Dutch Golden Age

For painting during this period, see Dutch Golden Age painting.

The Dutch Golden Age (Dutch: Gouden Eeuw [ˈɣʌudən ˈeːu, ˈɣʌudə ˈʔeːu]) 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.

Dutch culture flourished during this period as well. However, by the end of the 17th century, conflicts with neighbouring powers as well as declining economic influence led to the end of this period. The process by which the Dutch Republic became one of the foremost maritime and economic powers of the world during the era has been referred to as the "Dutch Miracle" by historian K. W. Swart. The term "Dutch Golden Age" has been controversial in the 21st century due to the extensive Dutch involvement in slavery and colonialism during the period, and it has been deprecated by several museums in the Netherlands, including the Amsterdam Museum.

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