# The Dutch — The Wealth of Nations character guide

> The Dutch in The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the Dutch, The Dutch, themselves, theirs, their

**First appearance:** 0048-ii-of-restraints-upon-the-importation-from-foreign-countries-of-such-goods-as-can-be-produced-at-home

## Who they are

Holland's merchants lend at two percent, trade on thinner profits than anyone in Europe, and still hold the carrying trade of France in their hands.

## Relationships

### [The Portuguese](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/characters/the_portuguese)

_rivalry_

The Dutch and the Portuguese are rivals in global trade and colonial competition.

## In the story

### [IX: Of the Profits of Stock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/ix-of-the-profits-of-stock)

Implied in the discussion of Holland's economy.

### [Of the Rise and Progress of Cities and Towns, After the Fall of the Roman Empire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/iii-of-the-rise-and-progress-of-cities-and-towns-after-the-fall-of-the-roman-empire)

Referenced in the context of the Hanseatic league and trade.

### [I: Of the Unreasonableness of Those Restraints Even Upon the Principles of the Commercial System](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/i-of-the-unreasonableness-of-those-restraints-even-upon-the-principles-of-the-commercial-system)

Engaged in carrying French goods to other European countries, benefiting from trade.

### [Of Colonies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/vii-of-colonies)

Noted for excluding other European nations from direct trade to their spice islands.

### [Of the Motives for Establishing New Colonies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/i-of-the-motives-for-establishing-new-colonies)

The Dutch are mentioned among European colonizers who discovered no valuable mines in their colonies.

### [II: Causes of the Prosperity of New Colonies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/ii-causes-of-the-prosperity-of-new-colonies)

Cited for their use of an exclusive company to monopolize colony trade, which stunts natural growth.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/characters/the_dutch
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/characters