Denmark and Dutch Republic in 7 Years War

I'm looking for a way for Denmark and/or the Dutch Republic joining the 7 Years War.

Any ideas?

What side would they take?

I've had a few ideas but am not really happy with any of them.

Both may take the France/Austria/Russia/Sweden side if simply picking the likely winner was the option.

The Republic may be worried about France's potential ascendancy in the Netherlands area if Hanover is taken (even though Austria was France's ally in this war and the Austrian Netherlands served as the Republic's shield from France).

The Republic also may jump in if their neutrality were challenged by GB just as it did in the 4th Anglo-Dutch War/American Revolutionary War.

Peter survives Catherine's assassination long enough for his army to reach Denmark to "regain the Duchy of Holstein", at which point Denmark allies with GB and Prussia.

Sweden takes advantage the situation and invades Norway.

Any ideas?

Off the wall is fine.
 
As Denmark hates Sweden, and aren't all that fond of Russia (or more specificly, very concerned about Peter III who made no secret of the fact that he had the worlds biggest hard-on for gaining the duchies from Denmark), they likely wouldn't join them, and at the same time they're also concerned about Prussian expansion which they allready then could see might sooner or later involve an interest on the duchies.

At the same time they're trading quite a bit with Britain, and are getting payed subsidies by France to stay neutral and not joining the opponents.

End result is that if anyone they'd prefer to join GB/Prussia, but they would have to be payed well in promises, both in non-aggession pacts and relatively high ammount of gains if the war ends in success ... Say an acceptance to dismantle the Duchies as being in Personal Union, rather incorperating them in Denmark, and first pick for regaining the losses from 1658 from Sweden, at which point its an open question if the price aren't to tall.

I doubt that Sweden would have the manpower to invade Norway through if Denmark joined.

Best end result for Denmark through, might well have been a long grinding stalemate pulling teeth from everyone, with Denmark on the Sidelines building up (they did suffer from an insane king at this point)
 
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don't see the dutch joining, they can only lose.

join france etc, the english will steal their colonies.
and joining britain would only work if there would be great gains to be had, since the armed forces were in a state of neglect in that period.
 
don't see the dutch joining, they can only lose.

join france etc, the english will steal their colonies.
and joining britain would only work if there would be great gains to be had, since the armed forces were in a state of neglect in that period.

Not to mention, that the Republic hadn't gained much by fighting on the side of Britain, especially when compared to the gains made by Britain.
 
Not to mention, that the Republic hadn't gained much by fighting on the side of Britain, especially when compared to the gains made by Britain.
I think the best (if not only) way would be for France to force the Dutch republic into the British camp by simply ignoring its neutrality.
 

Redbeard

Banned
When Peter III took over in Russia in 1762 after Elisabeth it came very close to war between Denmark-Norway and Russia.

A Danish and a Russian army were approaching each other in N. Germany as Peter III was dethroned and peace hastily concluded.
 
Both countries actually profited through neutrality. The French allowed the neutral countries to trade directly with their colonies and this was especially profitable for Dutch and Danish merchants in the West Indies trade. In addition, both countries provided naval stores to France under ships flying their flag, much to the annoyance of the British. Finally, Denmark received an annual subsidy amounting to 900,000 livres from the French government to remain neutral.
 
All, bear in mind Den/Neth didn't necessarily WANT to join but may not have the choice. In 1780, the Netherlands were attacked by Britain due to their trading with the enemy.

maybe something similar?

A Dutch-danish trading convoy to a french colony full of sugar is stopped andseized or fired upon?

Or a convoy of timber, hemp and pitch from the Baltic bound for France is seized by the Royal Navy?

Maybe while britain is taking french colonies in the West Indies, the also take the Danish VI's and Dutch possessions?
 
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