Ruqayyah Snyder
In the grand strategy game Europa Universalis IV, players can attempt to form the Netherlands as Holland. One of the Dutch minors inside the HRE under the personal union of Burgundy at 1444, Holland must first gain independence from Burgundy. This can be achieved through a rebellion or with support from France or Austria. Once independent, Holland can begin conquering nearby Dutch minors. However, players must be cautious of unlawful territory demands and aggressive expansion, which can lead to coalition wars. To form the Netherlands, players must also acquire certain provinces, such as Breda or Antwerp, through war or diplomacy. The formation of the Netherlands typically involves leaving the HRE, which can impact colonization efforts and relations with other nations.
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What You'll Learn
Declare war on Burgundy and let allies mop up their armies
As Holland, the first step to forming the Netherlands is to gain independence from Burgundy. This can be achieved through various means, including declaring war on Burgundy and letting allies provide support. Here is a strategy to employ:
Firstly, understand that declaring war requires a diplomat, and certain restrictions apply. For instance, war cannot be declared on an ally, subject, guaranteed nation, or a nation transferring commercial power without first severing that relationship. Additionally, the aggressor must choose a casus belli when declaring war, which determines the war goal and the options available in the subsequent peace deal. Declaring war without a casus belli will result in penalties, including aggressive expansion, stability drop, and increased war exhaustion.
Now, regarding the strategy itself:
- Assess Burgundy's situation: If Burgundy is preoccupied with wars against England, France, or the Holy Roman Empire (HRE), it provides an opportune moment to strike. Their distraction with other conflicts increases the likelihood of a successful rebellion.
- Gather allies: Seek support from powerful allies like France or Austria, who can provide military aid and increase your chances of success.
- Timing is crucial: Choose a moment when Burgundy is weakened or engaged elsewhere. This could be during or immediately after one of their major conflicts, as their armies may be depleted or recovering.
- Declare war: With your allies in support, officially declare war on Burgundy. Ensure you have a valid casus belli to avoid unnecessary penalties.
- Let allies engage: Once the war is declared, your allies will join the fight. Their armies will engage Burgundy's forces, aiming to weaken them and create an opportunity for your independence.
- Coordinate with allies: Maintain open lines of communication with your allies to ensure a unified front. Strategize and coordinate your military efforts to maximize the impact of your combined forces.
- Seize opportunities: As your allies engage Burgundy's armies, look for strategic opportunities to strike. Target weakened areas or exploit moments when Burgundy's attention is divided.
- Maintain pressure: Continue applying military and diplomatic pressure on Burgundy. The goal is to force them to the negotiating table and ultimately concede your independence.
- Peace negotiations: As the war progresses and Burgundy suffers setbacks, they may seek peace negotiations. Be prepared for these discussions, as this is where your independence can be secured.
- Achieve independence: Through a combination of military successes and strategic negotiations, you can achieve your goal of independence from Burgundy, setting the stage for the formation of the Netherlands.
Remember, this strategy relies on timing, strong alliances, and coordinated military efforts. The ultimate goal is to create the conditions necessary for Holland to break free from Burgundy's control and set the foundation for the formation of the Netherlands.
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Gain independence from Burgundy
To keep the Netherlands as Austria, the first step is to gain independence from Burgundy. Holland is a Dutch minor within the HRE and under the personal union of Burgundy at the game's start in 1444. To form the Netherlands, independence from Burgundy is crucial. While Burgundy may not annex its personal union juniors, the Burgundian succession events can result in Holland becoming a province of the Holy Roman Emperor, making independence essential.
One strategy is to seek support from France or Austria, which can be beneficial in avoiding issues with unlawful territories when taking over the rest of the Netherlands. With allies, you can declare war on Burgundy and let your allies handle their armies. It is also recommended to claim Breda first by building a spy network in Burgundy and then claiming the province from Brabant. Alternatively, you can take Antwerp, which is a coastal center of trade with higher development, boosting your trade income.
Another approach is to utilize the pretender rebel event, which can lead to peaceful independence from Burgundy. However, it's important to consider that the rebel's stats may not be as favourable as Philip the Good's. Additionally, you can try to get Austria on your side, as this will exempt you from dealing with unlawful territory claims when conquering the remaining Dutch minors.
It's worth noting that if your goal is to form the Netherlands as quickly as possible, taking Breda is the preferred option. However, if you're willing to sacrifice some speed, taking Antwerp and releasing Brabant/Flanders from their unions with Burgundy in the first war is a viable strategy, as Brabant becomes an easy target once their union is broken.
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Conquer Dutch minors
To conquer the Dutch minors as Austria, you must first understand the dynamics at play. Holland, one of the Dutch minors, is under the rule of Burgundy at the start of the game in 1444. The key step for Holland to form the Netherlands is to gain independence from Burgundy, which can be achieved through various means, such as rebel events or seeking support from powerful nations like France or Austria.
