In a biography on Rubens I read, they devoted a whole chapter to the southern Netherlands of the day's economy, and the reasons why the rule of the archdukes was a golden age for the arts but not for the economy in the long run. One of the factors was the closing of the Schelde river to trade.
Josef II fought a similar war over this - the Kettle War - 150 years later. And I was wondering what the effects would be of a Schelde open for trade?
Josef II fought a similar war over this - the Kettle War - 150 years later. And I was wondering what the effects would be of a Schelde open for trade?