Golden Age
A golden age or golden age is a term that refers to a flowering period in the history of a country or culture. The Netherlands, or rather, the Republic of the seven united Provinces also had a golden age. This coincides to a large extent with the seventeenth century. During this period, the Republic was a leader in the world in trade, science and arts. The Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) was also founded. At the time the largest trading company in the world and the first joint-stock company with freely negotiable shares.
After disaster year 1672, when “the people were unreasonable, the government desperate and the country were lifeless,” a period of economic and social decline began and this golden age went out like a night candle.
Top pieces from the Golden Age include art painter Rembrandt van Rijn, the sea captains Michiel de Ruyter and Maarten Tromp, Anthony van Leeuwehoek (inventor of the microscope) and King Stadholder Willem the Third.
