A Franco-Dutch Alliance

In the recent Invasion of England thread I was thinking about a possible alliance between France and the Netherlands. I assumed that together they would be able to defeat England (which by the way is not relevant for this discussion, if you disagree with it go here).

The more I thought about it, the more interesting I thought that a potential Franco-Dutch alliance would be and I mean an alliance of equals, not the Netherlands being a vasal state of France, like the Batavian Republic or the Kingdom of Holland were.

I assume that with a POD around the end of the Dutch revolt, when the Netherlands and France were actialy allied, might do the trick. So what could be the results of such an alliance? The Southern Netherlands being devided by France and the Netherlands seems likely. Personaly I consider it perfectly possible for them to beat the English on sea, thus leading to a French India, although with some English and Dutch outposts might remain in India (just like OTL Pondichery). I could see the Dutch taking over the English colonies in indonesia/Malaysia (Penang and Becoolen). I think it is possible for them to strengthen their presense in North America and thus a continued New France and New Netherlands.

So what do other people think about it?
 
For a start, I'm presuming that you're talking the 17th century. If that's wrong, please say so.

Before the Thirty Years' War, Spain is the dominant power in Europe, and the Dutch Republic is always going to be looking over its shoulder in case Spain tries to reconquer it. After that war, France is the dominant power in Europe and the main threat to the Netherlands. For a Franco-Dutch alliance against England, England has to be seen as the great threat and Spain has to be either an ally of England (unlikely) or, if it's before the Thirty Years' War, neutralised as a threat (very, very unlikely). Given that England had an absurdly excellent run of luck (see: Spanish Armada) already IOTL and it still wasn't enough to make England seen as a great threat, I'm not sure what could.

The most important problem with England being seen as a great threat is that it isn't capable of invading a major European power with any reasonable chance of success. Whatever England can do in the colonies, in Europe, which was the heart of the world at this point, England poses much less of a threat to the Netherlands than France or Spain does.

That's not to say this is impossible. It's to say that this is difficult.
 
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