The two trade companies, the VOC and WIC were the dominant companies at the time. The VOC being the most successful. The VOC was given the monopoly of all Dutch trade in the east, and were given power even to start wars with their rivals. The WIC was given the monopoly of the American trades, but was not as successful due to conflicts which led to costly wars and loss of territory.
Immigrants also contributed to the success of the golden age, with people coming from the Spanish Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Germany, Poland and Lithuania. These people all played a part in doing the labor required the
products if trade and/or other required jobs. These people were of all
different skills, religions and origins, which provided a wide range of jobs
that could be done by them, ensuring maximum efficiency.
Technological developments were crucial, “high tech” ways of producing
energy sped up the process of producing finished products, and was less
costly that man labor. Maps and instruments of navigation were important
tools for shipping products, as well as a new ship design, “de Fluyt” with a
maximum load capacity and a minimum requirement of crew members. This lowered the cost of shipping.
Due to the fact that the land was unsuitable for growing wheat, farmers had to turn to other methods of farming. While many turned to dairy produce, which would be exported to England. Germany, France and Spain, others would harvest crops used in the fabrication of cloth and beer. A majority of the crops and dairy products were not kept for use in the Netherlands, but would be exported in return for wheat and other produce.
Having looked at all of those factors of the Dutch Golden Age, it becomes clear that each must have played it’s own part in contributing to the success of the Netherlands in that period of time. The need for new developments in i.e. farming led to the Netherlands being superior to other nations that still used old methods. The religious tolerance of the Netherlands allowed ideas, wealth and skills to come in from different countries when they would have been rejected otherwise due to racial and religious differences. Ultimately… originality, tolerance, good organization and the welcoming of new ideas were the causes of ‘The Dutch Golden Age’. These made the Netherlands stand out above other countries.
