Netherlands is a country in Europa Universalis II. In normal games their provinces are coloured dark orange, in fantasia games, they are coloured light orange.
The Netherlands should not be confused with Holland. The Netherlands is a multi-province country that exists at the start of most scenarios. Holland is a single-province country that can only come into existence by means of an early revolt.
Creating Netherlands[]
By Revolt[]
Provinces that can form Netherlands
The Netherlands can be created by revolt at any point after 1st January 1559. Whilst its culture and religion are not specified in revolt.txt, they will be Dutch and usually Reformed.
The Netherlands can consist of any combination of the following provinces:
- Friesen
- Geldre
- Holland (the default capital)
- Zeeland
Starting Position[]
The Netherlands exist at the beginning of the 1617, 1700, 1773, and 1795 scenarios.
1617[]
European Provinces in 1617
African provinces in 1617
North American provinces in 1617
Indian provinces in 1617
South American provinces in 1617
East Indies provinces in 1617
In this scenario, Netherlands have Dutch cultures, Reformed religion, and 1800 ducats in the treasury.
They own and control four core provinces in Europe, three non-core provinces in the Americas, two non-core provinces in India, five non-core provinces in the East Indies, and one non-core island off the coast of Africa. There are also two core provinces in Europe which they neither own nor control.
They have the following stability and technology:
| Tech | Level |
|---|---|
| Stability | 3 |
| Infrastructure | 5 |
| Trade tech | 5 |
| Land tech | 21 |
| Naval tech | 22 |
For this scenario, the Netherlands does not use its default policy slider settings, but instead uses the following:
| Aristocracy | 2 |
| Centralization | 7 |
| Innovative | 5 |
| Mercantilism | 0 |
| Offensive | 2 |
| Land | 3 |
| Quality | 7 |
| Serfdom | 2 |
1700[]
European Provinces in 1700
African provinces in 1700
Caribbean provinces in 1700
Indian provinces in 1700
South American provinces in 1700
East Indies provinces in 1617
In this scenario, Netherlands have Dutch cultures, Reformed religion, and 200 ducats in the treasury.
They own and control four core provinces in Europe, four non-core provinces in the Americas, six non-core provinces in India, twelve non-core provinces in the East Indies, and five non-core provinces in Africa. There are also two core provinces in Europe which they neither own nor control.
They have the following stability and technology:
| Tech | Level |
|---|---|
| Stability | 2 |
| Infrastructure | 7 |
| Trade tech | 8 |
| Land tech | 28 |
| Naval tech | 29 |
For this scenario, the Netherlands does not use its default policy slider settings, but instead uses the following:
| Aristocracy | 2 |
| Centralization | 7 |
| Innovative | 7 |
| Mercantilism | 0 |
| Offensive | 1 |
| Land | 3 |
| Quality | 7 |
| Serfdom | 2 |
1773[]
European Provinces in 1773
African provinces in 1773
Caribbean provinces in 1773
Indian provinces in 1773
South American provinces in 1773
East Indies provinces in 1773
In this scenario, Netherlands have Dutch cultures, Reformed religion, and 500 ducats in the treasury.
They own and control four core provinces in Europe, three core provinces in the Americas, two core provinces in India, eighteen non-core provinces in the East Indies, and two core provinces in Africa. There are also three core provinces in India and three in the East Indies which they neither own nor control.
They have the following stability and technology:
| Tech | Level |
|---|---|
| Stability | 3 |
| Infrastructure | 9 |
| Trade tech | 9 |
| Land tech | 41 |
| Naval tech | 36 |
For this scenario, the Netherlands does not use its default policy slider settings, but instead uses the following:
| Aristocracy | 2 |
| Centralization | 7 |
| Innovative | 7 |
| Mercantilism | 0 |
| Offensive | 1 |
| Land | 4 |
| Quality | 6 |
| Serfdom | 2 |
1795[]
European Provinces in 1795
African provinces in 1795
Caribbean provinces in 1795
Indian provinces in 1795
South American provinces in 1795
East Indies provinces in 1795
In this scenario, Netherlands have Dutch cultures, Reformed religion, and 500 ducats in the treasury.
