How did the Dutch standard written language emerge in the 17th century?

The emergence of a genuine standard variety of the Dutch language in the 17th century was closely tied to the shifting economic and cultural power within the Low Countries.

During the Middle Dutch period, linguistic influence was dominated by the prosperous cities of Flanders and later Brabant. However, following the Eighty Years’ War, the southern provinces remained under Spanish rule, leading to a decline in their cultural influence. Conversely, the northern Netherlands experienced a "Golden Age," with Amsterdam and The Hague rising as major centers for intellectuals and financiers who had fled the south.12

As these northern cities became the new hubs of power, the standard language began to coalesce around the dialect of the old province of Holland. Despite this shift toward a northern-based standard, the written language of the 17th century continued to retain strong influences from the earlier Flemish and Brabant traditions.13