- Playing as Utrecht: Utrecht is considered one of the easier Dutch minors to play as due to its higher base tax and core on Gelre. You can hire an infantry mercenary, declare war on Gelre, and swiftly defeat them. Then, you can claim Friesland, and when France and Burgundy are at war, seize the opportunity to attack Burgundy and take the necessary provinces. However, be cautious as this may lead to coalition wars with other nations.
- Vassalizing Minors: Instead of directly annexing the Dutch minors, consider vassalizing them to keep your Aggressive Expansion (AE) down. This approach can help you avoid coalition wars and maintain better relations with other nations.
- Allying with the Emperor: As mentioned in the Friesland strategy, it is crucial to ally with the Emperor to prevent them from demanding Unlawful Territory. Strong allies outside the HRE, such as France, Denmark, or Poland, can also help deter coalition wars.
- Timing and Opportunity: Keep a close eye on the dynamics between Burgundy and other major powers. For example, if Burgundy is preoccupied with wars against England, France, or the HRE, it presents an opportunity for rebellion or intervention.
- Royal Marriages: Changing to a monarchy can facilitate royal marriages, which can help maintain friendly relations with powerful nations like France or Poland.
- Independence through Rebellion: If Burgundy is too focused on its wars or does not prioritize suppressing rebels, a rebellion may succeed. This can lead to Holland gaining independence and becoming a potential ally or target for conquest.
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Stomp on the reformation
To keep the Netherlands as Austria in EU4, you can try to stomp on the reformation by following these steps:
Firstly, it is important to understand the Dutch Revolt, which is a scripted disaster with clear prerequisites for it to start and progress. As mentioned earlier, moving your capital to the lowlands, such as Amsterdam or Antwerp, can prevent the disaster from starting. This is because the distance from your capital increases state maintenance costs. By having your capital in the lowlands, you can also accept Dutch, Flemish, and Frisian cultures, which will stop the disaster's progress.
Another strategy is to focus on accepting the aforementioned cultures and completing Humanist ideas. Adopting Humanist ideas can help prevent the Dutch Revolt and avoid the French Wars of Religion. Ensure that all but four Dutch, Flemish, and Frisian provinces you control are of low autonomy by stating them. This will help prevent the disaster from progressing.
Additionally, you can try to vassalize Holland, which is a Dutch minor under the personal union of Burgundy. If you can force Holland to become your vassal, you can feed them the lowland provinces and let them form the Netherlands while they are still your vassal. This will give you more control over the region and prevent the Dutch Revolt.
Finally, you can try to ally with powerful nations like France, Aragon, or England, who can help you maintain control over the Netherlands. By asking for their support, you can increase your chances of preventing the Dutch Revolt and keeping the Netherlands under your rule.
Remember, these strategies are not guaranteed to work, and the game is subject to randomness, especially regarding the reformation. However, by following these steps, you can increase your chances of stomping on the reformation and keeping the Netherlands as Austria in EU4.
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Move your capital to the Netherlands
As Austria, if you want to keep the Netherlands, you must first gain control of it. The first step is to get independence from Burgundy. This can be done by asking for support from France or Austria or by using the pretender rebel event. Once independent, you can start conquering nearby Dutch minors.
However, if you are playing as Austria, you can get the Burgundian lands through war, and the only way to get the Netherlands is through more war. This can be done by stomping on the reformation, making your archdukes into commanders, and having as many princes as possible.
Once you have control of the Netherlands, you can move your capital there. This will make you much richer as you will be able to roll in the riches of the England channel trade node. You will also be able to charter companies and conquer Australia by beating up those who have already claimed it and taking it from them in a peace deal.
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Frequently asked questions
Holland is a Dutch minor within the HRE and under the rule of Burgundy in 1444. To form the Netherlands, you must first gain independence from Burgundy. You can do this by asking for support from France or Austria, or by taking advantage of the pretender rebel event.
One strategy is to build a Spy Network in Burgundy and claim the province of Breda from Brabant. This will give you one of the provinces needed to form the Netherlands. You can also try to get the support of France or Austria, which will make it easier to deal with unlawful territories when taking over the rest of the Netherlands.
One tip is to focus on stomping out the reformation and making your archdukes into commanders. You should also try to increase your number of princes and consider making your emperor a general. Additionally, you may want to prioritize dip tech 23 to use the imperialism CB on already-formed colonies.
The Austrian Netherlands mission involves trying to get the Burgundian lands, which may require going to war with Burgundy. This can be challenging if Burgundy has strong male heirs.
You can keep the land for wealth or release it for extra authority. Moving your capital there can be beneficial as it will increase your income and allow you to take advantage of the England channel trade node.
