Pretty simple honestly. Is there a way that Germany could be formed by the Netherlands.
Dutch Germany AHC
- Thread starter Demothenes
- Start date
No, not realy. The moment the Netherlands gained independence (and even before) it had a national identity that differed from the German national identity. Actualy I would go so far to say that even before it didn't truely identify as Germans. Besides that it did not care for expansion into Germany; it focussed on colonial expansion (or more correctly overseas trade). So you need a very early POD for it. I guess it is possible if you expand the meaning of the Netherlands a bit. If a Burgundy that focusses more on their Dutch territories than their French territories counts as the Netherlands, I think it is in theory possible, but still relatively hard.
Only solution is if for some reason William van Orange decides to add his Nassau holdings to the Netherlands.
Not only wouldn't that matter (Nassau was not important enough to make such a switch), Willem van Oranje/the Silent was not able to do such a thing for various reasons. The stadholders did not have the autority to do such a thing and Willem van Oranje actualy did not have much holdings in Nassau, since his younger brother inherited most.
Also there would be very litle reason for him to do it, since it probably would mean he would lose significant power in those areas. Also they were fighting a war against Spain, which was not going well when he was alive, so he would have other things to worry about than make such a move.
Only if at some point one of the Dutch dynastic states is elected Holy Roman Emperor, and the Dutch emperor manages to expand his personal holdings around Holland and perhaps the Rhineland.
It would need to be before Netherlands was given to the Spanish Habsburgs, probably before the Habsburgs became the dominant house in the Empire.
Perhaps one of the Dukes of Brabant (or Dukes of Burgundy). Or the Dukes of Luxembourg, who were the emperors at one point, expanded by marriage, inheritance, or conquest to cover the Netherlands like how the Habsburg concentrated in Austria.
In essence, it would not be so much Dutch Germany, but German Netherlands as the country's culture would retain a lot more Germanic characteristics.
It would need to be before Netherlands was given to the Spanish Habsburgs, probably before the Habsburgs became the dominant house in the Empire.
Perhaps one of the Dukes of Brabant (or Dukes of Burgundy). Or the Dukes of Luxembourg, who were the emperors at one point, expanded by marriage, inheritance, or conquest to cover the Netherlands like how the Habsburg concentrated in Austria.
In essence, it would not be so much Dutch Germany, but German Netherlands as the country's culture would retain a lot more Germanic characteristics.