I've been somewhat interested not to say fascinated with the Dutch prosperity of the 17th century and somewhat too in the 18th.
In the 18th century, the United Provinces were past their golden age, their domination of the seas went away as competition from other naval powers, especially that of Britain, and their manufacturing industries underwent a "decline".
However, as I read, that wasn't all so bad. The "decline" was more marked by a transition to service industry with a powerful financial sector that was not to envy the British's one. And though they lost sea supremacy, their neutrality through various 18th century served them well as primary trade intermediaries. It wouldn't be until the end of the century, ca 1800, that British GDP per capita would actually overtake the Dutch one. Dutch capital, in need of venues of investment, went into British nascent industrial complex (still as I read).
However, the Dutch financial sector was undermined by a huge debt and insolvency of the VOC (east india company). The Fourth Anglo-Dutch war in the 1780s brought the fragile equilibrium to an end and the VOC's subsequent collapse took down the Dutch financial sector into a crisis after which he would never again rise back to prominence, the British being firmly in charge.
Now, I've wondered about the possibility of an industrial revolution in the United Provinces.
The thing is that Belgium had large coalfields but wouldn't come under Dutch control until after the Napoleonic wars, and for a brief time yet.
What if the United Provinces acquired Belgium at some point? I'm not seeking for a particular POD there but rather its economical effects. So the POD should preferrably not be too early, and no later than the first half of 18th century.
In early control of Belgian mines, I wondered if it could have been possible that a still powerful Dutch financial sector could have helped kickstarted an industrial revolution with mechanization supported by steam engines with Belgian coal. Dutch capital that went to the UK IOTL could go into Belgium instead.
Mechanization as happened in Lancashire could thus happen too in the United Provinces and resurrect its textile industry, reversing the early decline of Dutch industry.
I'm aware that the United Provinces would still be vulnerable to geopolitical events on the continent, but could this set the trend towards a second Dutch golden age, denying the British their OTL domination of 19th century world economy?
In the 18th century, the United Provinces were past their golden age, their domination of the seas went away as competition from other naval powers, especially that of Britain, and their manufacturing industries underwent a "decline".
However, as I read, that wasn't all so bad. The "decline" was more marked by a transition to service industry with a powerful financial sector that was not to envy the British's one. And though they lost sea supremacy, their neutrality through various 18th century served them well as primary trade intermediaries. It wouldn't be until the end of the century, ca 1800, that British GDP per capita would actually overtake the Dutch one. Dutch capital, in need of venues of investment, went into British nascent industrial complex (still as I read).
However, the Dutch financial sector was undermined by a huge debt and insolvency of the VOC (east india company). The Fourth Anglo-Dutch war in the 1780s brought the fragile equilibrium to an end and the VOC's subsequent collapse took down the Dutch financial sector into a crisis after which he would never again rise back to prominence, the British being firmly in charge.
Now, I've wondered about the possibility of an industrial revolution in the United Provinces.
The thing is that Belgium had large coalfields but wouldn't come under Dutch control until after the Napoleonic wars, and for a brief time yet.
What if the United Provinces acquired Belgium at some point? I'm not seeking for a particular POD there but rather its economical effects. So the POD should preferrably not be too early, and no later than the first half of 18th century.
In early control of Belgian mines, I wondered if it could have been possible that a still powerful Dutch financial sector could have helped kickstarted an industrial revolution with mechanization supported by steam engines with Belgian coal. Dutch capital that went to the UK IOTL could go into Belgium instead.
Mechanization as happened in Lancashire could thus happen too in the United Provinces and resurrect its textile industry, reversing the early decline of Dutch industry.
I'm aware that the United Provinces would still be vulnerable to geopolitical events on the continent, but could this set the trend towards a second Dutch golden age, denying the British their OTL domination of 19th century world economy?