Forming the Netherlands with Friesland!
This is us at the beginning of the game. Not very powerful if I do say so myself, but in a great position to emerge as a great power!
Part 1: Baby Steps, 1444-1460s
We start with only one province, that isn’t very economically rich, although we are close to the port of Antwerp, which is important later on. We are surrounded by enemies, and Burgundy is going to be a biggest problem in forming a future Netherlands, as they hold Breda, Holland, and Zeeland, all necessary to form the Netherlands with. They also have Limburg, which should be part of the Netherlands but isn’t necessary in our formation.
Why do I like Friesland? East Frisia! East Frisia is not an HRE member, so it is imperative to claim them right away and DoW them ASAP since you will not have any negatives with the HRE from doing this. Also, warn Burgundy before they warn you! When done right, you should have East Frisia no later by 1447, which will provide you with a good source of new income, and help your start your slow domination of the Lowlands and Hanoverian Minors. Hence, this is the Dutch-Hanoverian Republic, as a substantial amount of your European provinces will be from the Hanover culture Group from the various small German states around you.
Do not worry about Burgundy or Austria (or whoever is HRE Emperor). However, once you take HRE territories, proceed slowly or risk being stomped by a coalition of angry neighbors, and you have limited places to turn. After claiming East Frisia, it is important to build up your relationship with France. France will be your most important ally early in the game; they serve as a hedge against HRE aggression and Burgundy. Plus, Burgundy and France will likely go to war with each other (see Part 2).
After taking East Frisia, claim either Oldenburg or Gelre next. Neither will likely be in a strong position, and their allies will be minor. I generally look at Gelre next because I ally with Oldenburg early in the game just to have them in my back pocket until I go after them. Gelre will likely be allied with some of the minor states, but they shouldn’t pose much a problem. Note, look at the allies your potential targets have, that may determine who you strike next. Now you have taken a HRE state, which will make the emperor mad and some of your neighbors nervous. Try to keep relationships with them from going to rivalry and coalitions, otherwise you’re going to be in big trouble if one DoWs you, especially if the HRE presiding nation is part of that coalition (I learned this the hard way in one play through, forcing a restart by the 1470s).
Part 2: Consolidating the Dutch and German Minors, 1460s-1490s
After improving relationships with France, you should ally with the Hansa or Denmark (if Denmark is doing well) since they will help you against your most powerful minor nation to deal with, and often the most troublesome – Munster (Munster was the first to coalition me in that rough play through then DoW me after I had conquered East Frisia, Oldenburg, and Gelre – who can blame them?). Don’t ally with both because they’re going to go to war with each other eventually, and it’s never fun choosing one ally over the other – unless one ally is completely useless to you now.
I usually take on Utrecht before Munster, only because they border Burgundy and allow for more claims on Burgundian provinces. Hopefully, Burgundy’s Succession Crisis hasn’t fired; otherwise you’re in some rough water trying to get Holland, Zeeland, and Breda from Austria. Utrecht will be allied with the minors, so again, concentrate your forces in one stack and defeat them separated, if you have allies, you can alternatively let them fight each other first. Do not rush your attacks against Utrecht or Munster rapidly, that will get you in hot water with the HRE. Take it slow. Build up a merchant fleet during the peacetime to compensate. Transports and Heavy ships are not important to you. Over 30 years (1 war every 10 years or so is a safe time table), you should conquer Utrecht and all of Munster.
Taking Advantage of Burgundy, 1444-1500s?
The Burgundy Succession Crisis is the big wild card because you don’t want that to fire until you have all of, or 2 or the 3 required provinces from Burgundy. This is why I generally take Gelre after East Frisia, and ally with France (or wait to ally). When Burgundy goes to war with Austria or France or maybe both, wait a year and half for the bloodletting to take its toll then you can DoW Burgundy and be able to seize at least one province (Holland is the best choice because it’s a center of trade). It is preferable that you ally with France when you declare war, if Burgundy is fighting Austria, and you DoW them when allied with France, Burgundy is in big trouble (this is why you see Brabant in the screenshot, I took Holland, France took one of those southern Burgundian provinces, and Austria forced Burgundy to release Brabant in their peace). In this case, Brabant will get Breda, but this is not a big deal. Claim Breda quickly and go to war with Brabant, within 10 years of their release (under this scenario) they will ally with Austria and you don’t want to bother with that trouble (although Austria can be defeated).
