Dutch Empire becomes a great power

The establishment of a new colony

Portugal pov

I smiled as my colony in South America was a growing one but the expanding Dutch precense is worrisome so I managed to get a defensive pact with the Spanish Empire who is my brother. I then got reports of the Dutch establishing a colony underneath my own which they called Dutch Brazil which I would attack if I didn't understand that the Dutch are still colonially stronger than me. I did know that expanding for my colony would not help as my economy is supporting it but is very close to total collapse especially as I am still paying war reps to the Dutch after they took all I have in the spice trade.

Netherlands pov

I knew I would need a colony in Africa to get some sort of fight for Africa. I also knew based off how the slaves felt that to prevent slave riots I would reform to make them have better treatment as the slavers of my nation are big but mostly treat their slaves nicely. The ones that don't are an overwhelmingly small minority so I knew most would not be mad at this and after a while they got used to it especially when I managed to get slaves to be free after 5 years of service for those who have been slaves before this law while the children have to work for 10 years before they get freed. This was seen as good from my colonies with their loyalty growing especially from the slaves I still had who improved their efficency by 2% which did boost my economy espcially with some of the first free slaves helping in making inventions such as a stronger musket allowing the army to grow stronger. Another slave also proposed a canal that would gain us a unopposed control of trade between Europe and Asia from America which due to our good relations with the Prussians who are slowly unfiying Germany will be promised a huge discount on using the canal. Speaking of Prussia I have also helped them in taking Shelswig and Holstein from Denmark with Austrian aid alongside being one of the main trade partners of Prussia.

Prussia pov

With the growing Dutch economy I smiled as our relations were very strong and with their aid in regaining lands from Denmark my public feels the same. But right now my hatred of Austria for their annexation of part of it was strong with the Dutch trying to settle peace between the 2 of us with no success in sigh yet I have been preparing for war with Ostereich. I did start investing in the Panama canal as the Dutch were making it at a slow rate to focus on colonizing much more so to help insure Dutch neutrality at least when I fight Austria I shall help them make it. I doubted them entering the war on my side so I wanted to insure their neutrality at least especially thanks to their trade being one of the most important. They also helped me gain some land in the Dutch East Indies after I gave them 200k in their currency so I had some sort of a colonial empire in my pocket. (In this world Portugal didn;t keep East Timor which now is under Prussian control.) I also was heavily influenced by the Dutch fight against slavery which has motivated my own fight against it as well and since my colonial empire is realtively new I easily was able to establish it.

Austrian Empire pov

The Prussians are growing close with the Dutch which I do not like but I knew trying to stop it would not work. This is because of the fact that the Dutch are a major trade partner for my spices but are also a thorn on my side due to the fact that their fight against slavery has caused riots in my nation from the minorities which are slaves. So I decided to approach the Spanish who still whine about their lack of control in the Benelux with the intention of getting them to ally me should the Dutch join the future war I will be in against Prussia.

Great Britian pov

The Dutch colonial expansion was fun and as we calmed down the tensions we made it sound like a friendly rivalry when it came to our politics. The Dutch also do treat this as a sort of friendly rivalry but they have said "It is our turn and you finished yours by beating us." I did notice the Prussian-Austrian tensions and suspected a possible war between them dragging in the Dutch alongside Spain is possibilities. I knew intervening would bring more bloodshed so I decided that due to my more hateful relations with the Spanish that if it comes down to it I will support the Dutch financially. I also knew that the Dutch plan on building a canal which would grant them sea dominance which I am helping with as well in exchange for a huge discount which the Dutch allowed in exchange for 5% of my economy to be dedicated to it. This in the short term would annoy me but I knew having some sort of sea dominance in the canal would be key especially for if I need to reinforce/colonize the other side of the Americas. For now though my main focus is the plot to establish a colony in India which I know is a valuable area due to it's man power and resources that could be key in future wars I am involved in the future.

(Hmm this world is truly plotting for dominating some sort of enemy while the British play like the world is their playground...Well then ♏︎☼︎✏︎👓︎ aid the Dutch please.)