Hugo Grotius and the Dutch Golden Age

This article provides a summary of the life and times of Hugo Grotius, his relevant works, and a brief overview and challenge of the accepted causes of the Dutch Golden Age. It then attempts to demonstrate a causal connection between Grotius’s work and the prosperity and economic growth of the young Dutch Republic. This novel analysis presents Grotius as essential to the prominent portion of the Netherlands’ history, during which it enjoyed the status of Europe’s foremost economic and maritime power. It connects Grotius to European peace, Dutch free trade, development of industry, and sound financial institutions and proposes new causes of the Dutch Golden Age, all while locating Grotius firmly within the Austrian canon.