Repeat with this strategy against Burgundy to take the rest of their provinces. You will never be strong enough to take on Burgundy alone unless Burgundy has been severely crippled in a war against one of the other major powers. By 1500, you should have all the Burgundy provinces required to form the Netherlands.
Forming the Netherlands
Entering the 1500s, you should have all of the Dutch provinces, if not, you probably only need 1 more and that won’t take too long to accomplish. The Protestant Reformation will fire soon, and your provinces will likely go Protestant. This is good. I usually wait for about half of my provinces to embrace Protestantism before converting, just because it’ll be easier on your missionaries if half or more of the provinces have already embraced Protestantism. This is beneficial to your economy too, since Protestantism gives you a 10% tax and production bonus! Around the 1500s, you will have leveled up to start building carracks, now is the time you will want to start building a proper fighting fleet. I usually have around 35-40 merchant ships by 1500, and trade is the main source of your income so don’t go light on building merchants ships. Don’t be afraid to take out loans for trade and merchant oriented building, the Dutch ideas will reduce inflation for you if you don’t have a master mint (which I usually always keep).
Congratulations, you can now form the Netherlands having achieved this with a Dutch Minor. It is a very gratifying feeling. In addition – if you follow this plan, you will also have a lot of German (Hanover) provinces too (they will be an accepted culture). You now have the Dutch-Hanover Republic in NW Europe, you will be dominating European trade in the region! Send your merchants all over the place and send all trade back to Antwerp. You can earn anywhere from 15-20 gold per month (my observed high end). Send your merchants and colonists to start conquering the new world. I usually go into Africa first (Gold Coast), only because this will spring board you into South Africa, then East Africa, then East Asia, and you can monopolize the trade nodes from India going to Africa back to Europe! You will be swimming in trade wealth by 1600.
I generally colonize the Gold Coast first. It has an important trade node and it's our springboard to South Africa, which then springboards us into Asia!
This province is the main reason I go into the Gold Coast first. It also has a trade node, and once yours, you can enter Asia and dominate the Asian trade sending it back to the Cape, then to the Gold Coast, then to the Atlantic Trade node, then back to Antwerp!
Ideas & Elections
Go trade first, you are going to be the Netherlands after all! 2 additional merchants, plus the trade bonuses are beneficial to you. Your economy is trade focused! Half or more than half of your income will come from trade, don’t be cheap. I go Plutocratic ideas next, and here’s why: 50% more mercenaries (You don’t have a lot of population so mercenaries are going to be an important medium in your armies), 10% morale boost for armies (not the 20% in defense) but the Dutch ideas give you additional infantry combat ability so it’s not that big a loss, and… +1 merchant! Yup, Plutocratic ideas give you another merchant and your are a merchant trading power (plus, when you form the Netherlands, you get another +1 merchant for free!). Third idea group is colonization, start sending your explorers into Africa and South America. Fourth idea group, toss up between expansion or naval (go naval if you are hostile or rivaled to England otherwise the English fleet with their national idea bonus will be tough to beat). Whichever idea group you didn’t choose will probably be the 5th group you choose (yes, as Netherlands you are maxing out the diplomacy ideas). After this, select your ideas as you deem fit.
Elections: You are a republic. You can switch to noble republic to get an additional 10% moral army boost if you think you’re going to get into a war with Austria (since they choose defensive after diplomatic, their armies will be superior to yours). Don’t be afraid to watch the republican tradition drop. You can time your elections to compensate. Diplomatic leaders will be important to you since diplomacy ideas are your main bread and butter. Re-elect! Then switch to an Admin or Military candidate to restore some republican tradition (for one cycle), go back to diplomatic candidate and re-elect until a 3/6/3, swap back to the other candidate you didn’t choose the last time or stick with military for plutocratic idea bonuses.
After the Netherlands has formed
Colonize. Colonize. Colonize. You are a major player in the age of discovery! Again, I usually go Africa to Asia, but you don’t need to follow that plan. That’s just how I like to play it. You will have a powerful navy by the 1530s, one of the largest in the world. You will have a modest army, but your allies (France or super Denmark) will help you out against other major enemies. If Burgundy is still around, you can slowly reclaim the rest of the Lowlands too!
Enjoy! I love the Netherlands, and am sure you will too!
You might even be able to do better! We made tiny Friesland into a giant!