Which European regions were included in the Dutch Republic's major "mother trades"?

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The Dutch Republic's major "mother trades"—the foundational commercial routes that supported its economic prosperity—primarily involved the following European regions:

  • The Baltic: This region was a critical source of grain and naval stores, which the Dutch transported and supplied to the rest of Europe.123
  • France: Dutch ships carried the bulk of French exports, and the Dutch also imported raw maritime salt from the French Atlantic coasts for use in their fishing industry.14
  • Iberian Lands: This included trade with Spain and Portugal, which relied on the Dutch for essential commodities like grain and naval stores.123

These trades were central to the Dutch economy, providing the wealth that allowed the Republic to finance its independence and expand its commercial reach globally.12