They own and control four core provinces in Europe, three core provinces in the Americas, two core provinces in India, eighteen non-core provinces in the East Indies, one core province in Africa, and one non-core province in Africa. There are also three core provinces in India, and three in the East Indies which they neither own nor control.
They have the following stability and technology:
| Tech | Level |
|---|---|
| Stability | 3 |
| Infrastructure | 9 |
| Trade tech | 9 |
| Land tech | 50 |
| Naval tech | 52 |
For this scenario, the Netherlands does not use its default policy slider settings, but instead uses the following:
| Aristocracy | 2 |
| Centralization | 7 |
| Innovative | 7 |
| Mercantilism | 0 |
| Offensive | 1 |
| Land | 5 |
| Quality | 5 |
| Serfdom | 2 |
AI Priorites[]
The Netherlands always use the Netherlands AI file. This means that they have the following priorities:
Colonization[]
African colonies
Indian colonies
Far East colonies
East Indies colonies
North American and Caribbean colonies
South American colonies
The Netherlands will attempt to colonise up to 5 provinces at the same time, and establish a trading post 80% of the time (way more than the default). Their bonus for colonising provinces next to ones they already control is 5 (compared to a default of 50). Their bonus for colonising provinces next to other countries is 0 (compared to a default of -50).
When colonising, they will prioritise the regions of Carribean, India, and Indonesia (marked blue on the maps). They will also prioritise the following areas (marked red on the maps):
In the Americas
- America
- Antilles
- Guiana
In Africa
- The Cape
- The Mascarenes
In India
- Bengal
- Carnatic
- Malabar
In the East Indies
- Amboina
- Celebes
- Java
- Ternate
Far East
- Formosa
Trade[]
The Netherlands will send a trader just as often as the default AI (the maximum value of 100) and will very rarely refuse trade (that value is set to the minimum of 0).
War[]
Netherlands is more of a warmonger than the default AI (having a warmonger value of 50, as opposed to 10). It is willing to fight a long way from home (a setting of 8.0, as opposed to the default of 0.5), is less likely to focus on liberating its own provinces (1.0 compared to 2.0), is more likely to beseige provinces with low tax values (a setting of 3.0 compared to 1.0), and is more aggressive than the defaul (5.0 vs 1.0)
The Netherlands is particularly likely to declare war on the following countries: In Europe
In the Americas
In the East Indies
Monarchs[]
| Name | Reigns from | Diplomacy | Administration | Military |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacqueline de Vaviere | 1417 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Willem of Orange | 1559 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
| Maurice of Nassau | 1585 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
| Frederik-Hendrik of Nassau | 1625 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Willem II of Nassau | 1647 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| Johan de Witt | 1650 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| Willlem III of Nassau | 1672 | 7 | 9 | 7 |
| Staten Generaal | 1702 | 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Willem IV | 1747 | 4 | 6 | 5 |
| Willem V | 1751 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Batavian Republic | 15 Jan 1795 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Loudewikk Bonaparte | 5 Jun 1806 | 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Interregnum | 1 Jul 1810 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Willem I | 3 Dec 1813 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Leaders[]
Generals[]
| Name | Rank | Starts | Dies | Movement | Fire | Shock | Siege |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Egmont | 1 | 1492 | 1538 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| van Rossum | 3 | 1500 | 1543 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Louis Nassau | 1 | 1557 | 1574 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| William Of Orange | 0 | 1559 | 1584 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Lodewijk Nassau | 1 | 1579 | 1620 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Maurice of Nassau | 0 | 1585 | 1625 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| Frederik-Hendrik Nassau | 0 | 1625 | 1647 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| William II Nassau | 0 | 1647 | 1650 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Coehoorn | 1 | 1660 | 1704 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| William III Nassau | 0 | 1672 | 1702 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Nassau-Usingen | 1 | 1673 | 1702 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Hendrik Nassau | 1 | 1697 | 1708 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Cornelis Nassau | 1 | 1700 | 1712 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| van Keppel | 3 | 1701 | 1718 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| W.M van Nassau | 1 | 1705 | 1747 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| J.W. Friso Nassau | 3 | 1707 | 1711 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Brunswick | 2 | 1750 | 1784 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Daendels | 4 | 1785 | 1818 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Chassé | 3 | 1785 | 1849 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Admirals[]
