How did Napoleon's Continental System affect the Netherlands?

Napoleon’s Continental System was designed to cripple Great Britain by prohibiting trade with the British, and it profoundly impacted the Netherlands, which Napoleon viewed as the kingpin of this blockade.12

The system’s effects on the Netherlands included:

• Suppression of Trade: The Netherlands had long relied on overseas commerce and fishing, which were already severely hampered by British blockades following the French occupation. The Continental System further intensified these economic hardships by strictly forbidding the trade of English and colonial goods.32
• Enforcement and Smuggling: Because a robust smuggling trade of British and colonial goods had developed through the Netherlands, Napoleon demanded rigorous suppression of these activities. French officials enforced these measures strictly, which caused significant friction between the Dutch and their French occupiers.2
• Political Consequences: The enforcement of the system became a major point of contention between Napoleon and his brother, Louis Bonaparte, who served as the King of Holland. Louis’s refusal to prioritize French interests over the economic well-being of his Dutch subjects led Napoleon to oust him in 1810 and directly incorporate the Netherlands into the French Empire.2