Mid 1500’s

Mid 1500’s, Calvinist preachers had won many converts among the Dutch
Philip ordered officials to enforce laws against Protestant, led to Dutch revolt
Dutch people resented him because he devoted so much of his attention to Spain
So when revolt happened, the Dutch Catholics joined the Protestants
Protestants went on a rampage ( breaking stained glass windows ; statues of saints in Catholic churches)
This angered Philip, and so he sent troops to pacify the region
Spanish seized Dutch property ; imposed harsh taxes which really affected their trade
became known as the Dutch Netherlands when they gained independence
After their war with Spain, the Dutch came out as a leading commercial power, with better ships than any other nation
dominated seaborne trade in Europe and overseas