| Name | Rank | Starts | Dies | Movement | Fire | Shock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloys | 3 | 1565 | 1594 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Joos de Moor | 4 | 1572 | 1618 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Justinus Nassau | 1 | 1585 | 1601 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Piet Heyn | 0 | 1602 | 1629 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Maarten Tromp | 0 | 1620 | 1653 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
| J. Evertzen | 5 | 1622 | 1666 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Witte de With | 0 | 1623 | 1674 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| van Galen | 3 | 1631 | 1653 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| C. Evertzen | 1 | 1639 | 1666 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| De Ruyter | 0 | 1641 | 1667 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| Cornelis Tromp | 2 | 1649 | 1676 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Kotenaer | 3 | 1653 | 1665 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Van Wassenaer | 6 | 1653 | 1665 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| van Brakel | 7 | 1650 | 1690 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| C. Evertzen | 3 | 1665 | 1706 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| G. Evertzen | 3 | 1678 | 1721 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Zoutman | 3 | 1750 | 1784 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| De Winter | 1 | 1778 | 1812 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Explorers[]
| Name | Rank | Starts | Dies | Movement | Fire | Shock | Starts in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan Huygen | 6 | 1583 | 1611 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Barentsz | 6 | 1590 | 1597 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| C. de Houtman | 7 | 1592 | 1599 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| F. de Houtman | 7 | 1592 | 1623 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| van Heemskerck | 4 | 1595 | 1607 | 5 | 3 | 3 | |
| van Noort | 4 | 1598 | 1610 | 6 | 1 | 1 | |
| Schouten | 5 | 1601 | 1617 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| van Spilbergen | 7 | 1601 | 1618 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Brouwer | 7 | 1610 | 1615 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| May | 7 | 1611 | 1617 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Tasman | 8 | 1639 | 1649 | 6 | 2 | 2 | Jakarta |
Conquistadors[]
| Name | Rank | Starts | Dies | Movement | Fire | Shock | Siege | Starts in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pieter Both | 4 | 1509 | 1614 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
| Coen | 3 | 1613 | 1629 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | Jakarta |
| Nassau-Siegen | 0 | 1621 | 1674 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
| Reijersen | 5 | 1622 | 1642 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Minuit | 4 | 1625 | 1637 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | Manhattan |
| Crijnssen | 5 | 1625 | 1669 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
| van Walbeeck | 5 | 1626 | 1635 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Stuyvesant | 4 | 1635 | 1672 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | Manhattan |
| van Diemen | 5 | 1636 | 1645 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | Jakarta |
| van Riebeeck | 3 | 1652 | 1665 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Events[]
The Netherlands has a major events file and a flavor events file.
The Birth of the Netherlands[]
These events are all to do with the creation of the Netherlands.
Creation of the Dutch Republic
This event happens at any point between 1st January 1559 and 1st January 1648. It has the following effects:
- The Netherlands gains cores on Brabant, Flandern, Friesen, Geldre, Holland, and Zeeland.
- The Netherlands' capital moves to Holland, if it is owned.
- Holland gains a centre of trade
- Flandern loses its centre of trade
- An event called The Dutch Republic is triggered for Brabant, Flanders, Friesland, and Gelre - giving them all the chance to join the new republic.
X joins the Republic
There are four such events (one each for Brabant, Flanders, Friesland, and Gelre). In the events triggered by Creation of the Dutch Republic, the four countries get two options. The first one (Join) triggers the appropriate event for The Netherlands. The effect of each event is that the Netherlands Inherits the appropriate country.
