Government of Holland Politics and government of the Dutch Republic

1 government of holland

1.1 states of holland
1.2 delegated councillors
1.3 councilor pensionary
1.4 stadtholder

government of holland
states of holland

arms of province , states of holland , west friesland (staten van holland en west-friesland)

the province of holland governed earliest times states of holland , west friesland. assembly of commons , nobles (though not clerics in other countries) sovereign, count of holland. met in hague @ binnenhof. fact center of political power de facto political center of republic gave them advantage of other provinces in addition 58.3% of country s budget paid. in 1653 de witt formalised title noble great mightinesses, lords states of province of holland , west friesland . fact more laudatory of states-general meant symbolise superiority of provincial sov showed real power lay.

the states of holland met 4 times per year. each city , town represented in states had 1 vote, along college of nobility of holland (ridderschap in dutch), had 1 vote. each town send many representatives deemed necessary. number of towns voting privileges six. dordrecht first in rank. pensionary acted councillor pensionary if necessary. others delft, rotterdam, amsterdam, haarlem , leiden. number of voting towns increased eighteen william silent in light of population growth. additional towns alkmaar, den briel, edam, enkhuizen, gorinchem, gouda, hoorn, medemblik, monnikendam, purmerend, schiedam, , schoonhoven. composition remained unchanged until end of republic.

meeting of states of holland , west friesland (staten van holland en west-friesland) in 1625

the same method used raise revenue used states-general. each city charged portion. amsterdam paid 50% of revenues/budget of holland. given holland s contribution generality s budget (above), amsterdam paid approximately 25% of entire national budget alone. part of gave city preponderance in national , provincial affairs.

the nobility not numerous in holland, holland had never been heavily feudalised. however, still had amount of prestige in aristocratic age. had many prerequisites tradition, such right appointed lucrative posts , sinecures. hall, ridderzaal, @ center of binnenhof. nobility had 8 or 9 of number representatives states. office of chief noble of holland lucrative sinecure, although appointment states. of holders louis of nassau, lord of de lek , beverweerd , joan wolfert van brederode chaired meetings of states, represented pensionary, counselor (retained legal advisor) states whole, hence name councilor pensionary or in dutch raadpensionaris. gave councillor pensionary of power chaired meetings of states , spoke first representative of nobility, last in summing debates. representative fixed term (three years, extended 5 years time of de witt), office, , staff prepare , study issues.

the interior of binnenhof showing ridderzaal in center.


delegated councillors

a major institutional change previous practice introduced in 1585. main executive functions of holland carried out gecommitteerde raden, translated delegated councillors. except in emergencies, again after 1585, states discuss agenda items set before gecommitteerde raden. formed permanent standing committee of states, delegates from:

the nobility - 1 delegate, represented councilor pensionary
amsterdam - 1 delegate
dordrecht - 1 delegate
rotterdam - 1 delegate
haarlem - 1 delegate
leiden - 1 delegate
delft - 1 delegate
gouda - 1 delegate
1 delegate 3 of smaller towns (i.e. ones not mentioned above), each of 3 choosing him turns.

the councilor pensionary exercised of influence here again, representative fixed term, office, , staff prepare , study issues, , carry them out.

the states of holland sent following delegates states general:

1 noble – perpetual
2 out of 8 chief/original towns
1 out of towns of north holland
2 provincial commissioned councillors
the councillor pensionary of holland

councilor pensionary

from accretion of influence went along committees, meetings of states , states-general attended, , staff allowed him study , carry out decisions, councilor pensionary became default main executive official of states of holland , states general. councillor pensionary appointed fixed five-year term, paid salary, given budget , staff. allowed him study, propose, , carry out decisions of states. not leader (i.e. proto-prime-minister), pensionary of nobility , counselor of states, powerful councillor pensionary such de witt shape agenda, outcome, , use influence persuade other members of states (who part-time delegates) vote particular policy, , carry out. same carried through states-general, tended face of powerful province, holland. tasked carrying out decisions, natural other bodies, both domestic , foreign (i.e. ambassadors) meet him , deal him states , states-general act on issue.

johan de witt, raadpensionaris of holland 1653-1672

most of other provinces (except friesland, government differed significantly) had own pensionary. however, none of them had ability build power , influence of holland s given holland s influence in generality.

the office of councillor pensionary continuation of office of land s advocate of holland (landsadvocaat). office shared many of functions councillor pensionary, chairing meetings of states of holland, acting in committee them, preparing business , agendas, acting speaker nobility, , acting legal counselor , head of bureaucracy. office started in 14th century , ended in 1619, when title renamed councillor pensionary in response crisis of year between states of holland, represented johan van oldenbarnevelt , stadtholder, prince maurice, states lost.

stadtholder


william silent, prince of orange, leader of dutch revolt, , stadtholder of holland, zeeland, , utrecht. office of stadtholder not national 1 appointed each of states. each province chose appoint descendant of william, either incumbent prince of orange or member of collateral counts of nassau-dietz.

the office of stadtholder (stadhouder in dutch), continuation of burgundian institution. stadtholders in middle ages appointed feudal lords represent them in absence. each of provinces of burgundian netherlands had own stadtholder, although stadtholder might exercise authority on more 1 province (e.g. william silent stadtholder of holland, zealand , utrecht). stadtholder more powerful mere governor, had limited authority. in 15th century dukes of burgundy acquired of low countries, , these burgundian netherlands in turn governed own stadtholder. in 16th century, habsburg holy roman emperor charles v, king of spain, had inherited burgundian netherlands, continued tradition had wider interests in spain, germany , italy. stadtholders continued appointed represent philip ii, son , successor in spain , low countries. due centralist , absolutist policies of philip, actual power of stadtholders diminished. 1 of causes of dutch revolt.

when, in 1581, during dutch revolt, of dutch provinces declared independence act of abjuration, representative function of stadtholder became obsolete in rebellious northern netherlands – feudal lordship becoming vacant – office nevertheless continued in these provinces united dutch republic. these united provinces struggling adapt existing feudal concepts , institutions new situation , tended conservative in matter, had after rebelled against king defend ancient rights. fact stadtholder william silent, effective leader of revolt, made states determined retain him , normalise position. stadtholder no longer represented lord, states retaining sovereignty themselves. appointed states of each province province, making provincial office. however, although each province assign own stadtholder, in practice prince of orange, direct descendant of william silent, appointed stadtholderate of holland, zeeland, utrecht, , guelders, , count/later prince of nassau-dietz, cadet branch, appointed stadtholder of friesland. groningen , overijssel appointed 1 or other prince stadtholder.

the highest executive power exerted sovereign states of each province, stadtholder had prerogatives, such appointing of lower officials , @ times ancient right affirm appointment (by co-option) of members of regent councils or choose burgomasters shortlist of candidates. these councils appointed members of states, stadtholder indirectly influence general policy on course of time. in zeeland princes of orange, after dutch revolt held office of stadtholder there, held dignity of first noble, , such member of states of province, fact held title of marquis of veere , flushing 1 of patrimonial titles.

in times of war, stadtholder, who, since prince of orange appointed captain-general (see above) , commanded army, had more influence , have more power councillor pensionary. why princes of orange tended favour policy of war, against spain or france (as case maurice , william ii), rather policy of peace. however, not power command, power influence, persuade states, , have decisions accepted of states. mentioned above, ability of 17th century house of orange-nassau princes of orange influence , drive states consensus lead leadership of generality. inability of princes of orange of 18th century lead in great part fall of dutch republic.