Dutch States Navy

The Dutch States Navy was the navy of the Dutch Republic from 1588 to 1795. It came into existence during the Eighty Years' War and played a major role in expanding and protecting the Dutch colonial empire, while also fighting rival European powers in the Anglo-Dutch Wars, the Dutch-Portuguese War, the Northern Wars and the Franco-Dutch War. It was organised around five admiralties, based in Amsterdam, Friesland, the Noorderkwartier, Rotterdam and Zeeland, a decentralised structure that relied heavily on privateers and armed merchantmen in wartime. Its roots go back to the Sea Beggars of the Dutch revolt against Spain. When the Dutch Republic ceased to exist in 1795 the force was transformed into the Batavian Navy, and the Royal Netherlands Navy is its modern successor.