Constitutionalism and the General Estates
This event happens up to 30 days after 1st January 1580. If the Netherlands does not exist at this point, but is then created it can happen up until 1621. There are three options. Option A is Confederacy with traces of Monarchism, option B is Confederacy on Repubican Model, option C is Centralized Monarchy. The three options have the following effects:
| Effect | Confederacy | Republic | Monarchy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stability | +1 | -1 | +1 |
| Infrastructure | +1000 | +500 | +500 |
| Trade tech | +500 | +500 | - |
| Land tech | - | - | +500 |
| Aristocracy | -2 | -3 | +1 |
| Centralization | -2 | -3 | +1 |
| Innovative | +1 | +2 | -1 |
| Mercantilism | -2 | -3 | +1 |
| Serfdom | -2 | -3 | +1 |
Domestic Events[]
These events only affect the Netherlands' domestic affairs
Creation of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange
This event happens up to 30 days after 1st January 1580 and cannot happen after 1st January 1621. There are two options. Option A is Expand Loan Market and option B is Issue Strict Control. The two options have the following effects:
Expand Loan Markets
Issue Strict Control
- Gain a Refinery in a random province
- -2 Inflation
- +2 Stability
Creation of the Bank of Amsterdam
This event happens up to 30 days after 1st January 1600 and cannot happen after 1st January 1616. It has three options. Option A is National Loans at 500 ducats, option B is National Loans at 200 ducats, and option C is National Loans at 800 ducats.
All three options give the Netherlands a Fine arts academy in their capital. They also have the following effects:
| Effect | 500 ducats | 200 ducats | 800 ducats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loan size | 500 | 200 | 800 |
| Inflation | -2 | -5 | +5 |
| Stability | +2 | +2 | -1 |
Veerinigte Oostindische Companie
This event happens up to 30 days after 1st January 1600 and cannot happen after 1st January 1606. It has the following effects:
- Gain a refinery in a random province
- Gain a shipyard in Holland
- +1000 Trade technology
- +6 Merchants
- +200 Ducats
- +1 Stability
Dutch Military Reforms
This event happens up to 30 days after 1st January 1601 and cannot happen after 1st January 1626. It has three options. Option A is Reform Army and Navy, option B is Reform Army, option C is Reform Navy.
All three options give +1 to [Innovative (Europa Universalis II)|Innovative]], Offensive, and Quality. The options have the following effects:
| Effect | Both | Army | Navy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land tech | +800 | +1500 | - |
| Naval tech | +800 | - | +1500 |
| Aristocracy | -1 | -2 | - |
| Mercantilism | +1 | - | +2 |
| Land tech | - | +3 | -3 |
| Stability | +1 | - |
Veerinigte Westindische Companie
This event happens up to 30 days after 1st January 1616 and cannot happen after 1st January 1626. It has the following effects:
- Gain a goods manufactory in a random province
- +500 trade technology
- +100 Ducats
- +6 Merchants
- +1 Stability
Calvinism in the Netherlands
This event happens up to 30 days after 1st January 1618, and cannot happen after 1st January 1619. There are two options. Option A is Gormarism and option B is Arminianism. Both options give -1 Stability and a +3 revolt risk for 12 months. They also have the following effects:
| Effect | Gormarism | Arminianism |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | +1 | -1 |
| Innovative | -3 | +2 |
Statholder office is made Hereditary in Oranien Dynasty
This event happens up to 30 days after 1st January 1670 and cannot happen after 1676. There are two options. Option A is Yes we need Order!, option B is No, we need Freedom!. The two options have the following effects:
| Effect | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Stability | +1 | -1 |
| Centralization | +2 | -1 |
| Aristocracy | +3 | -2 |
| Serfdom | +1 | -2 |
| Stability | +1 | -1 |
| Relations (France) | -100 | +100 |
Protestants expelled from France
This event is triggered if France chooses the first option (Expel the Traitors) in their event Protestants expelled from France. The French event happens if France is Catholic or Counter-reform Catholic at some point between 1st January 1681 and 1st January 1688. The event has the following effects:
- +1 Stability
- +5000 Population and +1 tax in six random provinces
Diplomatic Events[]
These events affect the Netherlands' relations with other countries.
