Religion and the geography of the early modern Low Countries
The Religioensvrede was intended to apply to the whole of the Low Countries. The early modern Low Countries roughly match contemporary Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as parts of France and Luxembourg. In the late Middle Ages and the sixteenth century, they were a federation of provinces. The region was highly populated. The provinces of Flanders, Brabant and later Holland had numerous cities that were economic centres. These cities had great political power. Other regions were more agrarian. The Dutch revolt caused a division in the region. Due to the course of the war, the Southern regions remained loyal to the Catholic Habsburg regime. The Northern provinces evolved into the Dutch republic, which became an independent state where Protestants dominated.
Further information about the Religioensvrede and Amsterdam can be found at On Site, In Time.
For more information on this and other peace treaties, see