During the seventeenth century, the Dutch Republic was transformed into a leading political power in Europe, with global trading interests. It nurtured some of the period's greatest luminaries, including Rembrandt, Vermeer, Descartes and Spinoza. Long celebrated for its religious tolerance, artistic innovation and economic modernity, the United Provinces of the Netherlands also became known for their involvement with slavery and military repression in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. This Companion provides a compelling overview of the best scholarship on this much debated era, written by a wide range of experts in the field. Unique in its balanced treatment of global, political, socio-economic, literary, artistic, religious, and intellectual history, its nineteen chapters offer an indispensable guide for anyone interested in the world of the Dutch Golden Age.

‘We should be grateful to the editors for having compiled a companion to the Dutch Golden Age, which attracts so much interest from the anglophone world, since there is no good modern survey in English … The lineup of collaborators, from big names to young scholars, and the range of subjects are impressive.’

Jan Bloemendal Source: Renaissance Quarterly

'This is the best introduction to the Dutch Golden Age available in any language today. Lively and accessible, it is also wide-ranging and authoritative, drawing on the latest research to offer a host of fresh perspectives. This combination of qualities is perfect for students and general readers alike.'

Benjamin J. Kaplan - University College London

‘Every chapter sets out how academic approaches and controversies have developed in recent decades, mapping the questions now being asked about the period, and providing useful introductions not so much for general readers as for specialists whose expertise lies elsewhere.‘

Paul Arblaster Source: Early Modern Low Countries