80 Jaar Oorlog - Deel 2

After the assassination of William of Orange, a power vacuum plunges the Low Countries into complete political chaos. Johan van Oldenbarnevelt manages to restore order and, together with William of Orange's son Maurice of Nassau, and driven by his ambition to create a country without a king or queen, he founds a republic: the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands. His motto: Unity Makes Strength.

In their efforts to unite the country, the world's first capitalist organisation is founded: the VOC (Dutch East India Company). In no time it becomes very large and wealthy, and although Johan initially gives the VOC his full support (a rich country is better, after all), he increasingly realises that it conflicts with his political goals. When he tries to curb its power before it is too late, the VOC turns to Maurice.
Maurice, who spends his whole life trying to live up to his father William of Orange, is lured by his hunger for power into a conspiracy with the VOC: if he helps to get rid of Jan van Oldenbarnevelt and allows the VOC to gain more power, the VOC will help him fight Spain. Exactly as his father would have wanted.
Maurice eventually has Van Oldenbarnevelt executed for high treason. From then on, the Orange bloodline is the most influential in the Netherlands. Two hundred years later the Netherlands becomes a monarchy, as it remains to this day.

Type

Film / TV series

Status

In development

Genre

historical drama / action