An Alternate History of the Netherlands

[Megrez]

Prologue

Today, the Dutch Commonwealth of Nations is the world’s Superpower. None can challenge it in the marketplace, nor on the highseas1. Its currency is universally accepted and its language is the de facto common language of the business world and is the largest second-language and the second largest first-language2. The United Provinces are home to the world’s largest, and oldest, stock market along with the world’s most powerful banks. Amsterdam itself rose from the marshes of Holland to grow into the financial capital of Earth.

The Dutch Empire was one built on commerce and trade. Throughout the centuries, the cities of the United Provinces were centers of trade. The story of how several squabbling and independent provinces forged a world empire is a complex history. It is also one of the most unlikely tales in human history. The United Provinces battled the mightiest power of its day for independence, fought off repeated and destructive invasions by an expansionist neighbor, and defeated a naval rival and upstart to pave its way to supremecy.

Empires have risen and fell, but the Dutch Commonwealth persevered. France, Spain, United Kingdom and even Germany have lost colonies to revolution. The Dutch lost its colonies to evolution. Eventually treated as equals, Dutch colonies became full fledged members of the Commonwealth, contribiting everything from sugar to gold to the common good of all Dutch speaking nations.
Some guy created a History in which Netherlands become the world's superpower. It's all here: http://ahnuniverse.weebly.com/
This Alternate History is very rich in details, and written in quite an Encyclopaedia Britannica style. You might find it interesting.

The author is as well writing it in an appropriate alternate history forum for purpose of evaluation and to receive suggestions from other people: http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=132933
I just commented there: http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?p=3435287&posted=1#post3435287

[Loki]

Along with wives, the Boers adopted several other aspects of native life, such as clothing and lodging. The conservative full wool dressings of the United Provinces were ill suited to the Veld (except perhaps during the nights when temperatures plummeted in the arid land). Out of necessity, they abandoned wool and took to wearing thinner cloth similar to the natives, though European modesty still existed and most of the Boer’s bodies were covered.


:rolleyes2:

[Megrez]

An Alternate History of Britain (http://kiatspace.blogspot.com/2010/09/alternate-history-of-britain.html)

An Alternate History of Britain is a three volume saga written by Simon Schama, and released in the late 1990s. The three books were wrapped in controversy in parts of the world, yet hailed by anti-imperialist as well. It was a hugely success in Britain and the British Commonwealth. The alternate history is based on the premise of what if the United Kingdom, rather than the United Provinces, ruled the world’s oceans. The story begins with the earliest evidence of settlements in the British Isles and works its way to the modern days. The main point of divergence in this alternate history is not British, but rather Dutch; in the form of the Provinces being divided by religion. This lead to an overall weaker Dutch navy which lead to an inevitable rise of British naval forces. The very idea of the United Provinces being divided into north and south along Catholic and Protestant lines is laughable indeed, and brought much scorn from critics in the Dutch Commonwealth. Worst criticism came from the Slavic citizens of Sweden, who balked at the idea of living in a Communist state ruled by a Georgian despot during World War II. The Swedes were not fans of the books for they reduced their mighty kingdom into a Nordic do-nothing neutrality. Jewish communities were disturbed by the book, for it made them targets of the Nazi butchers instead of Balkan Slavs. The biggest critics of the book were the Germans themselves. So bad was it, that the book is actually banned in the German Empire. They were offended not only by the deposition of the Kaiser, but the fact that Schama turned the Germans into a weak and gutless people by the start of the 21st Century.


:rofl: so true :rofl:

[Grumpy Cat]

:rolleyes2:

Hey, I'd hit it! :D

[The Lawspeaker]

Some guy created a History in which Netherlands become the world's superpower. It's all here: http://ahnuniverse.weebly.com/
This Alternate History is very rich in details, and written in quite an Encyclopaedia Britannica style. You might find it interesting.

The author is as well writing it in an appropriate alternate history forum for purpose of evaluation and to receive suggestions from other people: http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=132933
I just commented there: http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?p=3435287&posted=1#post3435287
Ah... what could have been... :thumb001::D