Editing War of the Spanish Succession (section)

===Dutch Republic===
The Dutch Republic had been the [[cornerstone]] of European resistance against French expansionism since the outbreak of the [[Franco-Dutch War]] in 1672, when it was nearly overrun.{{sfn|Nimwegen|2020|p=349}} In addition to concerns over the balance of power, they viewed the Spanish Netherlands as a key strategic buffer against French aggression.{{sfn|Rowen|1954|p=3}} Since recent experience showed the Spanish could not defend them, the 1697 [[Treaty of Ryswick]] allowed the Dutch to place garrisons in eight key cities, providing [[strategic depth]] sufficient to protect their commercial and demographic heartlands around [[Amsterdam]] against attack from the south. However, with the help of Maximilian of Bavaria, Governor of the Spanish Netherlands, by 1701 these garrisons had been nullified and replaced by French troops. Dutch priorities were to {{Nowrap|re-establish}} and strengthen the Barrier fortresses, retain control of the economically vital Scheldt estuary, and gain access to trade in the Spanish Empire.{{sfn|Lesaffer}}

At the outset of the war, the [[Dutch States Army]] was the best prepared, being similar in size to that of the Austrians, but of significantly higher quality.{{sfn|Bromley|1979|p=412}} Although [[John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough|Marlborough]] was appointed commander of Allied forces in the [[Low Countries]], it was the Dutch who provided the bulk of the troops and supplies, as well as covering the expenses for the [[Train (military)|siege train]]. This made strategy in this theatre subject to the approval of their [[Field deputies (Dutch Republic)|field deputies]] and generals.{{Efn|[[Godert de Ginkel, 1st Earl of Athlone|Athlone]] until 1703, [[Henry de Nassau, Lord Overkirk|Overkirk]] from 1704 to 1708 and [[Claude Frédéric t'Serclaes, Count of Tilly|Tilly]] from 1708.{{sfnp|Nimwegen|2020|pages=184, 262, 306}}}} When Dutch forces operated outside the Low Countries, it was generally seen as a concession.{{sfn|Van Alphen|Hoffenaar|Lemmers|Van der Spek|2021|p=86}}