The Dutch Seaborne Empire: 1600-1800

In this book, C. R. Boxer describes the making of an empire which started in the war against the Spanish rule and in the struggle to dominate the sea trade in the Baltic Sea. From this, Dutchmen started spreading their presence overseas: in Africa, Caribbean, Indic Ocean and Latin America. Boxer analyses the motivations and the causes for the Dutch success in this enterprise.

The Netherlands was a mercantile republic forged on the seas, and this intriguing history chronicles the ups and downs of this densely-populated European nation in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Netherlands successfully through off the yolk of Spanish Royalists and Papists who held power over them. This fascinating historical narrative weaves together economic, political, social and religious history which makes for a extremely fascinating account of the 'The Dutch Seaborne Empire,' which miraculously spread in power and influence before retrenching after losing in the trade game and an influx of unemployed, job-seeking immigrants put an end to their maritime empire and prosperity. The book's author has a slight prejudice against Calvinists or Reformed Protestants since he feels a compulsion to address them usually as 'militants,' yet they did do a fairly good job at showing how Reformed Christianity shaped the Dutch work ethic and their actions on the world scene.

I got this from my university's library, so I don't even know if you can still buy it. It was a good read, if you like history, of course. I read it because i'm going to be doing a study-abroad there and wanted to now some about the country.