The Dutch Republic in the Seventeenth Century

Rembrandt, Hals, and Vermeer were witnesses to the Dutch Golden Age, a time of artistic flourishing and religious tolerance. However, they also participated in slavery and the slave trade. This revised edition includes a new chapter on slavery and its legacy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 340 pages
Publication date: 19 January 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Even though they passed away more than three centuries ago, Rembrandt, Hals, and Vermeer are still well-known names. They lived to see the remarkable consolidation of the newly independent Dutch Republic and its rise to become one of the wealthiest nations on earth. In 1673, a contemporary wrote, "The Dutch were the envy of some, the fear of others, and the wonder of all their neighbors."

The arts flourished during the Dutch Golden Age, and the country became a haven of religious tolerance. However, despite claiming to be champions of freedom, the Dutch conquered communities in America, Africa, and Asia and were heavily involved in slavery and the slave trade on three continents.

This extensively revised second edition of the leading textbook on the Dutch Republic includes a new chapter examining slavery and its legacy, as well as a new chapter on language and literature.

ISBN-13: 9781009240567
Edition number: 2 Revised edition