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Getting acquainted with history of the Netherlands, should be amazed how it was possible to this small state to grasp and long to keep in submission so extensive colonial possession. After all even in the end of XVIII century, in the British prevalence in colonial captures, on one Dutch it was necessary 23 colonized inhabitants, while at Englishmen-only 10. How it was possible to the country to participate actively also in the European affairs? After all during the same period Dutches grasp the grain market of Europe, dominate in the Baltic waters, supervise a mouth of Rhine and Schelde, interfere in the German and Scandinavian trade, occupy strong position in the Mediterranean. All it has led to that the world trade centre has moved to the Netherlands, and Amsterdam has turned to the world financial centre. Began fashionable to have a thing and the goods from the Netherlands. Â" This handful of the people owning a plot of land, consisting of waters and pastures, supplies the European people mostly the goods necessary to them Â", - spoke about them Rishele.
Â"In its almost undivided possession there was an East Indian trade and the trading intercourses between the European southwest and the northeast. Its fish grounds, navigation, manufactories had not equal in any other country. Capitals of this republic, perhaps, were more considerable, than together invested capitals of all other EuropeÂ", - the German bourgeois economist and historian Gustav Gjulih in 1830 wrote about Republic of the Connected provinces of XVII century. However Â"the author of these lines-as K.Marx marked, - forgets to add: broad masses of Holland in 1648 suffered from excessive work more, were poorer and suffered oppression more severe, than broad masses of all other EuropeÂ".
Â"Dutches behind the seas...Â" It is interesting, what present successors of far pioneers tested? Pride of and the country or a regret concerning irrevocable leaving in the past of that great time? Â"Our ancestors were fairly clever people. They have created to us decent enough conditions for a lifeÂ" - this phrase heard by me in Amsterdam, partly answers on the put questions.
However if impartially to concern an estimation of the facts it is impossible to disagree that the Netherlands - the small country at the uneasy sea - has brought the essential contribution to geographical opening. Will remind of it the Dutch names and the names put on maps of our planet. And behind each of them the history - difficult, either romantic, or simply casual, but by all means connected with the sea.
If the contribution of Dutches to mankind progress has been limited only by geographical opening and in this case they would provide to themselves a recognition in the world.
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