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Significance of the Dutch War of Independence

The Eighty Years War between the Dutch Republic and the Spanish Empire also had an important impact on the later English Civil War and American independence. It is not only a democratic revolution in which the progressive forces represented by the bourgeoisie oppose the feudal system, but also a national liberation war in the Netherlands against Spanish colonial rule and for national independence.

The war took place from 1568 to 1648, and it was launched by the Puritans of the Netherlands against the rule of the Spanish Empire. Unlike the Spanish Empire, the Dutch Republic belonged to the Netherlands in a relatively loose federation. For this war, the federation was united as never before, and the leader was the noble William Orange.

After many naval battles, the Commonwealth of the Netherlands and the Spanish Empire signed a 12-year armistice in 1609. However, the competition between the two sides in the sea has not stopped. In 1621, the Armistice Agreement expired, and the war between the Netherlands and the Spanish Empire resumed. It was not until 1648 that the Netherlands officially became independent from the Spanish Empire and established the “Dutch Republic”.

Progressive

The Dutch War of Independence was the first victorious bourgeois revolution in history, establishing the first bourgeois republic. The main task of the revolution is to overthrow the autocratic rule of Spain, strive for national independence, destroy the feudal forces, and clear the way for the development of capitalism. The leading force of the revolution is the emerging bourgeoisie, the main force is the urban civilians and peasants, and the ideological banner is Calvinism. Because capitalism is still in the period of handicraft workshops, the bourgeoisie is still immature, especially the southern bourgeoisie still has an inseparable connection with Spain, which makes this revolutionary war extremely complicated, tortuous and protracted, and has experienced several repetitions.

For the most part, the Dutch War of Independence was a battle of fortresses and cities. The people of the Netherlands took advantage of their familiarity with the terrain and weather, and adapted measures to local conditions. All the people (city), young and old, fought against the war with all their might, and created many urban offensive and defensive tactics and measures. The final victory laid the cornerstone. The Dutch War of Independence had a great influence on the development of fortress offensive and defensive tactics in the future.

limitation

As the first bourgeois revolution in world history, the Dutch bourgeois revolution has its insurmountable limitations. Not only did it not completely destroy feudal land ownership, but the regime fell into the hands of the big commercial bourgeoisie and aristocracy, limiting the development of industrial capital. Therefore, the development of the Dutch economy is mainly driven by commercial capital and trade. Although it can flourish, it lacks stamina, and the good times will not last long. After the victory of the Dutch War of Independence, the Netherlands rose rapidly in the mid-17th century.

Its great capitalist development had three pillars, the East India Company, the Bank of Amsterdam, and a strong merchant fleet. With these three pillars, the Netherlands has become the hegemon of eastern trade, the center of European finance and the world’s “sea coachman”. But this rapid development, powered by commercial capital, was short-lived and began to decline in the second half of the seventeenth century.

Nonetheless, the bourgeois revolution in the Netherlands remains of great historical significance. Marx gave it due evaluation, calling it the “prototype” of the British bourgeois revolution in the 17th century.