, the Templars knew their new power could be threatened, and so used their influence to try and prevent it. But, the Assassins saw that the people were being treated unfairly, and wouldn't stand for the tyranny they faced. And so the War resumed in 1621.

After decades of economic, cultural, and literal warfare all across Europe, the Dutch won their independence for certain in 1648. With the war over and Spanish influence finally rid of in the Dutch Republic, the country was finally allowed to flourish. The spice trade allowed the country to become famously wealthy. Social classes were mostly decided on income now instead of title (though that's not to say the nobles were without their influences). Art flourished, literature flourished. Even the local scientists were making huge steps forward, like Anton van Leeuwenhoek, the founder of microbiology. Dutch architecture too was becoming renowned for its beauty, and it can still be seen today. Because a good chunk of the Netherlands modern buildings were built during the seventeenth century. So even though the golden age may be over, the impact it has still loves on to this day.

Description

The Dutch Golden Age was a century-long period of Dutch history defined by a boom of wealth and culture in the Netherlands between 1575 and 1675. But, like so many things, this golden age was forged in war: the Eighty Years’ War. The Eighty Years’ War started in 1568, because the Netherlands (then called the Seventeen Provinces) had become fed up with their Spanish rulers. The people hated King Phillip II, a Templar ally known for his intolerant nature and brutal massacres against anyone who did not share his religion. The local Assassins helped encourage the local people to revolt against the Spanish after diplomacy had failed to lessen the King's influence. Fighting went on for 40 years until the Twelve Years’ Truce was signed in 1609. But despite there being an official treaty, there was still great unrest in the newly-formed Dutch Republic. The people were still being bullied and their pleas to the government were still being ignored, causing riots to break out across the land. This, as well as external politics, fed the desire to resume war.

But deeper forces tried to keep the war from resuming. By 1602, the Templars realized that their allies were destined to lose control of the Dutch Republic, and so they shifted their focus to a new form of control that would allow them to keep dominance without the guise of Kings and nobility. They founded the Dutch East India Company, better known as the VOC (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie) to take control of the ever-important spice trade. The VOC established itself as the dominant force in what is today Indonesia, and used their monopolistic power to rule over both the Dutch Republic and Indonesia (though we'll get to that later). If the Eighty Years’ War resumed, the Templars knew their new power could be threatened, and so used their influence to try and prevent it. But, the Assassins saw that the people were being treated unfairly, and wouldn't stand for the tyranny they faced. And so the War resumed in 1621.

After decades of economic, cultural, and literal warfare all across Europe, the Dutch won their independence for certain in 1648. With the war over and Spanish influence finally rid of in the Dutch Republic, the country was finally allowed to flourish. The spice trade allowed the country to become famously wealthy. Social classes were mostly decided on income now instead of title (though that's not to say the nobles were without their influences). Art flourished, literature flourished. Even the local scientists were making huge steps forward, like Anton van Leeuwenhoek, the founder of microbiology. Dutch architecture too was becoming renowned for its beauty, and it can still be seen today. Because a good chunk of the Netherlands modern buildings were built during the seventeenth century. So even though the golden age may be over, the impact it has still loves on to this day.