ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the era of Maurits formed part of the exponential economic rise of the Dutch Republic, and despite the internal political and religious upheaval of the period of the Twelve Years’ Truce, the Dutch economy flourished and expanded. This was due to the economic powerhouse of the province of Holland combined with the seafaring and freight- carrying trades of the seaborne provinces, improvements in the agricultural and urban industries, and innovative financial services and investments, including the State Lending Bank and the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. International expansion increased through the Dutch East India and Dutch West India companies. Although the latter was to decline later in the Seventeenth Century, the former would continue to expand and with it the Dutch economy.
