The Dutch Gunpowder Trade: Saltpeter and War

In this episode of The Story of the Netherlands, Lucas and Luna delve into the Dutch gunpowder trade that fueled the Eighty Years' War and the Golden Age. They trace the quest for saltpeter, the critical ingredient for gunpowder, from Dutch merchants trading in the Baltic and India to the establishment of powder mills in the Republic. Learn about the VOC's role in importing saltpeter from Bengal and the Coromandel Coast, the innovative powder mills of Zaandam, and the strategic importance of gunpowder for the Dutch Revolt against Spain. The episode also covers the Wisselbank's financing of the trade and the environmental impact of saltpeter mining. A specific focus is on the figure of Cornelis Drebbel, who experimented with gunpowder and even built a submarine. The conversation ends with a reflection on how the gunpowder trade intertwined with Dutch independence and commerce. #DutchGunpowderTrade #Saltpeter #EightyYearsWar #VOC #Wisselbank #CornelisDrebbel #Zaandam #Bengal #CoromandelCoast #Gunpowder #DutchGoldenAge #PowderMills #DutchRevolt #BalticTrade #Amsterdam #FexingoHistory #Europe #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo