Military Power and the Dutch Republic

In 1667, the year of the Raid on the Medway, the Dutch Republic was at the pinnacle of its might and fame. A century and a half later little of this glory remained and Napoleon wiped the country off the political map. This book provides a military explanation for the ‘miracle’ of the seventeenth century and the demise that ensued. How were the army and navy in the Dutch Republic organised and financed? What tactics were employed and how did military leaders operate? Where did the Republic’s troops come from and how was society involved? How did the tens of thousands of anonymous sailors and soldiers live, and how were they regarded by civilians?

All the authors are associated with the Netherlands Institute for Military History (NIMH) in The Hague. Marc van Alphen and Alan Lemmers are specialists in maritime history (chiefly the Early Modern era), Jan Hoffenaar is NIMH’s head of research and professor in military history at Utrecht University, while Christiaan van der Spek focuses on the Batavian-French era.

Published in co-operation with the Netherlands Institute of Military History (NIMH)

First published as Krijgsmacht en handelsgeest. Om het machtsevenwicht in Europa (1648-1813), Boom Uitgevers, 2019

Translated by Lee Preedy and Paul Arblaster

A comprehensive study addresses the human aspect of military exploits in the Dutch Republic, where army and navy operated within a social, economic and political context. Not only is it praiseworthy for the outstanding contributions, the well-chosen illustrations, the clear maps and the design as a whole, but most particularly for the innovative perspectives.

NRC Handelsblad on the Dutch edition.

An excellent account of an important episode in military history and in the development of Europe. Takes forward existing work on the war. The use of images is particularly valuable.

Jeremy Black, University of Exeter on The Eighty Years War, the first volume in this six-part series.