Wank off the Dutch
- Thread starter Fatt Shea
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- dutc netherlands
During the Dutch revolt the Dutch manages to keep (most of) Flanders, which remains for a large part protestant. During the religious unrest in Germany the Netherlands annexes strategic borderlands, like East-Frisia and Cleves. This means that the power of Holland in the Netherlands is not as overwhelming as OTL, since Antwerp and Flanders will balance it. With this larger pool of manpower it will be able to keep places as new Holland in Brasil or colonise places like New Holland Australia and defend places like New H.... ehm South Africa and Ceylon and expand in areas like Dutch India and Malaysia.
Maybe not a wank as such, since it is relatively realistic, but still.
Maybe not a wank as such, since it is relatively realistic, but still.
B-29_Bomber
Banned
HE GETS IT!
The most unfortunate thread title ever.
Imagine, a new guy, completely new to Alt-history, sees this thread, as his first toe into alt-history.
And he's being told to "Wank Off" the Dutch. Needless to say, questions will be raised.
What are the possibilities of the Dutch being able to get an early and big lead on industrialization due to utilization of their peat resources?
If I recall, one of the main retorts against the argument that 'coal deposits determined industrialization' was that the Dutch achieved some industrialization in the 17thC using peat.
So maybe have France disrupt England throughout the 18thC instead of the Netherlands, allowing the Dutch time to continue industrializing using peat (and maybe in time, be able to take Belgium and its coal resources). Then at the beginning of the 19thC, the Netherlands becomes the dominant industrial/trading power instead of England.
If I recall, one of the main retorts against the argument that 'coal deposits determined industrialization' was that the Dutch achieved some industrialization in the 17thC using peat.
So maybe have France disrupt England throughout the 18thC instead of the Netherlands, allowing the Dutch time to continue industrializing using peat (and maybe in time, be able to take Belgium and its coal resources). Then at the beginning of the 19thC, the Netherlands becomes the dominant industrial/trading power instead of England.
You'd need to solve the Netherland's geographical problem somehow. Though very rich, it's territory was a big flatland between german, french and english domains. Not only that, but it's relatively small size doesn't allow a big population like their rivals.
joining the wanking in more then one way xp. But the problem for the Netherlands is the population its not big enough. But what if they try to change that by giving the process a helping hand.
England wasn't a problem in that regard, it was a major trading rival though. @gxblt: England and Scotland actually benefited from Dutch advances in fields of trade (commerce) and finance, after the Glorious Revolution AKA the Glorious Crossing (guess which one the Dutch traditionally used
). TBH neither is probably accurate, the opposition against James II needed the army of William III, but at the same time William III needed the English & Scottish defectors too. AFAIK there were times that William III used his military might as a bargaining chip against the ones against James II, in particularly the refusal of recognizing him as co-Sovereign, he knew James II could have won, if he left with his army. Sadly for him and Mary they did not leave an heir, but that wouldn't solve the question of this thread. Keeping as much of the XVII Netherlands together would be a start, if it's the Dutch Republic era, then this larger Republic would receive more Huguenot refugees etc. too, which in turn will strengthen the population base available for colonization. Heck maybe the Pilgrims decided that becoming Dutch wasn't that bad after all after a great stay in Leiden and instead of going to OTL North America, they end up in a Dutch colony.
Benjamin Allen Burch
Banned
I giggled, this was hilarious.
On a more serious note, The Netherlands could have kept Belgium and good ol' Luxembourg. If the French didn't intervene, the Dutch armies would have smashed the rebels like they were doing in real life, until the French "hopped in," or leaped. See if you get the joke.
Maybe they could have kept South Africa, say in a peace deal with the UK? Maybe trading some of their West Indian islands? The Dutch complain today about them being a money sink.
On a more serious note, The Netherlands could have kept Belgium and good ol' Luxembourg. If the French didn't intervene, the Dutch armies would have smashed the rebels like they were doing in real life, until the French "hopped in," or leaped. See if you get the joke.
Maybe they could have kept South Africa, say in a peace deal with the UK? Maybe trading some of their West Indian islands? The Dutch complain today about them being a money sink.
