At 1700 the United Provinces were still playing a major part in the world though and with their strong field army they could challenge upcoming nations like the French and English.
After a lost war with the English, New Amsterdam was swapped for Guyana. They also founded colonies in South Africa and New Amsterdam (now called New York) and explored the coast of Australia and New Zealand. Kicking out the Portuguese, who went before them, the Dutch claimed the East Indies, Brazil, Ceylon, West Africa (slave trade), Malaysia, Formosa and scores of ports along the coast of Asia. After freeing themselves from the Spanish in the 80years war, with their commercial fleets they went out to conquer loads of coastal regions in the most commercial interesting regions of the world. The Dutch with their rich commercial holdings all over the world had experienced an enormous wealth growth and they had made a lot of scientific discoveries. The period between 16 wasn’t called the golden age for nothing.
