Dutch Republic

The **Dutch Republic**, officially known as the **Republic of the Seven United Netherlands**, the **Republic of the United Netherlands**, or the **Republic of the Seven United Provinces**, was a republic in Europe. The confederacy of provinces existed from 1581 to 1795.

It started when seven northern provinces of the Spanish Netherlands joined together to fight for independence. It ended when Napoleon set up the Batavian Republic, which later became the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and later the modern Netherlands (now part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands). Alternative names include the **United Provinces**, **Federated Belgic Provinces**, and **Belgic Federation**.

Although it was called a republic, its stadtholder became a heredity dynasty.

## How it Started 
During 1500s, the King of Spain, Philip II was in control of the land. The unhappy people there were because of three things: 

* Religion: A large number of the Dutch people had fallen to Protestantism, where the King would prefer that people remain Catholic. 
* Taxes: The King was demanding high amounts of money to finance his wars. 
* Power: The King attempted to rob the local leaders of their rights. 

A long war began in 1568 called the Eighty Years War. The Act of Abjuration that was signed in 1581 by the seven northern provinces marked their own Declaration of Independence of Spain.

## The Seven Provinces 
The Republic was a confederation, or what can be said to be a union of independent states that settled to collaborate. The seven provinces were: 

* Holland (The wealthiest and the strongest) 
* Zeeland
* Utrecht
* Gelderland
* Overijssel
* Friesland
* Groningen

## Government 
There was no king in the Republic. Rather it possessed an intricate network of leaders: 

* States General: A gathering of the representatives of all the seven provinces in which big decisions were made regarding war and foreign trade. 

* Stadtholder: commonly one of the House of Orange-Nassau. He was the army and navy leader. Even though he was not a king, it was usually a paternal inheritance. 
* Grand Pensionary: The greatest political figure, who generally represents Holland province.

## The Dutch Golden Age 
The Republic was one of the strongest and wealthiest nations of the world during the 17th century (the 1600s). This is referred to as the Dutch Golden Age.

Trade: Dutch East India Company (VOC) and Dutch West India Company (WIC) traded spices, silk and sugar in the entire world.

Art: Rembrandt van Rijn and Johannes Vermeer were such great painters of this epoch. 

Science: There were great discoveries such as those of scientists such as Christiaan Huygens (who beamed on the stars) and Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (who enhanced the microscope).

Tolerance: The Republic was more tolerant compared to other nations. Those who were ill-treated elsewhere due to their religion (such as Jews or a section of the Protestants) relocated to the Republic to seek refuge.

## The End of the Republic 
At the end of the 18th century, the Republic started to weaken its strength. It waged a number of wars with England and France and these wars were expensive.

In 1795, The French Revolutionary Army invaded. The Republic was destroyed and the Batavian Republic, and then the Kingdom of the Netherlands took its place.

## Quick Facts Table 
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