The dutch Golden age (English)
The Dutch Golden Age was a period in the history of the Netherlands which roughly lasted from 1588, when the Dutch Republic was established, to 1672, when the Rampjaar occurred.
During this period, the Dutch Republic became one of the leading commercial and maritime powers in Europe. With a large merchant fleet and a strong presence in international trade, particularly through Amsterdam, the Republic played an important role in major shipping routes and in the development of modern financial practices, particularly stock exchange trading, joint-stock companies, and public debt markets. Institutions such as the Dutch East India Company helped expand its reach in global commerce. The prosperity of several cities, relatively high income levels, and an active cultural and scientific life made the Dutch Republic an important economic center in the seventeenth century.
