ABSTRACT
In 2013 the city of Utrecht celebrated the 300th anniversary of the Treaty of Utrecht with a concert (in the presence of then Queen Beatrix), exhibitions, a commemorative medal, an international congress, and a Treaty of Utrecht Chair at Utrecht University. The city of Utrecht is very keen on explaining that the significance of the Treaty is that it marks the birth of modern diplomacy and the road to the European Union. It represents a turning point in European and world history. For economic historians this period may mark a less ambitious turning point, it was the first time in Great Britain that commercial policy dominated the political discussion and brought down a government and commercial treaty. The commercial and financial press played an unprecedented role in this.
