Rembrandt, Hals and Vermeer are still household names, even though they died over three hundred years ago. In their lifetimes they witnessed the extraordinary consolidation of the newly independent Dutch Republic and its emergence as one of the richest nations on earth. As one contemporary wrote in 1673: the Dutch were 'the envy of some, the fear of others, and the wonder of all their neighbours'. During the Dutch Golden Age, the arts blossomed and the country became a haven of religious tolerance. However, despite being self-proclaimed champions of freedom, the Dutch conquered communities in America, Africa and Asia and were heavily involved in both slavery and the slave trade on three continents. This substantially revised second edition of the leading textbook on the Dutch Republic includes a new chapter exploring slavery and its legacy, as well as a new chapter on language and literature.

‘This is simply the best book we have on the Dutch Republic in its Golden Age. For beginners, it offers a comprehensive and engaging introduction to the Republic’s many achievements. For advanced readers, it provides insightful interpretations of the often surprising ways in which creativity was paired with constraint and liberty was paired with coercion.’

Jan de Vries - University of California, Berkeley

‘An indispensable history of that remarkable early modern political formation, the Dutch Republic. This is a magisterial account of the social, political, economic, and cultural circumstances under which it came into being. For its breadth, clarity of exposition and up-to-date responses to current research, I cannot recommend it highly enough.’

Claudia Swan - Washington University in St. Louis