Editing Batavian Republic (section)

====Short interlude of peace====
The Treaty restored most of the colonies that had been captured by the British since 1795, except [[Dutch Ceylon|Ceylon]], but including the [[Cape Colony]]. This now made the attempts in the Asiatic Council,<ref>''Raad van Aziatische Bezittingen en Etablissementen'' (Council of Asian Possessions and Establishments).</ref> which had replaced the Directorate of the [[Dutch East India Company|VOC]] in 1799, to reform the management of the colonies, more urgent. [[Dirk van Hogendorp (1761–1822)|Dirk van Hogendorp]] was commissioned to write a proposal, that met with considerable enthusiasm from the more progressive elements on the council, like [[Samuel Iperusz. Wiselius]] and [[Johannes Neethling|J.H.Neethling]]. He proposed to abolish all [[perquisites]] and [[sinecure]]s; to permit private trade; to permit native subjects to own private property; to substitute the "land levies" by a regulated land tax; and the abolition of all [[Heerlijkheid#Heerlijkheid rights|seigneurial rights]] in the colonies. This met with overwhelming resistance from vested interests. When a new Charter for the colonies was promulgated, Hogendorp's proposals had been whittled down to insignificance. The vestigial democrats on the Council were now purged in favor of Orangist reactionaries like [[Hendrik Mollerus]], and [[Hendrik Van Stralen]]. In any case, the Republic did not enjoy the possession of its colonies for long. After the resumption of hostilities in 1803 the returned colonies in most cases were soon recaptured by the British. [[Java]], however, remained Dutch until 1811.<ref>Schama, pp. 449–450.</ref>
[[File:Knötel. Batavische Republik. 1. Leichtes Dragoner-Regiment und 2. Leichtes Dragoner-Regiment. 1804 (NYPL b14896507-99329).jpg|thumb|1st Batavian Light Dragoons]]
Another potentially important consequence of the peace might have been that a number of provisions of the Treaty of The Hague, that had been conditional on a peace, like the reduction of the French army of occupation, would now have become operational. However, the First Consul proved reluctant to reduce the numbers of French troops, or return the port of Flushing, for the good of the Dutch as he pointed out, as they needed many of their own troops in their restored colonies, so the "protection" of the French troops was considered necessary. On the other hand, the departure of the French troops was an indispensable point for the British as they could not allow the Netherlands to be dominated by a hostile power, and the Batavian Republic was incapable of defending its own neutrality. This was to be an insoluble dilemma in the coming years.<ref>Schama, p. 439.</ref>

Real advantages of the peace came in the economic field.<ref>See for a discussion of the economic developments in the Republic [[Economic history of the Netherlands (1500–1815)]].</ref> As an [[open economy]], the Republic needed unhindered trade. It was heavily dependent on exports of agricultural products to the British markets, and on its services sector (especially its large merchant fleet, and the banking sector), whereas its industry (whatever remained of it after a century of being confronted by foreign [[protectionism]]) also was dependent on exports. All these sectors had suffered enormously from the war: the British blockade and French and British [[privateer]]ing had almost brought marine trade to a standstill, whereas a commercial treaty with France (which would have ended French discrimination of Dutch trade in industrial goods) proved an ever-receding [[Fata Morgana (mirage)|fata morgana]]. True, much of the trade had shifted to [[flags of convenience]] (especially that of the US and European [[Neutral country|neutrals]] like Prussia), but the peace made the resurgence of the Dutch carrying trade fully practicable. Nevertheless, some changes proved irreversible, like the shift of trade patterns to German ports, and the decline of the fisheries.<ref>Schama, p. 436.</ref>