The League of Augsburg
This event is triggered if France chooses the first option (Make the Claim) in their event Chambers of Reunion. This event will happen up to 30 days after 1st January 1676. The Netherlands has two options. Option A is Defy French claims and option B is Ignore it. The two options have the following effects:
Defy French claims
- Casus belli againts France
- -150 Relations with France
- +100 Relations with Baden, Cologne, Hannover, Hessen, Kleves, The Palatinat, and Wurzburg
- +150 Relations with Austria, England, Prussia, and Spain
Ignore it
- +50 Relations with France
- -50 Relations with Baden, Cologne, Hanover, Hessen, Kleves, The Palatinat, and Wurzburg
- -100 Relations with Austria, England, Prussia, and Spain
Philip of Bourbon succeeds Carlos II in Spain
This event is triggered if Spain chooses the first option (Filipe of Bourbon) in the event The Succession of Carlos II in Spain on 1st November 1700. There are two options. Option A is Fight him and option B is Accept it. The two options have the following effects:
Fight him
- Casus belli against Spain and France for 36 months (3 years)
- -150 Relations with Spain and France
- +150 Relations with Austria and England
- +3 Stability
Accept it
- +150 Relations with Spain and France
- -150 Relations with Austria and England
- -1 Stability
Charles of Habsburg succeed Carlos II in Spain
This event is triggered if Spain chooses the second option (Carlos of Habsburg) in the event The Succession of Carlos II in Spain on 1st November 1700. There are three options. Option A is Accept it conditionally, option B is Fight him, option C is Accept it. The three options have the following effects:
Accept it conditionally
- Casus belli against Austria and France for 36 months (3 years)
- +100 Relations with Austria and France
- +150 Relations with England
- +1 Stability
Fight him
- Casus belli against Austria and Spain for 36 months (3 years)
- -150 Relations with Austria and Spain
- +150 Relatiosn with England and France
- +3 Stability
Accept it
- -150 Relations with France
- +150 Relations with Austria, England, and Spain
- -1 Stability
Effects of the Pragmatic Sanction
This event happens up to 10 days after 1st September 1742 and cannot happen after 1st April 1745. There are three options. Option A is Pro-Habsburg, option B is Neutral, and option C is Anti-Habsburg. The three options have the following effects:
Pro-Habsburg
- +2 Stability
- Casus belli vs France for 36 months
- +150 Relations with Austria, England, and Portugal
- +100 Relations with Hanover, Hessen, and Russia
- -50 Relations with Genoa
- -150 Relations with Bavaria, France, Prussia, and Saxony
Neutral
- -1 Stability
- -100 Relations with Austria, England, France, and Portugal
- -50 Relations with Hannover and Hessen
- +50 Relations with Bavaria, Genoa, Prussia, Russia, and Saxony
Anti-Habsburg
- -2 Stability
- Casus belli vs Austria for 36 months
- -150 Relations with Austria, England, and Portugal
- -100 Relations with Hanover and Hessen
- -50 Relations with Russia
- +100 Relations with Bavaria, Genoa, Prussia, and Saxony
- +150 Relations with France
The Revolution in Holland
This event happens up to 30 days after 1st January 1785 and can't happen after 1st January 1791. There are two options. Option A is React against Revolutionary Tendencies!, option B is Risk the Revolution!. The two options have the following effects:
React against Revolutionary Tendencies
- -1 Stability
- Gain an army with 15,000 Infantry, 3000 Cavalry, and 30 Artillery in the capital
- +3 to both Aristocracy and Serfdom
- -3 Innovative
- +150 Relations with Prussia
- -150 Relations with France
Risk the Revolution!
- +1 Stability
- -1 to both Aristocracy and Serfdom
- +1 Innovative
- -150 Relations with Prussia
- +150 Relations with France
- +3 Revolt Risk for 156 months (13 years)
Ministers[]
These two events represent the effects of two notable ministers.
DeWitt
This event happens up to 30 days after 1st January 1652 and cannot happen after 1st January 1655. It gives the Netherlands +2 stability and increases their monarch's diplomacy ability by +3 and their administration and military abilities by +2.
Heinsius
This event happens up to 5 days after 1st July 1688 and cannot happen after 30th December 1688. It gives the Netherlands +2 stability and increases their monarch's diplomacy ability by +3 and their administration and military abilities by +2.
Flavor Events[]
These events are in the flavor events file, and have only minor effects on the game.
Erasmus
This event happens on 1st January 1500. It gives the Netherlands +1 innovative and +1 centralisation.
Mercator
This event happens in 1568 and gives the Netherlands +500 naval technology
Hugo Grotius
This event happens on 1st January 1625. It has the following effects:
- +100 Infrastructure
- +3 Diplomats
- +30 Relations with Denmark, England, France, and Sweden
- +10 Relations with two random countries
Christiaan Huygens
This event happens on 1st January 1690 and gives the Netherlands +2 Innovative