EPISODE · Jun 13, 2026 · 7 MIN
The Dutch Peat Economy: How Turf Built a Golden Age
from The Story of the Netherlands: Trade, Empire, and Innovation — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
Long before the VOC or the Wisselbank, the Dutch Republic ran on something far more humble: peat. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the extraction and trade of turf — from the great peat bogs of Drenthe and Friesland to the canals of Amsterdam — powered the Golden Age. They look at the environmental toll: how peat digging created vast lakes that threatened cities, leading to the invention of the polder mill. They discuss the 'peat wars' between peat lords and local farmers, the use of peat in brickmaking and brewing, and how the energy crisis of the 18th century, when peat reserves ran low, forced the Dutch to turn to coal. Along the way, they touch on the role of peat in the slave trade, the invention of the turf schuit, and the legacy of this forgotten fuel in the Dutch landscape today. A story of energy, environment, and empire — dug from the ground. #Peat #Turf #DutchRepublic #GoldenAge #EnergyHistory #EnvironmentalHistory #Polder #Drenthe #Friesland #Amsterdam #VOC #Brewing #Brickmaking #TurfSchuit #Lucas #Luna #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
What this episode covers
Long before the VOC or the Wisselbank, the Dutch Republic ran on something far more humble: peat. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the extraction and trade of turf — from the great peat bogs of Drenthe and Friesland to the canals of Amsterdam — powered the Golden Age. They look at the environmental toll: how peat digging created vast lakes that threatened cities, leading to the invention of the polder mill. They discuss the 'peat wars' between peat lords and local farmers, the use of peat in brickmaking and brewing, and how the energy crisis of the 18th century, when peat reserves ran low, forced the Dutch to turn to coal. Along the way, they touch on the role of peat in the slave trade, the invention of the turf schuit, and the legacy of this forgotten fuel in the Dutch landscape today. A story of energy, environment, and empire — dug from the ground. #Peat #Turf #DutchRepublic #GoldenAge #EnergyHistory #EnvironmentalHistory #Polder #Drenthe #Friesland #Amsterdam #VOC #Brewing #Brickmaking #TurfSchuit #Lucas #Luna #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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The Dutch Peat Economy: How Turf Built a Golden Age
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