Editing History of the Netherlands (section)

== Golden Age ==
{{Main|Dutch Golden Age}}
{{See|Economic history of the Netherlands (1500–1815)}}
[[File:Meisje met de parel.jpg|thumb|upright=.8|[[Johannes Vermeer]]'s ''[[Girl with a Pearl Earring]]'']]

The ''Dutch Golden Age'' was a period which roughly lasted from 1588, when the [[Dutch Republic]] was established, to 1672, when the ''[[Rampjaar]]'' occurred. During this period, Dutch [[trade]], [[Science and technology in the Netherlands|scientific developments]], [[Dutch art|art]] and [[Dutch colonial empire|overseas colonisation]] was among the most prominent in Europe. The first half of the period spanned from the beginning of the [[Eighty Years' War]] until its conclusion in 1648, with the second half lasting until the outbreak of the [[Franco-Dutch War]]. During the period, Dutch colonialists, many of them affiliated with the [[Dutch East India Company|East India Company]] and [[Dutch West India Company|West India Company]], established trading posts and colonies in the [[Americas]], [[Southern Africa]] and [[Asia]], protected by the powerful [[Dutch States Navy]]. The Dutch dominated the [[triangular trade]] and [[Atlantic slave trade]].

[[Culture of the Netherlands|Dutch culture]] experienced a renaissance. However, by the end of the 17th century, conflicts with neighbouring powers as well as a declining economic influence led to waning of Dutch power. The process by which the Dutch Republic became one of the foremost maritime and economic powers of the world during the era has been referred to as the "Dutch Miracle" by historian [[K. W. Swart]].<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.dianamuirappelbaum.com/?p=583|title=The miracle of the Dutch Republic as seen in the seventeenth century|last=Swart|first=Koenraad Wolter|date=1969|publisher=H.K.Lewis & Co Ltd|location=London|access-date=12 March 2015|archive-date=19 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319225519/http://www.dianamuirappelbaum.com/?p=583|url-status=live}}</ref> The term "Dutch Golden Age" has been controversial in the 21st century due to the extensive Dutch involvement in [[History of Dutch slavery|slavery]] and [[colonialism]]  during the period, and it has been deprecated by several museums in the [[Netherlands]], including the [[Amsterdam Museum]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trouw |date=2019-09-21 |title=Het debat over de naam Gouden Eeuw is waardevol en nodig |url=https://www.trouw.nl/opinie/het-debat-over-de-naam-gouden-eeuw-is-waardevol-en-nodig~b64e6ac2/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Trouw |language=nl-NL}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-13 |title=Amsterdam Museum gebruikt term 'Gouden Eeuw' niet meer |url=https://historiek.net/amsterdam-museum-gebruikt-term-gouden-eeuw-niet-meer/125421/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Historiek |language=nl}}</ref>