EPISODE · May 29, 2026 · 8 MIN
The Dutch and the Hanseatic League: Baltic Rivals and Trade Wars
from The Story of the Netherlands: Trade, Empire, and Innovation — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Dutch Republic and the Hanseatic League clashed over control of the Baltic trade — the lifeline of grain, timber, and naval stores that fueled Europe's growth. This episode explores the economic warfare between Amsterdam and the Hanse towns like Lübeck and Danzig. We trace the rise of Dutch shipping with the innovative fluyt, the role of the Sound Dues tolls, and the key conflicts like the Dutch-Hanseatic War of 1438–1441. We meet figures like Jacob van Borselen and the Hanseatic admiral Simon van Utrecht, and examine how the Dutch broke the Hanse monopoly through diplomacy, piracy, and superior shipbuilding. The episode also touches on the 1523 blockade of Amsterdam and the eventual decline of the Hanseatic League. A story of trade, timber, and tenacity — showing how the Dutch Golden Age was built on Baltic bulk goods as much as spices. #HanseaticLeague #DutchHistory #BalticTrade #Fluyt #SoundDues #Lübeck #Danzig #Amsterdam #JacobvanBorselen #SimonvanUtrecht #DutchHanseaticWar #TradeWar #15thCentury #16thCentury #GoldenAge #MaritimeHistory #EconomicHistory #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
What this episode covers
In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Dutch Republic and the Hanseatic League clashed over control of the Baltic trade — the lifeline of grain, timber, and naval stores that fueled Europe's growth. This episode explores the economic warfare between Amsterdam and the Hanse towns like Lübeck and Danzig. We trace the rise of Dutch shipping with the innovative fluyt, the role of the Sound Dues tolls, and the key conflicts like the Dutch-Hanseatic War of 1438–1441. We meet figures like Jacob van Borselen and the Hanseatic admiral Simon van Utrecht, and examine how the Dutch broke the Hanse monopoly through diplomacy, piracy, and superior shipbuilding. The episode also touches on the 1523 blockade of Amsterdam and the eventual decline of the Hanseatic League. A story of trade, timber, and tenacity — showing how the Dutch Golden Age was built on Baltic bulk goods as much as spices. #HanseaticLeague #DutchHistory #BalticTrade #Fluyt #SoundDues #Lübeck #Danzig #Amsterdam #JacobvanBorselen #SimonvanUtrecht #DutchHanseaticWar #TradeWar #15thCentury #16thCentury #GoldenAge #MaritimeHistory #EconomicHistory #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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The Dutch and the Hanseatic League: Baltic Rivals and Trade Wars
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