Navy

   The navy played an important historical role in several offen sive and defensive tasks, such as convoying merchant ships, priva teering, and fighting many wars at sea. The Hansa League had to use naval force to secure its commercial interests. Dutch jurist Hugo Grotius defended the theory of the mare liberum, the “freedom” of the sea. It was in the interest of a small emerging tradingcountry that by international agreement no major power be allowed to control the sea. Nevertheless, the Dutch Republicitself acted like a major power in its colonies in the East and West Indies. At the height of its sea power, the Republic fought its rivals, Spain and England, success fully until the middle of the 17th century with fleets commanded by admirals such as Michiel de Ruyter, Piet Hein, and Maarten Tromp. The Republic was not able to maintain its international posi tion against its European rivals, however, and lost most of its colonies around 1800 to Great Britain. Nonetheless, the Netherlands re mained an important seafaring nation and maintained a navy that fought during World War II in Europe and the Netherlands East Indies. Presently, the Dutch Navy is integrated into the North At lantic Treaty Organization (NATO) armed forces. Belgium and the Netherlands merged their naval organizations in 1996.

   See also Army.